Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-02-22
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.


stead of cases only where the recovery is
over $780, as the law now is, and to amend
the present law in regard to interpleader SO
as to authorize any treasurer, deputy treas
erer, or other collecting officer of taxes, in
the event of suit being instituted against
either of them by any one on account of any
alleged illegal levy where coupons have
been rendered, to make affidavit under the
statute that they have no interest in the
subject matter of suit, but that the Com
monwealth is the real party in interest. The
Commonwealth shall thereupon be made
the party defendant to the suit, and it shall
be defended by the Commemorative attor.
new or Attorney General as may be proper.
Bills to incorporate the association of the
survivors of the Clarke cavalry, and to au-
thorize the Board of Supervisors of Clarke
county to sell and convey to the association
of the supervisors of Clarke cavalry part
of the Public square in Berryville, in said
county, were placed on the calendar.
A resolution was adopted instructing the
committee on the Public Debt to consider the
expediency of 80 amending the laws as TO
make the license-taxes on iiquor-dealers and
all classes of merchants due and payable to
and coleotable by the several counties and
cities, for which they shall render semi
annual accounts and reports to the State
Auditor, and for the amount so collected
they shall be respectively charged upon
their quota of the State school fund, and
upon what they would otherwise receive
from the State Treasury On account OF GRIM
inal charges, and requiring that where the
receipts by any city or county from such
licenses exceed its quota OF the State school
fund, rs now apportioned by law, and ID also
in excess of its necessary criminal charges,
the excess shall be forwarded to the State
Treasury; and if said committee deem such
amendment of the laws inexpedient as to
the counties they shall consider the expedi-
ency thereof as applicable to the cities and
towns alone.
Mr.. Heaton offered the following which
was referred to the special Joint Committee
on the Public Debt.
/. Resolved by the Senate of Virginia thc
House of Delegates concurring), That this Gcner-
al Assembly doth reiterate and reattirm the joint
resolutions unanimously adopted by the General
Assembly of 1SS3-'S4, approved December 81
1883, declaring the acceptance by the people Of
Virginia of tho settlement Of the debt of the
State provided for by the act approved January
II, 1892.
2. The people of Virginia are determined that
no settlement Of the State debt shall ever be made
upon any basis less favorable to the Common,
wealth than that provided for by that law and
the acts amendatory thereof; and they will carry
out in good faith the terms of that settlement SO
far as tho same have been or may BIO accepted by
the creditors of tho State.
;. The highest considerations OF patrioti ;ni,
public policy and self interest demand that the
tax PAYERS OF this State shall not cooperate with
those publis creditors who harassing tho pco-
| ple of the Commonwealth by vexatious litigation
by seeking to force coupons into the treasury IN
| tho payment of taxes, and the General Assembly
appeals to the tax payers of Virginia not to spec
ulate upon tho necessities of tho Commonwealth
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.
a. The Governor of tho Commonwealth is re-
qucsted to communicate these and the resolutions
above referred to by public proclamation or 9TH
erwiso to the holders of the obligations of this
State, calling upon them to como i'll and accept
the terms of settlement still proffered to them.
s. Tho Governor is also requested to issue his
proclamation to the people and tax payers of this
State urging upon them tho duty and import
ancc of standing by the Commonwealth i'll this
emergency and calling upon them to refuse to
harass and cmbarrass tho State by seeking to use
coupons in the payment of taxes, but to pay their
dues to the Commonwealth in money.
The local option bill was further amended
and q number of speeches were made for
and against the different amendments that
were offered. The bill was still pending
when the Senate adjournad.
In the House of Delegates the joint reso
luton providing for the appointment OF
committee to investigate the affairs of the
Hampton Normal school, was agreed to.
The Senate bill authorizing board con-
sistng of the Attorney General, Secretary Of
the Commonwealth, Auditor of Public Ac-
counts, Sec ond Auditor, and Treasurer, to
allow the tax collecting officers losses and
expenses incurred in collecting or attempt.
ing to enforce or settle taxes due the Com
monwealth, was passed-ayes 81 noes %.
The bill to increase the usefulness of the
Department of Agriculture, Manufactures,
and Mining, failed to pass for want of con-
stitutional majority.
The bill to incorporate the Pharmaceuti-
cal Association of Virginia, was ordered to
be epgrossed.
The bill to supply the children of the pub
lie free schools with free textbooks being
under consideration, Mr.. Stuart said ne
was opposed to the bill and the substitute
which provides that the Board of Education
SUhll Duy Iuo GtAI-UOUhS uSou III ouO puoiiS
schools in large quantities and sell them to
the children at cost in toto. when you
take 100000 frou the school fund the
schools will necessarily haveto be curtai1ed."
This provision was put into the platform OF
both parties in spirit of demagogy, and
the only people who want free books for
free schools are the men who framed the
platforms. Mr.. Stuart did not believe these
books could be furnished without increasing
taxation, and he for one was violently OPP
posed to that.
His idea was that the State should spend
all the money she can spare in increasing
the length of the school term and in raising
the standard of efficiency. Under the ex-
listing law those who are too poor to buy
books for their children can have the books
furnished them by the State free of expense.
Pending debate the House adjourned.
School superintendent.
The State Senate in executive session
on Saturday, confirmed the following among
other nominations of school superiutendents,