Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-01-27
Legislature of Virginia.

lSOoN0o w ILS citCllOU Vi I@leulSIdub 0ON6FuOT.
VIM. l.. Jackson, Esq, the late incumbent was
unanimously elected
The bill to extend the Roanoke Valley Rail.
road from Gainesville, in Mecklenburg, to some
point on the Richmond and Danville Railroad
at or near Keysvie, was passed.
H0ase.-A large number of bills were report
ed from standing committees. Mr. McCue, from
special committee, reported bill to establish
a school for persons of imbecile minds in the
Commonwealth of Virginia.
MIR. VERIFY reported joint resolution for the
appointment of joint committees to visit the
Lunatlc Asylum of the State
The House elected VIM. L. Jackson, Esq,
Lieutenant Governor. Nothing else of interest.
IUEsDAY.-tSenate.-Am message was received
from the House, announcing that it had agreed
to the Senates resolution to inquire into the ex-
pedency of abolishing the Board of Public
Works. as now organized Also, that it had
passed bill relinquishing the claim of the State
to the estate of Margaret Sheyer, devised by her
to the poor children of Stanton. The bill was
passed by the Senate Also
A bill was reported, prohibiting the Board of
Public Works, or any other agents of the State,
from contracting to pay for any work of inter-
nal Improvement larger sum than that appro-
priated for such work, and making them per-
sonally liable for an excess in expenditure of the
amount appropriated.
The bill providing for the enlistment of young
men, between the ages of IS and %, in the Pub
lie Guard," came up on its second reading. The
bill changes the present organization into an e.
educational, as well as military one. After
some discussion it was laid on the table.
HouSe.-The Senate bill making an appropria-
ton of $1,000 to the. Institution for the Deaf and
Dumb and the Blind, at Staunton, was passed
by the House.
A bill authorizing loan to the Orange and
Alexandria Rail Road Company, was made the
order of the day for Monday, 1st February, at
o'clock, and daily thereafter, until disposed Of.
A bill providing for the completion of the
Covington and Ohio Railroad, was made the or
der of the day for Tuesday, I'd proximo, at o.
clock, and daily thereafter until disposed of.
WEDNESDAY. -Senate.--Among the resolutions
of inquiry was one by Mr.. Stuart in regard to
compromising Commissioners of the Revenue for
registering the Militia
The Senate discussed the bill authorizing the
Board of Public Works to receive from the South
Side Railroad Company its bonds, in lieu of the
interest already due, and the next sem-annual
payment falling due on loan from the State,
otherwise, funding the whole debt of the Com
pany to the State and giving it thirty four years
to discharge the debt, the Company, in the
meantime, to pay per cent. on the debt.
HouSe.-A bill from the Senate, accepting the
grant of the sites of the birth place of George
Washington, and of the graves of his progenitors
in America, and providing for the enclosure
thereof, was passed-yeas 1913.
THURsDAY.-Senate.-Th Committee of Fl
nance reported adversely to remuneratng con-
tractors on works of internal Improvement, for
losses sustained by the depreciation of bonds or
certified drafts of the Board of Public Works,
which were received by them for labor on pub
lie works.
The bill for the relief of the South-Side Rail-
road came up. Mr.. Stuart offered an amend
ment, it reads as follows:
Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that
the Board of Public Works are hereby authoriz-
ed and required Should the Southside Railroad
Company elect so TO pay the same) to receive
from the Southside Railroad Company payment
of the arrears of interest due to the State, and
falling due upon July l, 1858, inclusive, in 10
years from and after the said 1st July, 1858,
payable in equal semi annual instalmeDts, on
the 1st of July and 1st of January of each year,
with interest at the rate of per cent. per an
mum, upon so much of said arrear of interest as
shall remain unpaid upon the said 1st of January
and LIST of July of each year.
Provided, that nothing in this act is in any
way to be construed as in any wise affecting the
interest on said loan of 100000 which may &C
crue after 1st of July, 1858 but the same shall
be paid in the manner now provided by law and
the terms of said law.
| provided, further, that whatsoever the net
revenue of said company shall amount to % per
cent on the sum of $4,000, then the said COM
pany shall increase its payments into the treasury
of the State by the sum of 20 per cent. upon the
instalments required by the 1st Sec of this act.
The proviso in brackets is an amendment by
Mr.. Armstrong, which was adopted
The vote was taken on Mr.. Stuarts substitute,
which was adopted.
House.--On motion of Mr.. Sweeney, the bill
from the Senate, providing for an increase Of
aiors' fees for keeping and supporting prisoners,
was taken up, and the pending amendments be-
ing withdrawn, was passed-yeas 101, nays 20.
On motion of Mr. McCue, an engrossed bill to
authorize the Dora coal and iron mining COM
pany to construct a railroad to its mines, was
taken up.
After some discussion of its merits, Mr.. Seldom
offered q ryder prohibiting the said company
from transporting any passengers, and any freight
other than the product of their mines over the
said railroad Pending the consideration of this
proposition, the House adjourned.
! FRIDAY. - Senate. - Among .tlS bills reported
was one increasing the capital stock Of the James
River and Kanawha Canal Company and au-
Ithoyizins the Stats to take larger amount of
stock in said company,
An act was passed to form a new county out
of Tazewell county.
The bill "for the establishment of the North
Western Virginia Lunatic Asylum" was taken
up The bill authorizes the Governor to ap-
point seven commissioners to select q site for
the asylum within the bounds of the third dis
trict, set apart for the election of commission
err of the Board of Public Works Various a.
mendments were offered until the bill was so a.
mended as to leave the entire portion of the
State west of the Allegheny mountains open to
the location of the asylum. 1t was then laid on
the table, on motion OF Mr.. Catlett, who gave
notice of his intention to offer an amendment
House-After variety of business of no in
terest, the House resumed the consideration of
the engrossed bill to authorize the Dora coal and
mining company to construct railroad to its
mines Some time was consumed in discussion
of the measure, the ground of opposition beinga
supposed right of way in disguise to existing i'm
provements with which the proposed railroad is
designed to be connected.
Mr. Fitzhugh offered an amendment to the
pending ryder, providing that the said company
shall have no authority under the act to invade
or occupy the lands of Others, for the purpose of
constructing said railroad, without the consent
of the owners of such lands.
The amendment was agreed to-yeas7S. MIR.
Seldom moved an indefinite postponement of the
subject, which was negatived, and the bill was
then laid on the table.
SATURDAY Senate.-Th bill for the estab-
lishment OF new Lunatic Asylum being up.
Mr.. Catett offered an amendment providing for