Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-12-21
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

Mr. BIRD of Pendeton, moved to reconsider the
vote Of Saturday, rejecting bill ''exendng to cer-
tain other counties the provisions Of an act 10 prevent
free negroes and nattoes, IN Accomac aud Richmond
countless from selling agricultural products without
certificate, passed 9th March, 1912
| The motion sustained by Messrs. YERBY, La
cY, RIcE Of W., and GALLAuER; and opposed by
Messrs GoopsoS and BRoApus. The House agreed TO
reconsider, and the bill laid on the table
! The following Resolutions were agreed to:
| BY Mr. LAcY-That the Committee on Courts, &C.,
enquire into the expediency of passing law explain.
a,ory OF law passed the 2Sh March, 1543, entitled
an sAct concerning Sherfs and other officers COM
missions, and Attorneys fees forthcoming bonds.
| By Mr. YorXG-That the Committee Militia
Laws enquire into the expectancy of allowing to The
Portsmouth Light Infantry Guards, attached to the
9TH Regiment Virginia Militia, set of arms and
accoutfements-slso arms and accoutremens for The
band attached to SAID company.
| Mr. DANIEL of Prince George caled up the bill ''to
shorten the and TO cuta The expenses Of the
Legislative Departmen ut of the Government" ut pro-
vides that after the expiration Of IS days from the
mencement Of the present and any subs quent sessions
of the General Assembly the pay of the Speakers Of
the Houses shall be reduced 81 per day, and the
pay of the other members reduced to So
The b II was read first time.
! Mr. STEPHENSON moved that it now be read second
! time, and called the ayes and noes
The House agreed, ayes no. TO noes 9, 10 the second
reading of the bill
/ The question then being the engrossment of the
OIL, MT. oil richmond CITY opposeu IL on the
ground that provisions had not been seriously con-
sdered In the first place. the bill unjustIy red need,
after days. the pay Of the Speaker, who IS forced to
sit quietly and is not in the least responsible for the
Engineering of the session. In the second Place, this
bill is 10 afec, future Legislatures; and we have no
right to fix the session Of future Legislatures, who
! night be required by important 10 consume
more time. In the third place, he did not wish to ap-
pear in the ridiculous and Notifying altitude OF being
/ influenced by the consideration of the per diem
i Mr. GALLAHER moved substitute, "that the pre-
sent session of the General Assembly shall be erml
mated al the expiration Of 15 days Mr. u. had con
tracled with his constituents for So per day. and he did
not wish take less. If the business be done ID
7o DAYS, the Legislature ought 10 adjourn alter tna
time net, he was unwilling to take less than 81
per day.
Mr. TAYLOR warmly advocated the bill. He said, as
to the first objection Of Mr.. Daniel Of Richmond city,
it might be avoided by amending the bill, SO rs TO ex-
empt the Speaker As to the second objection the ope
ration future Legislatures, Mr.. TAYLOR liked the
bill for that reason. He wished to limit The length Of
the session, and he thought this bill would have this
certain effect He was opposed to the substitute OF Dir
Gaaher because in it should be necessary 10 re-
main longer than 75 days, members should receive
some compensation for their public services Mr. T.
conended, that if succeeded in shortening the ses.
sion, business would be enabled to occupy
seats this House. and there would be great improve
! ment in the body.
Mr. DASIEL Of Prince George, replied, at length, TO
tn. objections urged against the b by the gentleman
| from City Of Richmond lie said that, judging
from the last session, lie was aware that many efforts
would be made to defeat this measure, and he appealed
10 the friends Of economy and eorm, to stand by IT,,
and carry out practice, the professions of retrench
ment made before the people al the Hustings Mr..
