Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-12-23
FROM RICHMOND.
LEGISLATIVE.

LEGISLATIVE
RICHMOND Dec. 2l.-As anticipated there
was no quorum in either House of the Lcgls-
lature, to-day At the hour appointed for
meeting-ll o'clock there were about fifteen
member Of the Senate and sixty.three of the
House in their Seats, aud after a very short SEES.
sion an adjournment until the ID of January
took place. During the brief space, prior to
the adjournment, Mr.. Taylor, Of L)udoun, in
the Senate, introduced resolution which was
decided to be adopted, dischargng the Com
mittec on Courts of Justice from the coDsde-
ration of the resolution III reference to the bond
given by the Alexandria, Loudoun and Hamp-
shire Railroad to the Board Of Public Works.
and referring the same to the Attorney General
with the request that he give his views on the
subject at his earliest convenience.
In the House, under suspension of the
rules, resolution was Introduced asking the
Judgment of the House upon resolution In
structinc the Secretary Of the Commonwealth
to obtain from the clerks of the various coun-
ties of the State the number of votes cast IN
each county at the late election that were re-
iected for informally. or other reasons, by the
canvassers or other election officers, and were
not counted in the official returns.
Mr.. Head moved to lay 1t on the table.
Mr.. Matthew called the ayes aud noes on
the motion.
Ayes 81, noes 49, no quorum voting.
Mr.. Matthew moved to adjourn. Rejected
Mr., Booker demanded call Of the House
Not sustained.
Mr. Head moved to adjourt. Carricd-ayes
SO, noes 80, aud so the Legislature adjourned
to spend the Christmas holiday;at home, where
it is hoped they will have pleasant time, and
return wiser if not better men.
THE FINANCES.
Bills have been introduced in the House of
Delegates, bearing upon the subject OF finance;
one presented by Mr. Matthew, as follows :
'Be it enacted, &C., That an act entitled an
act. declaring what shall be received in pay.
ment of taxes and other demands d. the State,
in force March 7th, 1872, be and is hereby re-
pealed." The act proposed 10 be repealed Is
the one declaring that nothing but gold, silver
coin, United States Treasury notes or notes OF
the National Banks, shall be received in pay
ment of taxes or other demands Of the State, by
the collecting officers The passage of this bill
is deemed important, for while collectors are
now bound to receive the coupons they can re-
uuire suit to be brought in each case, thus en-
failing great expense upon the Commonwealth
as long as the act referred to remains on the
statute book.
The other BILL introduced by Mr.. OFerrall,
has preamble recting some OF the provisions
of the Funding act, stating that many of the
owners of bonds, stocks and interest certificates
have not yet funded them, and concludes with
resolution that bonds, stocks or interest bear
ing certificates hereafter issued by the State shall
be funded 10 either coupon or registered bonds,
nor shall registered bonds be exchanged for
coupon bonds
BoNDHoLDER's CONFERENCE.
The Joint resolution providing for a confer
ence between the bondholders and committee
of the Legislature, to be held Oh the Sd of Feb
ruary next, ito consider the existing liabilities
of the State of Virginia, with view to fair,
lust, equitable, honorable and certain settle
ment of the same" has been ordered to be en-
crossed in the House, and would have passed
to. day but for lack of a quorum.
THE WORK OF THE SESSION.
Since the beginning of the session the num-
Der of bills introduced 10 the Senate is seventy
six, besides numerous resolutions. Ut this
NUMBER only lOur Teualu Ou Tue Cdleuudi
In the House a very large number of bills and
resolutions have been introduced. The mum
Der thus far reported from the committees is
ffty-one, most of which have been disposed OF,
either by passage or rejection
COUPONS NOT YET RECEIVABLE
Coupons are not yet received for taxes by
the Sheriff of the city of Richmond, notwith-
standing the decision of the Supreme Court of
Appeals. The Sheriff Of Richmond has not
vet been served with the mandamus, and his
instructions from the Auditor are not to re-
ceive coupons from tax payers generally until
further orders. The judgment of the Court is
practically nulli6ed, and will so remain until
the Legislature repeats its act declaring what
shall be received for taxes.
COUNTY JUDGES.
It seems to be settled conclusion that the
judicial system of the State will be remoddled
at this session of the legislature and that the
county Judges will be elected before adjourn
ment. This may necessltate an extension of
the present session beyond the 4th of March,
PEpUoD.
A Much NEEDED CHANGE.-A Richmond
letter-writter says THE General Assembly
will probably pass law at this session chang
ing the time tor its future annual meetings from
the first Monday in December to the first OF
second Monday in January. There is no longer
(if indeed there ever was any necessity for its
assembling at the tail end of the year; it is more