Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-02-22
GENERAL ASSEMBLY. OF VIRGINIA.

Justice, reported billlegalizng the act of ex-
listing officers ofthe State, and to fill vacancies
IN the same. A motion to lay upon the table
for printing and make the bill the special order
for Thursday was lost The bill was then taken
up, discussed, acted upon by sections, and or
dered for engrossment and third reading.
The bill is as follows:
WI ereas grave doubts are entertained
whether the adoption of the present Constiiu-
ton has not vacated the judicial and other Of
fees of the State, the Legislature, to quiet such
doubts doth enact
SECTION |. All officers, executive, judicial,
and others holding offices of the same character
with those provided for by our present Consti-
tuition, and who were exercising the functions
Of such Offices on the 26th of January, 1870,
are authorized to continue to discharge the duties
of such Offices until further provided by law.
SECTION 2 All acts done since the 26th of
January, 1870. by said officers, in the proper
discharge of the duties Of such Offices. are here
by legalzed and confirmed Provided That
all officers of whom bonds are now required by
law for the proper discharge of their respective
duties shall renew their bonds with good securi-
ty, in the penalty now provided by law, within
twenty days after the passage of this act: And
pr0cided, LII no term of the court before which
any officer is required to give bond occurs be-
for the expiration of said period oftwenty days,
then said bond shall be given at the next term
Of the court thereafter: And provided further,
That in any county where the next term of the
county or corporation court after the passage OF
this act shall occur within ten days thereafter,
| in that case the said officers shall be allowed
until the second term of said court to give the
bonds hereinafter mentioned ~
SECTION 3. If any of the officers mentioned
in the preceding sections shall fail to give the
requisite bond within the period therein fixed,
| their said Offices shall thereupon become vacant.
aud shall be filled by the appointment of the
Governor, with the consent of the Senate, said
appointments to expire upon the qualification
OF their successors except that vacancies in the
offices OF clerks OF courts shall be filled as here
matter provided. F etas s
SECTION 4. The Office of circuit and county
court clerks shall be vacant at the firm term of
the respective courts hereafter held by judges
elected under the present Constitution, and such
Judges shall at the said first term of their re-
spectiye courts appoint clerk for said court, to
continue in Office until his successor shall bere
gularly elected and qualified. In any county
where there is no clerk of the circuit court, then
the judge of the county court of said county, so
soon as elected and qualified. shall appoint the
clerk for the said court.
| SECTION s. This act shall be in force from
| its passage.
House bill for the adjustment of the public
debt with the State of West Virginia was taken
| up, upon motion of Mr.. Herndon, and passed,
aud communicated to the Governor.
HOUSE OF DELEGATEs-The following bills
were reported and placed on the calendar:
| To incorporate the Richmond and Allegheny
Railroad Company.
| To incorporate the Winchester and Luray
Valley railroad.
| The following bills were passed.
| Spuafn hill IpcnrporatIuO tha Harrison HI, re-
and Rawley Springs Turnpike Company. Sent
| to the Governor.
The House bill extending the charter of the
| Franklin Society and Library Company, of Lex
ington. Sent to the Senate.
The House proceeded to the consideration of
| the bill reported from the Committee of Courts
| of Justice ito protect the property of house
holoers and heads of families until the provi-
sons of the homestead law can be carried into
effect" sea eeto
Mr.. Walker, of Westmoreland, addressed the
House at some length in favor of substitute
entitled:
| A bill to prevent the seizure and sale of pro.
perty, under execution or otherwise, until the
enactment Of laws necessary for carrying into
effect the provisions Of the 18th article of the
constitution, concerning homesteads.
Mr.. Kelly Of Smythe followed in favor of the
BILL and against the substitute.
Mr.. Woodson of Craig moved to pass the bill
by for the present Adopted.
House bill No. 6, to provide for the appoint
ment and qualification of Superintendent Of
Public instruction, was taken up and read. The
bill fixes the salary of that officer at So 500 pei
annum
Mr.. Gilmer, of Henrico, moved to strike out
that sum and insert 81 000
The ayes and noes we're called and the mo
ton was lose by a vote Of fl ayes to II noes.
The bill was then ordered to be ensrossed.
SENATE-Thursday, Feb. l7th.-Mr. Wad-
dell offered bill to incorporate the lnterna-
tional Land, Loan, and Trust Company. Re-
ferred to Committee on General Laws.
Mr.. Wadde introduced bill to amend sec
ton % Of chapter 20 Of the Code. The bill
provides that where certificates are lost, adver-
tisement of loss must be inserted for four weeks
instead of three months, as formerly. The
Auditor is authorized to renew certificates upon
proof of advertisement as above provided. =
Put through its various readings and passed
under suspension of the rules.
The bill legalizing the acts of existing Offices
of the State and to fill vacancies in the same
was passed.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES. "A bill ''to enable
officers now holding offices in Virginia by mill
tary appointment or otherwise 70 hold over un
til their successors are appointed" &c., was re.
ceived from the Committee on Courts of JUS
tice, and placed on the calendar and ordered to
J be printed.
Mr. Southall, from the Committee on Court;
of Justice, presented report setting forth tina,
the term of Hon. John w. Johnston, United
States senator, will expire on the 3rd of March
1871, and that the election for his successor i:
required to be held by this General Assembly
. on Tuesday the 22nd instant, and they recon-
mend the adoption Of joint resolution provi
ding for the election on that day.
Mr. Bell, of Augusta, offered substitute
declaring it inexpedient to take any action ir
regard to the election of Mr. Johnston's sue
cessor at this time.
Mr.. Bell, in supporting the substitute, took
the position that the Legislature which mel
October 5, 1869, was a regularly-constituteo
Legislature, and that the election which took
place on the second Tuesday thereafter was &
valid election. The election of Mr.. Johnston
successor therefore, should take place on the
second Tuesday after his term shall expire ID
March, 1871.
After further discussion, the consideration Of
the subject was, on motion of Mr.. Southall
chairman of the committee, postponed.
House bill to provide for the appointment
and qualification of superintendent Of public
instruction was read third time and passed
by unanimous vote. Sent to the Senate
SENATE Friday, Feb l8th-Mr Waddell,
from the Committee on Finance, rep ort ed abi
as substitute to Mr.. johnson S joint resolution
giving members pay during the short recess
with the recommendation that it pass The bill
provides for the payment Of per diem for the
period between the 9Th and 18th of October,
but prohibits payment during the recess from
October to February. The bill was taken up
| and paccod