The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-04-02
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GENERAL AssEMBLY.--The following
are among the more important proceed
ings Of the last session OF that body:
The Hon. James +. Simmons was
elected Senator in Congress for six
years from the 9TH of March. This
election was made by rira roee vote,
in accordance with an act previously
passed directing the manner of electing
Senators.
An act was passed making the Report
er OF the Decisions Of the Supreme Court
elected by the General Assembly in
Grand Committee. The Hon. Samuel
Ames, Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court, was elected Reporter.
An act was passed for the appointment
Of three permanent Bank Commission
ers. They are to be appointed by the
Governor for three years, one to retire
at the end Of each year. They are to
visit each Bank in the State, at least
once in every year, aud to publish semi
annual reports Of their condition.
A new liquor law was passed, which
authorizes places where spirituous Ii
quors arc sold or gambling is carried on
contrary to law, or other vicious places,
to be proceeded against as nuisances (;
and unless the nuisance is ahated within
FIVE days, makes the owner Of tue build
ing responsible criminally.
The law Furnishing drunkenness with
Co. sho-k
pcaled, there is now no State law against
drunkenness, but it is punishable by
city ordinance.
The General Treasurer was author
ICED TO hire $4,000, which brings the
State debt up to the constitutional limit
Of $4,000. The General Treasurer
was authorized to anticipate the next
semi annual bank tax that falls due in
June, and to allow interest at six per
cent for the same.
The appropriation for the State Nor
NAL School was reduced to $4,000, and
the School Commissioner was instructed
to remoxe the school to the compact
part OF any town or city, when suitable
rooms may be furnished, rent free, for
not less than four years.
There was long debate on the mill.
tia law, but no change was'made in it,
and the former appropriation was con-
tinucd. William w. Brown was elected
Major General in place of Ambrose Z
Burnside, resigned. The vacancy in
the Second Brigade, caused by the res
ignatiou of Joseph S. Pitman, was moi
filed.
An amendment to the Banking law
was passed authorizing the banks to take
ono quaLtcr Of ono per cent. exchange
on home bills of exchange, or drafts
payable in the place where they are
drawn.
A long discussion was held on capital
punishment, but it ended in the incor.
poration of the present law into the re-
vised statutes, Furnishing murder with
imprisonment for life.
The salaries Of the Associate Justices
of the Suyrcme Court we're raised from
$1,000 to $1,000.
The law for the collection of debts
was materially altered. Executions will
run against real estate, and that de-
scription Of property is made RESPONSE
bic for debt althoug gh the debtor may
remain within the State.
The barbarous laws against railroads
that have disfgured our statute book
were repealed.
The salary Of the Lieutenant Gov
ernor was reduced from $500 to $3.50.
The tax law was so amended as to
make every person a resident, for the
purpose Of taxation, in the town or city
in which he resides for the greater part
Of the year.
The law prohibiting the courts Of the
State from taking cognizance of peti
tons for naturalization was repealed.
The act of releasing prisoners detain
ed for fine and costs was pronounced {
part Of tho pardouing power, and th'
House decided that it had no right tc
participate in it.
The law making the town responsible
for injuries sustained by persons fallin,
on the ice in the streets, and under wbicl
heavy damages have been exactcd, wa
repealed.