Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-01-31
Legislative.

La the State Senate, yesterday, h1r' UrinS'
lev, from the Committee on Finaocr. reported
bill on the subject Of the public debt, which
was ordered to be printed.
A resolution was adopted eDqulrine into The
expedienoy Of 50 amending the Erssent Law as
to require the payment Of certain fees due the
State into the treasury, and bill was l0tro'
duced for the establishment of an insurance
bureau.
Mr.. Hinton offered the following:
Whereas, the revenues Of the Commonwealth
based on the present rate OF Taxation OF h!ty
cents on the one hundred dollars value arc made
ouate to moot the expenses OF the State, the
public schools and the Interest on tho public
debt: and whereas, The interest on the public
debt should be paid in full; and whereas, this
cannot be done without en- increase 10 the pres
ent rate 90 personal property, real estate, IL
censes end all other subjects now taxed by Law;
therefore,
Resolved, That The Finance Comm,tcn be
and thew are hereby Instructed to report as
early az practicable such bill increasing the
rate of taxation on licenses, personal property,
real estate, and all other subjects now taxed by
law, as we'll meet the current expenses OF the
State, the public schools, the interest on the
public debt, and any aud all other debts now
| due or that may become due during The fiscal
year by the Commonwealth.
Mr.. Hurt, of Halifax, offered substitute
| ipsructing the Finance Committee to report
such bill as will meet the first sem. annual 10.
terest Oh the funded debt ct the State, No.
| A long debate cnsued, taking in its range the
| whole debt question, the ability OF the State to
pay interest, &c., and pending consideration
tho Senate adjourned.
To the House of Delegates resolution offer.
ed by MIR. Fauntleroy was adopted instluc:iug
the Auditor to ascertain and report an exact
and comprehensive statement OF the whole 10,
| debtedness of the State Of Virginia upon all
accounts and to whomsoevel; both the debt
proper and The debt inclusive Of the default
| to the school fund, the sinking fund, the liter
airy fund, the charitable institutions Of the
State, and for borrowed money, and ell arrcsr.
| ages and obligations Of the State of Virginia
which swell the public debt
Among the bills and resolutions, Ne, intro
duced we're the following: A bill to amend the
charter of the Straight.Shoot Railroad Com.
pany so as to change name, &c.; bill to amend
Code 10 relation to threats and bribery at eltc
tons; resolution nstructing the Committee on
| Constitutional Amendments to report an amend.
| ment to the Constitution changing the school
age 80 that the children Of the State between
the ages of seven and twentyone years shall
constitute the basis Of the division Of the school
funds among the people 10 each school district
of the State, &c; resolution to aGend the
Constitution making the ability 10 read and
write condition Of voting to all persons toro
after January l, 1878; resolution il reference
to public school teachers; oil! to smoal the
act to extend the time for repairing and rebuild
ing the mills and machinery burned durlug the
wal; q petition of citizens of WytheviIle to
amend the charter OF that town 10 regard to
the sale of liquor; petitions of citizens of War
rem, Shenandoah and Clarke COUNTIES rem0n
srating against the consolidation of the Twelfth
and Thirteenth judicial circuits; bills 10 !ncor'
poratc the Essex Cemetery COMPANY and Inc
Rappahannock Freedman s Cemetery Con.
pany.
Al asiiv;erse report WAS maize Oh the bill lor
the relief of Thomss a. Beatty. o: .Nnrron CO.,
with recommendation that it do not pass.
| A bill was favorably reported I'd ameni tho
| code in relation to inspections.
Mr.. Harrison offered the following re: olution:
Resolved, That it is the sense Of this House
that the rate of taxation upon real and personal
property should be increased to such an extent
as will enable the Commonwealth to pay the
interest at the rate Of per cent upon its debts.
Mr.. Henry offered tho following a. substl-
tute for Mr.. Hsrrison's resolution
Resolved, That if, after ascerLsining the exact
| amount of the Slate debt, the revenues Of the
State under the presen. tax bill be Insufficient.
then tho taxes on property on other subj ect;
| should be raised TO an amount sufficient to meet
its liabilities.
This subject caused much discussion. hieas1s.
| Hanger. Henry, Bohannon ard Anderson DO
clsred it an attempt of tho resdjuster to raise
| side issue in order to draw out al expression OF
| the House on this question. Each Of these gen
tlemen said that if it was necessary thoy would
vote for an increase Of taxation to pay the in
tereet on the public debt.
| Pending the discussion tho House resumed
the consideration of tho business on the cscn
| dar.
Several protests ..were presented against the
consolidation of tho l2:h and 18th Judicial Cir
! cults.
Bills we're passed to amend the It'll section ol
on act for'the protection of fish in tho waters OF
the Commonwealth above tide water to moor
porate the Rappannock Homo Mutual Fire In.
surance Company; to smend sections IL and +
Of chapter IS Of the Code in relation to weights
and measures, and to repeal section 10 Of sad
| chapter to amend section 10 Of An act APPROX
ed March co. 1875, entitled IAN act to provide
for working and keeping in order tho roads Of
| the Commonwealth"