The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-01-09
GENERAL ASSEMBLY or VIRGINIA.
THURSDAY. January 8, 1880.
SENATE.
senator ELLIOTT, president pro Tempo

in Campbell county. oroereu !" W
crossed.
MIR. SxrrB, from the Committee on Roads,
presented substitute for Senate Dill 10 In.
corporate the Baltimore, cincinnati anu
Western railroad.
Mr.. FuLKERsoN presented bill imposing
tax on the privilege Of selling liquor, DC.
Referred.
MIR. DANIEL presented bill to incorpo-
rate the Bedford Springs Narrow-Gauge
Railroad Company. Referred.
Mr.. RIppTEBhR0HR presented comH1u-
nication from Judge X. w. Hughes, in sub
sanitation OF the statement that X. r.
Walker. ESQ, superintendent OF Public
Printing, did not take the iron-clad oath
when he qualified as Clerk Of the State Sem
ate in June, 1866. Laid on the table, on
motion OF Mr.. RIDDLEBERGER, on account
OF Mr.. HENRY's absence.
Senate bill to incorporate the United
States Commercial Company was ordered 10
be engrOssed.
Mr.. FINYEY presented resolution calling
for a statement OF monthly receipts OF Mol
felt register from 1st day OF January, 1878,
TO 1st day OF January, 1880.
Adjourned.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
The SPEAKER called the House to order at
~ o'clock.
PRESENTED AND REFERRED.
By Mr.. WILKINSON: Petition OF citizens
OF Danvllle representing that the present
system OF taxing liquor Is Objectionable in
that il encourages dishonesty ana fraud.
Bv Mr.. COGHILL: Petition OF the citizens
OF the town OF Madison, IN the county OF
Amherst, praying for the repeal OF the CHAR
ter OF said town.
BIZ Mr.. LovENsTgIN A bill to repeal Sec
ton 9, chapter So, Acts 1S7S-'79, entitled,
IAN act imposing certain duties upon
county and corporation tfea'urers and other
collectors OF State revenue"
By Mr.. BLAND: A bill TO Incorporate
Ever.True Division, No. 81, Sons OF Tenn
perance, Of City Point, Prince George
county. Va.
By Mr.. DANDRID0E A bill 10 define the
effect OF answer Ia chancery.
Bv the same: A bill to amend and reenact
the 3jth section OF chapter 167 OF the Code
Of 1873.
BY Mr.. GIBSON A bill to allow cOmmu-
tation for artificial arm to Josephine Robin
son, widow OF Walter Robinson, deceased.
By Mr. DOwNEs: A bill to provide more
effectualIy for the control and investment OF
the GIebe funds of the county Of Northamp-
ton.
By Mr.. MENEPEE Act to permit parties
10 testify In their own behalf in criminal
cases.
ENROLLED BILLS.
Mr.. LovENsTgIN submitted the report OF
the Committee on Enroled Bills.
REARRAXGEMEYT OF HALL.
Mr.. HANGER offered the following:
RESOLVED, That the Superintendent OF
Public Buildings be instructed to arrange
the seat, OF members as they were before
the recess, except that one row OF the desks
shall be placed nearer the railing.
Mr.. ELLIS offered the following amend
ment: "And that the Superintendent OF
Public Buildings be instructed to devise
some arrangement for the better accommo-
dation OF tue reporters" Adopted.
The resolution was then adopted.
VENTILATION.
On motion Of Mr.. EcHOLs it was resolved
that the Superintendent OF Public Build
ings be instructed, II possible, to improve
the ventilation of the hall OF the House.
THE CANAL BILL.
House bill allowing the James. River and
Kanawha Company further use OF the con-
victs now in their possession came up as an
finished business, the question being upon
agreeing to the motion OF Mr.. MOFFETT to
postpone the bill and make it the special
order for Friday at 1:30.
Mr.. COGHlLL said that on Friday judges
are TO be elected, aud That as the House has
DO other business before it to-day, it had
better proceed with The consideration of the
bill to-day.
Mr.. MOFFETT withdrew his motion.
Mr.. FINNEY moved that the bill be dis
missed.
Mr.. LlNKENnoKER opposed the motion.
He stated hat the Clifton Forge railroad is
half built, and that 100 free laborers are
employed with the cOnyicts. To take the
cOnyicts away will be to throw these 100
men out Of work, in addition to damaging
the Interests OF the State.
Mr.. NICHE hoped the bill would not be
dismissed, but would be passed. He gave
several reasons TO show that this is a mea-
and he insisted that members ought not to
make sectional question Ct it.
Mr.. COGHILL explained the legislation
upon this subject, what the interests OF the
State are in this work, and the disastrous
consequences which will follow the with
drawal Of the convicis from the unfinished
Forge. The company gives its bonds to the
State in payment for the services of the con-
victs.
Mr.. NTCoL supported the motion TO dis
miss in a brief speech, taking the view that
the State is not interested, hut that it is a
private corporation, and that there are other
private corporations willing to take the con-
victs upon terms more advantageous to the
State.
Mr.. MUsHBACH said that the State has
SlI ,0O0, 900 invested in the canal, and that
the conviets are now engaged upon the last
effort 10 make that work successful. He
showed that the State receives the bonds OF
the company for the convictlabOr, and be-
lieyed that the bonds would be paid ulti-
mately. Therefore he favored the passage
OF the bill.
MIR. FARR claimed that the convicts were
given the company in violation OF the Con-
stitution, and that the arguments advanced
now are the same used two years ago. But,
looking at il in business light, he thought
il foolish 10 give these conyicts to the canal
company when they could be hired TO other
corporations at thirty-fve cents day. The
cost of. maintaining the cOnvicts on the
Clifton Forge railroad is greater than In the
pepitentiary 10 about 20 cents
per day per capita. Mr.. FAIR said that at
the beginning OF the session there were six
or seven parties here clamoring for con-
yicts. They have all disappeared. There
fore Mr. FAIR thought ring had been
formed in the matter Of conyicts. As to
the bonds given by the canal company for
these convicts, they are not secured.
Mr.. LADY insisted that the State did have
q lien. -
Mr.. FARR said not upon the railroad.
That when the railroad is sold under mort