Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-01-09
HOUSE OF nELEGAT

also, bill to authorize the McchanirsyiIlc Turn.
pike to borrow money. Laid upon the table and or-
drred to be printed.
vIRGINIA's pEBr DUE UNDER THE ACT or CONGRESS
or 1851.
Mr. GRATTAN. from the Committee on Finance,
reported the following hill:
WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States. on
the 9th day of August 1861, passed an act entitled
an act to provide revenue from imposts, to pay in
tcrcst on the public debt and for other purposes and
the amount to he paid by the State of Virginia Was
ascertaincd TO be S9)15j0 10; and, whereas, the
commissioners appointed by the Government OF the
United States have collected portion of the said
sum to he paid by the State of Virginia; butt is
desirable that the State should assume collect and
pay all the residue of the sum which may hereafter
be due and unpaid; therefore,
Be IL enacted By the Gcaer0i assembly, That the
State of Virginia doth hereby assume and agree To
pay by inStalmentS, in two years from the LIST day
OF January next, the amount that may be found
due aud unpaid from the State by the Secretary of
the Treasury of the United States This act shall he
in force from its passage.
The bill was read the lilst time
BILLS REFERRED.
By Mr.. HERNDON--A bill to incorporate the
White Hall Mining and Manufacturing Company
Referred To the Committee on Propositions and
Grievances.
By MIR. Evans of Richmond cty-A bill to
amend and re.enlcL the thrty-eghth section of
chapter l62 of the Code in regard to the trial by jury
IN civil cases.
REPORT OF JOINT COMMITTEE on PUBLIC PRINTING.
The joint committee Of conference on the subject
of Public Printing, beg leave to submit the follow
ing report:
The subject is one of great importance, involving
the expenditure of large sum Of money; aud is,
therefore, deserving of careful and deliberate exam
nation.
After fully considering the various plans which
In, al
the conclusion that the most efficient and ccunomi-
cal mode is tn elect Il superintendent of printing,
whose duty it shall he 10 let out the work to the low
est bidder, and supervise lis execution. The super
intcndcnt should lie acquainted with the printing
business but should he prohibited by law from par
ticpltng in the profits arising from the work. lie
should reside in the city of Richmond and be ut
hand Whenever his services may lie required Thus
4 competent, dSiniercSted officer would have the
work done. from time 10 tme on the most advan-
tageOuS terms for the Commonwealth and see that
it was properly done in every particular. The COM
muee believe that the services of competent SUI
pcrlntcndent be secured for salary not exceed
ing 81 600 year, and that the expenditure OF this
sum- in the way proposed, would be the means Oi
saving much larger sum to the State. The present
law allows the public printer ten per cent. on the
purchase of paper which of itself would go far to-
wards paying the Supcrimtcndcnts salary.
In connection with this plan it is important that
there should he u joint standing committee of the
General assembly. -. '."I- """-"i ''''-"-''.r"''"''
INTO the suptrntcndantS Transactions and also
direct what matter shall be printed. The Commit.
tee therefore recommend the adoption oil the follow
ing resolutions:
RcyoLrcd, I~t. That it is eXpedicnt to amend
chapter IS of the Code of 1860 u provide for
tLc direction of u superintendent Of printing, in.
stead of public printer, at salary not cNrccdn@
one thousand dollars year. 2d. To repeal chapter
~ ul Tho said Code 50 far ~ it relates 10 n public
printer; aud 81. To pass an act Prescribing the ,u.
ties OF said superintendent. All Of which is respect
tally submitted. JoHE y. WADDELL,
Chairman of House Committee.
A. chairman Of the Senate Committee Conicl-
cuCr, respectfully dissent from the above report.
aai the action of the committee. The ma jority OF
the Senate Committee OF Conference present con
CURED fully in the action of the committee on the
abpyc report, and Icer TO the elaborate reports OF
1852 and 1851 on the subject.
j. II. GILMER Chairman
OF Senate Committee.
THE ENoUiRER-EX iMISER DIFFICULTY-TuE INvES-
LEGATION OF MIR. POLLARD POSTPONED UNTIL
THURSDAY.
