The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-11


May /, 1884, was passed.
VETO.
A message was received from the Gov
ernor vetoing the Portsmouth charter, us
COMMONWEALTH or VIRGINIA.
GOVERNORS OFFICE.
RICHMOND, January 10, 1884.
10 the Senate of Virginia;
Returned herewith is Senate bill No. 50
IN amend certain sections OF the charter OF
the city of Portsmouth without my sigma
ture.
Because the 4th section. rs amended,
takes away from the people the right OF
election as TO certain officers for whose
election by the people the Constitution
calls: so that in certain cases, under the
amendment, "if it shall appear by said
election returns that any municipal officer
has not been elected" &C.. the City Coun-
ell would exercise the power which the
organic law vests in the people.
Because the twelfth section as amended,
while increasing the members OF the City
Council from certain wards, provides that
these new members shall be chosen by per-
sons now c0uncilmen from those wards,
which, In my judgment. would be at varl-
ance with every principle aud precedent OF
our government. Most OF the municipal
charters provide that vacancies occurring
i'm the Council shall be filed by that body
/. e.. majority thereof-until the next
general election, or for the uneXpired
term; but this amendment creates addi-
tional councilmen, and gives the power OF
selecting them not to the body. but to the
individual councilmen OF the wards whose
representatives are increased. This method
OF selection seems to me undemocratic and
unrepublcan, and opposed to the spirit, II
not the letter. OF our institutions.
Because section 81. as amended. repeats
wise provision Of the present charter,
and removes all limit to the powers OF the
Common Council as TO the salaries OF city
officers and employees.
These and similar considerations. after
careful examination OF the proposed amend
ments, have forced me to ask a review OF
the Legislative Judgment by Withholding
Executive approval Of the bill.
WILLIAM f. CAMERON.
The question being. Shall the bill pass
notwithstanding the objections OF the Gov
ernorl Mr.. Hubbard moved to pass by and
print the message.
Mr.. Thurman said tat the objections now
stated by the Governor had been duly con-
sidered in committee, and that the Senate
are rs ready to vote now as they will ever
be. He opposed the motion.
The motion was rejected by party vote.
The bill was passed over the veto by a
party vote. as follows:
AYEs.-Messrs. Atkinson, Berry, Christian.
Coltrane, Digs, Edmonds. Flanary. Fletcher,
Glasgow. Heaton. Hurt, keeze. Koner, Loyen-
stein. Lybrook. Mccormick Meredith, Newberry.
Thurman, Twwyman, Warwick, Wickham' and
NoEs.-Meesrs. Bailey, Bliss. Gaines, Grim.
HUBBARD. Norton, Powell. and Rogers-s.
Mr.. Crumpler was paired off with Mr..
Trout.
Mr.. Thurman was ordered to inform the
House: TO take there the bill and message
and information that the Senate had passed
the bill Notwithstanding the objections OF
the Governor by vote in accordance with
the Constitution (which requires an affirm
alive vote Of two thirds Of all the senators
present..
Mr. Digs in the chair.
LEAVE
OF absence for two days was granted Mr..
Crumpler on account Of sickness in his
family.
The House came to order at noon
Speaker stuart in the chair. PRAYER by
Rev. Preston II. Nash, OF the Episcopal
Church.
THE MAYO DEFALCATIoN.
The Committee on Finance, to whom
was referred the report OF General Marye,
Auditor, in reference to inquiries with re-
gard to the alleged defacatiOn Of Mr.. Mayo,
| late State Treasurer. presented the follow
ing report:
| We have had under consideration the mat
| ter referred to, and find by report ola spe-
! cial JOINT committee of investigation into
! the affairs Of the Sinking Fund submitted
to the General Assembly on the 30th OF
March, 1874. it appears that the deficiency
| in bonds belonging to the Sinking Fund
was 1j,939.S0, and that the deficiency In
interest was Sl.32j.4j, and that the differ
ence In the value OF bonds converted by
w. ID. Coleman, late secretary OF the Board
| of Commissioners Of the Sinking Fund,
for which the said Joseph Mayo Is liable, is
8, POI. 1t also appears bya report OF John
| o. Steger, who was employed as an expert
by Governor Kemper to aid him in inveSti
eating the management and condition
OF the affairs in the basement Offices,
| that the deficiency found by the
committee should be increased by the sum
OF $500. making it S16.599.S9. The COM
mltee finds that by joint resolution OF
the General Assembly. approved April ith,
1877. that the Acknowledgement was in
structed to take such steps rs were proper
and necessary TO reimburse the State for
the loss incurred by the said defalcationS,
20 Ia ~
General Assembly OF his action in
the premises. The committee has
been unable to ascertain that any
action was taken or that any report
was ever made to the Gener,l Assem-
bly, as directed by the said resolution,
and the committee therefore recommended
the adoption OF the following resolution:
Resolved by the House Of Delegates the
Senate concurring), That the Attorney
General be instructed forthwith to institute
ip the Circuit Court for the city Of Rich
mond such suit or suits or other proceed
ings on the official bond or bonds OF Joseph
Mayo. late Treasurer OF the Common
wealth, to recover the loss incurred to the
Sinking Fund rs determined and ascertain
ed by the report OF the joint committee OF
investigation into the affairs OF the Sinking
Fund made to the General Assembly March
30, 1915 also, that should the Attorney
General fail to institute the suit within
thirty days, that the Auditor be instructed
to employ counsel to do so, the cOmpensa-
ton being per cent. OF the amount recov-
cred to be contingent.
The resolution was adopted.
JUDGE NEWMAN CHARGED WITH INcOM-
PETENCY.
Mr. Cardwell, Of Hanover, presented "a
petition of the bar and citizens OF Hanover
county praying for the removal Of W. W.
Newman as county Judge OF that county.
as follows: