Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-12-18
From Richmond.

here IS the State debt, and the question Is
what to do with it? The resolution to suspend
the provisions of the Funding bill passed the
House to-day by an overwhelming majority,
and the action Was at once communicated to the
Senate. which body, it is said, will concur. In
the mean time there remains OF the debt, about
SIT, OO0,0 600 unfunded, some Of which, in all
human probability, will never be presented.
The vote In the House, although Indicative,
is not to be considered decisive as to the final
action On the question of repeal Of the Fund
ing bill, many of the members who voted tor
the resolution to suspend, not being committed
pro or con on the original bill. Among these
latter may be classed Messrs. Neale, Brooke.
Coghill and others, who wish time to con-
slider the question carefully, believing that the
cessation Of the funding would not be injurious
to any.
The House bill instructing the Auditor OF
public accounts not to pay the amount OF semi,
annual interest on the public debt, due and
payable on the first of January, 1872, was made
the special order of the day, in the House, for
Tuesday next, and Mr. Daniel offered Il reso
luton in conjunction with the above bill, and
asked that it be made the order OF the day
for the same day, to the effect that, whereas
the credit of the State had been affected by
recent legislation with reference to the funding
bill, that this body now declare it will not re-
pudiate any portion of the public debt.
On motion of Mr.. Mathew, of Loudoun, the
Attorney General was requested to give to the
or not the funding bill or any other existing law
provides for the payment of interest On the re-
funded debt Of the State, and whether or not
it is necessary to pass an act making an appro-
priation therefor.
The following is the joint resolution, III re-
lation to the funding of the State debt as it
passed the House:
Resoirai, (the Senate concurring) That until
proper steps have been taken, to ascertain the
entire amount that will be required to pay the
current expenses of the State government and
the interest upon the State debt, a. provided by
| the Funding Act and the increased rate Of TAXA
| ton it may nccc$Sitatc, should the whole debt be
funded, the Second Auditor be- and he is hero
by instructed to discontinue any further issue of
the new bonds until such time aS thr>ciacl> can
BE- aSccrtaincd, and such Legislation be perfected
in the premises, should amy be- necessary, a. the
public good may rcqLrr.
In the Senate to day, the House bill contln-
uing the payment of interest and dividends to
the incorporated colleges or other semlnarles OF
, learning in the State, was reported with an
| amcndpcnt.
The bill amending the code in relation to
ishmcnt three years in the pcuitentlary, and
the maximum eighteen years, instead of the
death penalty, was passcd-ayes %, noes ).
\ pcttion from the members Of the bar and
Judges of the court Of Appeals at Stauntou to
hold part session at Winchester, for hearing
appeals from the lower end of the Valley. was
presented aud referred.
Resolutions iuquiring into the cxpcdcncy OF
providing for rclSscssmcnt of the lands IN the
Commonwealth, and Ut abUllshlng the Office OF
register and dcvolviug his duties upon the town.
| ship clerk, were adopted
Mr. Taylor, Of Loudoun, introduced bill to
amend the 18th section Of chapter l9l OF the
| code edition Of 1860, as amended BY act pas
sed February Q, lS66-rctctred.
Bills were introduced and referred to amend
section Is of chapter Il, code OF 1860, i'll rela-
ton to infant and insane defendants, and the
appointment of guardians ad Item; to incor-
| porate the Virginia Iron Mining, Chemical and
| Manufacturing company, and for the secure
ment of policies of lite insurance held by cti-
zens of the State by requiring the investment
of premium reserve Within the State.
The joint resolution from the House provld
ing for disseminating the funding of the State
debt was taken up, and after warm discussion,
Was made the continuing order OF the day for
Monday, and as the election Of four judges aud
the capitol and peutentiary officers is set for
that day, as soon as that shall have been gone
through the joint resolution will be taken up,
when a protracted discussion is expected,
several ''set speeches being announced. The
proba bilities, however, are that the resolution
will pass the Senate by as proportlonateIy a
large majority as it did the House.
In the House of Delegates the following bills
tol
the calendar; to lease the Penitcntiary; to
amend the act relating to the charter Of the
town of LeesEurg, In Loudoun county amend
ing the act in relation to the privy examination
of married women, so as to authorize the tax
ing of such acknowledgements by Il single JUS
tice.
The Committee on Privileges and Elections
reported in favor Of seating PeterJ. Carter del
egate elect from the county of Northampton.
The Lunenburg election case was considered
upon the majority and minority reports Of the
Committee of Privileges and Elections The
majority report is to the effect that the election
not having been conducted according to law, is
null and void, aud the seat vacant The mi
nority report recommends further Investigation,
and asks that the committee be authorized to
send for persons and papers. After debate, the
minority report was adopted.
The Senate bill amending the act in relation to
rule days for county and corporation courts and
declaring when office judgments shall be hual,
was passed.
The House bill to amend the act authoriz-
ing the sale Of the States uterestin her works
of internal improvement, SO as to provide that
no stocks, bonds, debts, or clans held IN or
upon any incorporated company shall be sold
for less than their par value in State bonds,
was passed-ayes III, noes 0.
Among the bills, resolutions, &C., introduced,
were the following:
TO repeal portion of section #, O. San act
to establish and maintain uniform system of
public Schools passed July llth, 1870" in
During into the ezpediency Of SO amending
the law that when executions arc returned to
clerks office satisfied" that the clerk be re-
ouired to make this Il matter of record upon
the Judgment lien dock et; iDquiring W hat
means may be devised when a Judgment has
been satisfied, on which no execution has Is
sued by which payment in part can be made
o matter of record: and what would he pro-