Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-12-11
From Richmond.

! session but short time again to-day. The
Committees have not yet gone fairly to
work and Of course there is but little business
before either House, the time Of the sessions
being principally occupied in the introduction
of bills resolutions, petitions, &C., which, I'M
| der the rules, have to 90 to committees. BY
next week the 'preminarieS will have been
arranged, and then for ~ork, and if the meul-
bers will H1I, the session need not last over
sixty days The only fear is that, with pockets
full of free tickets over the lines of travel in
the State, the members will not remain in their
seats The abolition of the free passes sys-
tenn would do more to shorten the sessions Of
the General Assembly than any other one
thing and it should be done. otherwise. WAS
the case at the last session. both branches will
; be frequently without quorum. Another bad
sign, however, Is the appearance, III the Lobby.
of certain well remembered taces-sonle OF
those gentlemen of Influence and standing, whn
anxious for the welfare of the State have
lust come down to see what's going on, and
while here find out that such and such little
bill is before the Legislature, and would like To
have it considered fairly on It's merits. 1t
certainly can do no harm, costs the State moth
ing and therefore ought to pass. And by and
by there will be more familiar faces, and then
strangers, and then, lust a word if you
please to the members as they enter the CAPT
to and then 'ring" is formed, and then
WAR begins, and then the States interests
and all other interests must give way to this or
that great measure, aud the business for
which the Legislature convened Is put OF TIL
the last moment and done so hurrlediy that the
chances are that it will not be right, and the
Ill thn,- uI,1,,- H.,
1t is to be hoped for the sake of the fair name
and fame of the old Commonwealth, that the
scenes of the last session are not to be reenact-
ed, although it is given out that certain meas
ures must be pushed through, never mind at
what cost
Iu the Senate, to-day. so much Of the Gov
errors message as relates to change OF the
jurisdiction and organization Of the Circuit aud
County Courts, was referred to a joint ccn-
mlttec.
Bills were introduced in relation to the com
pensation Of Overseers Of the Poor: concern
; ing the removal of causes pending IN one Court
to another; amending the act prescribing duties
, and compensation Of township othcHs, SO as to
give to collectors the duties and compensation
heretofore performed by constablcs in civil
cases.
\ number of resolutions of inquiry we're in
} troduced: Among them, tn prevent excessive
5 and illegal evics by township boards; to au-
} thorize a tax to be levied for tue support OF
public free schools alone by the Legislature. and
to provide that said schools may be continued
for three months in the year. to secure a
prompt and faithful accounting by all collectors
of taxes aud their punishment i'll cases Of de-
falcation regulating the recordatlon of deeds.
&c as to responsibility of the sureteS Of Il
!, sheriff on his official bonds: extending the jurs-
diction Of police justices and Justices OF the
peace. &c.
The Senate bills in relation to the rule days
of County and Corporation Courts, and in re:
lation to horse stealing, were read Il second
time.
+ A Joint resolution proposing an amendment
Ito the 18th article Of the Constitution OF Nlr
aTiuia, in relation to the manner in which
amendments to the Constitution are made, and
prosiding for the publication of said amend
meat for the communication thereof got
thsee Resolutions I: ,'|1D HG "a, Assembly,
&c. went over
Mr. Ward introduced the following preamble
and resolution, which lie over under the rule
Whereas. the financial condition of the people
of this State is such that it would be i!leNredcnt
and burdensome to have to increase the rate ol
taxation at this time: and whereas it is uncertain
whether the present rate of taxation Will raise
sufficient amount of revenue to pay the interest
on the public debt rs required by the Funding
Bill and the current expenses Of the State gov
, eminent; therefore, be it
Resolved BY the General Assembly of Virgin
ia, That the Auditor, or proper funding officer,
be- and he is hereby, directed to discontinue any
, further issue of the bonds from this date,
until such time as the matter can be enqulred
into, and such legislation be had in the premises.
should any be necessary rs the public interest
may demand.
: In the House of Delegates, Senate joint reso
luton to extend the time for the collection of
county and township leves till the 18th OF
] March, under suspension of the rules. was
, placed on the calendar.
6 Upon the second reading of the bill to ex-
tend the time for the collection of State taxes,
an amendment was proposed to relieve from
the penalty of per cent those who had failed
r to pay their taxes and extend the time until
February lst 1872. Referred to the Commit
tee on Finance
A large number of resolutions and bills were
! introduced and referred, among them, resolu-
f tons directing the Committee on Finance TO
inquire into the expediency OF leasing the penl-
Tertiary to the highest bidder as to the expedl-
ency of reducing townships to the smallest pos
sbe number; as to the expedcncy of amend
ing the Code so as not to accept the receipt or
a constable as prima facie evidence OF the pay
ment of money; and also to amend the law so
as to reduce the limitation of action on official
! bonds to three years; to regulate the record
of deeds, &c., relating to property located in
county within the jurisdiction of Corporation
Court; as to the expediency of providing fora
re-assessment of the land of the Commonwealth;
as to the cxpedency of amending the pilot laws
Of the State; to appoint committee to cores
pond with the immigrant associations OF other
States and to promote Immigration; as to the
expediency of amending the law in regard to
roads; relative to the payment of balances due
school teachers.
Also, bills to amend the act prescribing the
duties and compensation Of county officers; to
amend the code in relation to the justices OF
the peace; continuing the payment of interest
and dividends to the Incorporated colleges aud
other seminaries of learning in the State.
The Governor was requested to inform the
General Assembly what number OF aids, secre-
,pfS ny