Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-02-07
Virginia Legislature.
SENATE.

SENATE.
TUESDAY, February G.
eREsoLrrIoSs ADOPTED. - ,.
7Bv Mr.. KrEN--To enquire into the expediency of
making a portion of Bannister river lawful fence
BILLS PASSED. -
Senate bill 10 incorporate the Valley of Virginia
Iron and Manufacturing Company; Senate bill TO
INCORPORATE the Mount Vernon Company; Senate
hin 10 amend the charter OF the Midlothian Coal
Mining Company and Senate bill to incorporate the
Industrial, Mining and Manufacturing Company.
PERSONAL
twas announced that Senator Kello was pre-
vented by sic kness from being present in the Senate
ENCOURAGEMENT OF EMIGRATION. 4
vote by whirf1 the bill to promote and ems
courage emigration was defeated was recOnsidered,
a substitute was offered. which was ordered to he
printed, and the original bill was laid upon the
table.
REPAIEs OF THE CAPITOL AND SQUARE. &
Senate bill making appropriation of $4,000 TO de-
fray the cost of repairing the Governors house,
Capitol aud Capitol Square, was passed
. .f., SALARIES OF PUBLIC OFFICERS. .H rHf
Senate bill to repeal the act of June 22l, 1863 aud
10 revive .ertain sections OF the Code repealed by
said act, was taken mp.
Mr.. MITCHELL moved to reconsider the third read
ing in order to offer motion to reduce the salary
of the Auditor of Public Accounts from $1,000 to
So 5OO. ...
The vote was then reconsidered, and the motion
TO reduce the salary after some discussion, in which
MeSsrs. Gray, Peck and Mitchell spoke for, and
MeSsrs. Gilmer, Keen Meade, Robinson and Lee
against the amendment was auOped-ayes ~
noes 10.
The bill was then passed. 1t allows the following
COMPENSATION to the officers named:
The Governor five thousand dollars the Secre-
tary Of the Commonwealth, two thousand two hun
,lrrt dollars the Assistant Clerk one thousand dol
I,l5 ihn CnnViu1 l1rIE hundred dol
lars the Superintendent Of Weights and Measures,
three hundred dollars; the Auditor OF Public Ac-
counts, the sum of three thousand five hundred dol
lars: the Clerk of Accounts, two thousand dollars
the First Clerk, one thousand six hundred dollars
the Second Third aud Fourth Clerks, each, the sum
of one thousand dollars the Treasurer, the sum OF
two thousand five hundred dollars; the First Clerk
in his Office one thousand thlcc hundred dollars
the Second and Third Clerks, each the sum Of one
thousand dollars; but all fees and parquisites OF any
of said Offices shall he paid into the Treasury oil Tile
Commonwealth.
THE USuRY LAW.
The Usmy Law being the special order of the day,
was taken up. 1t will be remembered that the origl-
nal bill proposed To make the legal rate OI interest
six per cent bat permitted any specified higher rate
to be agreed To by written contract. The Boiling
substitute" also continued the legal rate at Sin per
cent Int, in eases of special written contract al
lowed banking corporations to charge not exceed
ing eight per cent. and private individuals not eA-
ceeding ten per cent. ..... ... j..
To this Mr. MEADE offered an amendment that in
all cases eight per cent should be the maximum
charged. This amendment was first III order. Mr..
Meade declined To withdraw his amendment, and
Mr. Boiling then amended his substitute 10y striking
out the Limitation of eight per cent in the case OF
banking corporations Mr. GRAY said lac should
sunpor the amendment of Mr. Meade; which was
opposed by Mr.. GILMER in lengthy argument, III
which he contended that there should be no maxi
mum, and that the uSury law was seldom, II ever,
peadcd in court lie concluded by saying that
Senators were not sent here Ia protect iii such mat
tiers men who were perfectly able to judge for them
ent law which never afforded any protection, had
produced nothing but ruin. lie still in favor of
the original bill, but would willingly accept the
substitute of six per cent legal and ten per cent by
contract.
Mr. MEADE said that his constituents Were opposed
TO the repeal of the usury law, and that they had
more than the average breadth of land in culliva-
t;on-al done without paying eight or ten per cent.
for the loan of Il single dollar.
Mr. KEEN advocated the entire and absolute repeal
of the ISury law and was in favor OF allowing every
man tn do what he liked with his own money
The amendment offered by MIR. Meade was then
ad0pted-ayes Is, noes IL.
Mr. KEEN then moved Ia lay the bill upon the
table. and said that he wanted another opportunity
u discussing it fully, which might also be the post
ton of other Senators.
The blu was then laid upon the table.
RECONSTRUCTION RESOLUTION.
Joint resolution passed by the Senate endorsing
the House, with the substitute passed by that body.
After some discussion the substitute was adopted,
and the Senate adjourned.