The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-09
evening stats Suarmal.
VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
FIFTH DAY,
MONDAY, December 8.

SENATE.-The Senate was called to
order at II O'Clock NJ, H. W. Thomas,
President pro tem., in the chair. Prayer
by Rev. John q. Edwards, of Centenary
NJ. Il. church.
The following preamble and resolution
was offered by Mr.. Cochran:
Whereas, There is just and great COM
plant ON the part of the honest mechanics
Of the State of Virginia against convict
| labor being brought into competition with
their own and whereas solitary confne-
ment, qualified or unqualified, as pun
| isment for crime, wherever adopted in the
| old or new world, has been productive of
the most salutare restraining and reforma-
! tory results; and whereas the present
| Penitentiary has become an eye sore to the
people of Richmond, impairing the sale of
| property, and seriously retarding the
| growth of the city, therefore
Rcsolced, That the Committee on Public
| Institutions inquire into the expediency of
amending the criminal laws OF the State,
and fully carrying out system
of solitary confinement, and also into the
expediency Of gradually erecting new
Penitentiary at some suitable place adapted
| in every respect to the execution of the
| proposed change in the punishment of con-
yicts, or to inquire into the expediency Of es-
tablishing the Penitentiary at once or at
some period in the future, and imposing
upon the counties of the State the duty Of
ina ugurating and enforcing a system of
solitary confinement. Agreed to.
BY Mr.. Pridemore
Resolped, That the Committee on Courts
Of Justice be instructed to enquire into the
expediency of authorizing the Auditor of
Public Accounts TO proceed at once to the
collection of the tax due by law from the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, and that if
it be necessary he institute legal proceed
ings therefor. Agreed to.
BY Mr.. Hundley:
Whereas, the tendency Of the present
interest laws in this State is to attract
capital from the rural districts into the
cities, to the great detriment of the agricul-
| tural interest Of the Commonwealth,
Resolred, That the Committee on Courts
of Justice be instructed to enquire into the
expediency of repeating the present law in
| relat on to interest, and fixing the rate of
| interest at six per centum per annum, but
| allowing by special contract eight per cent.
| to be charged upon loans at twelve months
| time and over.
BY Mr.. Pridemore
Resolved, That the Committee on FL
nance be instructed to report at the earliest
practicable day an assessment and tax bill.
| Agreed to.
| BY Mr.. Hundiey:
| Resolued, That the Committee on FL
| nance be instructed to enquire into the
expectancy of exempting from taxation in
future all bonds or other securities taken
for the loan OF money upon real estate.
| Agreed to.
BY Mr.. Nowlin:
Re$olred, That the Committee on Courts
| of Justice enquire into the expediency Of
amending the laws of this State so as to
restore the right of appeal from decisions
rendered by justices of the peace to the
County courts. Agreed to-.
| BY Mr.. Paterson:
Resolced, That the Committee on General
Laws be instructed to enquire into the ex.
pediency Of reporting bill providing for
| the exemption from jury service Of the
ctzens of Chincoteague Island, in the
Atlantic Ocean, Yangor Island and SYKES
Island in the Chesapeake bay. Agreed to.
By Mr.. Anderson, of Pittsylvania:
Resoloed, That the Committee on Public
/ Institutions enquire whether it is expedient
to replace the Houdon Statue of Washing
| ton in its former position in the Capitol, or
TO provide some other suitable place for
the same. Agreed to. ~
By Mr.. Lakeland:
Resolred, That the Committee on Courts
of Justice enquiring into the expe
diency of SO amending section % of
chapter IS Of the Code of 1850,
as to authorize two justices of the peace
instead of three, to enquire and decide
whether person be luhatic and ought
to be confined in an asylum. Agreed to.
BY Mr.. Grimsley: Joint resolution, pro,
posing amendments to Article z of the
Constitution, in reference to county organi-
cation. Referred.
By Mr.. Thomas:
| Resolped, That the Committee on Courts
of Justice be instructed to enquire into the
expediency of providing by law that there
shall be a discrimination in the rate oil
legal interest between comIHerial paper
and ordinary contracts, and that tax be
imposed upon the commercial paper with
view to revenue, for the privilege of sucl
discrimination. Agreed to.
BY Mr.. Quisenberry:
Resotusd, That the Committee on Gem
eral Laws enquire into the expediency o;
amending the act of March Goth, 1872, re-
lating to fences and the protection of crops,
so as to modify the 9th section as to the
portion of county lying within the crimi-
nal jurisdiction of city OF town.
BY Mr.. Ia, Tor, Of Loudoun: A bill
authorizing the formation Of sub-schoo
district in Mt. Glead and jefferson town.
ships, IN the county Of Loudoun, and pro-
vide for the erection Of school buildings in
the same. Referred.
By Mr.. Grimsley: A bill directing the
sale Of real estate purchased by the Com
monwealth for taxes previous to the l7tl
day of April, 1861. Referred to the Com
!; mittee on Finsnce.
By Mr.. Greene: A bill to establish
|; State Reform School. Referred to the Com
mittee on Public Institutions.
By the same: JOINT resolution providing
for site for State Reform School ant
the erection OF suitable buildings thereon
Referred to Committee on Public lnstitu
tons.
By Mr.. johnson: A bill to authoriz
the collector of Pungiteague township :
COLLECT the district school taxes for the yea
1871. Referred.
|, By Mr.. Connaly: A bill to amend AM
re-enact the I'd section of an act entitled
"An act to authorize an increase of tn
capital stock of the James River and IA