Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-12-02
THE LEGISLATURE.

The Legislature adjourned yesterday sine
die. p.
Governor Cameron refused to sign the
bill authorizing the Auditor and Treasurer
to make a settlement with the Petersburg
Planters & Mechanics bank in the matter
of the OF the States deposits in that bank.
He says in his message: ''Iu my judg
ment the most stringent reasons exist for
not establishing approval of any such mea-
sure. The bill states no reason why relief
should be afforded to persons who deliberate
ly entered into bond and security to guaran
tee the Commonwealth against loss for the
deposits of the States money made from time
to time in the Planters and Mechanics Bank
of Petersburg, Virginia. Nor does the bill
set forth any public reasons why a compro.
mise should be permitted to those on whom
rest the full obligation of, if responsibility
| for, any deficiency in payment by the Plant
ers and Mechanics Bank fits obligation to
the Treasury of the Commonwealth. Of
the sureties for the bank referred to under
House bill No. 1872 at least five Including
the president and vice president OF the iu-
itution) were directors in the same. These
persons occupied, then, the double relation
Of sureties TO the State for the public de-
post and of guarantors that the business Of
the bank should be properly aud honestly
conducted No doubt existed at the time of
the several deposits OIL my mind nor on
that of any well informed business man i'll
The State that the property of the signers of
the bond was more than ample to cover the
deposit. IL will not do, now, for the sureties
who filled as well the relation of directors, TO
ark immunity on the plea that the funds of
| ha, bap inn,
So who can be responsible but the president,
vice president and other members of the
board OF directors? And when the func
tons Of bomdsmen aud directors unite in
the same persons it does seem to me this is
not one in which the Commonwealth should
propose compromise. The allegation is
made that these persons (Who can he
proved TO have been solvent for the amounts
of multiplication at the time the bond was
givcn) have sold, transferred, or otherwise
concealed the assets on which they were
considered TO be sufficient as sureties. SO
much the worse for them if so, that charge,
if established would ccnvict them not Of
neglect alone, not of criminal carelessness
only, but of an attempt to avoid a RESPONSE
biity voluntarily assumed. eXigcnt morally
and in my Judgment equally binding. The
ellie It of this proposed bill tf it has any
eiiccl) will not be that which some advo.
a es OF it have said on the contrary it will
be to punish all depositors, including the
STATE, and to leave the immunity of ill-doing
to these whose failure in promise and per
| formance has caused the need of loss to any
oue And if the policy proposed in House
bill No 1862 is to be followed hereafter, or
sustain now, such policy will be open notice
to every surety for a bank of deposit that
the States money can be taken without re-
course to the Commonwealth"
The Governor also refused TO sign the
following bills:
TO provide compensation for the Senate
when sitting as court Of impeachment
during the recess Of the General Assembly
and The expenses incident thereto; to re-
peal an act entitled an act authorizing a
review by the county court of the decisions
of justices of the peace in cases OF INSIDE
meanor; to authorize the Rock bridge Ar
tillery Company, ard DanviIle Greys, of the
city of Danvile, to adopt uniforms for their
members; to prohibit the board of supervi-
sOrs of each of the counties bordering on
the bays, rivers, and creeks in which oys-
tiers are planted from imposing levy on
such oysters for county purposes, to remove
the restrictions against catching oysters
with topgs in certain waters of the Chesa
peake, and to prevent a double tax on oys-
tiers transported to market on steam vessels;
and authorizing the Commissioners Of the
Sinking Fund to employ counsel in certain
| cases.