Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-02-13
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.

s SENATE.-W ednesday, Feb IA number
of committee reports were made, among others
was the Senate joint resolution lnstructing the
auditor to proceed to collect the taxes imposed
upon the works of internal Improvement, by
entering suit against the delinquent companies
House bill TO release the States interest In
the James River and Kanawha canal mpany
was taken up and discussed up to the hour of
adjournment.
HoUsE-Mr. A. B. Lightner of Augusta
presented memorial of citizens of Augusta,
praying that the Staunton and Parkersburg
turnpike company be prohibited from charging
tolls on their road between Staunton and But
falo Gap.
House bill TO provide for the payment of the
public debt came up as the special order, the
question being upon the adoption of the substi-
tute proposed by Mr.. Cummings on behalf of
the minority OF the special joint committee
Mr. Coghlll ably advocated the bill proposed
by the majority Of the joint committee.
Mr.. o Ferrall submitted substitute for the
minority report.
Mr.. O'Ferrall explained and advocated his
proposition in an elaborate argument, and con-
tended that no other proposition now before
the House was defensible in equity or accepta-
bic to the people.
SENATE. Thursday. Feb S.-Mr. Anderson
of Rockbridge presented "bill to repeal the
act In force February lst 1872, entitled IAN
| act providing for the re-assessment of lands in
| the Constitution
Mr.. Thomas presented correspondence be-
| tween the Auditor of Public Accounts and the
| President of the Chesapeake y Ohio railroad
company, together with the opinion of their
counsel, in reference to their exemption from
taxation by their charter which, on his motion,
was laid on the table and ordered to be print
ed.
HoUsE-Mr. OFerrall rose to a personal
privilege and stated that one of the CITY papers
had incorrectly reported him as saving yester.
| day that the value of the public property for
which he proposed that this State should issue
| its bonds to the creditors of the old State was
| over $23 100000. He claimed that he said
| that the State should value only the public
buildings, &C., which he estimated to be worth
a little over 100000, for which amount alone
he sought to make the present State of Virgin
| la responsible.
The consideration of the special order House
bill to provide for the funding and payment of
the public debt of the State, was resumed. the
pending question being on the adoption of MIR.
. Eerrals substitute.
Mr.. Poague spoke In opposition to the sub
stitute, and in doing so, referred to Mr. o Fer
| rail- s political course before the people. Citing
card which Mr.. O'Ferrall had addressed to
the people of Rockingham last FALL he said
that one expression in it THAT the State is not
in honor bound for the public debt of old Vir-
ginia, &c. } reminded him of the highway man
who took your money, and held that he was
not in honor bound to return it because you
could not force him to do it,
| Mr.. O'Ferrall demanded to know If the gen.
| tieman intended to liken him to highwayman,
| OR his sense of honor to that of highwayman.
! MIR. poague discainle6 any such intention.
| He was dealing simply with the expression re-
| ferred to, and the comparison was used only in
regard to it, without any personal reference.
| Mr.. 0 FeIrall followed in some remarks rath-
er personal to Dir. Poague, when the Speaker
pro tenn, (Mr. Bookerl called him to order.
Mr.. Cummings made long and able speech
in favor of the minority BILL
Mr.. Brooke spoke at length in support ofthe
same bill.
Dir. Daniel got the floor. when he gave way
for motion to adjourn, made by Mr.. Loven
stein. The motion was carried.
| SENATE.--Friday, Feb 9.-House Joint re-
solution to suspend the sale of property claimed
as exempt under the homestead provision of the
Constitution until the question ofconstitutional-
ty is decided by the Court Of Appeals, was taken
up on motion Of Mr.. Fitzpatrick and agreed to-
| HOUsE.-On motion Of Mr.. Smoot, House
| bill to incorporate the town of Woodstock,
Shenandoah county, was taken up out of its
order and passed.
The special order, House bill to provide for
the funding and payment of the public debt,
came up. Mr. Daniel having the floor. He
spoke an hour and half against the majority
bill and in favor Of the minority bill.
Mr. OFerrall withdrew his substitute, re-
marking that be might hereafter offer it again.
Mr. Mcmillan offered to amend the minority
bill by striking out per cent. interest and in
sorting per cent, and providing that this
shall be paid only on condition that the credi-
tors receive it in full satisfaction of the annual
interest on their bonds. He then spoke at
| length 10 favor OF his proposition.
| Mr. McNIullan's amendment was adopted BY
81 yeas TO Is noes.
MIR. MCMILLAN moved to acknowledgement
to by 50 ayes to II noes.