Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-04-30
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
EXTRA SESSION.

SENATE. Saturday, April 2Oth.-The follow
ing bills were passed in the Senate:
House bill No. lO1, concerning colored per-
sons as witnesses.
House bill No. 102, authorizing fduciaries to
compound and compromise liabilities due to or
from them.
Senate bill No. Y, to authorize the County
Court of Amherst to sell the stock held by that
county in the Orange and Alexandria Railroad.
Introduced by Senator Mitchell, by leave, and
passed by suspension of the rules.
House bill No. l19, imposing taxes tor the
support of the Government.
This bill was reported from the House Of
Delegates by special message through Mr.
Crump. Senator Keen made an unsuccessful
effort to amend it so as to make the tax on per-
sonal property twenty instead of thirty cents,
but the bill was passed without amendment
ayes, 10; noes, 7.
House bill No. 12l, to amend and re-enact
the 18th section of an act for the assessment OF
taxes on persons, property, incomes and salaries.
House joint resolution No. 95, appointing
commissioners to resurvey, retrace, locate and
erect monuments on the boundary line between
Maryland and Virginia. on the Eastern shore.
Senate bill No. "A, to amend and re enact the
9Th section of an act passed April Is, 1867, en-
titled IAN act to provide for the completion Of
line of railway from the Virginia seaboard to
the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, by facilitating
the completion of the Virginia and Kentucky
railroad"
introduced by Senator Boiling, by leave, and
passed under suspension of the rules. The orr
ginal bill proposed to allow the consolidated
company sac years to construct the New river
improvement; and Senator Dulany moved to
amend by restricting the time to t,co years, but
his amendment was lost.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES
The bill imposing taxes for the support of the
State Government was passed by vote Of "a
ayes to 9 noes.
House bill 12l, to amend section II of an act
for the assessment Of taxes on persons, property,
incomes and salaries, was read second time,
ordered to engrossment, engrossed and passed
under suspension of the rules, by vote OF
ayes 6S. noes one.
The bill allows commission of two and a
half per cent. on all taxes assessed to the COM
missioner of the Revenue so assessing, but on
taxes in excess Of $4,000 in any district or
county the commission shall be but one and a
half per cent.
Senate bill So, authorizing cities, counties and
towns to borrow money at rate of interest not
exceeding ten per cent, to pay subscriptions to
stock in internal improvement companies, was
passed by vote Of ayes 3S, noes 80.
SENATE. Monday, April 22nd.-A resolution
was introduced by Mr.. Dulany declaring the
right of the members of the Senate and House
Of Delegates to their per diem during the recess
Of twenty days, from the 2lst Of March to the
10th Of April.
1t was opposed by Mr. Gray, notonly because
the Senate had passed an act declaring it should
not be allowed, but because he did not think
them entitled to it.
Mr. Keen and others said the Senate had no
Il, ~ -
tutional and not binding. He thought the pay
of representatives entirely inadequate-it did
not meet half their necessary expenses, and he,
for one, was determined to have all the law al
lowed him, on the principle that the 'labourer
was worthy of his hire. -
Mr. McRae opposed it, because he thought
after passing such a law the Senate were moral
ly bound to abide by it; and he introduced a
substitute to that effect, which was determined
in the negative.
Mr.. Keen then introduced as a substitute for
MIR. Dulany' resolution resolution to rescind
the law passed at the adjournment prohibiting
members from drawing their per diem during
/ the recess, which was accepted by Mr.. Dulany,
and, after some discussion, was adopted by a
vote of IL ayes to 10 noes, and sent to the House
Of Delegates.
A resolution was adopted to increase the per
diem of Mr.. Pendleton, Assistant Clerk Of the
Senate. to S. per day-the sameas allowed the
enrolling clerk Of the House.
BILLS PASSED.
Senate bill No. 43 to legalize coupon bond
issued on the lst day of July, 1854, for the sum
of 1000.
Senate bill No. 60, explanatory of the Sd sec
| ton of the act passed February 18th, 1866, en-
titled ''an act amending the 38th chapter of the
Code edition of 1860 in relation to the assess
ment of taxes on licenses.
Senate bill to amend 9Th section of the act of
| December 10Th, 1866, in relation to the South
western Virginia Mining Company
REGULATING RAILROAD AND CANAL CHARGES.
The Senate bill! to amend an act entitled an
| act to provide for the regulation of charges on
railroads and canals, within the State, passed
| March 3D. 1867, was taken up.
| Pending a lengthy discussion on the merits
of the bill the Senate, on motion OF Mr.. Dulany,
| adjourned.
| HOUSE OF DELEGATES
The Committee on House Expenses reported
| the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Clerk Of the House of
| Delegates be allowed the same per diem for his
services at this session, excluding the recess,
as was received by him at the late session.
| The resolution of the committee, after a de
| bate, in which several members participated,
| was agreed to-ayes 4S, noes II.
FINANCIAL.
! Mr.. Crump reported from the Committee of
Finance bill to authorize the Auditor of Public
| Accounts to transfer funds payable upon the
warrant of the Second Auditor, on account OF
the interest on the public debt, which was order
| ed to its second reading.
On motion of Mr. Crump, the bill was amend
ed so as to provide that the semi annual pay
ment of interest required by said act providing
| for the payment Of the interest on the State
| debit be continued until otherwise provided by
| law
| The bill was then ordered to its engrossment,
and finally passed
| MUTUAL BANKING COMPANY.
On motion of Mr.. Baldwin, the Senate bill
| entitled an act to incorporate the Mutual Bank
| ing Company of Richmond, was taken up out
| of its order, read a third time, and passed.
SENATE, Tuesday, April 23rd-A message
| from the House Of Delegates, by Mr.. q Turn
er announced the passage in that body of the
| following resolution:
| Resolved, That with the concurrence of the
| Senate, the House will, on Monday, the goth
instant at o'clock, P. NJ, adjourn sine die.
After considerable discussion and various
propositions to amend, the resolution was final
| ly concurred in.
BILLS PASSED.
House bill, No. 131, to authorize the Audi
| tor of Public Accounts to transfer funds, paya-
| bIa unon the warrant IF tho Sacond A uditor IN