Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-02-05
General Assembly.

General Assembly.
SENATE. Monday, Jan. 28th.
The Senate passed the bill making highl,
important changes in the appointment Of
school trustees. This bill provides for tn
election by the General Assembly this SEES
sion, and every succeeding four years, O.
three citiz ems of each county in the State
who are not ofice-holders. These board,
are to have authority to appoint all schoo
trustees. In other words, the bill takes
the management of the public schools out
of the hands of Mahone's officials and places
them in the custody of these boards, com.
posed of three citizens in each county.
| HoUsE.-The House of Delegates concur.
red in the joint resolutions passed by the
Senate requesting Gen. William Malone
to resign his seat in the United States Sem
ate. The vote was 43 in favor of the reso-
luton and IA against. The proceedings in
cideht to the vote we're very short, no
speeches being made by either side.
In the House Of Delegates the effect of
the Democratic two-thirds majority was
developed to-day by the passage of two bills
over the Governors veto, viz: the bill
amending the charter of the city of Ports
mouth and bill giving full power to the
register of the land office to appoint capitol
police. These appointments have previous
ly required the approval of the Governor
Both bills had already been passed by the
Senate over the Governors veto, and have
therefore become laws.
The bill to remove from the Governors
power the appointment Of the boards of di-
rectors of the lunatic asylums in the State
was passed.
Mr.. Opie presented petitions from cit-
zens Of Augusta asking local option.
SENATE.-Tuesday, Jan. Goth.
The measure known as the Norfolk and
Western Extension Company's bill was be-
fore the Senate and discussed for some time.
Mr.. Berry proposed an amendment, which
authorized the company to acquire by sub
scrlption, purchase or guarantee any COM
pany or corporation of this State or else
where, which was defeated by a decided
vote. Mr.. Trout, the patron of the bill,
stated that it was the desire of the company
to aid with money the development of the
mines of the Southwest. The friends of
the measure after the defeat of the amend
ment indicated a disposition to withdraw
it. They confess that the failure to obtain
the power contemplated in that amendment
kills their measure. The bill was passed
by in the Senate to-day, in order, it is un
derstood, to allow its friends to confer. 1t
has been pending in the Senate for some
time, and has been amended in various
ways. The most Objectionable feature has
always been that proposing to allow the
Norfolk and Western Extension Company
to purchase and control other lines than
those with which they connect
HoUsE.-In the House a joint resolution
was introduced authorizing the Governor
to furnish the civil authorities Of Middlesex
county with ammunition to protect the
oyster beds from unlawful dredging. 1t
provides for the appropriation of5OO rounds
Of ammunition for small arms and 500
rounds suitable for use of the artillery, tine
resolution to be in force from it's passage.
1t Was referred.
A petition was presented in the House
signed by numerous citizens Of Hanover
=eointy. asking the il1sasaeh mont OF Jsslssen
L. Valentine, the Malone superintendent
of public schools of that county, for malad-
imia:stration IN office and prossituting the
public schools for political purposes. =.
SENArE.-W ednesday, Jan. Both.
The Senate adopted a joint resolution di-
recting the employment Of counsel to bring
suit and recover 81, 500 from s. Brown AL
len, late auditor of public accounts or his
sureties, unless paid within sixty days.
The amount named, it is alleged, was paid
" tAfs ~AiiOh w hio OAoGhCA-lu'IdW oOul
E Hamilton, as collector of delinquent
railroad taxes in excess of the amount allow
ed by law.
REMOVAL OF REGISTRARS, JUDGES AND
CLERKS OF ELECTION.
A bill was introduced in the Senate by
Mr.. Mccormick, Democrat, of Warren,
which contemplates the removal of all
the present registrars, judges and clerks of
election throughout the State AID the ap-
pointment of their successors.
POISONING AT W. L. ASYLUM.
HoUsE.-In the House of Delegates the
report of the special joint committee APP
pointed to investigate the poisoning of sew
en- patients in the Western Lun attic Asylum
at Staunton submitted their report. They
state substantially that whether the poison
ing was done by parties inside or outside
of the asylum, by accident or design, the
management is to be blamed. The report
says, however, that there is not the slight
est evidence to show that the poisoning
was done by parties outside of the asylum.
The committee say they found the asylum
in good condition, as far as cleanliness, COM
fort and order are concerned, but regret the
partisan spirit which pervaded the entire
management, and which seemed in many
instances to override the plain mandates of
duty. The COMMITTEES say that old and eff
fc ent officers and attendants were sun,
marilY removed for no other cause than
that they were Democrats, and their places
were filled by inexperienced Coalilionists,
who were called upon by the Coalition
county chairman to contribute of their paw
for election purposes. The report was
adopted
UNsEATING TWO COALITIoNIsTs.
The House of Delegates unseated Banks
and Parks. Coalitionists, of Norfolk, and
remanded their cases to the people for |