Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-03-24
TUESDAY, MARCH 81, lo4s.
rNtTr
HOUSE OF
MEpxEspAY, March 22d, Isis.

HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
WEDNESDAY,, March 22i, lo45.
on motion Of Mr.. SY,IE, the Clerk of Inc
committee on Banks, wa ordered 10 be dis.
charged, the committee having finished their
business.
4 bill concerning iuric in civil cases, and a
bill establishing a spccia Court Of Appeals and
diminishing the number f Judges Of tn General
Court, were on motion G Mr.. SCOTT, Of Fau-
ulicr, read a second time, amended and ordered
10 an cngrossment.
On motion Of ar. WATSON, the following
wa. agreed 10:
Whereas, doubts have arisen, whether the act
entitled ian act to redIce into one act the acts
10 disable officers Of he Continental Govern
ment from holding Offices under the authority
Of this Commonwealth, passed Jan. 10th, 1919,
does or does not disablc the Senators and Re-
representatives. Of Virginia, in the Congress oil
The United States from holding the appointment
of Visitors Of the University Of Virginia:
Resolved, / ereCre, BY he Senate and House
Of Delegates Of Virginia, that tn above rccitcd
&c. shall not be Construed 10 prevent or N any
manner di.qu.lify any such Senator or Repre-
sentative from accepting Or holdingthe place oil
Visitor Of The University ,iorcsaid.
Mr.. RlVES presented q petit on OF citizens
of The county Of Prince George, asking amend
ments to the Fcrcc avs Of tn State.
A bill imposing taxes for tue support OF Co.
yernment, was read a second tim, and amended
in several particulars The changes made IN
the Tax Law Of Ia I year are substantially as
follow. $40, instead Of $50, on each bowling
alley; IS, instead Of 30, on c ich bowling alley
a, any Of tie Mineral Springs or watering
faces $50, Instead Of $50, on billiard tables
At watering places. 4 piovieo vas added. That
III towns witii i population not exceeding ",Oht,
if|aIctloG sal 10 n-texccrd 10000 dollars, tGe
IA, Of - dollars Only shall be paid; also, a
~provi-o, tGat auc'inaccrs III towns. with a Popu-
ia ion 10, exceeding 3,Go0, shall for the first
scar paw a tax of twenty ~dollars.l
The Tax Bill was passed over, in order to
! rruce d 10 the joint order Of the day, W.:
sL.cTi,: - fs.!rs&Ti,KT STagEEGEPEa.
Mr.. ~SiiEFFEf nominated James G. SPOTS,
the prescp, Incumbent, and went into an ex
tended explanation Of the discrepancy which
appears in he storskct pcr's accounts. Every
| ,I,inr is correct rs between the Commonwealth
and The storekecper; every entry properly made;
but in the inventory, at the end OF The year, IS
a deficiency of 1873 dollars. Mir. ). proceeded
to show that the agent dId not knowingly and
wiliuIly withhold The accounts OF sales. Inc
discrepancy might have occurred from a lall
ure Of h. clerk Of the Board Of Directors to
Motif, the storckecpcr Of Tie reduction Of prices
| on par ocular articles Mr.. 5. read = table,
showing that Mr.. Spots had sold more than
any previous agent; and that the cost Of the raw
materials, PURCHASED By MIR. 5, was less thin
that of any other agent. The concerns Of the
office had been properly and judiciously
managed. Mr.. Shelley had received more than
...t. 1ot,o,. from, r,errhnpfC in Richmond
Several Of which lie read, showing their cordial
appro ialion Of the integrity, fearless imparti-
alty. industry, punctua!ity, excellent business
habits, aid good judgment and carciulncss Of
,.r. spot. III Iii pu ciiases. Mr.. Spots, upon
a:oerta ming the discrepancy, Immediately paid
into tic trea ury every dollar Of the 3,O0O dol
lars. the ap. aren't deficiency. For several years
a discrepancy had appeared; but twas found 10
he an error in the inventory. The committees
had unanimously acquitted Mr.. Spots of all i'm
~pu,atlon upon his official integrity; and the err
ror was IN Tie Inventories, which, il seems, had
been loosely managed. The agent had been led
10 believe that II Was not his business TO a tend
II the taking Of the inventory; and The directors
should have scfulinizcd nc matter more care
fully. The Discrepancy might be explained BY
Tie ncn-eniry Of sales by clerk, by The neglect 10
enter The reduction Of prices by Board Of Direc-
tors, or by tie robbery Of the servant. The
resolutions Of the commit &c would hereafter
prevent the recurrence of such mistakes.
