Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-01-04
From Richmond.

est was done in either branch Of the Legislature
to-day; indeed, neither branch is in IA condition
to consummate business there being butt com
parativcly slim attendance of members, many
from distance not having returned. and sever
al that were present, having obtained leaves
of absence: and, Notwithstanding the great
cry for 'retrcnchment there is certainly, 50
far, but little "rctnrm' The public debt quc<-
ton WIS incidentally touched nron in both
Houses to-day.
lu the Senate bill to provide for the pay
mcnt OF the interest. being the unfinished bust
ness. was taken up, and the question being on
the adoption of the substitute offered by Mr.
Fitzpatrick. repeating the Funding Bill and
paying / per Ct per annllm upon the original
bonds, the whole subject was laid gu the table
and made the order OF the day for Friday
During the discussion NIessrs Fitzpatrick
and Quescnberry declared that they would not
vote tor an appropriation to pay interest until
the Funding bill was undonc.
Mr.. Counally explained that he was in favor
of an immediate payment Of interest.
Mr.. Nowlin preferred to await the action of
the House on the Governor veto
Mr.. Thomas wanted the bill reported by the
Finance Committee passed, which does not re-
cosnize the financial wisdom or constitutional
ty of the Funding bill, and pays per cent on
the untuu,led debt and i pc! cent. on the
funded.
Mr. Huudley was in favor ot the payment Of
interest as soon as the Funding bill was repeal
cd, but would not make this condition sine
qua non.
Mr. Pri,lcmores position wa> quitc similar
to that of Mr. HundcyS.
The Heuse after a rather warm debate made
the Governor message the order Of the day
for tomorrow lThusdayi
During the debate Mr. Kelly moved that the
Message be made the special order OF the day
Tor tomorrow, lThurs'lay) at . clock. Mr..
Daniel offered an amendment that Monday
next be substituted Tor Tomorrow. Ills amend
ment was accepted.
Mr.. O'Ferra opposed the amendment. and
asserted that friends OF the Funding bill were
resortng to the same tactics they did when the
original resolution was frs. offered. He said
while the matter was being postponed, the
funding Of the debt was going on and it WAS
evidently the object of the friends Of the bill to
procrastnate. i'll order u fund the whole debt.
He hoped the amendment would be voted
down. He wanted the Governor veto put
under foot.
Mr.. Daniel, OF Richmond, had no tactics
lie did not like to hear members talking about
| putting the Governor under anybody feet.
His message was an able and statesmankc doc
ument. and he meant TO sustain it with all hl>
energy. He hoped that instead Of putting 1t
under their feet. they would give the question
a fair and impartial consideration. He did not
think the prcci ptation reflected much credit
upon the House
| Mr. Head, of Loudoun voted for the rc>oIu-
ton in question, and there was no man who ol'-
posed the funding bill more strenuously than
he did, but he wanted the question postponed
in order that the Governor views might be
we'll considered. He was elected by a constitu-
cucy opposed to all rings and cliqueS aud he
didn' want to hear talk about tactics.
Mr. Brooke, Of Fauquicr, would like to
agree with Mr. Daniel: but to delay the, ques-
t!oH was to destroy the necessity for further
consideration Of the question \ longer delay
would enable holders Of bonds to fund them,
then there would no longer exist necessity for
| any consideration OF the question Arguments
will be made pro aud con. aud he wanted them
to commence at once.
The amendment of Mr.. Daniel being lost the
question recurring on the original resolution
was adopted.
The bill continuing the payment Of interest
to Incorporated colleges, &C., with Senate
amendment, came up on its passage. and was
passed by unanimous vote.
Mr.. Kelley moved reconsideration OF the
vote Just taken, and raised the point that the
bill was in direct conflict with the first section
of the funding act, which provides that interest
shall not be paid on the State debt except as
therein provided
Mr. Daniel thought this poin, we'll takeu,and
was rather surprised that it had not been oh
served before.
Mr. Smith, of Nelson, thought the motion
to reconsider should prevail and that the bill
should be postponed until the Funding bill was
disposed Of
Mr. Brooke opposed the motion to recon
pro tanto OF the Funding act. it was only what
was right. That section had Reputation in it.
Mr. Hill said that the bill had been prepared
by one of the most learned circuit Judges in the
State. and this question was carefully consider
cd 1t had been unanimously reported by the
committees Of the two Houses and unanimous
ly passed lie hoped the motion to reconsider
would be voted down.
Mr. Kelly was warm friend Of the bill, but
a solemn sense of duty demanded that he should
face this question.
Mr. Deneac argued that the proposition
that interest cannot be paid gu any uutunded
debt is open reputation. He was against re-
considering.
MrSutherlin was for rccon-ilcring the vote
He did not see how this bill could be pas>"1
without conflicting with the fuuding act.
said those in favor of repeating the fund.- /.
should repeal it in whole aud not BY =
meal, aud then go to work on something sc.
Mr. Poaguc hoped the motion would not
pass The payment of intctest to the institu-
tons of learning had always been held to be an
exceptional case If the bill does repeal the
first section Of the Funding act it does not re-
peal the remainder. He hoped the Funding
act would not be drawn into the consideration
Of every measure
Mr.. Clopton was III favor Of rcconSidcriug.
Mr.. Brooke said there was no power in the
last Legislature to bind the present Legislature
nots to pay creditors whose bonds were not
funded
Mr.. Hill said that the last Legislature, after
passing the Fudiug act, passed bill similar in
L H.