The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-02-15
LEEISLATIYE ANTICS.

We do not pretend to keep up with the
Legislature in its gyrations on the Funding
Bill. The see-sawing which has been going
on in that body for the past two months,
would be amusing were not the subject Itself
one of serious import to the people. In
long editorial experience we do not remem-
Der ever to have noticed SO much want of
dircctness and digestion in legislation, and
such total absence of controlling intellect.
The proceedings on this important question
have amounted to farce. They remind US
of the shifting scenes at Mexican fandango
-'partners ready swing corners cross over,
hands all round. promenade, turn partners"
to which ought to be added "stand on your
heads" and the parallel would be complete
nal bill, joint committee was appointed to
report substitute. A majority aud minori-
ty recommendation was the result. After
discussing and amending these al infnitun,,
they have been both voted down, and the
question now stands precisely where they
found it. The vote On the majority report.
which virtually repudiated one-third Of the
debt, and provided to pay per cent for IL
years. 6 per cent for 10 and 8 per cent. for
IL, on bonds running 81 years, for two thirds
of the debt, was as follows:
Yeas-Alessrs Allen, Anderson, Bernard
Booker, Bowen. Bristow, Burk holder, Butler,
Jack Carter, CoghiI, Deneac, Douglass FL
lott, Fitzgerald Gardner, Joseph Graham.
Gray, Hill, Irvine. James Kiucheloc, Lass-
ter, Paul Lightner, McMulien, Miller, Nun
sey, Noble, Nowlin, O'Ferrall Paige, PAYNE.
Perkins, Powell, Ramsdell Riddebaryer.
Rogers, Roller, Scruggs, Smith, Snidow.
Thomas. TidbaIl. Van Auken, Walker, Whar-
ton, and Williams-46
Nays.-Nlessrs. Beaton, Borland. Benton.
Brooke, j. T. Brown, Campbell, P.J Carter.
Christian, Clopton, Cnttrell, Cox. Critz, Cam
mings, Daniel, Donald, Dungey, Evans. Fetch
er, Freeman, James S. Gillian, William Gil
liam, Gilman, Graves. Gresham, Griffith
Hamilton. ?. K Jones. Rufus s Jones, Lew
is, A. b. Lightner, Lipsconbe, Matthews
Matthew, Minor, Neae. Nickins, Norton.
Patterson, Pearce, Poague, Russell. Sangster,
Smoot, Stovall. Strother. Southal Sutherlin,
Suttlc, Taliaferro, Turpin, Wall Wake.
Watts, Watson, Wentworth, Young, and
Mr.. Speaker-57.
After this disposition of the labors of the
joint committee, Mr.. Clopton offered a joint
resolution, which provides first, for the paw
ment OF the January interest on the funded
debt and two-thirds of the unfunded debt ::
second, the appointment Of commission,
consisting of five members of the House and
three of the Senate, to be elected on Joint
ballot. who shall have power to convene the
creditors Of the State and agree with them
upon some just, equitable, and honorable
mode of settlement Of the public debt. said
mode of settlement to be reported to the next
session for approval; third, repeats the cou-
pom feature of the Funding act.
The joint resolution was placed on the cal
endAr.
We suppose there have been about fifty
substitutes offered for the funding bill, most
Of which have not met with majority ap-
prevail The whole question is at sea, and
we do not think there is sufficient engineering
talent to run the thing to safe port.