Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-01-04
Legislative.

Gov. Holiday. Transmitting Dis Inaugural, III
accordance with resolution requesting tho
same, adopted By tho Senate Wednesday. The
com nunicalon WAS read.
Mr. Smith moved that 900 copies III the
speech be printed.
Mr.. Fulkelsou said be did not think, as the
paper was DOT public document. that II could
be printed at the expense OF the State. lie
| thought if the Governors inaugural vas to be
printed that an account ct all OF the ceremonies
| Of the OCCASION should be printed as published
10 the CITY papers. Mr.. Fulkerson presented
az 90 amendment TO MIR. Smith resolution an
account of the ceremonies as published 10 one
of the city papers, which he requested the
clerk to read.
MIR. Smith opposed the reading of the pa
per, as it was out OF order.
The Chair thiok not The gent eman Of
fers it as an amendment to the original propo
sition, and, therefore. has right to have 1t
read.
| MIR. johnson While | Intend TO vote Tor
the reading, tbiok if the Chair will refer 10
the rules of this body be will find that no
Senator has a right to have printed matter
read. 90,
After some further discussion MIR. Smith s
resolution was adopted.
The Chair laid before the Senate a commu.
nicstion from the Executive, transmitting The
annual re port of the Railroad Commissioner,
which was referred 10 the Committee 90
Roads, &c.
\ resolution was adopted calling upon the
Auditor of Public Accounts for information 10
regard to the public debt.
% motion of Mr.. Brooke the Senate joint
resolution authorizing the Joint committee on
the revision of the criminal laws to employ a
clerk, after some discussion, was adopted.
Bills were introduced imposing stamp tax
upon contracts; to allow the Treasurer of the
Corporation of Winchester further time to
make his returns of the delinquent taxes for
1916; to repeal section g. chap. LAG, Code OF
1873, 10 relation 10 statute OF Limitations; and
resolution requiring the Committee on Con-
stitutonal Amendments to consider the pro-
priety of abolishiug the office of county treas
urcr and to require the sherifs to collect the
revenue.
House bill for the relief Of the Conference of
St. Mary of the Society of ST. Vincent of Paul,
10 the city of Alexandria, was taken up and re-.
fcrred on motion of Mr.. Lee, to the Commit
tee on Finance.
MIR. Massey presented the following -
| Whereas the interest Of the Commonwealth
and OF both her creditors and taxpayers require
|
the State debt be made as 5000 as practicable;
and, whereas 90 settlement of said debt can be
either permanent or honorable which is not
strictly Just ard equitable to both bondboIders
and taxpayers aud, whereas the State of fir
! GINA which contracted said debt was destroyed
and two new States, Virginia and West VIZ
GINA, were formed upon her ruins; and, where
as much of the property owned in that portion
of the old State which is DOW the State of Nir-
qinia was destroyed, and the residue greatly
DEPRECATED 10 value; and, whereas said destruc
| ton and dsprecialion were results OF the olnt
acts Of both boudhoders and taxpayers, or acts
which rendered each of said classes equally re.
| sponsibe therefor; and. whereas it is contrary
to the usage Of nations TO compute interest up
on the debt Of q State for the ii ne such Stale
| is engaged 10 val; therefore
Resolte2, That 10 the opinion Of the General
| Assembly of Virginia The debt Of The old State
of Virgitia as it was at the time Of her des;luc
| ton or dismembermeut ought to be apportioned
to the two new States-West Virginia and
| Yirgiril-which were formed upon her ruins
10 precisely the same proporri IN that her terri
| tory ia held By them.
.. That Virginia. portion Of said debt ought
to be reduced 10 exact proportion to the reduc
| ton OF the resources Of her cltlz,ns BY the
| aforesaid destruction Of part of their property
| and the depreciation OF the value OF The rcsl
due.
). That no interest ought 10 be computed 90
said debt from the time when the old State Sc
ceded from the Federal Uuion to the time when
the present State was allowed to coec! ADD
control her OVID resources.
4. That all the creditors Of the State ought
| to be placed upon equality with respect to their
-, Is ho11
| of superior dignity or greater value than any
other class.
s., That either registered or coupons bonds,
| payable thirty four years after date, or -
years, at the option OF the State, With interest
payable semi: annually at the rate, OF SIX per
cent. per auDum, ought TO be given to all the
| creditors of the State for the respective sums
found to be due them upon a settlement made
according to the foregoing preamble and reso
lutons.
The resolutions were ordered to be printed
and referred to the Committee on Finance.
10 The House OF Delegates, a message was
received from the Governor transmitting the
first aonual report of the railroad commissioner.
The report was laid on the table and ordered to
be printed.
A resolution was reported requesting the
Committee on Finance 10 irquirc whether or
not the clerks and treasurers OF the different
counties of the State arc not receiving larger
fees aud salaries for their services thac is COD
sisteut with the present foaDclal embarrass.
ment Of the people, and if so to report bill to
the House reducing the same.
A number Of bills were reported from com
mittees and placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Barbour Introduced resolution Instruct.
ing the Committee for Courts of Justice to en-.
qure into the expedieucy of so amending the
law as to mako the first Of March the com.
meucement of the terms Of all executive officers
required to be elected By the General Assem-
bly,.
Bills were reported to provide fence law
for the county of Loudoun; 10 reference to the
Jurisdiction OF justices Of the peace; ADD to "a
cilitate the extioQuishment of vendors liens
and give notice of the same. and of tho release
of deeds of trust.
House bill to provide for taking the census
of school population, proposing 10 continue the
duty of taking the census 90 the clerk OF the
District School Board, and to have it done 10
1c5S and eu,ru 6ua pnara thereafter instead of