Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-01-20
FROM RICHMOND.
LEGISLATIVE.


TO appeals. writs Of error and suprrScdeas, were
agreed TO.
The Senate determined to adhere to It's ac-
ton in reference to amendments to the bill for
the relief of the late sheriffs of the common
wealth, and reported adversely upon the reso:
luton to allow to persons who had been tried
and aeouitted of criminal ofense reasonable
sum of money for expenses incurred IN their
defence. p:,
Bills were introduced to incorporate the Rich
mond land and improvement company; TO
amend the act in relation to fences and otner
protection of crops; to authorize the formation
Of township cemeteries; in relation to lunatlc
asvIums: and to amend the act as to the main
tenance Of illegitimate children.
resolution was adopted ENDURING the cost
of publishing ten thousand copies OF the code
a. conpied and submitted to the General As
sembv by George w. Munford, and also OF
mbishine the same number OF COPIES ID one
volume, of the public acts of the General AS
sembly that have become laws since the lSt
day of December, 1865, not embracing charters
of incorporation, or assessments and taxatlon'
The bill to authorize and empower the coun'
ell Of the cities of Richmond and Petersburg to
increase the salaries Of the judges of the circuit,
chancery and hastings court OF the said Cities
was passed.
House Joint resolution authorizing the pay
ment OF interest on the bonds OF the State pur-
chased with the agricultural land scrip, 50 as to
place the institutions at Blacksburg and Hamp-
ton on a footing with the others, was debated,
but finally laid Cd the table, and made the order
of the day for Tuesday next
T. .bo II ousa of l)nlppatpS the Committee
| an Courts of Justice, in regard to the claim OF
Archibald Fleming for goods seized IN Alex
audria, in 1861, for the use of the State, re-
norted that section 10, Of article 10 of the State
| Constitution forbidS the payment of any debt,
&C., against the State, created by the pretend
| ed authorities at Richmond during the late
war" and asked to be discharged from the
subject.
On motion of Mr. Neale the consideration OF
the report was deferred.
| The Committee on Courts reported it mex
pedient to lcgislate on the questions of fixing
the pay of Attorneys for the Commonwealth,
without leaving it to the supervisors of the
counties, and to repeal all laws providing for the
punishment of persons convicted OF certain
crimes by stripes, which reports were concurred
10 by the House.
The House bill for the preservation Of oysters,
and to obtain revenue for the privilege of TAX
ing them 10 the waters of the Commonwealth,
was discussed till adjournment.
Among the bills and resolutions Introduced
we're the following: Allowing persons accused
OF misdemeanors where County Courts and
justices have concurrent jurisdiction to elect to
be tried by a justice; to amend the act as to
duties and compensation of certain township
| officers; as to the expediency of forbidding the
| retail sale Of articles manufactured at the pen'
Tertiary: to amend the law in relation to county
officers to amend the code in relation to the
maintenance Of illegitinate children, and to
amend the code in relation to the admlnlstra-
ton of estates.
The bill for the payment of the interest on
the literary fund in aid of the free schools was,
after argument, ordered to be engrossed-ayes
G5, noes 33.
THE QUESTION OF INTEREST
In the Senate, on Friday when the bill for
fixing the legal rate of interest N money was
up, the amendment of Mr.. kirkpatrick, fixing
the legal rate at six per cent. and allowing
nine per cent by agreement, which was voted
down when the subject was last before the
Senate, was reconsidered, the vote being 20 to
90, and the President giving the casting vote
in favor of reconsideration. This re-opened the
whole question, whereupon long debate en-
sued, participated in by Messrs. French, Pat
terson, Lakeland, Rue aud Green. MIR. French
did not regard money as a commodity, but as
an agency which regulates the values of all
commodities. He declared that five sevenths
Of the people are engaged 10 agricultural pur-
suits, and was opposed to any attempt to boil
ster up the commercial interest at their ex.
pense. When agriculture, the foundation OF
all prosperity, was paralyzed, then the ruin OF
our commercial interests would soon follow.
He was for Furnishing usury with the seVerest
penalties
Mr. Patterson alluded to the fact that for
one hundred and forty years six per cent had
been the legal rate in Virginia. Since the war
twelve Der cent. had been engratted on the
State Constitution. Two Legislatures had vot-
ed to repeal that clause of the Constitution,
and the people had ratified their action. He
declared that "Brutus, who slew the foremost
man of all the world, was a usurer, and loaned
money at four per cent a MONTH
Mr. Lakeland alluded to the fact that We
had tried six per cent. and twelve per cent,
and argued that our experience before the war
had shown that under the six per cent. law
money was plentiful and our lands we're sought
after Even brokers, shavers aud usurers did
thrifty business.
Messrs. Green and Rue advocated q higher
rate, contending that money, like all other
commodities, was worth its market value, and
argued that to induce an Influx of capitol into
the State, it must not be restricted; that the
commercial and agricultural interests were near
ly allied, and that to reduce the interest to six
per cent. would be injurious to the farming
community, and direct money into other chan
ncs.
Mr. kirkpatrick moved to amend the sui
sttute of the committee by inserting provis-
ion which would allow nine per cent. interest
to be charged by special contract in cities and
incorporated towns.
Mr.. Boykin proposed an amend inert in the
nature of substitute to the substitute for the
committees bill, contemplating allowing incor.
porated banking institutions the privilege of
lending money on negotiable paper at nine per
cent.
Mr.. kirkpatrick withdrew his amendment
Mr.. Boykin substitute was rejected-ayes,
Q; noes, %, the general opinion being that it
made an unlawful distinction in favor of class.
No further action was taken.