The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-12-27


Auditor 5. Brown Allen reported that he
had appointed as collectors OF delinquent
inheritance tax j. J. Cooke and Asa Rog
ers, Jr., of Petersburg, who employed IL
the several counties attorneys at their own
expense. They have collected over So
600, and been allowed 20 per cent.
On motion of Mr.. COltrane it was resolv-
ed that the Auditor of Public Accounts
furnish the Senate with statement show
ing each item Of the amount of the Ordina-
ry and current expenses of the state gov
eminent for the fiscal year 1881 50 and the
fiscal year 1892-'S3.
On motion of Mr. Heaton resolution
was agreed to calling upon the Superin-
tendent OF Public Instruction for lnforma-
ton in regard to the law and regulations
under which teachers Institutes are held.
Mr.. Lybrook presented a bill to take the
sense OF the people whether there shall be
a convention to revise the Constitution
and amend the same.
Mr.. Koiner's bill Ito provide in the fu-
ture construction of railways for, secure
crossings on county roads, streets, and
other public highways. y was amended and
ordered to engrOSSment. 1t is as follows:
i. Be IL enacted by the General assembly of Vir-
ginia That hereafter all railways constructed
across county roads. streets, and other public
OF neross
shall, when practicable pass at surface grade,
or pass beneath or above the existing structure
at a sufficient depression or elevation, as the
case may be, with easy grading, so as TO admit
of speedy and safe travel over either.
2. AT all such existing crossings on the rail-
structed improvement shall, within twelve
months from the passage OF this act, when prac-
ticable, so improve the grading on the full width
OF the railway land, at the crossing, make
it level and smooth for rapid transit.
3. This act shall be in force from its passage.
The report of the committee ON priyi-
leges and elections declaring the Govern
OF s writs for special elections in the 25tll.
9th, 31st and SD senatorial districts null
and void. and directing the President pro
tenn. of the Senate to issue his writ forth
with for such elections, was adopted by a
strict party yote-ayes %, noes II. The
elections are to fill the vacancies caused by
Messrs. Jones, Stevens, Martin and Rue
accepting federal and state offices and
thereby FORGETTING their positions as Sena-
tors, which the Governor claimed the right
to fill. Elections had been held under his
writS. but the democrats generally refrain
ed from voting.
In response to resolutions from the Sen
ate the Auditor replied that no attorneys
for the Commonwealth have been paid out
of the Treasury for services other than in
prosecutions on behalf of the Common
wealth in courts Of record, and that no ex-
ira pay has been allowed the Attorney
General for services in connection with the
public debt.
In the House, on Wednesday, the follow
ing resolution by Mr.. Opie was adopted:
That the Superintendent of Public lnstruc-
tion be. and is hereby directed to inform
this House whether OF not there are any
county superintendent OF schools whose
appointments have not been ratified by the
Senate. and if SO, to furnish list OF their
names and respective counties.
In the Whag's report of the legislative
proceedings, we find the following When
the Wickllam resolution Interference to the
forcible settlement of the debt came up,
as reported from the committee, MI. Glib
son, Of Culpeper, and others, seemed to
hesitate us if they might go too far in the
matter Of Reimbursement.
Mr.. Christian, of Richmond, and MI.
Pollard, of King and Queen, were not sat
isfed to recommend the hurrying through
Of the resolution, and other new converts
to Reimbursement seemed to be willing to
hasten slowly. An amendment was offer
ed which required the reference of the re-
solution to the Committee for Courts OF
Justice, and it was so referred. This-Will
give time to blow to the Bourbon-Read-
justers.
The Commissioner of Sales bill was re-
ported from the Committee Wednesday,
with the recommendation that it donot
pass.
In the Senate on Thursday, Mr.. Atkin-
son introduced resolution providing that
the Committee on Constitutional Amend
ments inquire into the eXpediency OF pro-
f1S,. l,n IL Of ho tnr Of
the Commonwealth by the people, and fix
ing his term of office at four years.
The Senate committee to examine the
Deaf. Dumb and Blind Institution is COM
posed of Messrs. Mccormick, Fletcher and
Gaines. From the House Messrs. Opie,
Wilkins, Lawson, Dunn and Parker.
Mr., Wingfield, of Albemarle, offered a
preamble setting forth the status of the
debt question and the trouble growing out
of the use of coupons in payment of taxes
and closing with the following
Resolred That the Committee on Fl
nance and Banks be, and is hereby, in
structed to inquire as to the expediency of
fixing certain rate of taxation and u
schedule of tax on licenses and income,
providing that the taxpayer shall receive
an acquittance in full of the amount as
sessed upon payment Of percentage there
of (say one-half) in gold, silver OF other
lawful money.
II. AS to the expediency and propriety
of providing for the prompt payment OF
Ill. AS to the eXpediency and propriety
of providing sinking fund for the re-
demption of the Riddleberger bonds at
their par value.
After an explanation from Mr.. Wingfeld
the resolution was adopted.
Senate bill to compensate E. p. Dan
bridge in the sum of 81 ,003 for services
under authority of law in the United
States courts in defending certain county
Judges prosecuted for not putting negroes
on juries was taken up.
Mr.. Mccormick explained and advocated
it.
1t was also favored by Messrs Berry,
Atkinson, Crumpler and Glasgow, and
passed-ayes, 81; noes, 2.
In the House an animated debate occur
red on the report of the committee seating
the Democratic delegates from Rocking
ham. The report was finally adopted, the
vote standing, ayes, 81, noes, none-the
coalition members. with the exception of
Mr.. Lakewood refusing to vote.
Mr. Lakewood asked to be excused for
further service as representative of the
coalition party, on the electivS committee.
Mr.. Barton. in reference to the bill re-
moving certain gentlemen's political dis
abilities on account of dueling, said that
he did not know that he would vote against
it; but if he did, he would follow the vote
with an amendment to the Constitution
abolishing dueling OF to make it legal
Elections have been ordered in the four
alleged vacant Senatorial Districts tocome
off January It'll:
The special joint committee charged by
the two branches of the Assembly with an
examination of the affairs OF the auditor
of-public accounts began their work Fri
day. The labor Of the committee will
probably occupy some time. Since the
meeting of the Legislature on Dec. 9TH
| the Auditor has issued warrants for forty
| five thousand dollars in payment of cou-
pons whose genuineness had been estab
lished before the courts at Richmond AND
| elsewhere in the State by taxpayers. This
rush has been in q measure caused by 8
resolution which was passed by the Legis
| lature few days ago prohibiting the State
| Treasurer from paying any money on &C
count of coupons except by authority oil
special acts of appropriations made by the
Legislature.
The senatorial districts in which cleo
lions are to take place January 18th, are as
follows ::
Twenty-lifth. Charlotte and Mecklen
burg. to supply the vacancy caused by Jas
| r. Jones (colored) qualifying to fill the OF
| flee of postmaster at Boydton.
Twenty-seventh. Dinwiddie, Greensvillt
and Sussex, to supply the vacancy caused
hy VIM. N. Stevens (cOlOred) qualifying