Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-02-05
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

nv "i'cn"'nehts (which We're concurred in by tn
HOUSE OF DELEGATES,
TUESDAY, February2
reports were made from the Committee of Pro,,
sltions and GRIEVANCES by Mr. IIill-rom that of 4,
IcueVe expenditures, by Mr.. Cook of Statford-fron
tnat OF Agriculture and Manufactures by Mir. Rive
| of Campo, Il. ~ ~ 'Ni's
Mr. Atkinson of Isle of Wight offered a resolutio,
lhstructing the Committee of Courts of Justice TO in
! CURE INTO the expediency of amendinp the act a
1919, reducing the several acts RELATING Z,
tue restraint maintenance. &c. of idiots and unatic
! --and tue resolution was adopted Mr.. Atkinson
ste'ed one OF ms OBJECTS to be to have the tenants
the Lunaic Hospitals clothed from the Penitentiur
store.
The engrossed bill, remodeling the Board of Pub
nc orks, oeing on ITS passage, Mr. Mason OF Fred
caiied upon the gentleinun who nad moved the rese
luton, for bis reasons for the Innovations upon the
| policy OF the country, proposed by the biiI
Mr. Goode said, that wien he introduced the reso.
iution lie had minated his purpose of not deboino
ine SUBJECT. 10 this purpose be should adhere con.
Vnced that every member must upderstand the cues
tlon and be prepared 10 vote upon it He however
a1sciaimrd any intontlon of attacking the Fund for
internal Improvement. Twelve hundred dollars ey.
elusive of printing, which 800 more, would Le
annually saved by aboIshing the Board-and as a day
was consumed IN the annual election of members Of
he BoaIo, not less than $4,000 per ann would be
saved by Its abolition. Mr. g. gave tho outlines OF the
new provisions, and the reasons for the change
Mr: Nffqor thought the present an inauspicious
time for acting in the premises. The nature of the
l.
hgence from all parts of the State which could rot
ps furnished by the otico Board which it was pro-
posed to be constituted out Of the Governor Auditor
treasurer, q attorney General Ifthe Board was thus
modelled, Mr. NJ predicted, that the James river would
swallow up the entire fund. Our government being
about TO pass away and another to take its place he
thought the present time, very unpropitious for
| Mr.. Mason of Frederick while he did not i,nnn,e
the purpose to the gentleman from Meckleaburq
air. aoodsj mad ITO doabt that the present measure
Yves not only an entering wedge, but would prove
death blow, 10 the Fund fer Internal Improvement
Mr NJ represented the Incompetence of the OK ota.
clo members, permanently located at Richmcnd TO
furnish tie local information, which the obj Gets for
winch lie fund was instituted required al d the vio-
lcnce that done by the bAl TO the purposes for
which the fund was created. Nr. e. called lus tie
| ayes and noes.
| Mr.. Old combatcd the idea, that the hill would
prejudice the Ennd for Internal Improvement
that board had no control over the fnnd-thoy were
the mere ministerial officers of the House actinu
undef ITS direction He could not perceive how the
change in the constitution of the board WIS ,o de-
stroy the fund itself 1Ir Old represented The inter-
| uselessne:s of the Board of Public Works, and he
| tsonght 1t incumbent upon those who wished tie
continue IT. to show some advantage that to re-
| suit from It, The only argument alledged in favor
OF retaining IT, was that superior local inform alton
was collected by the members coming from all parts
| OF the Commonwealth; yet would it be pretended
/ than this House furnished!
| BIT bFo1on OF Harrison, thought the proposition
was introduced Under very extraordinary circum
stances. Fhe mover had protested to exnect fhat
| SO important a measure, should be passed upon
without debate. Coui. there be palmer admission
slat tie proposition was introduced unseasonaby?
fhe gentleman from Powhatan (Ir. Old had as
signed still more extraordinary reasons He had
onlled upon the friends of the Board of Public
orks, TO give reasons why at should not be abolish
ed: Mr. b. persuasively argued upon the superior
u'y OF the board as now constituted, the change
Proposed-and deprecated any intermeddng with
the fund ut this stage of the session, ard under the
| present clrcumst ances of the County.
| Mr. Bayty, while his constituents had but little
direct interest III the question, EXPRESSED his repuo
| nance to the proposed measure. Instead of dispo5
sing with the members of the board annually elected
and connlrg 1t to the officers Of the government who
were members er cfeio, he was of opinion, that the
iatter could be much better spared than the former
The latter the ex ofico) elected for different
purposes and different qualifications They we're
Rot men whom the Legislature would have chosen
for administering the affairs of the Fund of Internal
/ Improvement Phe ex offcio members were come
OF them Councillors-young men, taken chiefly from
tne part of the Commonwealth. They had not the
local intelligence, or other necessary qualifications
TOT supervising the affairs of the fund. So far there
fore, from agreeing to dispense with the members
elected annually from different sections of the State
ne woald reverse it, and dispense with the en- ofcio
members Mr.. j also adverted to the unsuitab le-
ness OF the time for acting upon the subject.
Mr. Carey asked in what particulars, the advocates
OF the Dill expected to save time or money by the
abolition of the Board? Was it probable that the
ties of the Fund, without increased compensaton2-
1t was known how difficult it to get the officers
OF Government to attend to any thing not imrredi-
ately connected With their Offices. Would it be q
saving of time to vest a committee of this house
with the controuI of the FUND.- Mr.. G. gave We've
to show that there would be neither an economy oil
time or means, by aboishing the Board of Public
Works. Under this persuation, believing too, that
this would be an entering wedge for the destruction
of the Fund, he was opposed to the bill.
MIR Goodo replied, and briefly stated his reasons
in favor of abolishing the Board-whicF summarily
we're that the Board is useless-ihat it was mere
recording Secretary to the Legislature--that it had
nothing to do--and that its annual reports were no
thing than the embodied reports of the various
Incorporated companies of the commonwealth. lie
disclamed the intention Of destroying the Fund fol
Internal Improvement. which was anew set apart &,
consecrated 10 improvements by the bill under con
sideration. He deDied that tho Board had furnished
Typographical Information, and desired to know