The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-02-16

vernon CowPER.
COMMITTEES MADE REPORTS.
Mr.. GRAY, from the Committee on &c.
neral Laws, submitted Q report stating that
they had had under consideration tan &C:
relating to interpretations by the Circui,
Courts" and its effect upon the powers
and duties Of the General Assembly 10 re-
gard to such bills, and they are Of oPlnion
that the power having been conierreo upon
the Circuit Courts to grant rene, ~ se.n
cases, the General Assembly Is, oy article
Z. section IS Of the Constitution, prohioited
from interfering by special legislation.
The committee will therefore, unless other
wise directed by the Senate, decline to
report any bill which would fall within the
jurisdiction of the Circuit Courts under
the act referred to.
Mr.. KEEN, from the Committee on Roads
and Internal Navigation, reported the fol-
lowing Senate bills, without amendment :
Bill to facilitate the continuous trans
portation Of passengers, baggage, and ton
mage as between the Virginia and Tennes-
see, Southside, Norfolk and Petersburg,
and Richmond and Danyille railroads;
Bill to secure interchange of cars on all
connecting roads and through tickets on all
roads In the State;
Bill authorizing the Board Of Public
Works to sell the States interest in the
Dismal Swamp Canal Company;
Bill authorizing the Richmond and Dan
VILE Railroad Company the better to pro-
vide for its liabilities by the creation of
new mortgage.
RELIEF BILL.
A. rol;ar &c tha N ob
riffs of the Commonwealth was taken up
and passed, with an amendment-yeas, q
nays, none.
THE STATE DEBT.
Senate bill in relation to the obligations
Of the State, ETC., being the unfinished bu
siness of yesterday, was taken up, and Mr..
BOILING moved TO pass by the further con-
sideration of the bill for the present, in
order to take up the bill to provide for the
completion Of the Cumberland Gap rail-
road. After debate, the Senate refused to
pass by; the vote standing yeas, 10; nays,
10.
Mr.. Boiling being entitled to the floor,
Welded it to Mr.. MEADE, who addressed
the Senate in opposition to the bill and
substitutes heretofore offered, and offered
q substitute for the bill and its several
substitutes. Mr.. MEADE's substitute was
ordered to be printed. 1t is identical with
that introduced in the House by Mr.. SEA-
WELL.
Mr.. BOILING then proceeded to address
the Senate, taking ground against the sub
stitute of Mr.. LEE in an able speech Of an
hour, in which he contended that two
thirds of the State debt, amounting in the
aggregate to s2S, 600, 900, should be paid as
follows: Two per cent. on the lst of July
and three per cent. on the lSt Of January
next. To do this would require tax of
twenty-five cents upon the one hundred
dollars, and would leave in the Treasury
on the lst of January, 1868, $4,000.
Mr.. LEE next addressed the Senate in
favor of his substitute to issue certificates
for a portion Of the interest due on the
State debt, said certificates to be receiva-
BILE In payment Of public dues.
Mr.. MITCHELL called the previous ques-
ton.
A protracted debate ensued between
Messrs. COLEMAN, GRAY, DULANY, and
KEEN.
On motion of Mr.. OULD, the subject of
the State debt was passed by until to-
morrow.
BILL PASSED.
Senate bill to authorize the County Court
of Lee county to empower Charles w.
Rourke and others TO construct dam
across Powelfs river.
On motion of Mr.. DAVIS, at near 4
o'clock the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
Prayer by Bishop Doggett, of the Me-
thodist Episcopal Church, South.
The Journal and the Senate message
were read, and Senate bills referred.
Committees made reports, including
bills; which were placed on the calendar.
BILLS, RESOLUTIONS, ETC.,
were introduced and referred:
By Mr.. WATKINs.-A bill to amend and
reenact section IL OF chapter 81 of the
Code of 1860, in relation to poor-houses.
By Mr.. observation-disclosures the
Radford Iron Company, and for other pur-
poses.
By Mr.. LEoNARD.-A bill amending and
reenacting the I'd section of Gan act au-
thorizing the county court of Norfolk
county to borrow money, and for other
purposes" passed January 20; 1866.
By Mr.. PowELL.-A resolution for limit
ing speeches in the House on local bills to
fifteen minutes, and on general bills to not
exceeding twenty-five minutes.
By Mr.. WOoDsoN. bill to incorporate
"The Harrisonburg Female Institute" in
the county Of Rockingham.
By Mr.. wooLDRIDGE.-A memorial OF
W. L. Watkins and others for money due
from the Board Of Public Works.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
On motion Of Mr.. z. TURNER, the bill
".making an appropriation to the promo
ton of education in primary schools" wa
made the order Of the day for Monda!
next.
THE JAMES RIVER AND KANAwHA BILL
was, on motion of Mr.. CRUMP, passed by
THE PENITENTIARY.
The Senate bill for the government and
Reorganization Of the penitentiary came
no In order, and was read.
Mr.. WORD made an Intellectual effort tt
amend the bill 80 as to restore the appoint
ment Of the superintendent's clerk TO the
Governor. The bill gives 1t to the super
intendent.
The bill was amended in some unim
porrant particulars.
Mr.. EVANS then moved substitute TO
the whole bill, and opposed the bill itself
He showed that seventeen sections OF thu
long bill were without any change what
ever from the Code, and that eleven other
contained the merest verbal alterations
entirely unnecessary. He said the mail
feature Of the bill was the adjustment 0
. the Board of Directors-a change which M
objected to very emphatically. There wa
not railroad or other incorporated com
psny in the country which had not it
board OF directors. In abolishing tn,