The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-21
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OR VIRGINIA.
Sixteenth Day.
THURSDAY, December 20, 1877.
.s NATE,

Lieutenant Governor THOMAS in the chair.
Prayer by Rev. DR.. Topper. ,..
BILLS FROM THE HOUSE.
House bill to amend and reenact section
OF an act for the protection Of fish in the
waters of the Commonwealth above tide
water, approved March 21st, was twice
read and referred to the Committee on Gen.
| eral Laws. .. :.-. -. ...
| House bill to amend section Of bill for
the protection Of sheep in the counties OF
Bedford, Fauquier, Wythe, and Botetourt,
| approved March II, 1876, as amended by an
act approved April 2. 1877, was twice read
and referred. -. sts -.
/ House bill to amend section of an act in
relation to the protection Of game in certain
counties. Referred. avg .......,' -
A number OF other House bills were also
referred. I'D 49, ..E...-s4 p
Senate bill, with House amendment for
the appointment Of an additional commits
sioner in cbancery for Rockingham was
taken up and the amendment agreed to. =
FISH AND GAME.
By Mr.. ELLIOTT: A resolution for the ap-
pointment of a select joint committee Of
seven on the part OF the Senate and thirteen
on the part Of the House, to consider all
fish and game questions. Lies over.
PASSED.
Senate bill to amend and reenact the 9th
section of an act to revive the laws relating
to the inspection Of tobacco and warehouse
charges and to insure the proper delivery
of tobacco to the consignees, and to repeal
all acts on the subject which were in force
on the 1st OF January, 1877, approved April
4, 1877. s..,..
House bill declaring the Virginia bank of
the Potomac river in Loudoun county Il
lawful fence.
House bill to amend an act, &C., in regard
to admission to the public free schools, with
Senate amendments. -
House bill to amend and reGnact the 14th
section Of chapter Is OF the, Code, in refer
ence to the pay OF judges of the Circuit,
Chancery, and Hastings Courts OF the city
of Richmond, &c, so as to authorize the
Council of the city Of Danville to increase
the salary and compensation OF the Judge
OF the Hastings Court of SAID city.
RESIGNATION ACCEPTED.
Mr.. HINTON rendered his resignation as
chairman Of the Committee on Federal Re-
lations. He also asked to be excused from
further service upon the Committee on
Agriculture and Mining. His motion was
adopted.
APPROPRIATION AND TAX BILL.
Senate resolution requesting the Auditor
to prepare general appropriation bill. and
such amendments and new subjects OF taxa
ton as may seem fit to him by the 18th Of
January, and present the same to the Senate,
was agreed to. ..,.a- i
A Personal EXPLANATION FROM MR.. HURT OF
PITTSYLvANIA.
Mr.. HURT of PittSylvania rose in his
place and made the following personal eX-
PLANTATION in regard to the canal bill:
At the suggestion of some friends, in
whose Judgment have implicit confidence,
and on my own behalf, and from no other
motive. rise for the purpose OF making
an explanation. In the excitement OF the
debate which took place yesterday on
this floor I used language which dc
sire now to withdraw, and at the same
time to state the facts in the case. When
the canal bill was put. upon its passage
L saw that it might put the State to an
enormous cost, and opposed 1t with all the
earnestness I possessed. It was passed,
however. on the -- instant, aud the
President of the Senate directed that it
should be communicated to the House by
the clerk, and that it would be read the
next day ut II o'clock in the, House OF
Delegates. The next morning | arose from
nv seat and asked that the,bill should be re-
called, and then learned that it had been
signed by the Governor two hours before
the House OF Delegates met, and that, too,
before It had been submitted to either the
Committee on Enrolled Bills or signed by
the President OF the Senate or the Speaker
OF the House OF Delegates. I went to work
to correct the wrong, and one Of the plans
adopted was to get through q joint re-
solution placing necessary restrietions
| upon the law rs passed, and while discus
| sion upon the resolution was going on l
called upon the Governor and told him
what was being done, and asked him to de-
lay executing the contract few days, and
he promised me he would do so until the
ferred to a committee, and the chairman Of
it, which did. The committee decided to
report the resolution, and the president Of
the canal company being present requested
the committee to delay the report until the
next day and he would try and have the re-
strictions referred to in the resolution embo-
died in the contract. The committee decided
to do so. l at once entered my protest to
| the seton of the committee, stating to
| the chairman that the Governor had
only promised to delay until Friday
this was Thursday, December 13th), and
I would be deprived Of getting action
upon the resolution in time. I waited pa
tiently the report Of the committee and
heard no more OF the matter until day be-
fore yesterday, when | asked for the report
| and was assured that it would be forth
coming yesterday; and on yesterday was
| Told that the contract had been executed by
the Executive and the president OF the con-
pany last Saturday. t.i
My understanding was that Major john
ston was to submit the contract to, the COM
mittee for its approval before its signature
by the Governor. Major Johnston's under
standing may have been different, and, as I
am now informed, nor doubtWas; but with
lmy impressions Of this matter, while dis
claim any offensive personal reflection upon
any one, l deemed that sufficient considers
! ton and respect had not been accorded me
| under the circumstances.
/ STATE PROXIES. zS s@ 81
A Mr.. KolNER presented resolution direct.
ing the Committee on Retrenchnent md
Economy to inquire into the expediency oil
limiting the payment to. State proxies to &C.
tnai expenses incurred while acting in that
capacity. q. 81
Adjourned to JANUARY y, .3 49,. aslI
THE CLERK or THE SENATE. ass