Vicksburg weekly herald., 1878-01-18
HOUSE.

HOUSE.
House met. Speaker Percy In the chair.
Prayer BY Rev, DR.. Hunter.
Roll called. Present, ll3; abSent,
heading Of yesterdays Journal dis.
pensed with.
Message received from Senate annOunc.
ing passage OF bills.
Mr.. GhOlson was granted leave Of alb.
sence from day to day.
Committee on Rules reported amend.
ments TO rules OF last House, which were
agreed to.
select Committee on the Game Law re.
ported amendments. Report received.
On motion OF Mr.. TisOn, bill and amend
ments were laid on the table.
Another bill and amendments on the
same subject, were alsO laid on the table.
CONTESTED ELECTIONS.
Mr.. Miller, OF Pamela, offered the fol.
lowing resolution;
Resolved, That in cases Of contested
elections pending before the House, the
Clerk be and he is hereby instructed to
withhold the certificate OF pay from the
sitti & member until tuch cOntestis finally
decided.
Mr. Street moved to refer TO Committee
on Contested Elections, and that the Clerl
be Instructed to hold the pay certihcatei
until the Committee reports.
Carried, and the resolution 80 referred
RETRENcHMENT AND REFORN.
Mr.. Hunt offered the following resolu.
ton, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee on Re-
trenchment and Reform, be requested to
ascertain the amount OF fees and perqui.
sites received during the year 1877, by the
Audit r, Treasurer,and Secretary Of State,
respectively, and report the amount to
this House.
INVESTIGATING RAILROADS.
Mr.. lloylO offered the following, which
was adopted:
Resolved, That the Committee on Rail.
roads be Instructed to investigate thor
OuRhly the charters Of the various rail.
roads now in operation within this State,
with view to ascertain II there is any.
thing In their charters that iOrbids their
being taxed; and also inquire as to the
power oil the Legislature TO pass q law re.
quiring said reads TO adopt reasonable
and uniform tariG OF iTeights and passage,
and also 10 ascertain what roads, II any ARE
now paying taxes 10 this State, and to re.
port at as carly day as practicable, by
sIll or otherwise.
AGRICULTURAL LIEN LAW.
Mr.. Moody presented a petition from
sundry ciliZe ms Of Pamela county, praying
the Legislature not 10 modify the AgI icul-
turRl Lien Law. Referred.
LIMITING AMOUNT OF sTATE TAxEs.
Mr. Field offered the following, which
Yves adopted:
Resolved, That committee Of Gve be
appolated, with Mr., Street % Chairman,
to report at the present session OF the Leg
fRlaAuFa nm anonhmaUN IN thu Nnuaa lin.
tion, fixing = limit TO the amount Of the
annual tax OF the State.
Commlttee-Messrs. Street, Field, Roane,
TlsOB, Stands.
AMENDING THE SCHOOL LAWS.
Mr.. Lusk offered the following resolu.
tlOns:
Resolved, That the Committee on Public
Education be instructed TO report bill or
resolution providing for amendments to
the present School Laws Of this state, In
the following particulars:
lst. TO repeal that portion Of existing
law which provides for only one grade OF
common schools, which places all teachers
on the same footing, ana Is maniiestly un-
just TO teachers ol superior merit and
qualifications.
I'd. 10 provide for the establishment OF
first and second gr de schools In the sew
tIhl CuhhhANo VI bulu oNatgg hHu " AuN
a uniform series Of text. books, which shall
not be changed (On account OF the great
cost 10 parents and guardians) within four
years from the time Of the adoption there
Of.
Sd, To fix the rate Of salaries 10 be paid
teachers In each grade OF sccOols, which
shall be uniform as far as practicable nc.
cOrding to tho grade Of certificate they
may hold, and which shall neither be in
creased nor diminished during the scholas-
tic year.
4th. TO report what further changes or
amendments are necessary to p rfect our
system Of common schools, to render It
more efficient, and establish II on a firm
and enduring basis.
Read and referred to Committee on Edu.
catlOn.
EXPENSES OF JUDICIARY, ETC.
Mr. Augustus offered q resolution in.
structipg the judiciary Committee to in
quire into the expedlency OF harmOnizlng
the laws Of this State, viz: requiring the
expenses Of the Judiciary to be pald by
the counties, and requiring funds arising
from licenses, lines, iOrfeitures, ETC., TO be
paid into State Treasury for Common
school Fund; which wac laid on the table.