The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-10
GENERAL ASSEMBLY or VIRGINIA.
Fourtl, Day.
SATURDAY, December 8, 1877.
cENATE

Lieutenant.StOYeCn0F1l honho pASs.a4ses'
Prayer by Rev.-.S.~A- Steel, OF The broao-
Street Methodist church. a.,,,,.,,..
49, 4 QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE. ~ ,i.i
MI. QuEsENBERRY rose to q question OF
privilege, and asked, for reasons satisiac-
tory to himself, to be excused from fqrther
service upon the Committee on Roads ana
Internal Navigation. He made this request
from no feeling against the action OF any
member OF the committee, but for private
reasons. 5.f..,,s..1a :,i. .1sit II !.
Mr.. SMITH asked the Senate not to grant
the request, as he did not think the reason
Mr. oUEsENBERRY threw himself upon
the indulgence Of the Senate, and asked
that be BIO relieved. .a,t .lt.-- -.
The CHAIR said he did not construe Inc
request as any reflection on. the CHAIR or
any one else il he did, re was amply ape
| to. Justify his action. r. :,
| Mr., GRIMsLEY deprecated the request OF
the Senator, but thought it ought to be
granted IL the Senator desired. ii ..t.,
The request was granted. z.
Mr.. QUEsENBERRY presented his reslgna-
| ton as chairman OF the Committee on PuD-
lie Institutions. ..5
Mr.. JOHNSON asked to be excused from
| further service from the Committee Tor
Courts of Justice.
The CHAIR stated that he did the best he
could in the appointment Of the commit
tees, and had the approval OF his own con-
| science, and therefore would not have any
feeling at the action OF Individual scna-
| tors. 49,
Mr.. JoHNsoN's request was granted.
| The CHAIR appointed Mr.. GRIFFIN to I'LL
the vacancy on the Committee on Roads.
COMMITTEE ON ApPoRTIoNMENT.
The CHAIR appointed the following Com.
,nittee on Reapportionmcnt: Messrs. JOHN
SON, BETS, HURT of Pittsylvania, DANIEL,
| SPIT1.ER, BROOKE, and FULKERsoN. 90
RESOLUTIONS, &C., PRESENTED AND REFERRED.
BY Dir. BLAND: A resolution authorizing
the Committee on Privileges and Elections
to have printed certain portions OF the re-
cord in the contested-election case OF Cole
man rs. Bliss. Agreed to-. ~.
|. By Mr.. MASSEY: A resolution instructirg
the Second Auditor to report whether any
registered bonds belonging to the sinking
fund have been exchanged for coupon bonds
payable to bearer; il so, how many and for
what amounts. by whose order and for
what reasons, such exchanges were MADE !;
and what amount OF past-duc coupons were
change'for registered bonds.
By Mr.. JOHNSON: A resolution for infor-
nation as to the school population OF each
county of the Commonwealth.
By same: A resolution that the Auditor
report to the Senate the number OF polls re-
turned for taxation in each city and county,
showing the number OF white and cnlorcd
respectively who may have paid OF who
are in default.
By Mr.. JOHNSON: 4 bill to authorize
Circuit Courts to grant charters OF incorpo-
ration.
By Mr.. HA1RsroN A bill for the inspec-
ton OF steam-boilers, &c.
By Mr.. WOOD: A bill to relieve Calvin
Taylor from the payment Of a fine.
By Mr.. MASSEY: A bill authorizing the
State Treasurer to procure coupon regis
tiers, and to employ clerk to keep the
same.
By Mr.. BROOKE: A preamble aud resolu-
ton scorning reputation Of the. pubic
debt, but providing for the appointment
of a Joint committee to confer with the
bondholders, and make a fair and equitable
reimbursement of thepublic debt. Lies over
under the rules. ,.
By Mr.. JOHNSON: A bill for the ascertain
ment, assessment, imposition, and collection
of taxes OH stocks and bonds OF corpora
tons in this State.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS. H..
The Senate next took up the unfinished
business OF ycsterday-viz., the resolution
of Mr.. HURT proposing reduction OF
twenty per cent. in the salaries OF officers
of the State, and the substitute of Mr..
SMITH proposing general reduction OF all
salares-the question being on the adoption
of the substitute. .-t7"
Various amendments were read (by way
of arguments) to both the original resou-
ton and the substitute.
Mr.. MASSEY presented substitute for
the whole, in the nature Of preamble and
resolution declaring the present taxes as
high as the people can bear; that commit
tee of five be appointed, to be known as the
Committee on Retrenchment and Economy,
to whom all such questions shall be COM
mtted; that said committee shall report
what offices, if any, in the State can DE
abolished without detriment to the public
service; and what reduction, il any, can
and ought to be made in the salaries OF those
officers and employees who are necessary to
its efficient administration.
Mr.. GRIFFIN addressed the senate at some
length in opposition to the original resolu-
tion and in favor Of the substitute. he
mentioned number OF offices the compen-
sation for which could be reduced. lie
pronounced himself as in favor OF exhaust
ing all honorable and fair means OF paying
the public debt, and said he thought the ex-
penses of the Commonwealth could be
greatly reduced.
mir. MASSEY said he was willing to make
fair reduction in such salaries as are too
high, and he would cooperate with every
senator on the floor if it should be necessa-
~. He thought that many things had been
rugged into the debate that were irrella-
want, but as general proposition he did
not think the officers were paid too much.
Mr.. TYLER said he favored the original
resolution. He thought the salaries ought
to be reduced twenty per cent.-some OF
them one hundred per cent.
Mr.. MARSHALL argued briefly in favor OF
Mr.. SAITH'S substitute.
Mr.. GRIMsLEY could not at present say
that every officer in the Commonwealth
ought to be subjected to reduction Of
twenty per cent. He was, therefore, OPP
posed to Mr. HURTS resolution, and in IA
vor of the substitute proposed by Mr..
SMITH. He thought there ought to be a
committee on retrenchment and economy,
to whom all such propositions should be re-
ferred.
AT this point Mr.. HURT, Of Halifax, moved
to lay the whole subject on the table, IN
order that he might perfect his resolution
by Monday. Agreed to.
The subject was then made the special
order for Monday.
CRIMINAL LAWS.
On motion of Mr.. BROOKE, the joint reSo-
i,,t;nr for tho annointment OF n Joint Conn