The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-01-08
The Capitol.

The Capitol.
MR.. HEHRY's PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE
CITY CHARTER-wHKT sDIvERsI0N - OF
SCHOOL FUNDS MEASs-PUBLIC. PRINTING
Observation-Disclosures IN TIE HOUSE
TO-DAY.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Henry {" to
amend the 9th section OF the charter OF the
city OF Richmond" reported yesterday,
proposes to add to the section, which limits
the debt of the city, the following words
intended to place the city in the position to
protect her interests should the canal pro-
perty be forced into the market by fore
closure OF mortgages or by other process !:
The Council, If authorized by majority
Of the registered freeholders Of the city
voting on q day to be fixed BY the Council,
may purchase the property and franchises
OF the James River and Kanawha Compa-
ny, and issue bonds, contract loans, or
cause to be issued certificates OF debt, or
bonds, to an amount sufficient to raise the
money to pay for the same, and the amount
Of debt which may be contracted for that
purpose shall pot1be. included in. the said
aggregate debt limited to eighteen per cent.
OF the assessed value of the taxable real
estate Of the city. And in case such puf-
chase shall be made the city Of Richmond
shall not only succeed to the franchises,
rights, and privileges OF the 44th and 45tff
sections Of chapter 81 Of the. Code OF 1873,
and be regulated thereby, but shall also
succeed to and have the right to exercise
all the franchises, rights, and privileges
which may have been granted at the date of
such purchase toIany internal Improvement
company, with view to the construction
OF q railroad along the line Of the james
River and Kanawha canal to Clifton Forge
and Lexington. ).
9: This act shall be in force from its pas
sage. ,.,. .,....... 80.
WHAT CONVERSION" MEANS.
Dr.. Ruffner sent the following to the
House yesterday: >,r.
OFFICE SUP'T PUBLIC INsTRUCTIoN,
RICHMOND, January Z, 1879. !
To the Honorable the House Of Delegates:
have the honor to acknowledge the re-
ceipt OF the following resolution: -
"Resolved by the House of Delegates,
That the Superintendent OF Public Instruc-
tion be and he is hereby requested to eX-
plain to this House what he means by 6 di-
version Of the publc-school funds"
I am glad to have the opportunity OF
stating that I have used the word diver.
sion' In its ordinary and proper sense OF
term to school funds I have simply meant
that the school funds were turned aside
from their lawful use in maintaining the
public-school system to other and .dif-
ferent objects. I had no double mean-
ing, and no reference TO anything
except the naked act just mentioned.
Inasmuch as some election has been
made to my use OF this and other terms in
connection with this subject, beg leave to
say distinctly that meant nothing more
than I said in any case. / did not mean to
animadvert upon the conduct Of any officer
or department; for whatever might have
thought Of the propriety Of what was dcne
or left undone by those who had charge OF
the matter, have never felt at liberty to
crlticise their course OF action.
Very respectfully,
Superintendent of Public Instruction.
49,. PUBLIc-DEBT CONFERENCE.
The two propositions-one from the Fl
nance Committee, the other offered by Gen.
cral Echols-for conference OF the holders
OF Virginia bonds with the General Assem-
bly,, or representatives thereof, will come
up for consideration as the special order in
tie House to-day at O'Clock.
| uc cAtlclBc VIII ouPpoio thS
resolutions reported from the Finance Com
mittee, which propose, in effect, that the
bondholders be invited here to compromise
with the State on the terms Of the Barbour
bill. Speaker Allen and number OF the
influential reidiusters desire to have rea
conference-a comparison Of views-witt
the bondholders, claiming that the State
cannot possibly lose anything thereby, and
| that il the bondholders are unreasonable
the reIdiusters can return to their constitu
ents with strengthened arms.
The resolutions OF the Senate now before
the Finance Committee of the House art
substantially the same as General Echols's
PUBL1c-PRINTING INVESTIGATION.
The committee examined several wit
nesses in the Goode-Frayser investigation
Yesterday evening. Captain Frayser was
on the stand when, at z O'Clock, the com
mittee adjourned until O'Clock this after
noon. Captain R. F. Walker has been sum
moned as witness. ".
| MoRTUARY REPoRT.-The following is tht
mortuary report for the week ending Jan
uary 4, 1879: 80.
cause of Death: Bronchitis (acute),
coiored; burns, colored; congestion O
brain, 1 colored; congestion OF lungs,
white: consumption, white, colored
convulsions GnfantiIe) 2 colored; diarrhea
l white; diphtheria, 2 white; dropsy,
white; fever tscarlel), white, colored
| fever ityphoitl) L 0colOred: heart-diSeaSe,