The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-01-09

testants should be seateu. ,.;.,, ~ +to
Mr.. THOMAS advocated the adop'ioii VI viz
minority committees report
JOINT COMMITTEE.
r,o cu,m announced as the additional
-,,',o,.y of the Joint Committee OH PUBIC
Deht Ncssrs. SMITH, MEEM, and GREENE.
Adjourned.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
Sneaker HANGER in the chair. Prayer ny
Rev. DR.. Hoge, of the Second Irespyterhih
church.
BILLS REPORTED AND PLACED on TIE CALENDAR
Senate bills: Incorporating the Vrsliiil
Iron, Chemical, and Mining Company. =,
Extending the time for tic assessment Vi
lands throughout the COMMONWEALTH.
House bills: To repeal the 18th sectloh u
the public school act.
For the protection OF foE-h7niers.
To Incorporate the Luray Savings Eanh.
To amend the public free school act LII
certain particulars.
Personal EXPLANATION.
The SPEAKER DIR. HASGEE) arose to per-
sonal explanation. He saw by some OF the
naners tIat it was improperly presumed that
the CHAIR was i'm possession of certain hno"
LEDGE * TO in agreement between members
preceding the introduction and adoption OF
fine Joint resolution providing for speciai
committee on finance. disagreement, 1t was
intilnatcd, referred to the composition OF Tue
committee. He desired to s;ly that the extent
of his knowledge was that such resoiutloi,
would be offered, and that he was not ahu
could not under any circumstances pea par!
TO any such agreement; and, above all, ne
wished if understood that he could not
prove faithless to any agreement. AS 10 the
committee. he had only to say that it was
aDponted strictly in accordance win Ills
views of parliamentary law and precedent
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
Mr.. CR1Tz offered Il resolution (Which was
adopted) calling upon the Second Auditor
for a detailed statement of the public debt OF
the State, how contracted, its conditions,
when due, dc.
POST MORTEM EXAMINATION.
Mr.. SMITH, of Nelson, offered the follow
ing: 49,.
"Whcrcas the public press of both politi-
cal parties of the State have made repeated
and solemn declarations that the passage OF
the funding bill was obtained by the bribery
Of certain members of the Legislature; and
whereas it has been solcmnly represented by
responsible parties that the said bill was
passed through the last House Of Delegates
bv combination Of specultors, stock bro
kcrs Of Richmond city and New York, intlu-
entail paid attorneys and unprincipled mem
bcrs of the sad House of Delegates; and
whereas there IS good reason now to believe
that the hidden wickedness by means of
which, this measure became law can be
exposed: therefore be it
"Ecscircd. That five members Of this
House he appointed by the Speaker to make
an Investigation into the charges aforesaid,
aud that TO this end they be authorized TO
send for persons and papers, and instructed
to make report to this House ut the earliest
possible day.
Mr. RlprLEBAEGER moved to lay the rcso-
luton on the table.
Mr.. WALL arose to favor its adoption, but
debate WAS ruled out Of order
The motion to Ely OH the table was agreed
to on q division, but was lost Oh call OF the
yeas and nays--ycaS, 3S; nays, -.
Mr.. RlDDLEgARGER then moved to dismiss
the resolution.
This motion was favored by Mcssrs.
BOOKER, Z. Is. JONES, and CR1Tz.
Mr.. SMITH made an extended speech in
favor Of his resolution, in the course
of which he avowed his independence
Of the press and utter disregard OF the
opinions Of the Enquirer and Dispatch.
Notwithstanding the gcntleman's dcclara-
ton, lie has made more requests OF the
reporters of these two papers within the
past few weeks than any other member Of
the House of Delegates.
Mr. BROOKE thought that the investigation
could not but result in failure and entail
needless expense upon the State.
LIr. WALL thought that the character Of
every member Of the last House of Delegates
who voted for the funding bill was involved
in this matter. Being one Of those members,
hc demanded an investigation, us these
charges have been made.
Mr.. BAGwELL spoke to the same effect. He
expressed his surprise that one gentleman
who had hitherto characterized the funding
bill as "the offspring OF Fraud and the
ci;ld Of Corruption" should how vote to lay
the resolution Oil tic table.
Mr.. G'FEEEALL said lie had made the re-
mark referred to, and had nothing to retract.
But he was opposed to the adoption of this
resolution because he felt that it would ac-
complish nothing. Whatever the result
mi@ht he, nothing but an angel from Heaven
could make the people believe that the fund
ing bill was fairly passed.
Mr.. D0oLEY said this matter originated
with gentlemen prominent in opposition to
the funding bill, and he did not intend, for
one, that they should shrink from the posi-
ton they had taken and the charges they
had made. Let them have their committee,
let it lie composed entirely Of gentlemen Of
their own way Of thinking, and then let them
uncarth the fraud il they can.
Mr.. PoAGuE opposed the dismissal of the
resolution, and reflected also upon the alleged
Inconsistency of Iir. O'FERRALL. This led
to a spirited fire Of words between these two
gentlemen. Finally Mr.. PoAGUE asked man-
imous consent to introduce as a part OF his
remarks printed paragraph in regard to Mr..
O'FERpAlL's position during the canvass !;
but objection being made it was not read.
MessrS. NORTON and DOUGLAS also opposed
the motion TO dismiss.
The vote was taken, and the motion was
lost-yeas, 90; nays, s..
Mr.. CLoproN moved to amend the rcsolu-
ton by proviso that the committee therein
called for be elected by the House on ballot.
but thought the opponents of the funding
Dlli OtlSHI W Ut allo"eu W lSul tllS Dattle
under their own leaders.
The SPEAKER: The Chair would prefer that
the committee he appointed as the gentleman
indicates.
Mr.. BROOKE was opposed alike to the reso-
luton and to the amendment. He believed
that the subject was not within the jurisdic-
ton of this House unless some gentleman had
evidence that some member of the last House
who was also 4 member Of this House was
open to these charges.
Mr.. WALL said that if this investigation
was held he would pay the expenses.
The amendment was rejected, few voting
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