The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-04
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.
"WEDNESDAY, December 3, 1896.
SENATE.

WEDNESDAY, December g. 1896.
SENATE.
The Senate met at the usual hour Lieu
tenant Governor COwPER in the chair. There
was no prayer.
BILLS REFERRED.
The following bills were receised from the
House. read twice and referred to the Com
mittee on General Laws:
An act to authorize the County Court of
Washington county to sell the stock owned by
said county in the Virginia and Tennessee
Railroad Company.
An act to authorize the County Court OF
Washington county TO borrow n sum of money.
PETITIONS.
Mr.. GILNER offered the following petitions ::
OF Rose Noyland. asking the incorporation of
St Francis 1nfiunary. Referred 10 Commit
tee on Public Institutions Also, the petition
Of 5. p Mitchell and Andrew Johnston, exc
cutors of w. Mitchell Referred 10 Commit
tee of Courts of Justice.
INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL COMPANY OF NOR
POLK CITY.
BY Mr.. RoBINsON.-An act TO incorporate
the International Commercial Company Of
Norfolk city. Referred to Committee on
Roads and Internal Navigation.
THE UsURY LAWS.
On motion of Mr.. KEEN, the bill to amend
the Usury Laws was taken up.
Mr.. BOILING opposed the hurried passage OF
the bill He thought that legislation affect
ing, as this did, so vitality the interest of all
the people of this Commonwealth, and espe-
cially the agricultural interest, should be most
carefully considered. He himself wished TO
examine the bill with a view to its amend
ment. He had, during the recess, consulted
his constituents upon II.
Mr.. KEEN urged the immediate passage Of
the bill. The country required its immediate
passage. The agricultural interest needed
money to carry on its work. That interest is
the only source of wealth. He opposed fixing
any maximum rate of interest, allowing the
parties TO fix that by contract. He believed
that any maximum that could be fixed would
come, by common consent, to be regarded as
the leguL rate. He wanted to open the flood
gates and let money in: Virginia must have
money or 90 to the dogs.
Mr.. Boiling replied, urging the policy OF
fixing Il maximum. The banks and money
lenders should not be allowed TO take advan-
tage Of the necessities OF the people and fix
upon them ruinous rates of interest. The
effect of abolishng all limit to the rate Of nte-
rest would be 10 mortgage the whole agricul-
tural interest of the State. He hoped that no
such bill would ever pass. He was willing TO
fix the rate as high rs ten per cent.
Mr.. GILMER, replying, considered that tn"
condition of affairs, as stated by Mr.. Boil
LING, offered the strongest motives for imme-
diate action. He would not give Il smack of
his finger for all these national banks, so far
as they were of benefit TO the agricultural in
tercst of the State. They came here TO make
Mr.. CAHELL urged that action on this bill he
postponed on account of the small number OF
Senators present; there being but seventeen in
their seats.
Mr.. BoyD moved that the bill bc laid on the
table and made the order of the day for the
nth of January. Carried.
Mr. KEEN moved 10 take up the HOuce bill
10 authorize the Richmond and Danvillc
Railroad Company TO borrow money. 1t was
accordingly taken up, read third time ana
passed unanimously.
On motion of Mr.. G1LMER, the House bill
amending the charter of the Virginia Fire ana
Marine Insurance Company was taken up un-
der suspension of the rules read third tune
and passed.
The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
House met at usual hour. SiXty-tWO mem
bers present. Prayer by Rev. DR.. Hopson, OF
the Campbcllite Church.
VIRGINIA FIRE AND MARINE INSURANCE COM
PANY.
A bill 10 amend the charter of this Company
was read n third time and passed
ELECTION or CONSTABLE.
Mr.. WApprLL offered resolution inquiring
into the eXpediency of providing by law that
in election for constable, whore 4 candi-
date shall receive twenty votes, he shall be
deemed elected.
MAPS FOR LIBRARY.
Mr.. WADDELL offered resolution liQulIlhS
into the expediency of authorizing the Ii.
brarian TO subscribe for n limited number OF
county maps, prepared from notes OF survey
made during the late war.
PROPERTY DESTROYED DURING THE WAR.
Bill TO provide for preparing and preserving
a list of property destroyed by opposing forces
during the war. After some discussion, on
motion of Mr.. JoYNEs, the bill was indefinitely
postponed.
HORSE STEALING.
Mr.. GIBBONEY offereda resolution inqulrlne
into the eXpediency of making the penalty lol
horse stealing capital punishment.
RICHMOND AND DASvILLE RAILROAD.
Bill to authorize this road to borrow five
hundred thousand dollars was taken up and
passed The House was adjourned at ] clock