Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-03-18
The Legislature.

On Tuesday, in the Senate. Mr.. Cochran
moved to take up Senate bill No. 2, being a
bill to amend an act entitled an act to provide
for the re-assessment of lands in the Common
wealth, so as to;allow those counties which fail
ed to avail themselves OF the provisions of this
act to do 80.
The objections of the Governor to the bill
were read, and the Chair stated the question to
be ''Shal the bill become law notwith-
standing the objections by the Executive. e" The
motion to take up was agreed to, and the mat
ter discussed by Messrs Cochran, who wanted
the bill passed notwithstanding the Governor 8
veto, and Anderson, Of Rockbridge, 10 opposi-
ton to passing the bill over the Governor veto.
On the question ''Shal the bill pass notwlth-
standing the veto of the Executive 2 the vote
stood as follows ayes 81, noes 10.
The Chair announced that the bill had been
passed in spite Of the Governors veto, and the
bill was ordered to be communicated to the
House at once
In the House. Senate bill for the assessment
of taxes on property, &C., as amended by the
House, came up on Its passage, and was reject
ed, having failed to receive a constitutional
vote.
When the Free Railroad bill came up, Mr..
Booker offered as substitute bill authorizing
judges of circuit courts to grant charters of in
corporation to railroad and other internal i'm.
pr0vement companies.
MIR. Sutherin, of Danville, obtained the floor,
and proceeded to state at some length his posi-.
ton in regard to this bill. Mr. Sutherlin stat.
ed he was 10 favor of the substitute offered by
Mr.. Booker, and spoke In behalf of its adoption.
On Wednesday, the Senate, by vote of Ia
ayes to 20 nays. refused to recede from its
amendment in the nature of substitute to the
interest bill adopted by the House, whereupon
a joint resolution was adopted, by vote of Is
to s, providing for committee of conference tc
consist Of nine on the part of the House and
five on the part of the Senate.
In the House, the vote by which the House
refused to order to engrossment the Senate bill
for the assessment of lands &C., was reconsider
ed and re- committed to the committee on III
nance.
The House agreed to the joint resolution o.
the Senate for the appointment of committee
OF conference on the interest bill.
The House, by a vote of 81 to 43, defeated
the motion to lay on the table MIR. Booker
substitute for the Free Railroad bill offered by
Mr. Sutherlin.
Mr. O'Ferrall moved to amend the lst sec
ton of the Booker substitute so as to add tx
the other conditions unon which the Judge
should grant charter that the public neces
sity should demand it," The amendment wal
agreed to.
Mr. Irvine offered the following amendment
to come in at the end of the Sd section, which
was agreed to.
''Rrouided, That any railroad whose chartel
exempts it from taxation shall release the sale
sioDs of this bill. had prouide0 further, Tha
if any railroad inoorpora ted under the provisions
of this bill shall purchase or become consolidat
ed with any company exempt from taxation bJ
its charter, such exemption shall cease from th,
date Of such purchase or consolidation"
Ga Thursday in the Senate, among Other
local bills passed we're the following: To au
thorize the Board of Supervisors Of Bath coun
ty to borrow money to deisay the cost of build
ing bridge over the Calfpasture river; ane
TO authorize the Board of Directors of the West
ere Lunatic Asylum to convey certain lot o
land to VIM. B. Kayser
Senate ioiUt resolution providing for the cleo
tiop Of county judges on the Gosh Instant va
taken up and sgreed to,
In the House. Senate bill TO arn8nd an &C
providing for the re-assessment of lands In tht
Commonwealth, passed February l, 1872, so G.,
to enabls those counties which failed to avail
themselves of the provisions of said act to do so
ed over the veto by the Senate, came to ths
House. the question being, shall the bill pas
notwithstanding the veto ofthe Governor
Mr.. Robertson opposed the bill on accoun
ct it's unconstitutlonality. 1t was, however
passed by the following vote: ayes Is, noes
81. A B. Lightner and Chas. e. Rcler voted
aye, and Marshall Hanger voted nay.
Senate bill to regulate and define the jurisdic
tion Of county and circuit courts, and to pre-
scribe the number Of terms of the circuit court
and to SIX the pay Of county judges, came VI
az the special order. The bill is substantially
the came as the House bill on the same subjec
recently rejected. Tie bill was amended il
several actions, and was then ordered to en-
grosement and third reading by ayes, 66
noes so
The frea railroad BILL the Booker substitute
being unfinished business, came up With Mr.
Walker, of Pulaski, on the floor. who confirm
ed his speech in opposition to the bill and sub
stitute.
On Friday, both branches Of The Legislature
adopted the Court bill = the Senate agreeing tc
the House amendments. ltlpassed the House
by vote of Is to SO. The Delegates from this
county voted against it. 1t noW goes to the
Governor for bis approval.
It deprives county judges OF all jurisdiction
except Of misdemeanors, matters Of probate.
unlawful entry and detainer, and appeals from
justices decisions. Each judge is to be paid
$500 out of the county treasury. with an addl-
tion Of $40 for every thousand over 10 600 in
hahitants contained In the county by the census
of 1870. The county judge is allowed to prac
tice Law (if he be a awyer) 10 the higher courts.
but cannot &c counsel In any case OF which his
court has had jurisdiction. All causes of which
the County court has no Jurisdiction under this
bill, are to be removed to the Circuit court at
the cost of the suitors. The Circuit courts are
rannTrcH N hou fhran each The
county Judge is required to appoint one judge
of elections from each poiical party. If approx
ed by the Governor, the act will go into effect
on the lst of August next.
L. the House, the Free Railroad bill was dis
cussiug by Messrs Walker aud Sutherlin-the
latter 10 favor Of the bill, the former in opposi-
ton to it.
On Saturday, the Senate after being il ses,
sion sometime without quorum adjourned.
II the House, Senate bill to authorize the
Beard of Public Works to sellrhe States inter
est in the Upper Appomattoz Company. was
passed.
Senate bill revokipg the tag on charters of
incorporation asked from the General Assem-
big. Passed.
Senate bill 10 enable the trustees of Mas
ssnutten Presbyterian church. near Cross Keys,
Rockingham county, 20 receive and hold a be
quest under the will Of Ann Davidson, deceas-
ed. Passed
Maj Sutherlin spoke in favor OF the Free
Railroad bill till adjournment.
Gen. J. B. Kershaw. whose gallaatry and
military genius were Illustrated ca many battle
fields in Vigeioia, during the late war, has link
ed himself with tie editorial profession. He
is now editor of the Camden IS. CO. Journal.