The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-02-14
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.
Seyenty.Grst Day.
WEDNESDAY, February IS, 1878.

"WEDNESDAY, February IS, 1878.
SENATE.
Lieutenant-Go Governor WALKER in the
chair. Prayer by Rev. Charles Il. Read,
ID. d., of the Grace-Strcet Presbyterian
A number of House bills were twice read
and referred.
Mr.. OUEsENBERRY, from the Committee
on Public Institutions, presented bill TO
recall convicts hired out from the peniten-
tiary.
On motion OF Mr.. PHLEGAR, Mr.. HURT of
Halifax was granted leave of absence for
three days. m
/ On motion of MIR. MASSEY, leave was
granted him to withdraw petition OF A. h.
Yancey, from Albemarle county, &C., on
the ground that it would not be proper to
grant the relief asked for. n
Mr.. HINTON presented remonstrance OF
citizens of Petersburg against the purchase
by the city of Petersburg Of The Petersburg
railroad. Referred.
On motion of mr.. WOOD, Mr.. TYLER was
granted leave of absence for three days from
Tomorrow. .it.@- lLai p =
H9 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, &c.
The unfinished business of yesterday
viz, Joint resolution proposing amendments
to the Constftution-was taken UP and read.
Mr.. MASSEY moved to amend by striking
out the Cd section of the 10th article, pro-
hibiting tax on taking oysters with tongs.
He argued in favor Of deriving revenue
from taxing oysters.
ME-. HINTON moved to postpone the fur
ther confederation of the proposed resolu-
ton until Wednesday next.
ed the consideration Of the subject to-day.
Mr.. FULKERsoN said he thought we had
had enough changes in the Constitution.
He had followed the Clerk in his reading,
and as at present advised he should vote
against them all. At all events, he was OPP
posed to the whole political power Of the
State being deyolved upon the Governor in
the appointment OF magistrates.
After further discussion, Mr.. JOHNSON
presented resolution for night sessions, to
consider the apportionment bill and the
constitutional amendments. Agreed to.
The constitutional amendments were then
postponed until Thursday night.
lThe changes proposed are as to the vote
by ballot, the county-court system, return
ing to the old bench Of magistrates commits
stoned by the Governor. They propose to
abolish the offices Of county treasurer and
county superintendent OF schools. They
also give to the General Assembly the power
to exempt for ten years capital brought
into the State and employed in manufac-
tures.] ..4.
The Coleman Bliss contested-election case
was passed by.
THE BARBOUR TAX-BILL.
The next special order Of the day was
the Barbour tax-bill, which was taken up
on motion OF Mr.. MASSEY.
The same bill, introduced by Mr.. FULK-
ERsoN in the Senate, was then indefinitely
postponed, and the bill from the House Of
Delegates read.
Mr.. KoINER moved to amend the list Sec
ton, Wherein % cents is set apart for the
support OF the Government, and insert
Is; and to strike out 10 cents, set apart for
the payment: of interest on the public debt,
and insert % cents. .g-..l......+z
Mr.. MASSEY addressed the Senate in OPP
position to the amendment and in advocacy
of the bill.
At the conclusion Of his remarks, Mr.
MASSEY thanked the Senate-those VINO nau
remained to hear him-for their attention.
Mr.. KoINER withdrew bis amendments
having been under the impression that the
bill proposed to dispose OF oil the revenue
OF the State. .
Mr.. BROOKE presented bill to repeal the
act approved February 13, 1877, to establish
a toIi-gate on the Ashby's Gap turnpike.
Referred.
Adjourned. II; So. Z. .s.s3
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
The House was called to order by Speaker
ALLEN at II O'Clock. 81
49, ,..,sil THE BROOKE BILL.
A-number Of bills were reported from
committees and placed on the calendar.
Among them the BROOKE bill from the FL
nance Committee, with the recommending
that it do not pass.
EMPLOYEES AT THE CAPITOL.
The SPEAKER laid the following before
the House:
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
LAND OFFICE,
RICHMOND, Februaryl2 1878.
70 The Speaker of the House of Delegates:
sir,-I submit the following as reply to
the resolution OF the House OF Delegates OF
this date: ]. .sg, 3; ss ia 355sz
The salary attached to the Office of Super
intendento OF Public Buildings is $500.
iliam AheTn, engineer OF the heating
apparatus, gets salary OF 81 600. bis du-
ties require him to be Mt the Capitol every
morning during the session Of the General
Assembly by 4 O'Clock, and In very severe
weather at an earlier hour. In order to see
that the fires are started In time to secure
the necessary comfort Of the two houses OF
the Legislature In the summer. spring,
and fall, he sis required to be daily at his
post Id order 10 keep the locks and keys
about the Capitol In proper order, and 10
sec that the necessary repairs are done to-