The CHAIR announced that under the head Of I'M
finished business, the investigation OF the case of
Mr. Pollard, charged with violation of the privi-
cges of the House, was next in order.
Mr.. Pollard appeared, accompanied by Judge OnId,
when Judge Ould said:
Mr.. Pollard had used every effort in his power to
be ready for the investigation of his this morn
ing; that he had despatched messenger TO Wash
ingtOn for Mr.. Butts, and had received telegram
informing him that Mr.. Il. had gone to Norfolk. II
was we'll known to the House that but two of The
witnesses who testified on Saturday, Mcssrs Marshall
ami Slaughter, were present during the occurrence
that Mr.. MaTShalIS attention was exclusively Occu-
pied ia observing Mr. Pollard's movements and that
Mr.. Slaughter wJS not IN situation To observe all
that happened. There we've other persons present.
whom MIR. Pollard hoped 10 discover, whose test
m0ny he was instructed 10 say would tend Ia show
that Mr. Pollard was first fired upon and throughout
acted in sclf-detencc. MIR. Pollard would also make
his own declaration on oath, purging himself from
any dsrc>pect or intended contempt to the llOusc.
Mr.. Pollard asked FOL pOStponement only until
Thursday, and the witnesses lac desired should no;
he present on that day he would ask for further
DELAY. Under these circumstances, he hoped the
House would not consider the application unlcason-
able.
After which he lcad the following:
On the - DAY of January, lSt6, personally up.
pedrca before me, notary public, in and forthc city
Of Richmond II. Il. Pollard, who being liIst duly
sworn on the Holy Evangelist, declares and says
That he cannot safely enter into the Investigation OF
his case before the House of Delegates at this time
owing to the absence Of material witnesses in his he
half; that ON Saturday last he dispatched a special
messenger TO Washington for Mr.. Butts, Of Norfolk
who he is informed and believes, is a material wit.
hess and who saw all the occurrences which TOOK
place on Friday last in the rOtunda of the capitol
that on yesterday he received special despatch from
this messenger, informing him that Mr.. Butts had
left Washington for Norfolk that he is informed and
believes lac can prove by said Butts that he at
tackled and fired upon by one OF the other parties be-
fore he discharged any pistol shot and that IN The
Use of firearms on the occasion, he was acting en-
trcly in Scli-delence and that lie believes he can So
the attendance of said Butts 50 as to Ia ready
70 proceed with the Investigation on Thursday next
city Of Richmond, to Wit This day personally ap
peared before he II. Riycs Pollard, who made OATH
that the foregoing writing IS true to the LEST OF lii
knowledge and belief.
Given under hand this IL Stl ,llV of January
| ls6i. JOHN A. COKE, y. F.,
City of Richmond.
The House unanimously agreed to the continuance
! asked for.
The SPEAKER stated that there were 4 number OF
witnesses and it was with the House whether they
should all be retained.
Mr.. Slaughter, of Culpeper, one of the witnesses,
IN Richmond upon business had called upon hm
aud stated the urgent reasons calling hun home
lie, however, advised tie witness 10 remain. II
there was no objection on the part Of the House he
would permit only n Il Witnesses should he re-
qnirrd t. attend suggested by tie defendant
and the members OF the House.
No one dissenting, tie defendants counsel named
Messrs A. X. Marshall, Of Fauquier Colonel b. F.
Slaughter Charles W. Butts, OF Norfolk.
The Sergeant-at. arms was therefore, ordered 10
summon said witnesses
On motion of Mr. GRATr,S the recopnizance of
Mr.. Pollard in the sum of 81 00O for his appearance
on Thursday, was ordered Ia be taken by the Ser
geant Arms
On the determination Of the IIonse 10 defer Mr..
POllards case the Chair stated that the discussion
OF the question under consideration at the time of
the occurrence was the changing registered State
bonds into coupons and that Mr. Turner. of Rappa.
hammock, had the floor; but he did not know whe-
ther lie yielded permanently or under the pressure
OF the occasion.
Mr.. TURNER thereupon resumed his argument
against the committees bill and continued 10 sneak
until one o'clock the hour fixed for special order