Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-02-18
VIRGINIA. LEGEsE.fTEraE.


Ia the scnste, yesterday, Mr.. Lee, from thc
Conuis.e % Rosds. presented report as to
whether the Richmond and Allegheny Railroad |
intend 10 build said road or sell its frsschise
the kind Of road, the gauge, &c. Mr.. Parsons,
the vice president Of the company, SAYS the
road is to be of barrow gauge, built Of The bes!
stee! rails and first class 10 every particular.
The franchises Of the company would Tot be
so|a if they could. Mr.. Parsons statca.
hir. Giimsiey. from the Finance Committee.
presented report touching tho "diVtralcu,"
"spoiation" ard robbery" OF the school funds
to the injury and obstruction OF the school s5s
len. The report says THE Constitution Of
the State provides that the General Assembly
shall apply the annual interest on the Literary
Fund, the capitation tex provided for by this
constitution for public free school purposes and
al annual tax upon the property of the State
of not less than one mill or more than five
mills on the dollar for The cqlsl benefit of all
the people of the State Ct Virginia." So. Tho
revenue derived from these sources constitute
| with the 6ues, forfeitures, &c., mentioned IN
| tho 7th sectoa of the same article, the school
| furd." The prominence given to the subject
! of free education by the trainers of the present
constitution, and the mandatory character OF
| its provision, indicating O manifest purpose to
place the free school system upon sure and
| permanent basis, compel the conviction that the
appropriations therein designated Ware designed
| to be absolute end unconditional.
The report says By the terms OF the Funding
bill, authority was given to fund certain pro
| portion OF these bonds in other b1ads ct the
STATE, bearing interest coupons, Eheh were eX,
tressed on their face to he receivable for all
| taxes, debts, dues Or demands duo to the State.
Tho effect Ct this aot being to enable tho utter
es: c3u DOES to absorb o corresponding amount
| of the public revenues, however, the Leeisla-
| tura which levied taxes might approprs to
them; 1t was attempted By the SCI OF March I.
1872, to destroy the receivable" feature Of the
Funding bill By rrquiripg all taxes to be col
| lected ia money only. The con5tilutioEsisy CT
| this last set vas tested in the courts with the
result which is familiar to every lawyer, If not
| 10 every cizan. Il was declared uEconstitu
| tional by the Supreme Court CT Appeals 10 so
| far as it effected the deb. already funded;
| amounts to $40 1000 900, ard these coupons ag'
grcgatiug Annually the same in round numbers
| Ut 81, 200 0C0 were lett 10 absorb that uuch CT
| annual revenue. l. is ttuo that ths trouble
| thus rcsuiag to tho cause Of education was
sought to be rcmcGi3d by the &C. Of March 90,
| 1878, which directed that the Auditor Of Pub
| lie Accounts shall Annually pay over 10 money,
| according to the usual form aud general provi-
sion of Law, all that portion Of the anbull reVe
nue of tie State which is Sc. apart Tor Tree
school purposes.
! Such being tho stale CT si1alrs there appear 10
| 10 your committee but two avenues OF escape
| from tho embarrassment which now oDstTuct
the proper working and efficiency Of the free
school eysten. One isto DO tornd in such "a
increase OF taxation rs will avail for the seaport
| of the government tho payment Of interest," on
! tho funded debt. and the maintenance OF tho
schools; the other the adj ustinebt Of tho State
| debt upon such principles SIS 70 render present
| revenues adequate for all S.ste purposes, or so
nearly go as not to add sensibly to the burdens OF
the people. The adoption Of the first OF these
remedies is hardly probsblei but it is hoped that
| in the latter may be found ~ preventive OF all
| such difficulties IN the future.
Bill were passed to incorporstethe Alexandra
| and Fairfax Agricultural and Industrial Asscc!-
alton and 10 provide for the erection CT suitable
sChutcs by tho owners OF Ini!-dGms On the North
| river.
Nj Lee presented petition Of citizans OF
I.oudoun county asking raHeal OF chapter 81
| Of Acts lSIi-'fS.
Mr. Sinclair presented resolution CT inquiry
ir.o the expense OF reporting and publishing the
debates OF Inc Senate, Sc Tsblcd-aycs, y;
noes, 2
Tie Richmond and Allegheny railroad bill
was discussed ard amended.
In the House CT Delegates bills we're passed
allowing further time 10 A. j. Parrish, trcasu-
rcr of Albemarle county, to make bis returns
of deli71uents; to clspge the Zine for holding
Circuit Courts 10 the Fourth Judicial circuit
to amend section 10 Of chapter 12G Of the Code
10 reference to personal representatives; 10
amend OH act to regulate the working OF TIE
public roads !r the oouoIcs CT PRICE, William.
Montgomery, Chesterfield, aoa Lancaster.
The bill TO ameud the act prescribing the
duties, powers. liabilities aud compensation CT
county officers vas postponed uulll Wednesday.
The House proceeded to consider Inc jolnt
resolutions proposing amendments to the Con.
stitutioo, Ethe question being On tho motion to
strike cut from the Tepor. Of the committee the
clause which gives 10 the Supreme Court Iu!l5.
dicon 10 civil cases where tho matter in coo.
tr0versy exclusive Of costs is $500, aud to al.
low the lay to remain as il is now, limiting tho
amount to $500.
Alcas7s. HeDry and Walker, of Westmcra-
a1d, spike in favor OF the old law.
Messrs. LACY and Fauntler3y advocated the
adoption Of The amendment, bu: no ac:lcn ess
had
zsGusr E'lx ~ E,FGJNs .1sCILoE