D. deemed essential to the maintenance of Republ-
principles that the Government, in all ITS depart
mens, should be administered on economical terms
and he contended that when the expenses OF the Co.
vernment together with its liabilities, produced BY
extravagant species Of egsla on far exceeded IFS
income, it became the imperative duty Of every mem
be representing the wishes and the interests OF the
pie of the Commonwealth TO adopt the most efficient
measures produce spirit of economy in the admins
raton Of the Government He said, that loud complaints
had spread the land about the length OF the ses
sions-he attention of the people had been drawn 10
it. and he glad of it, The average length of the
was, he believed, about hundred days. and
should the public business, at any time hereafter,
qure that length of time, it is commended by The OPP
ponenis this measure, then, it would be saving
TO the Commonwealth of twelve or fifteen thousand
dollars. He in favor Of limiting the sessions 10
seventy FIVE days, less 1t had been said, that
it would be an mputation on the character OF me m
bers to vote for any reduction He thought otherwise.
He said, if there any imputaton anywhere, land
he dissvowed making anyD it was in the supposton,
that would not remain TO transact The public busi-
ness after compensation be reduced,
tirey. Mr. D. trusted, that not only sense of duty,
not only due regard 10 the welfare Of the ta1-paying
part of the community, but that the magnanimty and
liberaiy of gentlemen will induce them to curtail
their compensation, and reduce the expenditures,
consistently with the faithful and economical ad-
mnisraton of the Government
Mr.. TArEm said Mr.. Speaker-I will not do those
who k.Ve offered resolutions and suggested
plans for the avowed purpose of shortening the session.
injustice, by supposing they are acting in bad faith
Nor will wrong those who so earnestly advocate them
on this floor, by attributng to them any such motive
But, while am free TO admit that they are sincere IN
their professions cannot shut my eyes to the glazing
fact that every such attempt has had contrary effect
For, The time wasted in these useless discussions and
abortive efforts might be probably employed in transact
ing business Of Importance At the last session of the
Legl4 ture similar effort made, and bill report
ed which, after :cupying The time Of the House for
number Of days, was 'aid the table until June
next AT the session of the Legislature before the
last, bill, similar TO the now under discussion,
known as the "Sarvalion Bill, was passed by the LIE
gslature That bill also provided, that after certain
time the pay Of the Members should be reduced
to two dollars per day. but just before the number OF
days had expired when the law would have gone into
effect the law repealed; and in this way the
session heightened, not only by wasting time pass
ing the law, but by wasting me in repeating it, If
{ we learn by experience, shall abandon this
manner Of proceeding, and 60 on 10 transact the
business which duty requires al our hands. Suppose,
for moment, that each member should occupy
much Of the time Of the House of the projec
tors Of these schemes have done; when should we
adjourn? Sir, we should not adjourn at all The
members Of the next General Assembly would have to
push US from our seats
i The passage of this bill will be stigma upon the
character Of this body. II will be no less than ad
mission that the members of the Legislature proract
the session. beyond its necessary length, TO, The Pur-
pose Of obtaining the daily pay would ask, can we
tolerate for single moment the idea that any me M
Der of this House is degraded in feeling TO do IT,
Mo- The passage Of this bill will bea reflection upon
the people who sent here It will be- in effect, to
assert that they necessita,ed to send men here
" no cling 10 their four dollars day with such firm
hold that legislative aid is necessary TO force them to
let 90. As far as my constituents are concerned,
would wipe out the foul imPutation They are under
no such necessity They at no lass for men. who,
ON This point above suspicion and it is fair to pre-
sumo, that there is not member on this hoor who
would not fhis constituents were TO int mate that he
was ac,ua,ed by any such influence, indignantly lay
at their feet he office which he now holds.
It's not contended by any that The pay too high
Il we'll known that there are many members here
at sacrifice Ia my section Of country there are many
mechanics, and Others dependent on their daily voca-
ton. competent t, fill the seat which now occupy,
who canno, afford to make the pecuniary sacrifice ne
cessary to come here at 81 per day Then, what will
be the effect, If this bill become Law? Let The gen.
,,a,,.n g., No,Golk RoropU oh answer He saws, he