Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-03-10
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
TUESDAY, MARCH 2ND.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
TUESDAY, MARCH 2ND.
TREASURES PAY.
In the Senate Tuesday, the bill in refer
ence to the pay of Treasurers was passed
by vote 81 TO 10.
LUNATIC-AsYLUM DIRECTORS.
The bill in reference to the appointment
of Directors of the Lunatic Asylums of the
State was passed
The bill provides that the Governor shall
appoint, subject to the confirmation of the
Senate, nine directors for each of the asy
lums in the State to go into Office on the
1sr of April, 1887-three to be appointed
for one year, three for two years, and three
for three years, after which three direc-
tors shall be appointed annually, whose
term of Office shall be for three wears; all
vacancies occurring to be filled by the
Governor subject to confirmation by the
Senate at its next session.
1t further provides that the terms of all
officers of the asylums shall expire on the
18th of April, 1887, and that a new election
shall be held at that time and every two
years thereafter.
The superintendent and his assistants
shall constitute committee for the recep-
ton of lunatics. As 8 ION as the South
western Asylum is completed nine directors
shall be appointed to hold Office until the
1st of April, 1887, when the directors shall
be appointed in accordance with this act.
TREASURES ACCOUNTS.
Mr. Wirgfeld called up House bill to
amend, &C., an act prescribing the duties,
powers, liabilities and compensation of GER
tain county officers, providing for the COL
lection of taxes and for the repeal of chap
tiers 81 and 46, Code of 1878, approved
March 80, 1875, as amended, &C., SC. Mr..
Wingfeld made an earnest speech in sup
port of the bill, and it was passed-ayes,
80; noes, 5.
SUITS AGAINST RECEIVERS.
The bill amending the law as to bringing
suits against railroads in certain cases was
defeated-ayes 16; noes 90.
VIRGINIA AND CAROLINA RAILROAD.
The bill to extend the charter of the
Virginia aud Carolina Railroad company
was passed-ayes 16; noes 10.
APPROPRIATION BILL.
In the House the appropriation bill as
amended was passed-ayes SO; noes 81.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH BIRD.
THE SCRIP BILL.
Mr.. Koiner, from the Committee on Fl
nance and Banks, to which was referred MIR.
Fulkerson's bill to authorize the Auditor
re D,,bI TO To har IN
meet casual deficit in the revenue, to pay
the interest on her past liabilities, and to
create a sinking fund to pay the principal
of the debt, reported that it is inexpedient
to legislate on the subject at this time.
REJECTED:
The bill to authorize the Governor to
employ counsel to cooperate with the At
torney-G neral in representing the State in
many suits brought in the United States
courts was rejecI.d-ayes, 5; noes, 16.
THE TAX BILL.
The tax bill was next taken up. The
question was on the motion of Mr.. Hurt
to reconsider the vote by which Mr.. Hea-
tons MISUNDERSTANDING the tax for
general purposes from 80 to % cents on the
S100-waS adopted.
The vo,e was reconSidered, and several
amendments were offered and voted down,
after which the bill was ordered to be en-
crossed, and being forwith engrossed, was
passed.
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
The following joint resolution was passed
by the vote of ayes "a; noes -
Resolned by the Senate Of Virginia (the
House of Delegates concurring), That this
General Assembly doth reiterate and re
affirm the joint resolutions unanimously
adopted by the General Assembly of 1888
"a, approved December 21 1888, declaring
he accap' auce 10y the people of Virginia OF
the settlement of the debt of the State pro-
vided for by the act approved February ID,
1882.
2. The people are determined that no
settlement of the State debt shall ever be
made upon any basis less favorable to the
Common wealGh than that provided for by
that law and the acts amendatory the, eof;
and they will carry out in good faith the
terms of chat settlement so far as the same
have been or may be accepted by the credit
ors of the State.
g. The highest considerations of patriot
ism, public pc icy, any self-interest demand
that the Taxpayers of this State shall not
cooperate with those public creditors who
are harassing the people of the Common
wealth by vexatious litigation by seeking
to force coupons into the Treasury in the
payment of taxes. And the General As
sembly appeals to the taxpayers Of Virginia
not to speculate upon the necessities of the
Common wealth or take advantage of the
State and those Of her citizens who cannot
avail themselves of this means for paying
taxes by seeking to discharge their dues to
the State in deprecated paper.
f. The Governor of the Common wealth
IS requested to communicate these and the
resolutions above referred to by public pro-
camatiou or otherwise to the holders of the
obligations of this State, calling upon them
to come in and accept the terms of settle
ment proffered to them.
3. The Governor is also requested to issue
his proclamation to the people and tax.
payers of this State, urging upon them the
duty ard the Importance of standing by the
Commons ealth in this emergency.
FREE PASSES ON RAILROADS
In the House of Delegates On Wednesday
the bill prohibiting officers of the Govern
ment accepting free passes from any rail.
road Or steamboat company was dismissed
by the following vote: ayes 46; noes 80
Echols aud Lightner voted aye.
THURSDAY, MARCH 4TH.
PETERSBURG CHARTER.
The bill to amend the charter of the city
of Petersburg and to declare all the office.
of councilmen of that city vacant came VI
as the first special order.
A motion to pass by was carried by The
vote of II to TO- This virtually kill
the bill.
CONvICT-LABOR BILL.
| The Convict-labor bill was passed-aye.
| 81; noes Z. Koiner voted aye.
The bill allows counties to have convict
to work on their roads free of charge, bu
the c'untes to bear all the expenses o
guarding, transporting, and maintaining
the prisoners. The State furnishes cloth
| ing.
| Railroads in which counties are snbscri
bers may have convicts at forty cents ;
day, cost of maintenance, to be paid tn,
State in lawful money; balance to be pait
in county bonds.
All existing contracts that may be ''law
fully cancelled are to be cancelled
| UnJ,l some of these contracts are CANCEL
i