Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-12-11

to make the communication.
On motion OF Senator Coleman, twas
Resolved, That the Committee of Roads and
lnterna! Navigation, when appointed, be in
structed to enquire into the expediency OF
authorizing the Virginia Central Railroad Com
pany to complete the Covington and Ohio Rail
road IN the event that negotiations now pending
there or by commissioners appointed IN an act
OF the last Legislature shall fall and report by
bill or otherwise
Senator Trout, by leave, introduced bill en-
titled "A bill to incorporate the Virginia Ex-
press Company
On motion of Senator Trout the rules were
again suspended, the bill read second time,
and referred to the Committee on Roads.
Senator Robinson offered hefollowing resolu-
lions, which were adopted.
Resolved, That the Committee on Finance,
when appointed, be and they are hereby instruct
ed to enquire into the expediency of authorizing
exchanges Of coupon bonds of the State for
registered bonds, and registered bonds lin like
mannerl for coupon bonds at the pleasure OF
the holders.
Resolved, That the Committee on Finance,
when appointed, be instructed to enquire into
the expediency of amending the 47th section OF
the act imposing taxes for the support OF the
Government. passed February 2Sth 1866, by
striking out the words and an additional tax
performance; but this latter tax shall not be
less thanfive cents for every person who may
have attended Or shall attend such perfor-
nance. - ~ ..-s,s see asi4
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
The House met at noon, the Speaker in the
| Chair and was opened with prayer by the Rev.
DR.. Woodbridge.
The minutes of the preceding day were read,
and Messrs. Magruder, Kelly and Butt were
| appointed committee, to act IN conjunction
| with a similar committee from the Senate, to
wait upon the Governor and inform him of the
| readiness of the Assembly to receive any COM
munication.-
A communication from the Clerk containing
| an abstract from the reports Of the clerks OF
courts, was referred to the Committee of Courts
/ Of Justice
- HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. r;s. ye
Mr.. Garnet offered the following resolution,
which was referred to the same committee:
/ Resolved, That the Committee of Courts OF
Justice are hereby instructed to report as early
as practicable, a bill providing for exempting
from forced sales, under execution or otherwise,
| a homestead of-acres of land, or of the value
of-dollars, and providing for the relief ofin-
solvent debtors and to prevent the sacrifice OF
property sold or offered for sale under executions
| or attachments
Mr. Garnett said the resolution did not squint
at reputation, which he spurned but he con-
sidered it his duty to endeavor to protect, in
asome way, our suffering people. ~
Various committees were then announced.
| A number Of resolutions were then referred
among which were the following:
| By Mr. A. j. Clarke-A resolution instruct
ing the Committee on Finance to enquire into
the expediency of exempting all manned and
| disabled soldiers from taxation. Referred to
Finance Committee
I By Mr. Cabel-A resolution instructing the
Committee for Courts Of Justice to enquire what
| legislation is necessary to expedite criminal
trials and diminish the cost thereof, and especial
| ly into the expedlency OF vesting the county
courts with final jurisdiction in all criminal cases,
except where life is involved. Referred to the
/ Committee of Courts of Justice
By Mr. Straughan-A resoluting instructing
/ the Committee for Courts of Justice to take
into consideration the propriety and expediency
of amending the criminal laws OF the Common
wealth so as to increase the amount constitu-
ting petit larceny to $50, and to give the county
courts power to impannel a jury at each term
for the trial Of criminal cases and that said
courts shall try and determine all cases of petit
5ass;ss Deferred to Committee for Courts Of
| By Mr.. Cabell-A resolution instructing the
Committee for Courts of Justice to inquire into
the expediency of repeating so much of thestay-
law as authorized the collection of interest on
the lst Of January, 1867 and that they inquire
what legislation is necessary to prevent the
serious sacrifice of property under forced sales.
| Referred to the Committee for Courts of JUS
| tice.
SENATE. Wednesday December 5th.-The
President announced the standing and Joint
Committees Among others, the following
c1Y1tIo off OBJ tod
/ By Senator Bolling-That the Committee of
! Courts Of Justice inquire into the expedency of
amending the existing law for the annual meet
ing of the Legislature ON the first Monday in
December, so that hereafter the annual meet
ing shall be on some early day in the month of
January, and report by bill or otherwise
By Senator Trout the Committee for
Courts of Justice inquire into the expediency
OF reporting bill to repeal an act passed at the
last General Assembly, entitled AN act regard
to the printing OF acts OF private corporations
By the same-That the hour of meeting of
the Senate shall, until otherwise ordered, be
IL o'clock, M.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES 81.
VIRGINIA EXPRESS CoMpANY.-The bill to
incorporate this company was read for the first
time. @sHH
The act Incorporates Messrs. NJ G. Hartman,
CuO. ID. flluOf, w LII. NucIIduSuIU w IN. fraZ-
Ter, Jos. R. Anderson Jas |. A. Trotter, B.
B. Donaghe, c. w. Purcell, Thos. Branch, j.
NJ. McCue and their associates into company
called the Virginia Express Company, the
capital stock to be not less than $4,000 nor
more than $4,000, 900. The Office is to be lacat-
ed in Richmond, and one of the provisions of
the bill secures to the company the entire ex-
press transportation business over any Virginia
railroad consenting to the arrangement, on con-
dition that one per cent Of the receipts of the
company over such line in excess of the amount
paid such road shall be paid into the State
Treasury.
The rates charged by the company must not
exceed by more than 50 per cent the railroad
charges. One half the sum subscribed to be
paid on subscribing, and no certificates ofstock
to be issued until the whole sum subscribed by
any individual is paid in.
On motion to read the bill for the second
time, MIR. 4. Turner opposed the bill on account
of the novel features contained in it.
Mr.. VIM. Turner moved to lay on the table.
Carried
MIR. u. Turner moved to print. Adopted
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr.. Garnett offered resolution instructing
the Committee on Finance to report bill
providing for the sale of all the interest owned
and held by the State in railroads, canals, and
other improvements and property, excepting
only such as is absolutely necessary for the oc-
cupancy and conduct of the State Government,
md f,,yfbar To hat +bo de- oF