The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-02-28
GENERAL ASSEMBLY or VIRGINIA.
Elgi,ty.afth. Day.
WEDNESDAY,, February q, 1878.
.,, SENATE. s,.

ON motion of Mr.. HIHToNit was ordered
thai the rule requiring the reference OF
House private and local bills to committees
for the remainder OF the session be slls-
pended. +
BILLS PASSED.
House bill to remove the disabilities OF
James c. Scott and Edward G. Spilman, OF
Fauauier county, under the Guelilng clause
OF the Constitution. US
House bill to incorporate the Chinco-
league Temperance Association.
House bill authorizing the trustees OF the
Methodist Episcopal parsonage, Smithfeid,
Isle OF Wight county, to borrow money.
House bill to amend and reenact the 30
and 9th sections OF an act to provide me-
thod Of settling the accounts OF the banks
OF Rockingham and Berkeley as to out
standing circulation, approved March Il,
1877.
House bill declaring the county OF Spot.
sylvania district for all the purposes OF
county organization.
House bill to authorize the trustees OF the
Oregon Methodist Episcopal church, OF
Richmond, to borrow money and execute
deeds of trust, &c.
House bill to amend the act for the pro-
tection of sheep in the county OF P0Wba-
tam.
House bill to incorporate the Mary Wash.
ingtcn Association OF America.
House bill for the protection OF sheep In
the county of Rockbridge.
House bill to regulate the prices for work
ing the roads in the county of Floyd.
House bill to incorporate Vineyard
Grange, in King and Queen county.
House bin for the protection OF crops in
Rockbridge county.
House bill to amend the 5th section OF an
act to incorporate the Virginia Manganese
Company, passed July, 1867.
House bill relating to fences and protec-
ton Of crops in Madison district, county OF
Orange.
House bill to authorize the trustees OF the
Methodist Episcopal church at Providence,
Fairfax county, to sell property and bor-
row money.
House bill exempting the tributaries Of
the Potomac river in the county Of West
moreland.
House bill for the protection Of crops in
the county of Augusta.
Senate bill with House substitute to pro-
vide for the lease Of the penitentiary.
Senate bill to proyidefor an inspection Of
the Official bonds OF county and city trea-
surers lpresented by Mr.. PAUL to-day.
PROPOSITION TO REDUCE TAXATION.
Mr.. PAUL presented the following:
Whereas it is the purpose of the General
Assembly at its present session to pursue
policy OF legislation based on the idea Of
retrenchment and reform, and in further
ance thereof to reduce the salaries OF all
public officers as low as is consistent with
an efficient administration OF the State gov
eminent, to the end that by SO doing the
people may be relieved Of burthensome tax
alton; now, therefore, in order that the
taxpayers of the Commonwealth may have
the benefit of such reduction, be it
ReSolued. That the Committee OF Finance
be instructed to prepare and report to the
Senate tax bill in which the present as
sessment on real and personal property
to wit, fifty cents on every one hundred
dollars value thereof-shall be reduced to q
rate corresponding in amount with the re-
auctions Of the salaries Of public officers,
as provided in House bill No. 81, now pend
ing before the Senate.
MIR. PAUL spoke in advocacy Of the reso-
luton.
Mr.. HURT OF Halifax moved to indefinitely
postpone the resolution.
Mr.. FULKERSON advocated the resolution.
Mr.. Ko1NER spoke in opposition to the re.
solution.
The question being taken, the resolution
was indefinitely postponed by the following
vote:
AYEs.-Messrs. Belts, Bland, Brooke Dickinson,
Elliott, Gayle, Goote, Grimsey, Hairston, Henry H.
Hurt, John L. Hurt, Koiner, Marshall, Moulton,
M Mns,oP Mard snd
NoEs.-Messrs. Bliss, Chiles, Fulkerson Massey,
Norton, Paul, Powell, Slemp, and Wood-9.
REVISION OF THE CRIMINAL LAWS.
The Senate next proceeded to the consld-
Grafton OF the special order-viz., the re-
port of the Committee on Criminal Laws.
Pending the consideration OF which the
Senate recessed.
Night Session.
Senator QUEsENBERRY resumed the chair
st 8 P. NJ, and the Senate again took up the
bill to amend the criminal laws.
At 8 O'Clock Mr. HINTON moved to lay
the bill on the table. 1t was evident to his
mind that the Senate could not pass the bill
in time for the House to pass it and the
Governor sign it before the Legislature adj
journs, unless the session is extended. He
thought the resolution to extend the ses-
sion should be considered.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed
to-ayes, IS; noes, 8.
The resolution extending the session was
tnG0 TAKEN up anu IGau.
Mr.. FULKERsoN said that as the Governor
had vetoed the taX-bill he would vote
against an extension OF the session. He was
satisfied the government would have to stop
within the present year, and he thought we
might as well make the issue at once. The
crash has to come sooner or later, and he
was OF opinion that it would be best to so
home and let it come.
Mr.. KoINER regretted what the Senator
from Washington had said. He thought
that there might be another way to settle the
debt question. 1t was not surprising that
the first plan failed. We are just now be-
ginning to understand each other, and to
appreciate the difficulties that surround us.
he appealed to senators not to leave here
and 60 home in ilI-temper without another
effort to settle this question Of 80 much i'm
to the State, involving the honor
and hopes Of the people. He then went on
to give his idea of how the debt can be set
tied. He had not lost all hope. He
thought the time had just now come
when there might be a compromise.
We could make fair proposition to our
creditors, and il they fail to accept then the
burden will rest on them. He believed they
would accept and that We could have set
element of the question. He hoped 1t would
he the pleasure Of the General Assembly TO
extend the session and make another trlai:
Mr. MASSEY said he came here prepared
TO STAY iust as long as the interests OF tne
commonwealth required it. He thought 1t
was very grave question whether the IN
terests OF the State would be enhanced by
the extension. He was not Wiling 10 stay
unless there was chance for a settlement.
he though, the oIiye-branch had been held
out III the bill which had passed the Gene,