The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-03-02
' General Assembly d Virginia.
WEDNESDAY, March l, 1871.
= SENATE.

MIR. J. A. WADDELL, president pro tenn,
in the chair. Prayer by Rev. Mr.. Hardin.
A communication from the Clerk Of the
House of Delegates, notifying the Senate OF
the passage Of large number OF senate
bills, was read.
HOUSE AMENDMENTS TO SENATE BILLS AGREED
TO
To bill amending section 81, chapter 43,
of the Code, In relation to the fees OF clerks
In criminal cases.
To bill for relief of the collector Of texes
for the county of Page.
bill appropriating money for extension
of Eastern Iunatic Asylum.
To bill to amend and resnact section 49,,
chapter 1874 of the Code, as amended, con-
corning the allowances Of certain officers.
To bin to amend and resnact chapter 14
Of the Code, In relation to the recovery Of
the possession Of real estate.
[The above bills now 60 the Governor for
approHal.]
SALES OF REAL ESTATE.
Mr.. ANDERSON, of Rockbrldge (by leaye),
introduced bill for the assessment of q
tax of one-fourth of one per cent. upon
certain sales of real estate when was re.
terred to the Committee of Finance after q
second reading. D .f.
:; ~.': BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION. No.
MFR. ANDERSON, Of Rockbridge, from the
| Committee on Immigration, reported, with
amendment, Senate bill for the establish
ment of bureau Of immigration. Placed
| OF the calendar. " ia. -.....
n TIE TAX BILL. r.. -.
Mr.. SNowDEN moved that the further con-
sideration of the tax bill be resumed.
TIE bill was then taken up, amended in
some unimportant particulars, and ordered
to engrossment. -.-s... ..t.
A bill for the relief of the sureties OF Jas.
NJ. Gibson, late sheriff of Wise county, was
| passed. e.. s.'.'
CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO RAILROAD BILL.
MIR. WApDELL moved to take up Senate
| bill No. 1876, for the extension and compile
ton; of the Chesapeake ana 0hlo rallroaa.
MIR, SNowDRN objected. He desired TO
have an opportunity to present some
Mr.. HERspoN was in favor of taking up
the bill now.
Mr.. WADDELL did not propose to put the
bill beyond the stage of amendment to-day,
but would like to see it advanced as far as
possible.
MIR. SNowDEN contended that more time
had been spent this ession in considering
railroad bills than in all other legislation
together. A similar bill had been intro
duced in the House, and the probabilities
were that both bills would be under con-
sideration to the exclusion of other i'm
portant measures. He called attention to
the fact that there were twenty vacant seats
in the chamber.
Mr.. PENDLEToN thought because num-
her of Senators chose to vacate their seats
to 90 home to attend to their private bust
ness to the neglect Of their public trust, it
was no reason why the Senate should re-
fuse to do its duty towards this railroad
company. He was the more disposed to
favor it because it was the first bill they
had brought before this Legislature, and
because they had come here without the
artificial aid Of a lobby.
The Senate took up the bill.
The bill and the substitute proposed by
the committee were then read.
Mr.. French opposed the adoption of the
section in the substitute which allowed the
construction of a branch from Staunton to
Washington, on the ground that it practi-
cally destroyed the franchise recently
granted the Shenandoah Valley Railroad
Company.
MIR. Owen said that the bill was the most
remarkable one that he had ever read. 1t
conferred the most extraordinary and un-
limited privileges, and was equivalent to
giving this company the right to do any
thing they wanted. He was rather in favor
of a general railroad law. This was an
open charter, under which the company
might monopolize the railroad business in
Virginia, and swallow up all other COM
panies. Its terms were indefinite and sus-
ceptible of the most astonishing construc-
ton.
Mr.. WADDELL explained that the terms of
the bill were necessarily indefinite, because
no survey had yet been made.
Mr.. OWEN again took the floor in opposi-
ton to the open character of the bill. He
would doubtless agree to the objects said to
be intended, but these objects must be spe-
cited.
Mr.. PENDLEToN thought the objections of
Mr.. Owen groundless, and proceeded to eX-
anime the bill in detail.
AT the conclusion Of his remarks the Sem
ate adjourned.