Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-03-25
General Assembly.
SENATE,-Monday, March 18th.

SENATE.-Monday, March nth.
The Committee for Courts of Justice,
Mr.. Atkinson chairman-reported that they
could find no warrant in the Constitution
for an appropriation (of So 500 as proposed
by Mr.. Newberry for the relief of the Lau-
rel Mine sufferers and survivors. eff,
however, the Senate shall be of opinion
that the case is one of such grave public
concern as to demand and justify this branch
of the Government in thus responding to
the common impulse of humanity, the COM
mittee believes the taxpayers of the State
and general public sentiment will approve
the STEP"
Mr.. Mustard communicated the House
resolution appropriattng $4,000 for this
purpose.
On motion of Mr.. Newberry the resolu-
ton was taken up.
1t was supported by Newberry, Wick
ham and TONNES, and was opposed, on the
want of constitutional authority, by Berry,
and Glascock. The vote stood, ayes 16;
noes 9. Lost for want of constitutional
majority.
Mr. Lovenstein moved to reconsider.
| Agreed to.
The resolution was passed by-its friends
hoping that they will yet be able to get the
twenty. one votes needed to pass it.
On motion made by Mr.. Atkinson the
Senate by small majority allowed the Ser
geant alarms and pages 81 extra pay for
each day of the session for extra work per-
| formed. A similar motion on behalf of the
clerks was defeated, the vote being-ayes,
10; noes, IL.
The other motion was then reconsid-
cred.
Mr.. Diggs, to bring up the whole ques-
ton, moved to amend by inserting "assist-
ant clerk and committee Clerks to get the
81 per day extra as well as the Sergeant
alarms and pages.
MIR. Digg's amendment was agreed to on
recorded vote--ayes, 49,; noes, II.
The Senate declined to give anybody ex-
ira pay.
This is the first time for years that the
Senate refused extra pay to all. Hereto
fore the hardest worked clerks, &C., have
generally had 81 per day extra. None get
it this time.
Mr.. Wickham introduced bill for the
protection of the Commonwealth in the
sale and purchase of her bonds. This has
reference to the item in the appropriation
bill, and it authorizes the Commissioners
of the sinking Fund to put the bonds pur-
chased by them in registered bonds for safe
ty.
The bill was passed.
This completes the plan for the invest
ment Of the surplus in the Treasury.
This bill passed as an amendment to the
appropriation bill, which was approved by
the Governor Saturday.
A House bill came up proposing to
change the school age from five to six years
no pupil to be admitted under six years
of age.
Mr.. Petit opposed the bill as likely to
break up many country schools, which
could not with that provision get the nee
essary number of scholars.
The vote on passage resulted: Ayes II;
noes 9.
Among the Senate bills passed were the
following
To provide for new registration at
Conrad's Store precinct or voting-distr1ct,
in the county of Rockingham.
To prohibit the active participation in
politics of certain officers of the State gov
eminent.
HoUsE.-Mr. Mustard, of Tazewell, call
ed up the joint resolution appropriating
81, 500 for the relief of the sufferers from
the Flat-Tep Mountain mine disaster, and
it was ordered to it's engrossment, and was
afterwards passed.
The Senate bill providing for the survey
for site to build lunatic asylum in
Southwest Virginia was taken up.
Mr.. Kilgore offered as a substitute a bill
appropriating $50, 900 to build an asylum at
some point west of New River.
The Chair (NIr. Barton) decided that the
substitute was out of order.
Mr.. Harris offered an amendment to
Senate bill in the shape of clause appro-
priating $4,000 for the purpose of build :
ing an asylum. Called out of order by the
Speaker. Senate bill then passed. It ap-
propriates $1,000 for the purpose oflocating
a site.
VIRGINIA AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The House took up and passed Senate
bill which refunds to the Virginia Agricul-
tural Society $500 taxes paid into the
Treasury by the county of Henrico, the
same having been collected from side
shows within the limits of the Fair
Grounds.
REVISING THE CODE
Senate bill providing for revision of
the Code, amended by striking out the
names of E. G. Burks, A. R. Blakey, and
James NJ. Matthews, and inserting three
persons to be elected by joint resolution of
the General Assembly was passed.
HOME FOR CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS.
The bill providing for the appropriation
OF $50, 600 for the establishment of home
for ex-Confederate soldiers in the State of
Virginia was taken up and postponed until
Tuesday.
A feature of the debate growing out of
the consideration of the question was the
earnest speeches made in behalf of it by
Messrs. Bland, Harris, and Dodson, all
co.ored members. There were thirty-seven
ladies on the floor of the House, and these
applauded the colored speakers
SENATE.--Tuesday, March 18th.
Judge Waller B. Staples and E. G. Burks.
lately of the Supreme court and John W.
Rieley, of Halifax county, were elected to
revise the code-the latter being substitute
ed for Holmes Conrad, of Winchester, who
telegraphed that he would decline to &C
eept.
Col. Randolph Harrison, of Cumberland
was unanimously elected Agricultural
Commissioner