The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-01-10


john +. MASSEY,
Auditor of Public Accounts.
THEY MAY TESTIFY on THEIR OWN BEHALF.
The Senate yesterday passed the follow
ing:
Be Il enacted by the General Assembly,
That section 10 OF chapter II of the crimi-
nal Code. approved March IA, 1878, be
amended and recnacted so as to read as fol-
lows:
1. Hereafter, in all prosecutions for as
sault and battery and felonious assault, and
unlawful trespass, the accused may be
sworn and examined as a witness in his
own behalf.
.. This act shall be in force from its pas
sage.
LIABILITY OF COMMON CARRIERS.
Senator Smith introduced the following
yesterday:
BE il enacted 6y the General assembly,
That hereafter il shall not be lawful for any
common carrier TO limit or restrict its liza
bility as such common carrier by means OF
any notice, agreement, special contract, or
otherwise.
2. This act shall be in force from its pas
sage.
INTEREST on NONET-FoRFEITURE
In the House yesterday Mr.. Sayres intro
duced the following:
A Bill to amend and Recndct Sections and
8, Chapter 1877, Code Of 1873, in Relation
to Interest.
1. BE ii enacted by the General Assembly,
That sections and 8 Of chapter 1877 Of the
Code OF Virginia. edition Of 1873, as
amended by act Of Assembly approved
March "a. 1874, be amended and reenacted
so as to read as follows:
4. Legal interest shall continue to be at
the rate OF six dollars upon the one hum
dred dollars for year, and propOrtionably
for greater or less amount for longer or
shorter period.
8. All contracts and assurances made di-
rectly or indirectly for loan or forbearance
Of money or other thing at greater rate OF
interest than is herein provided for or al
lowed by the preceding section shall be
void, and the lender shall forfeit to the bor-
rover the entire amount lent or borrowed.
This act shall be in force from its pass
age.
CAUCUS, no CAUCUS.
Upon the adjournment OF the houses
YESTERDAY notice Of Readjuster caucus at
night was given, but later in the evening it
was stated at the hotels that the notice was
intended for tonight. Some few members
who had not heard of the mistake went up
to the hall OF the House, and were there
informed OF the error by the policeman on
duty.
There is n great deal OF work for the cau-
Gus 10 do, and for some reason they are
slow about it.
BOARD OF RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS.
The bill to regulate railroad freight and
passenger tariffs in the State, introduced in
the House Yesterday by Mr.. Duff Green,
provides that the Governor, by and with
the advice and consent OF the Senate, shall
appoint three commissioners, whose duty it
shall be TO make reasonable and just rates
of passenger and freight tariffs for all rail-
roads doing business in the State. One OF
the commissioners shall be experienced in
the law and another experienced in the
railway business. The first appointments
will be for two, four, and six years, but
thereafter to be for six years each. The
salary is left blank, but is to be
paid out OF the State treasury. The
commissioners shall subscribe to an oath TO
be framed by the Governor, and shall not
Jointly, severally, or in any other way be
holders Of any railroad stocks or bonds or
be employees or agents of any railroad COM
pany, or have any interest in any such COM
pany. The office is to be located in Rich
mond. and the commissioners are author
lied to employ Il secretary or clerk, whose
salary is to be also paid out OF the trea-
sury. This is a duplicate OF the Georgia
law on the same subject.
! GOING TO RUIN.
The fine battle-piece by Lami-the storm
ing OF redoubt at Yorktown-which cost
Mr.. Corcoran $1,000, and which he present
ed to the State, is going to ruin in the Sem
ate chamber. Great creaSes are being
formed. which will harden and crack the
canvas rs time goes on. The fault may he
in the hanging OF the picture, or it may be
because Of its location over a heater; what
ever it is. Mr.. Corcoran's gift ought to be
better treated.
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
This Board consisting OF the Governor,
Attorney-General, and Superintendent OF
Public Instruction. was in session yester-
day. and nominated for confirmation by the
Senate number OF county and city school
superintendents. Until the Senate acts
their names will be withheld from the
press. IL Is understood that no appoint
ment for Richmond was made, but indica-
tions point TO Mr.. Il. NJ. Garnett rs the
coming man. 1t is rumored that Mr.. John
Stagg was nominated for Charles City
county, and Mr.. W. NJ. Robinson for
Chesterfield. and that DR.. RulIner voted
against turning out all faithful incumbents.
PERSONAL.
The names of three well known citi-
zens-one merchant doing large busi-
ness; one a mechanic retired from active
pursuits; one young gentleman in u
manufacturing enterprise; all known az
Resdiusters-are mentioned as having been
determined upon as Board OF Directors
for the penitentiary.
THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY.
Mr. MAYO In the House introduced n bill
to regulate the practice OF medicine and
surgery. The following are some Of the
points Of the bill:
1t provides for State Board Of Medical
Examiners, consisting OF one member