Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-10-13
LEGISLATURES OF VIRGINIA.
extra SESSION.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER Q, 1863.
NM mn

have considered the resolution OF inquiry u
them referred, "whether any Of the railroad
compsnieso of the State ayecbarged higher rates
of tolls on transportation than are prescribed
in the Code" &c. The several companies;
! excepting the Virginia and Tennessee, ana
| the Richmond and York River railroad, ana
| the Norfolk and Petersburg, and the Manas-
sas Gap railroad, have communicated specihc
answers to the interrogatory involved, which
answers are herewith returned. All the rail-
road companies which have answered the en-
~auiries, exceed the specific rates prescribed
by the Code but it is commended that the true
construction of the law authorizes them to
average their entire rates, and thus they may.
perhaps, come within the legal rates. All Of
them insist that the present legal rates are
insufficient, under present prices of materials,
20 permit them TO keep their roads running,
| and the statements they submit seem TO sus-
| tain the proposition. The committee having
reported q bill in reference 10 the subject
ask - be discharged from the further conslde-
ration Of the resolution.
The report of the committee was agreed to.
Mr.. DICKINSON, Of Prince Edward, from
the Committee on Finance, reported a bill Tor
the relief Of W. A Bra1ton, Of King William
county
Mr.. Dickinson, from the same committee,
also reported @ bill to repeal the act passed
March 5, 1862, entitled Gan act to authorize
the issue of registered stock to DR.. Peter +.
Brown in lieu Of two lost bonds.
Mr.. CHRISTIAN, Of Augusta, asked leave to
introduce o bill to supply deficiencies in the
appropriation for the support of the Central
Lunatic Asylum. Leave being granted, the
bill was read twice and referred to the Com
mittee on Public Institutions.
MIR. LYNCH asked to be excused from serv-
ing on the Committee on Salt. The request
was granted. and Mr.. JOHNSON was appointed
! Cd said committee in place Of Mr.. LYNCH.
BILL TO SUPPRESS AMINO E.
The bill to suppress gamiug was then taken
up, and, on motion Of Mr.. Seldom, who said
| the bill was Of too sweeping q character, it was
laid on the table.
TOBACCO BILL.
The bill from the House Of Delegates to
amend and re-enact the 4th and 9Th sections Of
| the SIth chapter Of the Code, relating to the
prices paid for receiving, storing and deliver
ing tobacco in the different warehouses in the
State, was taken up, the amendments pro-
posed by the Senate committee were agreed
to, and the bill was passed.
ARMISG AND EQCIPPING THE MILITIA.
ut>ulll " dIul anu equip lHS Dll!llla was
taken up on its second reading.
Nj. RANDOIpn explained the objects of the
bill and the necessity of promptaction on the
part of the Senate.
The bill was then ordered to be encrossed for
third reading
REVOLUTIONS.
The following resolutions We're offered,
adopted and referred to appropriate commit
ties
BY Mr.. TAYLOR Of Montgomery-That the
Committee for Courts Of Justice be instructed
to inquire into and report what legislation, if
any, is necessary to prevent the circulation Of
the newspaper known Us the Raleigh Stand
ard" within the limitsof the Commonwealth.
By Mr.. DoUGLAs-That the governor be re.
quested to ascertain and report to this house,
whether any of the machinery belonging TO
the ,States Of Virginia has been removed from
the armory at Richmond, or whether it is in
contemplation to do so-the point Or points TO
which it is proposed to carry it and the rea-
son for such removal.
BY Sir. DICKiNsOS-Of enquiring and report
ing what legislation is necessary (if any to com.
pei co-terminous railroads in the State to main.
tain a connection in their respective schedules,
and to prevent an interruption in such connexion
without notice.
BILL TO REGULATE PRICES.
The bill to regulate prices being the order
Of the day, was taken up, the question being
on the motion Of MIR. GUY to strike out the
fRt section Of the bill.
Mr.. KEEN said he would feel unworthy Of
the trust con6ded to him by his constituents
if he were to sit quietly in bis seat and let this
bill pass. The bill under consideration is an
,agonistical of every principle for which we
are fighting in this war, and he had not sup
posed that there was q man who would Justify
its principles except upon the plea of military
necessity" Gentlemen argue that this bill will
regulate prices. 1t is q well settled principle
that supply and demand regulate prices and
the gentleman from Marion, (Mr. NEEsos,)
says that it is not pretended that there is want
in the country to justify the high prices. lie
MIR. KY should not stop toargue this part of
the question. Suffice it for him to show that,
with the II counties now not in the possession
Of the enemy, the State is not a producing
country. lie could show by facts and figures
that this is not a self-sustaining country
And yet we have a Confederate law which
takes from the farmer one-tenth in kind Ofhay,
corn, wheat, &C., and, as if this were not
enough, yoa come back under this bill and
take from him the little pittance left for the
support of the soldiers widow or family. The
farmer is required to pay ST5 per pair for
shoes, three dollars per pound for sugar. an
enormous price for cotton cards. and these
prices ere constantly on the increase &; yet, by
this law, be is not allowed to charge but a
certain fixed price for his produce if he does.
he is liable to be brought before a Justice of
the Peace and tried for misdemeanor.-
The gentleman from Marion (Mr. NEEsoN)
entered into a long TRADE against spectators
and extortioners. Sir, the refugee who. comes
into the city and purchases tobacco or other
articles at a price which will enable him to
sell them again at a profit, should not be stig-
matized. II is ungenerous to stigmatize
every man who pursues his daily avocations
of life in an honest and legitimate way as a
speculator. But he (Mr. KEEN would not
stop to argue this point. The principles of
this bill were unwise and deleterious to the
best interests of the State and to the country.
The people of this State want no such bill as
this to enable them to carry on the war. 1t
was q species of Puritanism that had COM
nlenccd in the New England States.
Unlike the gentleman from Richmond city
Mr.. RANDoLpH) he would not vote for this
bill if instructed to do so by every man, wo-
man and child in the county of Pittsylvania.
Mr.. Cur opposed the bill. He denied that
the prices fixed we're sufficiently remunerative
to the producer. Tho bill would benefit the
speculator and induce the producer to 90 into
other pursuits, where his profits would not he
cut down by q scale of prices. Trade should
not be restricted. This bill will prevent many
articles from being brought here which are
needed they will be driven away. Industry
will be paralyzed by it, and capital will 90
into non-productive pursuits where prices are
untrammeled and unrestricted. Tho way to-
reduce prices is to stock your markets with
food and fill your farmers harms with subsist-
ence. Then supplies will find their way to
market, our army will not have to subsist on
half rations. and our cavalrY will have rlentY