Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-02-19
General Assembly.
SENATE.-Monday, Feb. 18th,

SENATE.-Monday, Feb. 18th,
In the Senate the bill adopted by the
Democratic caucus for the reapportionment
of the State for members of Congress, and
introduced in the Senate by Mr.. Atkinson,
came up. Gen. Wickham, the only
straightout Republican member Of that
body, offered a substitute therefor. He ex-
| hiblted two colored maps, showing distinct
ly the arrangement proposed to be made
under the two competing propositions. In
advocating the adoption of his plan, Gen.
| Wickham stated he was elected to the Sen
ate chiefly by the votes of Democrats, but
as an avowed Republican. He claimed that
his bill more nearly conformed to the re-
quirements Of the federal constitution, re
quiring congressional districts to be laid on
compactly, than that offered by the Demo.
Gratis. He claimed that the Republicans in
the reapportionment of the State for mem
bers Of Congress were entitled to two dis
tricts and another which they may at least
have fighting chance to carry. The
speaker said that in his plan he had aimed
to accomplish that object. In concluding
his remarks General Wickham said: 81
have put this plan hero first to place my
self right upon the record, and I have put
it here that gentlemen may hereafter, be-
fore the session closes, have plan to fall back
upon, and also to do justice to all sections.
l have nothing more to say"
Wickham's plan was rejected and the bill
offered by Democrats comes up in the Sem
ate tomorrow on its passage. Some Dem
ocrats regard Gen. Wickham's plan almost
as favorable to them as their own.
HoUsE.-The House Of Delegates adopt
ed resolutions directing committee, con-
sisting of Messrs. Barton of Frederick,
Smith of Fauquier, Munford of Pittsylva-
MIA, and Trigg Of Washington. to present
to the Senate articles Of impeachment
against School Superintendent Jackson L.
Valentine, of Hanover, for high crime and
! misdemeanols in Office. The report was
presented to the Senate.
| The House at the night session adopted
resolution directing its committee on cleo
tons to inquire as to the right of Griffin,
Mahoneite, of York county, to occupy a
seat in that body, holding, as he does, the
postmastership at Yorktown.
SENATE. Tuesday, Feb. 18th.
The senate passed two important bills
auxilitry to the Riddleberger acts. These
are a bill appropriating a portion of the
surplus revenue to the Commonwealth to
the purchase of its recognized debt. 1t
provides that it shall be the duty of the
commissioners of the sinking fund to meet
on the first Monday in April, 1884, and the
first Monday of every month thereafter, and
determine at such meetings What, if any,
sum can be spared from the treasury, after
making ample allowance for the expenses
of the government and of the public schools,
ect., and if it be determined by the COM
missioners that there is a surplus in the
treasury which eau be spared, they shall
forthwith certify to the treasurer of the
Commonwealth that such sum, not exceed
ing SAC, 600 per month, rs they may deter
mine, is required for the sinking fund. The
treasurer being so notified, shall on or be-
fore the twentieth of the montlrplace said
sum to the credit of the commissioners
The Commissioners are required, immedi-
ately after their meeting to advertise in at
least one newspaper published in the cities
of Baltimore and Richmond, daily for ten
days. that they will receive offers for the
sale of such amounts Of three per cent.
bonds as in their judgment the sum placed
to their credit will enable them to purchase,
etc. All bonds so purchased shall DO can
celled by the second auditor, and be deliv-
cred to the treasurer at the time of the
payment therefor, who shall carefully pre-
a register of the bonds SO purchased. The
other bill provides for the exchange of cou-
pom bonds for registered bonds isused under
the act approved Feb. IA, 1882, entitled
can act to ascertain and declare Virginia s
equitable share of the debt created before
and actually existing at the time of the
partition of her territory and revenues"
The bill provides that, at the option of the
holder, coupon bonds may be exchanged
for registered bonds Of the bonds issued
under the above act. Both Of these bills
now go to the House, where they will be
cOncurred in.
In hn \
from the finance committee bill which is
intended to force the bond-h holders to fund
their holdn - under the R:ddleberger act.
1t provides "that from and after the 1st
day Of July, 1884, no bond shall be funded
unless it has all the coupons maturing after
the 1st day of July, 1884, attached, which
coupons shall be surrendered Herewith,
and no allowance shall be made for any in
terest accruing after the LIST day of July, 1884
on bonds for exchange" 1t will be taken I'D
tomorrow and no doubt passed.
HoUsE-Both Houses passed the bill
adopted by the Democratic caucus provid-
Ing for Reproducing the State for NOM
bers of Congress. It now goes to the Gov
ernor for his action. He has five days in
which to consider and approve it. If not
acted upon within that time it becomes a
law without his sanction.
! Mr.. Ellis, of Montgomery, offered a joint
resolution in the House prohibiting super
intendents and employees of all State asy-
lums and the president and professors Of
State colleges from engaging in political
campaigns. The penalty for violation is
forfeiture of the Office held by the offender.
SENATE.-Wednesday, Feb 18th.
The Senate passed bill prohibiting in
stitutes of public school teachers to be held
at the cost Of the State, and prohibiting
the closing of schools to allow teachers to
attend the same when held.
Senator Powell, free spoken Mahoneite,
of Spottsylvania, occasioned stir by max
ing speech in advocacy of the bill, in
which he said most emphatically that he is
opposed to the free-school sytem of Virginia
n q