MIR. THOMPSON of Botetourt nominated
Douglass b Lawn, well known to The House as
ir every way qualified for the office.
Mr.. iiARVlE nominated David c. Randolph,
4 man Of high character, a fine merchant, and ex-
ccllent accouOiau,, and 4 gentleman occupying
a position which would serve IL extend the bust.
ness Of The ctficc, ant promote the interests OF the
commonwealth.
Nj. LANlER owed il TO The House and 10 the
country 10 make an exposition OF the repor.s OF
the committee, which were uniavorable TO the re
e~tec.iun Of MIR. Snotls. He read the 18th section
OF the act OF lo2l, requiring The Storeseeper 10
take an inventory Of thc goods on hand aud make
out his account, showing tn. amount oi moneys
en- hand, debt onist. :diDs, and amu1n; CT manu-
f~aciures n land. The law Of 1898 lid not re.
lieye The asenI, hot only required hat The Drec-
Tors should dtteE: the taxing oil The invenioTy.--
TIE inventories were taken, and were Pui in'o
the hands Of The Agent. Until Mr.. Spots came
in;o iii =. inc Aeenis had made their reports cor
respond win the nvcn,nries-bui, since lhatiime,
III no single year had his been the case-aE6
every repnr: was incorrect and false, in regard 10
The amour! OF manufactures on hand. MT
Spots cannot Tow contend that The deficiency
was p~ro~uced BY tie failure 10 deliver The goods,
because Ire Agent had gone by The inventory OF
the Superintendent. In every case, Mr.. Spots
had received credit tor the discounts ID The price
OF goods. Ii The Beard o, Directors had done
their cu;y, instead oi relying on The integrity and
fidelity OF Mr.. Spots, Inc mistake would never
haze occurred. Mr.. L. COMMENDED thai Nj. 5 had
used lie pubic money, and had 50 presented his
accoua!s Is 10 conceal he !sci from Inc Board oil
Directors. Inc dscaGienis showed hat The Agent
had he. icf eaca year IS. 0G0. without paying a
cent .. ih.e.esl. II We elect Mr.. Spots, We pro-
claim 'ha' any pubic of, eF may hereafter ialsi.
y his Teporis, aad u.s. Tie public money with i'm
puni'v, ard yet b. T~e.elcc!ei 10 Office.
a.r. PRIZE aef"n!ed the honesty o. Mr..
Spots which had been aimiue,. BY the Com
m'ilees. Ihe!e was no Justification OF his &C.
Counts. Mr.. 2. went on 10 explain lac discre.
pancy. He had seen nothing 10 shake his con-
lderce N ihe competency OF Mir. S. and he was
not prepared 10 strike down an homes, and ia lib.
ful agent.
Mr.. DORMAN paid a cordial tribu'e TO The
chafac'eroi Jas. S1prs-who was ackuowl.
c+s"i'o 6e honest arr beyond suspicion. He ap.
,ya''a - nc raasnenig.it? AMI generosity at ,he
House, "ns'ts' ;t-Y ~cg'i destroy lie rc;,ua 2.
I - ant>.'ke ieWG ~ !.anc,t man. because OF a
siGse ef!o!, which hc hal MT attempted 10 con
tsat hi ~: July Acknowledged. VIII The
t"u.e ~ ct'eaiiHg llc |,!sction OF Mr.. Spots.
5rdri l. : 7ame and s"nd ;3lh the i'm prc.s sion ha'
he Is tefau!;er. and has cmbczzled The public
mone,7 For, whatever resolutions be adopted
here, no.hiGg car reverse such an impression, il
Mr.. Spots be nov struck down.
Mr.. LANCASTER, who was on The specia!