Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1831-03-23

MIR marshall supported MIR Brodna K . anne pdment
reviewing the facts and history of the case and col
tshdihg hat the scale now proposed IN reference "a
the merits and costs of the enterprise, the benefit
conferred on the community by 1t, the aggregate Of
,he tolls, and to comparison with the Of other
sridges,.was not too high
Mi Booker followed. in rdiou e of the appeol made
to The sympathy of the House, and in explanation o.
tho grievances felt by the Public from the excessy,
tolls paid Mt Mayos bridge.
Messrs Brodnax md Birfoot ma de some fur,he,
observations when tho question being pu, upon str
king out the scae OF tolls provided in tn. bill with
view OF Creating blank, it carried in the afir
native, ayes 85, noes 30.
The House then proceeded to take the vote on the
several propositions in the scale offered by Mr. Brod
max On the proposition to require from man ant
horse, ct ccnis-Mr Booker moved TO change tn
cents-Mr Claiborne, cents. Five cents were re
Jcctcd GU to 55-ond 4 adapted without u count.
For every four wheeled riding carriage, including
horses and rider, Mr. Durfoo. moved TO reduce from
20 to l4-pegatived.
For every wagon drawn by two horses Mr. Bur
foot moved to reduce form 20 to i2f cents. This
amendment was supported by Mr. Miller of Powha.
tsn and Mr. BrodnaN, and carried by n large majority
inc other propositions were then scycraiy adopted
MIR Rutherford moved To amend by revIvnr the
privilege granted to t. w Trent, Esq. Of bringing
the basin in the direction Of Trcnt's bridge uni etI
street.-the tolls) which amendment was adopted.
MIR Miller of Powhatan, suggested to the patron.
of the BILL the cXpcdiency of inserting a section pro
hlbitng the rapid driving of stages, &c. over the
bridge.
Mr. Brodnax accepted the suggestion, but subse
quently declined it-aher which, the bill was ordered
TO be engrossed.
CLERKS FEES, IN COUNTY AND COR
PORATlON COURS.
On motion OF Mr. Knox, the House took IN III,
bill regulating the fees Of clerks
This bill reduces clerks fees.
Mr. Hayburton moved ryder, eXempting those
counties from the operation of the act whose popula
ton lees than 3000-Lontendng that its cffcc, or
such would be deprive them Of clerk, and that il
was more reasonable that fees should be the same
in every county, than that the county levy shoulc
be the same
AT the suggestion of Mr. Rives Of Prince George
the ryder was extended to counties with population
of less than 1000 whites.
NJ Campbell uf Brooke, reasoned to show that
it ought to embrace other with still u larger
population.
Mr. Knox, and Mr. Newton, opposed the RYDER f.,
variety of reasons, which however was ordered tc
a second reading, 81 to SO
MIR Poindextcr now offered a substitute to the
ryder to the eHect-hat if by the of fees low
cd IN the bill, the amount Of fees to the clerk of an,
county shall be less than $500, hi compensation
shall be increased TO that sum- by levy Inc county
This amendment, was warmly opposed by Mr. Da-
VISION, chiefly on the ground OF the Improperly O
taxing the community To pay the of lltigans.
MIR Goode also strenuously opposed the amendment
chiefly on the ground that the Clerks themselves did
not know the amount OF their fees, and If they did
that 1t was exposing them to the temptation of g
wing false evidence IN their own favor.
MIR Polndextcr now withdrew his substitute
Mr Green thought the fees in The large counties
too high, and in favor of The bill. Believing
however, that its passage endangered by its ope
ration OH the small countless he moved to amend b,
giving the county courts the power of increasing the
fees where clerk could not otherwise be had; proh
biting the courts however, from exceeding the fees
at present allowed.
Mr. Knox thought this amendment ore objection.
able than the former as comforting Legislative powers
on the county courts. He douaed the power of the
Legislature to confer this power and still more it
cxpedeucy.
Mr. Williams of Harrison, supported the amend
ment, which in bis opinion struck the exact medium
He thought 1t was precisely adapted to both great
and small counties
Mr. Goode opposed the amendment, which he con
tended would lead perpetual intrigue in the count,
courts; when the clerk popular man, hcrcas
ing, and when unpopular, reducing his compensation
improperly.
Mr. Miller of Bot. said that had been assumed which
ne believed untrue namely, that the fees allowed by
the bill, were not sufficient 10 clerk in every
county of the commonwealth. The new judiciary act
carrying court of law ard chancery into each coun
ty, would still more weaken this assumption. while
the present high rate of fees operated bar upon
the prosecution of Just claims lie hoped gentlemen
would egislste for the people, and not for the clerks
-pampcred sinecuriss as they in many of the
large counties. Mr.. NJ. opposed both amendments.
Mr.. Green replied to the gentlemen who had oppo-
Sed his amendment.
Mr.. Hayburton. in reply Mr.. Miller, affirmed tina
there were many counties, where the proposed rate
of fees would not secure clerk, and where the pre-
Mr. Green's amendment then rejec ed.
The question recurring engrossing Mr.. Haybur
toms ryder
Mr. Leigh expressed his conviction that the rydei
did not go far enough-ard there were many counties
OF or 1000 population, where the proposed rates o.
fees would not the services of COMPETENT
clerk-thc Importance of which he urged upon the
House.
Mr.. Bayly opposed the ryder, presenting a variety
OF views to show its unjust operation and the impoll-
cy OF establishing principle wIth varied the amount
OF costs for the amount Of service in different
counties OF the commonwealth. lie objected to the
ratio OF white population, unfair criterion Of The
amount of judicial business.
Mr.. Goode warmly attacked the ryder presenting
gross absurdity. Clerks were to be compensai ed
not by their honor character, capacity fidelity, bu
by the amount of population in their counties. A
clerk in a county with 1900 whites who ably perfor
med his services while clerk in = county with 3,999
received agreater remuneration even though perhaps
. off err!
Mr. Cohoou, moved substitute to the ryder
exempng from the operation OF the act, all countic
not represented in the House Of Delegates by two
DELEGATES.