The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-02
tor, tors or to the Supreme Court of the United
INTRODUCED AND REFERRED.

cach ana every county and municipa
corporation In the State OF Virginia, and Il
Tue quaiiued voters Of each and ever,
niagisterial district in each and ever,
county, ana OF each and every ward II
thereof.
By Mr.. Rogers Bill to incorporate TIN
Petersburg Street railway.
By Mr.. Wingiield Bill to authorize th'
Governor TO furnish convict labor to aid h
constructing the Albemarle and Nelson
railroad.
by Mr.. Lovenstein: Bill TO amend section
D, chapter 1l5, Code OF 1873. as amended
10y nm act approved March 81, 1875, in re-
gard TO mechanics liens.
by same :: Bill TO incorporate the Rich
mond Fire Relief Association. -
BY Mr.. Koiner: Bill to release the East
Augusta Mutual Fire-Insurance Company
irom the payment OF taxes assessed against
them for the year 1883.
AID INTERIM APPOINTMENTS.
Mr.. Berry called up his bill providing fol
the dd interim appointments OF school sIl'
perintendents-the bill heretofore pub
iished-and IL was ordered TO engroSsment
htNhhOND cthOOis bVahbs
Mr.. Barham's resolution calling for an
investigating committee to ascertain IL the
Richmond School Board has not paid out
money not authorized by law for lawyers
fees and for newspaper publications came
up.
Mr.. Wickham offered an amendment
providing that the inquiry be extended Ia
Hanover rs TO the $3.50 paid by the County
Superintendent to Attorney. General Blair.
Mr.. Loyenstein said that he thought the
resolution useless. The money was paid
ont OF the fund provided by the city oi
Richmond, not out Of any State fund. II
was paid out by the old Board by
order OF the Council in testing the
right OF the new Board-including the
Governors mesSenger-to take possession
OF the schools OF Richmond.
Mr.. Barham made no objection 10 the
amendment.
Mr.. Meredith called upon Mr.. Barhanl
for his information.
Mr.. Barham produced two vouchers a
receipt of $3.50 by Judge w. W. Crump,
and one OF $50 by the State.
Mr.. Atkinson asked where these papers
came from.
Mr.. Barham said from one who is or
was a member OF the School Board.
Mr.. Atkinson courted full inquiry on be-
half Of the people Of Richmond: but he
offered IN amendment referring the matter
to the regular committee, thinking that the
proper channel.
Mr.. Mccormick offered the following:
"And information also being before the
General Assembly that X. II. Farr, Super
intendent Of Public Instruction, who is
paid large salary for performance Of SER
vice, did, during the late campaign. aban-
don his said Office and failed to perform
the duties devolving on HIM, the said CON-
mittee will inquire il said Farr, while en-
gagged in campaign service and absent from
his post of duty. drew his salary, and who.
in his absence, performed the duties OF his
office"
MIR. Meredith was glad that the amend
ment had been offered. OF his own know
ledge he could say that Mr.. Farr and his
clerk had spent much OF their time in
Prince William engaged in politics. In
answer to 4 question he stated that Mr..
Farr worked among the negroes at night.
Mr.. Mccormick asked leave to add Brown
Allen and f. ;. Blair to the name OF Mr.
Farr.
Mr.. Berry said that ii the gentleman
wanted 4 special committee he ought 10 be-
allowed TO have it.
All the amendments were agreed 10, and
the resolution giving special committee
was agreed to.
COMPANION C0UPON-CRlPPLERS.
At . O'Clock the Senate proceeded with
the special order-the two bills OF Mr..
Wickham: The first providing that to pro-
tect the State against bogus coupons, &c.,
no coupon shall be received for taxes un-
less the party brings 4 certificate that it
was purchased from licensed broker, or
produces his bond and allows the Treasurer
TO cut the coupon of. No one can sell
coupons from his bond except TO licensed
dealer. The other imposes license-taX Of
II 900 on any broker dealing in coupons
and license OF 81. 900 on any lawyer bring
ing coupon suit.
Mr.. Mccormick explained and advocated
the passage Of the bills, arguing that they
were clearly within the limits OF the Com
stitution.
The first bill. he said, had Tor its oiiect
the raising Of revenue for the support Of
the Government and the payment OF the
interest upon the public debt. 1t provides
that "A broker who deals in coupons OF the
bonds OF the Commonwealth shall pay an
additional lcense-taX Of $1,000 and 20 per
centum OF the face value OF all coupons
sold by him. The Legislature has the right
unde- the Constitution TO impose q license
tax upon any business which cannot be
reached by the dd-rdiOrem system, and it is
! - tl,o 10. hat I'M Il
ness cannot be reached by the 0d-rdtOrem
system. Its Judgment must control. The
Supreme Court OF the State has repeatedly
held that it is the peculiar function OF the
legislative department OF the Government
10 declare what business can or cannot be
reached by the od-U0lOycm system, and its
declaration must be accepted Is true, and
judicial inquiry into the truth OF the de-
claration cannot be had.
The second bill is the helpmate Of the
first one is the complement OF the other.
The object OF this bill is TO provide more
perfect machinery for the detection OF
spurious or forged coupons. The last
/ Legislature has declared as fact that there
are forged and spurious coupons in circu-
lation. 1t is fair, at least charitable. to
assume that that body, by legislative iu-
ouiry or Investigation, satisfied itself that
the fact alleged was true. This act OF the
LEGISLATURE has received the sanction Of
the Supreme Court of the United States,
which has held that it must accept as true
the statement OF fact made in the pream-
BILE. l want 1t distinctly understood that |
take no responsibility for the statement
made in the preamble OF that bill. i sim
ply say, and this bill SIMPLY says, that a
preyious Legislature has made the declara-
tion, presumably after investigation. with
ont endorsing the truth Of it, but il true,
as declared, then the existing remedy for
the detection OF the forgery has proven
inefficient, and that it Is our duty to pro-
vide other means whereby the Treasury OF
the State may be protected against the de-
mands Of forgeries. The present remedy,
whilp inefficient, Is the law so held by the