Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-02-18
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
Saturday, Feb. Is.
A communication was received from the
Senate by their Clerk, stating that they had pass
ed the acts, directing payment 10 John r.
McCleur from the school quota OF TaZewell
county OF 1914, and "To prevent The destruction
of oysters in The counties OF Elizabeth CITY and
Warwick and Tor other purposes" also, the act
To incorporate the Preston Navigation and
Manufacturing Company" with amendments, in
which the House concnrred.
On motion of Mr. BROADUS of Culpepcr,
the Committee on Finance was discharged from
consideration of the petitions Of the Administrator
of Peter Moore and Of citizens of Frederick coun-
~ for an imposition OF tax on dogs.
JAMES RIVER COMPANY.
MIR. TAYLOR OF Norfolk Borough offered a
resolution tina, the proxies representing the inter
est of the Commonwealth in the James River &
Kanawha Company be requested TO vote TO defer
the election of officers Of that company, until
the farther action OF this House in regard 10 The
same
Mr.. TAYLOR said he should follow ii up
with resolution, that on Monday next this House
will enquire into the expectancy OF requesting
the proxies representing the interest Of the State
in the James River & kanawha Company 10
vote against the reelection of the present Pre-
sident of The Company.
Mr.. STEPHENSON moved to lay i, on The Ia
bic. The Report had just been made and we
could not, at this late day, give sufficient time
10 its discussion. Moreover, The Board of Public
Works had appointed proxies and we should trust
10 their discretion.
pose we had appointed committee, who had
devoted so much time to the investigation Of the
affairs of this Company, il we were not to look
int0 said renOrt and take acti0O m IL
Mr.. STEPHENSON thought We had no time
10 act knowingly on this question. All action,
now, would be on CT partc evidence. He had
confidence in The proxies already appointed.
The resolution was laid on the table.
| Mr.. GOODWIN presented the petition OF Thos.
w. Gale Of Isle OF Wight county, for The refund
ing Of fine.
The following engrossed bills were read third
| time and passed:
Amending the &C, entitled, an act 10 amend the
act TO reduce into one the several acts concerning
the Auditor and Treasurer, passed February the
25th, lS20"-"Incorporating the White Sulphur
Springs COMPANY" -"Authorizing the Indepcnd-
ent Order OF Odd Fellows al Harper's Ferry, 10
! hold limited amount Of real estate and for other
pnrposes"-"To change the time of holding the
County Court Of arbour'-(amended on motion
OF Mr.. GAY, BY ryder-the bill was opposed
BY Mr.. K1DWELL, and sustained By Mr..
STURM) ITO increase the salary of the third
Clerk in The first Auditors oifice"-"Appropria-
ling The public revenue"-(Mr BROADUS Of
Culpeper moved 10 fill the blank, for the appro-
priation to the Williamsburg Lunalic Asylum,
with sou, 500-Mr. BOWDEN moved 10 fill with
S25 ,OOO~Mr. BROADDUS OF Caroline OPP
posed, and Messrs. BOWDEN and LACY sus-
taincd The S25, 900, which was agreed to-58 TO
54)-and "To expedite cases in the Court OF APP
peals, and TO prevent unreasonable delay in Cham
Gerry causes in The Circuit Courts"
The engrossed bill "Prescribing The duties Of
the Superintendent Of Public Editices, and for
other purposes, being on its passage,
Mr.. BOWDEN opposed the bill, which pro-
poses the adjustment of the office Of Doorkeeper
OF the Council, which has existed since 1890,
when it was established in the pure days of the
Republic. Who is 10 supply the duties! Is it
the Superintendent of the Public Guard2 Next
Winter we shall have a call for the amount of
the salary OF the office now 10 be abolished 10
compensate the Captain OF The Public Guard for
these new duties. He will have 10 appoint de.
putty Ii We 60 for reform, lei MS commence with
the high offices, and not commence this small
game.
Mr.. ANDERSON was opposed 10 granting
the power 10 The Captain of the Public Guard 10
appoint the door-keeper ofthe Council who ought
themselves 10 exercise the power. 1t was not right
or proper that such power should be given 10 one
who might appoint door-keepcr who might be
offensive.
Mr.. McRAE OF Henrico was for abolishng
the office, and not for turning ont the incumbent
(Mr Danfor.h); the office was unnecessary-the
duties OF the office Of the Superintendent Of Pub
lie Edifces, (whO is Captain ulhe Public Guard
are Of an ambiguous and doubtful character. To
remove the ambiguity Of the Law, and for The sake
of economy, he hoped the hill would pass.
Mr.. MCPHERSON Of Page protested asains,
taking from the Governor and Council the ap-
poinlmenl Of their own r-keeper and transfer
Military officer. We had no complaints from
the Executive Council on this subject
Mr. WATTS felt bound 10 relrcnch this ex-
pense (S750 salary) which was entirely unneces-
sary. The Governor had asked rs TO define bet
Ter the duties OF the Superintendent of The Public
Edifices. Mr. w. said that paTtu had nothing Ia
do with this question He should not be surpris-
ed, however, TO see it made party question.
MIR. MCPHERSON OF Page, said that party
was the last thing he had thought OF, as the ma
ority on this floor was opposed 10 him in politics.
Mr.. Mop. was for a separation Of civil and mil
Sergeant alarms and Door. keepers appointed
by the Captain Of the Public Guard
MIR. LEAKE offered ryder that The office of
the Clerk of the Council be abolished, and the
duties be devoved on the Secretary of the Com
monweath Mr.. L. said that as economy was
the order OF The day, and the gentleman from
Norfolk county had said that the Council sal on
" IL hours a week, he thought his ryder should
te adopted.
MIR. BOWDEN moved the indefinite postpone
ment Of the bill and ryder. II Mr.. Danforih be
turned out and The office abolished, Mr. B. was
satisfied that the office would be restored next
ool.a IL
Mr.. WITCHER read the State Constitution
10 show that il required the Council 10 appoint
Clerk. He was satisfied, that the gentleman
from Goochland could not support the bill, il il
was amended by this ryder, which was viola
ton ofthe Constitution. This office Of door-keep-
er was snecure, and ought 10 be abolished
II had been established by the Council without
authority of law, and their encroachments on the
contingent fund should be stopped by the Legisla-
ture.
MIR. Harvie called the ayes and noes on the
Indefinite postpUneinent, which was lost-Gl 10
g.
MIR. LEAKE said, that,h ryder which he had
offered was Just such a ryder as ought to be at
first ryder, and moved second ryder, providing,
that the salary of the Clerk of the Council be re-
duced to 5000.
Mr.. BROADUS Of Culpeper, opposed the ry-
der. The Council ought TO have Clerk, and
600 was not compensation enough. The ryder
was evidently intended to defeat The bill, which
could be done by no other means.
Mr.. LEAKE thought it strange that gentle
men should look into the motives Of others. II
was upon the information OF The gentleman from
Norfolk county, who had said that the Council
sat only one and half hours in the week, that
the compensation ought 10 be reduced.
Mr.. MCPHERSON OF Page referred to the
high salaries Of officers of Railroad Companies.
Mr.. Mop. then moved an indefinite postpone
ment
Mr. GOODSON sustained the Indefinite post
ponemenl He was opposed to this small bust
ness.
Mr. NEWTON stated some facts, TO show the
importance of the Office of door-keeper. Is il
right to trust The secret papers of the State to any
man whom the Captain ofthe Public Guard may