The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-10-12
LOCAL MATTERS,

were called into eternity, and when 90
many valuable lives We're lost. He also al
luded elOquently to the many af1ictions
with which Providence had been pleased to
visit our people, and prayed that they
would bear them with patience and hope.
Inc Committee on Courts of Justice re.
ported bill in relation to grand iuries,
which is the same as the bill already passed,
o,m!ttlng the requirement as to freehoiders.
Ihls is in compliance with the Governors
message on the subject.
The Committee on Finance reported q
bill which contemplates substantial relief
Tor many OF our people who have suffered
by the recent flood, though rather broad in
its provisions. The bill provides that in
the, counties ofGoochland, Fluvanna, Buck
lneham, Albemarle, Powhatan, Climber
land, Appomattox, Nelson, Amherst,
Campbell, Rock bridge, Augusta, Rocking
ham, Shenandoah, Page, and Warren, the
citizens thereof shall be released from the
payment of taxes of 1870, and the sheriffs
are reqnired to suspend the collection Of
taxes in the said counties until 1871.
The bill amending the county office bill
offered by Mr.. George Walker and placed
upon the calendar under a suspension of
the rules. proposed an improvement upon
the awkward phraseOlogy of the section to
be amended, and makes a change requiring
commemorative attorneys to reside in the
the counties for which they are elected.
The bill authorizing the Board of Public
Works to sell the armory buildings has
been passed. This is good thing, for it is
TO be regretted that so valuable i piece of
property for manufacturing purposes has
so long lain idle. The Board has discretion
rs to the best time for selling.
The commission on the adjustment of the
States debt with West Virginia submitted a
brief report Of some correspondence which
had passed between the Virginia commission
and Governor Stevenson since the last re-
port Of the commission. From this CORE.
srondence it would appear that the authori-
ties of West Virginia were by no means in
Il hurry to take any action in the premises.
Governor Stevenson apologies for very
long delay in replying to letter from Judge
Robertson, one of the Virginia commission
ers, by saying that he had lost his address,
and could not write until he could obtain
it from friend. He further writes that he
finds great difficulty in making up q full
tion of the General Assembly Of West Vir-
%inia, and until he succeeds in this he can
do nothing more on this score.
The usual number of bills and resolutions
were presented, and referred to their ap-
nroprlatC committees. Among these was
Il bill amendatory to the 1st section Of the
homestead act, which adds q proviso pro-
riding more clearly the means of testing
the rights claimed by parties under this act.
Mr.. jackson presented q bill in relation to
the support of illegitimate children, which
amends the present law by striking out the
word "white," and making the term for
which support has to be furnished FIVE m-
stead OF seven years.
The special committee on shell and other
fish have genc actively into the considera-
tion CT the very important subject Of fish
ing and oyster-taking, and, from the care-
full consideration given all laws under this
head, and the determination to do all pos
Siblc in the way OF legislation to encourage
and protect fishing and fisheries, the people
interested may rest assured that their in
tcrests will not be neglected.
The committee on yesterday reported n
hill amending the bill for the protection of
The ovster-beds, which extends the time for
laying out allowed nonresident purchasers
from thirty to ninety days.
Also, bill for the protection of bass
fishing in the Shenandoah, which imposes
penalties for the ttse of seines, stir, or dip
nets, or spears, for catching fish in that
stream for the next five years.
Also, bill to protect fishing in the waters
of the Roanoke west of the Blue Ridge,
which requires the owners Of dams to erect
shoots, slopes, sluices, or fish ladders, to
allow the passage of fish and prohibit the
use of seincS, gill, or floating nets.
The bill now in progress, and which will
doubtless be passed in q few days, atitho-
riZing the recovery of damages when death
is caused by wrongful act, neglect, or de-
fault Of another, is an important one. The
following are its provisions {:
81. Whenever the death of a'person shall
be caused by the wrongful act, neglect, or
default of any person or corporation, and
the act, neglect, or default is such SIS would
Gf death had not ensued) have entitled the
party injured to maintain an action and re-
cover damages in respect thereof, then, and
in every such case, the person who, or cor
porati0n which, would have been fable, il
death had not ensued, shall be liable to an
action for damages, Notwithstanding the
death of the person injured, and although
the death shall have been caused nnder
such circumstances rs amount in law to q
felony.
-. Every such action shall be brought
by and in the name Of the personal repre-
sentative of such deceased person, and for
the benefit of the wife, husband, parent,
child, and next of kin Of the deceased. The
action shall be instituted within twelve cal
endar months after the death Of the person
caused as aforesaid, and the jury may award
such damages rs it may seem fair and just,
and direct in what proportion they shall be
distributed amongst the parties for whose
benefit the action may be brought.
"3. The amount recovered in such action
shall be free from all debts and liabilities Of
the deceased, and shall (atter payment of
costs not charged to the defendant, and
reasonable expenses Of proSecution,) be dis
tributed amongst the parties for whose BEN
eft suit may be brought, in such shares as
the Jury may have directed or if the jury
shall not have directed in what proportion
the amount awarded shall be distributed, it
shall be distributed amongst them In the
proportions provided by law In relation to
the distribution Of personal estate Left by
persons dying intestate.
"a. This act shall be IN force from its
passage"
The election of judge Of the town OF
Staunton was the cause OF somewhat ami
mated discussion between the delegates
from that place. Mr.. Cochran, in nomina-
ting MIR. j. w. Green Smith, claimed that
he had been aggrieved BY bis colleagues,
who had always opposed him, or, to use his
own words, had endeayored to "h0und
him down" in whatever he sought to do In
this Legislature. Messrs. Hanger and Bell,
the friends of Mr.. Senator Waddeil, the ops
posing candidate, responded quietly, dis
claiming any slleh endsayor. The election
resulted iii favor Of Mr.. Smith by vote OF