Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-01-15

..rbat the Auditor of Public Accounts

''That the Auditor of Public Accounts
shall before the lst day of January OF
each year estimate what sum will be
produced by the capitation tax and one
fifth of the direct tax on property for the
ensuing twelve months. deducting there
from the proper share of expenses OF
collection and ofinsolvents, and he shall
out of the first money that comes into
the treasury from taxes, deposit one
twelfth of such amount so ascertained as
the increase coming to the Department
of Public Instruction to the credit of the
superintendent thereof; and if sufficient
funds shall not be received in any month
to pay such sum SO monthly due the
public schools, then the Auditor OF Pub
lie Accounts is hereby directed to make
temporary loans of sufficient amount to
deposit such amount so due the public
schools monthly, and shall repay such
loans out of the first money'that is paid
into the treasury through his office re-
ceived from taxes"
Pending further consideration of tn g
bill the Senate adjourned.
In the House, the Committee on Privi-
leges and Elections-Mr:. Hanger chair
man-reported unanimously that James
B. Ficklin (the sitting member,) and
not D. J. Woodfin (the contestant,) is
entitled to. the seat for Buckingham
county. Agreed to. Motion to recon-
slider rejected.
In the Senate, on Friday, Mr.. john
son made an able speech in support of
his amendment. He was replied to by
Mr.. Phlegar, after which Mr.. Lee arose
to address the Senate, but yielded to a
motion to adjourn.
In the House, Mr. Echols presented a
resolution that the Committee on Re-
trenchment and Economy be instructed
to make a careful investigation of the
present expenses of all the various de-
partments of the State government and
of the retrenchment which may be made
therein without detriment to the public
service, and that they make report
thereof by bills or otherwise.
He also presented a resolution that the
Committee on Asylums and Prisons be
instructed to inquire and report as to
whether some plan may not be devised
and adopted for the management of the
penitentialy, by lease or otherwise, con-
sistent with the public welfare which
will make the said institution source
of revenue to the State, or at least self
sustaining.
Mr.. Hanger presented a resolution in
structing the Committee on Privileges
and Elections to inquire into the ex-
pediency of providing by law for new
registration in the city of Staunton,
The House adopted resolution offer
ed by Mohett instFuetihg the Committee
on Finance to report a hillproviding for
the payment to the free schools any
amount now due said fund.
In the Senate on Saturday, Mr.. John
sons amendment was discussed by
Messrs. Lee, Tyler, Gayle, and Massey.
Pending further discussion, the Senate
adjourned.
In the House, Mr. Taliaferro, of Nor
folk, offered preamble and resolutions,
which were referred to the Committee
On Finanee, instrqcting fhe Finance
COMMITTEES to report as tothe expectancy
of reporting bill authorizing all classes
Of creditors to exchange the bonds now
held by them for bond similar in char
acter to the "consol" bond bearing
per cent. interest, the principal of which
shall be payable at the Treasury thirty
four years after date from 1st July, 1878,
and the coupons of which shall be pay
able semi annually at the Treasury tha
lst July and LIST January OF each year.
Pror'tded, that tile ''peefer'' bondholders
shall not be permitted to make the ex::
change until two thirds of the ''consor'
n0nqhalders shall have first accepted the
provisions of such an act, and that the
said committee shall also inquire into
the expedieacy of capitalizing the
certificates for interest on all classes of
the debt, and providing for the appro-
priation of the excess of the revenue, at
ter psy,.:.l the interest on the. public
debt, cltfent' expenses Of the govern
ment, and school fund, to the tcurtail-
ment and extinguishmeht of this debt,
without interest so spop as the said ex;
cess Of reEapAa shall be Aauai, fron time
to time, to twenty per cent. Of the said
| debt,