The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-01-11

sccoans sno py tne Frendents OF joint STOCK eomps
nies for the amounts due by the State account of
its subscription to their respective capital stocks
These drafts bear two endorsemenn-ous By the
and the other by the Second Auditor stating they
will be paid with interest when in funds.
On the 9th of February last The Board passed an
all drafts on the fund Of ntsrnsl Improvement from
paid"
4: In answer to the last enquiry ito state by what
authority It has been undertaken to bind tho Com,
mon ealth for tho payment of interest,"" the Bosrd
have TO say: That In regard to that portion OF the
above stated Indebtedness, which had been incurred
IN the construction Of works solely State account
In the absence of any statutory inhibition, the Board
debtor, unable to pay debts due by oontrsct.-and
with view TO the safety of the credit and good faith
OF the State, did not feel at liberty refuse to give
just-between debtor and creditor that when pay
ment was made not only the principal would be Ii.
maturity of the debt, should also be paid.
In regard to the claims of joint stock companies,
there was difference, which consisted simply in the
hibited by statute Whether the statute ever con.
templated, such extraordinary state of affairs as
nave been In existence for the last twelve months
merely looked to the protection of the fund of inter
nal Improvement against unnecessary demands ia a
question which may be regarded as relevant to the
Wn SWSmmunicstion' However, the Board of Public
portant improvements of the State were involved in
serious EN- barrassments: The Board was unable to
och shc pouub Oh the state tt their value: the
companies had made contracts for the vigorous prose-
cution of their respective works and the
had in their employ large and expensive forces Be-
not be for several months.
The alternatives therefore presented to the Board
as they supposed were to agree to pay interest on
tnose drafts, and thus make them negotiable and en-
able the Companies to realize cash for them and con.
tlnue their works. unable to paw the prncipal to
a,o to pay thus deprive the Compa
MES OF tho power to borrow money upon them and
force them to suspend their work dsband their
forces bankrupt stockholders and contractors, and
bring into dlsepute the good name and credit of the
State The alternative chosen the Board are happy
TO believe however opposed it may be to the letter Of
the law, has resulted in great advantage to the yar
dollar in money to the State for it is proper here to
remark that under existing circumstances the State
required to pay no more than if the Board had sold
oonos 70 the amount OF the present outstanding drafts
In conclusion, the Board direct me to saw that at
ther present meeting drafts have been present.
cd ed tor payment amounting in the aggregate to $40
9oI 49, and it may be that before they adjourn others
Will be presented. OF those ON their table, the
sum of S3l5l6 SO is for work constructed solely on
S,a.e secount and the Board will feel no hesitation
tofore The balance of $lo9 $50 "a is composed en-
hIely OF the drafts of joint stock companies, upon
the Board will decline to pay interest unless other.
wise directed by the Legislature.
Very respectfully, your ob't serv't,
w. R. DRlNKARD,
Sec'y Board of Pub Works
The communication was laid on the table and
ordered to be printed.
QUESTION OF ORDER
Mr.. LEE moved the reconsideration of the vote
by which the bill ''for the relief of Watson R.
Cobbs" was rejected, on yesterday.
The SPEAKER asked Mr.. L. if he designed to
change his vote Mr.. L. answering that he did
not, the SPEAKER declared that the motion was
then out of order-that in his opinion, the motion
to reconsider, with that reason for it, was unpar-
lamentary and he desired on this occasion to raise
the question. If the House sustained this decision
the rule would be hereafter understood if it did
not 1t would be equally well understood as contin-
ulng the practice of motions to reconsider as acts
of courtesy to MEMBERS which ho said consumed
the time of the House, and he thought ought not
to be allowed.
Mr.. BoSDURANT took an appeal from the decs.
lon OF the Chair, which appeal argued by
Messrs. IMBoDEN, TOMLIN and BoNDURAET in op-
position to the Speakers decision, and by Messrs
CARTER and RUTHERFORD in favor. The SPEAK.
Err made further explanations In opposition to
the SPEAKERS decision, 1t was assumed that the
practice of the Legislature had been invariably to
permit persons voting with the majority to move
reconsideration of a vote by which q measure was
rejected, and the right of the Chair to demand of
the member proposing motion for reconsideration
his reason for making such a motion, was denied.
After some time spent in the discussion, on mo-
ton of Mr. ToMLIN, the subject was laid on the
Ia BILE until tomorrow morning
DEEPENING THE APPOMATTOX
On motion of Mr. CLAIBORNE, Resolved, That
ency of reporting bill providing for appropria-
ton of 100000, to deepening the Appomattox
river six miles below Petersburg.
DEEPENING JAMES RIVER.
On motion OF Mr. ELLYsoE, Resolved That the
Committee of Roads and Internal Navigation, en-
quire into the expediency of approprating $780,.
900 for the improvement of the navigation of
James river below Richmond, ON condition that
the Council of the city of Richmond appropriate
similar sum for that purpose.
Mr. PIvpx nT pnIF A.. AZ
port of the Committee of Courts of Justice adverse
to the resolution inquring into the expediency of
authorizing the trustees of the Methodist Church
to sell certain real estate in the county of Morgan
be taken up in order that he might move to reverse
the decision of the Committee. The proposition
was for authority to sell some old churches, with
the view of building new ones The church was
unwilling to incur the expense of the legal process
necessary to accomplish their object and they ask
ed for the authority at the hands Of the Legisla.
ture.
Mr.. PBNDLEToN, of Giles, opposed the motion to
take up. The Committee doubted the authority
of the Legislature to act in the premises to save
the expense of litigation to the church; and Mr..
RUTHERFORD read a clause in the constitution
which prohibited the Legislature, with few ex-
ceptions named, of which the under considera-
ton was not one from interposing in matters over
which the courts had jurisdiction.
The House refused to take up the subject
Resolutions of enquiry, &c, were offered and
adopted and appropriately referred, viz BY Mr..
HOLDEN: OF SO amending the 18th section of chap
ter n of the Code of Virginia, as to authorise
trustees to hold real estate conveyed for school
house purposes to be used by the public BY Mr.
HowELL-Of appropriatng 5000 on the part of
the Commonwealth to complete the Floyd Court
House and Cave Spring Turnpike. By Mr..
HowELL-Of incorporating the Carroll County
Copper Company of Virginia By Mr.. PENpLE-
TON, of Giles-Of incorporating a company to con-
struct turnpike from the Salt Sulphur Springs,
by the Salt Pond in Giles, to some point on the
Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. By Mr. CHRIS
TIAS-of amending the l1th section of Seth chap
ter of the Code, so as to give TO turnpike compa,
nes sufficient right of way only, instead of fee
simple in the lands condemned for their use. By
Mr.. RoBERrs-Of refunding to Mary g. Cook the
amount of q tax improperly assessed.
PETITIONS
Petitions were presented and referred to appro-
pirate committees:
By Mr. TYREE: OF John Ryan, to be attached
to Raleigh county. By Mr. MARTIN OF VIM. H.
Grimes and Others for bridge across Cheat river,
at State expense. By Mr.. NEWTON: OF citizens
of Taylor, for precinct election. By Mr. HoLLA-
DAY: Of John Thompson and Others citizens of
Marshall, for renewal of the charters to the
Northwestern and Merchants and Mechanics
Banks of Wheeling. BY Mr.. CLAIBORNE OF the