Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-12-09
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. aNp.

NJ, and was called to order by Lieu, enant-
Governor Lewis. Rev. George D. Cooper,
DID, offered fervent prayer of thanks
giving to God and invoked His guidance
over the deliberations of the body. The
roll was called and the newly. elected men,
bers were sworn in.
MIR. Lovenstein offered a resolution,
which was unanimously adopted, providing
for the election of the usual committees.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The President declared the first business
in order to be the election of a President
pro tenn.
Hon. John L. Hurt, the former presiding
officer, was placed in nomination by Mr..
Koiner, and his nomination was seconded
by Mr.. Wickham.
Mr.. Gee (Republican) nominated W. E.
Gaines (Republican) for this office.
Mr.. Hurt was elected by vote of 80 to
6.
Mr.. Hurt, in taking the chair, thanked
the body for the honor conferred on, and the
confidence reposed in him. He promised
for the future to try and decide all ques
tions as he had done in the past-honestly,
justly, and impartially.
DR.. Pendleton and J. N. Sebrell (Repub-
lican) were placed in nomination for Clerk
of the Senate. The former was elected by
q vote of 80 tot
Mr.. q. T. Weaver was re- elected Sergeant
alarms over j. P. Robertson (Republican)
by vote of 80 to 8.
Mr.. Robert Wilson was re- elected Door
keeper. He received 81 votes and Mr..
Mathews (Republican) 6.
Tho Chair announced the following pages
as elected for the session: Paul Martin,
Lloyd Digs, Walter Fulkerson, and Will
liam Winston,
The House of Delegates was informed
that the Senate was organized and ready for
business, and the last named body took q
recess until the other branch reported ready
for business.
A committee Of three on the part of the
Senate and five on the part of the House
was appointed to wait on the Governor, and
inform him that the General Assembly was
organized and ready for business.
The committee returned in few minutes,
and, through its chairman, Mr.. Thurman,
reported that the Governor presented his
compliments and said that he will COM
municate with the Assembly in writing at
O'Clock next day.
By Mr.. Koiner: That the Auditor of Pub
lie Accounts furnish the Senate with state
ment of the number of applications made
by manned and disabled soldiers for State
aid under bills passed heretofore, and ap-
proved by him but not paid, for want of suf-
ficient FUNDS
HOUSE OF DELEGATES. Shortly after IL
M, Mr.. John Bell Bigger raped the House
to order. Members took their seats, and
Mr.. Bigger said: ''The hour having arrived
the House will please come to order.' At
oh int IN coiI 40
session of the House will open with prayer
by Rev. DIR. Moses D. Hoge.'
DR.. Hoge delivered feeling and touch
ing prayer.
The CLERK then called the roll, and the
members, ninety-four in all, responded to
their names.
The following members were absent:
Messrs. Bohannan, Darst. Dunlop, Jones,
NJ Clintic, and Row.
"Members will please rise from their
Seats" said Clerk Bigger, and the members
arose; after which the Clerk administered
the usual oath. Then members took their
seats.
Mr.. Peter Saunders nominated Mr.. Cbas.
E. Stuart, of Alexandria for Speaker of the
House, and Mr.. Martin nominated Mr.. K.
A. Wise, of Williamsburg.
Mr. H. r. Pollard seconded in strong
terms the nomination of Mr.. Stuart, and A.
W. Harris (colored) seconded that of Mr..
Wise.
| Harris's allusion ssto the remains of the
Republican party" brought forth a burst Of
| laughter.
The roll was called, with the following
result:
Stuart. 6t
Mr. Stuart was declared elected.
Messrs. Saunders, Of Franklin, and Pol
lard, of King and Queen, were appointed q
| committee to escort Mr.. Stuart to the chair
when Clerk Bigger administered to him the
| oath of Office.
Speaker Stuart before taking his seal
made graceful Acknowledgements for the hon
OF conferred, and promised his best en-
beavers in the discharge of the duties of the
office He announced that the next bust
ness was the election of a Clerk of the
| House.
Mr.. Crismond nominated for Clerk of the
House Mr.. John Bell Bigger.
Mr.. Webb, of Rockingham, nominated
Mr.. P. H. McCaull.
Mr.. Bigger was declared elected, and af
ter the Speaker made the announcement
Mr.. Bigger said: Gentlemen, shall evel
cherish with CRATE full recollection this con
tinued expression of your confidence"
Mr.. James D Patton, of Richmond
| nominated for Sergeant-at-AIms Major J
G. Hill, of Albemarle.
Mr.. Nance nominated W. F. Humphrey
Major Hill was declared elected.
Mr.. Black nominated for Doorkeeper Mr.
A. o. Sullivan, of Montgomery.
Mr.. Waddill nominated Mr.. J. W. South
ward, of Henrico. :
Mr.. Sullivan was elected.
Mr.. Cardwell nominated for Second Door
keeper A. B. Cottrell, of Henrico.
| Mr.. Wise nominated Robert Norton (col
ored), of York. His pleading for zone poo
Republican negro brought out laughter.
| Mr.. Cottrell was elected.
On motion of Mr.. Echols, of Augusta
the rules of the last House of Delegate
we're adopted as the rules of the body.
Mr.. Lovenstein announced that the Sen
ate was organized, and a committee from
the House made similar announcement t,
the Senate, after which the House adopted
joint resolution to appoint committee t.
wait upon the Governor and inform hin
that the Assembly was ready to receive an,
communication he might desire to make.
The Speaker appointed on the part of tn
| House as the committee AleSSrs. Patton
Echols, Oglesby, Buchanan, and Waddill
and they waited upon the Governor, and re
turning stated that the Governor woul
send in his message at 1 O'Clock the follow
ing day.
The House conculred in the Senate join
resolution to sppoint a committee to pre-
pare suitable resolutions on the death @
thomas A. Hendricks, late Vice-Pres den
of the United States. The Speaker ap
pointed AIessrs. Fulkerson, Grimsley, Hay
Taliaferro, and Curlett as the committee
A communication from the Secretary O
the Commonwealth, Fl. W. Flournoy, trans
ierring to the Speaker the ballots for Gov
ernor and Lieutenant Governor of the Stat
was received.
Mr.. Munford offered joint resolutio
looking to the counting of the vote ON til
Bird of December instead of waiting on
week as prescribed by law. He explaine'
that the object was to facilitate business
and his resolution was adopted and at one
communicated to the Senate.
The first bill presented was handed in b.
Mr. Waddill, of Henrico, and was entitled
AN act to prevent peniteutiary conyicts from