Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-01-30
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
CONGRESS, End SESSION.

CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
XLIInd CONGRESS, End SESSION.
SENATE w Wednesday, Jan l7.-Bills we're
passed for the relief of officers who lost Gov
ernment funds in Chicago.
The remainder of the day was occupied in
the consideration Of the civil rights bill
HOUSE The tobacco manufacturers of
| Philadelphia petition for uniform tax of six
| teen cents.
| The New York liquor and wine dealers petit
| ton for relief from numerous and complex tax
| They want a consolidation tax.
| The legislative, executive, and Judiciary APP
| preparation bill was reported, aggregating ST.
100000.
SENATE Thursday, Jan. 1S-Mr. Carpen-
| ter made strong speech against the civil SER
| vice reform.
The judiciary committee reported adversely
on the request of female suffragists to be heard
| at the bar of the Senate.
Mr.. Wilson introduced bill allowing women
to hold Office and vote in the Territories of the
United States on the same conditions as men.
Referred to the judiciary committee.
A bill was also passed appropriating $40, 900
for the erection of range lights around the
! Craighi channel in Chesapeake bay.
Adjourned till Monday, when the amnesty
bill comes up.
House. Several bills granting pensions were
passed.
No important business was transacted to-
day.
The report of the contested election case of
Mckenzie VS.. Braxton, declaring Braxton enti-
tied to the seat, was adopted without discus
sion
SENATE.-Friday, Jan 19-Not in session.
HOUsE.-The bill for funding the debt of the
city of Washington was passed.
Mr. (1orkn prasontad hill for ~
the State of Texas for disbursements for frontier
defences
The Louisiana Committee will decide to- day
whether and when it will 60 to New Orleans
WEST VIRGINIA's PORTION OF THE DEBT
A gentleman writes as follows from the Louis
lana State University, at Baton Rouge
1.-THE people of East and West Virginia were
joint stock company under the title of the
State OF Virginia; they contracted debt upon
the implied security Of the taxable property
found within the limits of the State, and if
States could be sued like individuals the whole
property of the State, unless exempt by special
laws, would be seized under writ of execution
to be sold and the proceeds to be applied in
discharge of the Indebtedness of the State The
division of Virginia into two States does Meth
er change the character OF the debt nor the
liability Of the original debtors, and both States
if suable, would actually be liable in law, not
for a part, but for the payment of the whole
debt, if either party should prove insolvent and
unable to discharge its distributive proportion.
But as both States are solvent, the distribution
Of the liabilities must be made upon an equita-
BILE basis, and this basis in the proportion of
the taxable property held By each State at the
time the division took place."
The following is an extract from a private
letter to citizen of Richmond from promi-
nent gentleman at one of our literary institu
tons. 1t was written without the slightest idea
that it would get into print:
Who would have believed of Virginia Leg
islature the sad mosal declension of the last few
weeks! [ mourn 10 bitterness of spirit over
the disgrace of our country / have neither
State nor, tc any considerable extent any other
bonds, aud was more thoroughly ruined by the
war than cine in ten Of our people and, ike
all salaried men. lam now taxed out OF pro
portion 10 my nesas ard can i'll afford any in
crease Of any OF my expenditures; yet declare
IL all sincerity, that would far rail her have
my taxes increased fen-fold, which would re-
duca me TO bread aud water, than shat the inr
quity Observation-Disclosures in thoughtlessness,
in folly CT IN fraud-should be ecnsummated.
The Governor Of West Virginia in his mes
sage to the Legislature Of that State, says in
reference to the Virginia debt: 1.-THE commits
sioners to adjust the debt between Virginia and
West Virginia came to the conclusion that the
benefits conferred, and not the territory and
population, should be he principal if not the
only basis Of an adjustment Of the debts. They
claim that thirty millions dollars have been ex-
pended in Virginia to two and a half millions
IN ha :
equitable proportion" of the public debt Of
Virginia is the limit Of the liabilities of West
Virginia. it is difficult to see how she can be
under obligation to pay for improvements that
do net confer any benefit upon her. The COM
.uissioners report that West Virginia's proper
ton If the debt is something less than 81 ,O00,-
GEO."
A PROPER TRIBUTE. THE first engine that
was used ia bringing the passenger train over
the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad from Hun
tington to Charleston has inscribed on it:
EDMUND FoNTAINE,
First President of the Chesapeake and Ohio
r. Il. Company
This is a proper tribute TO the memory Of
COL Fontaine, who, for twenty-five years. was
the able and efficient president of the Virginia
Central railroad and whose efforts and ener-
gies contributed so largely to its extension, and,
ALSO its consolidation with the Covington and
Ohio railroad, which resulted in the formation
of the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad company.
Kaaawha Ealleg.
THE STATE PRINTING Richmond cor
respondent of the Petersburg Progress says
THE joint committee on Printing of the two
Houses of the General Assembly is manifesting
some uneasiness about the affairs of the Super
intendent of Public Printing. The present in
cumbent of the Office (Mr .Schaffter) left here
on the night preceding the nomination of his
successor and when last heard from was in
Canada. Mr.. Walker, the recently elected
Superintendent, is unwilling to take charge of
the Office until Mr.. Schaffter's papers have
been examined and bis affairs satisfactorily adj
justed In the meantime 2 co!ored clerk is in
charge of this important department ct the
State Government.
CoLoRED COMMITTEE GONE TO WASHING
ToE.-A committee of Republican colored MEM
bers of the General Assembly, consisting of
Senator Stevens and Delegates Paige and the
two Jones, have been started off to Washing
tor with memorial asking Congress to incor-
porate the Sumner social rights amendment in
the general amnesty bill. The beauty of the
thing, SO far as we are concerned, is that these
fellows are drawing their per diem here, even
while they are operating in the Hobbies of the
National Capitol in favor OF what they well