Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-02-24
LEGISLATURE.
TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 18TH.


next dav. Then the bills for the reduc
ton of criminal expenses was consider
ed-the first being that in relation to
the jurisdiction of Justices of the
Peace.
On motion of Mr.. Little, the bill was
amended so as TO provide that the
prisoner shall elect whether he be tried
by the-justice or a jury, and the bill
was ordered to its engrossment.
In the House, among the bills intro
duced and under suspension of the
rules were placed ON the calendar, was
the one by Messrs. Williams and koiner
| to allow the voters of a portion of Au-
gusta county to vote on stock law
| Among the bills introduced and refer
red was one by Mr.. Withrow, to au-
thorize the Board of Public Works to
rent out a portion of the oyster-grounds
of the State, and one by Mr.. Shopper
son, to compensate school trustees
other than clerks in the counties of
! Augusta, Charlotte, Sussex, Green's
vile, Nottoway, Amelia, and Lunen-
burg.
Mr.. McIlwaine, of Petersburg, intro
cumstances conveyance of goods and
of the purchase thereof.
The bill for the settlement of the
| State debt came up as a special order
at 1890 o'clock. Mr.. Saunders was the
first to speak. He said while he ap-
proved the main feature of the bill I'M
der discussion, there were some ObnoX-
| ious provisions in it which should be
corrected.
Mr. Williams next took the floor and
delivered forcible speech in favor of
the bill Now, gentlemen" said he in
concluding, you have a proposition
that has been agreed to by our credit
ors and that comes within the means
of Virginia and her taxpayers, and yet
we are cavilling over it, and you are
| trying TO defeat a measure that will
ultimately bury this question forever
and that will set the people of this
State free. ! am surprised that a man
will get up and proclaim that there is
trick behind this BILL and that Vir-
ginia will be gouged by these people.
tell you it don't come with good
grace Now the State is willing to pay
it she is free from her creditors, and
you have an opportunity to forever
settle this question of the debt. Cen
tlemen, think it is a fair, plain pro-
whether he be a member of the ALI
ance, farmer, doctor, or what, ought
to take this view and stop cavilling
about it. Let us settle this debt let us
turn our eyes to the rising sun of d
brighter day, and let it be known that
we are honest and intend to do what
we promised to-"
The speaker resumed his seat amidst
liberal applause. Mr.. Saunders arose
and said: "Mr. Williams, your idea is,
| take it, that this house, should take
the bill absolutely as it comes from the
Finance Committee without attempt
ing to improve or correct it, and that
the people who attempt to perfect it
are trying to overthrow the debt settle
ment.'
WELL" replied Mr.. Williams, 81
don't wish to be understood exactly in
that light | don't claim that it is per-
feet but there are provisions which
you propose to strike out that will ruin
the bill, and that / don't believe the
true, honest Virginians can vote for.
On motion of Mr.. McIlwaine, the bill
| was then passed by until Thursday at
noon.
The Kent Railroad Commission bill
was then discussed. Mr. Pitcher of
upon it, declaring it the most remark
able bill ever offered and that it was
| full of contradictions and absurdities
Mr.. Pitcher, who spoke nearly two
hours, ridiculed the idea that the Dem
Ocratic party was committed to any
such bill as that under consideration.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY nth.
In the Senate, the bill in regard to
the Jurisdiction of justices of the peace,
being one Of the bills for the reduction
of criminal expenses, which was order
ed to its engrossment Tuesday, was
passed.
At lis, on motion, of Mr.. Wickham,
the bill for the settlement of the public
debt was taken up.
Mr.. Harrison moved to amend by
adding to the twelfth section of the
bill-the section in regard to coupon
suits-the following: ''The Auditor Of
Public Accounts is ordered to pay out
of any money, not otherwise appropri-
ated, to the proper officers their respec-
tive fees in said suits in this section
mentioned"
Senators Wickham and Jones oppos-
ed the amendment and the Senate
refused to adopt it.
Mr.. Stubs objected to the non
taxable feature of the bill, and propos-
ed to amend it in that respect.
Echols and Tyler took the same view
as Mr.. Stubs. Senators Wickham,
Yarrell and Mushbach opposed it.
The amendment was lost by a vote
of ayes 5, noes 80, and the bill as it
came from the committee was passed
ayes, 81; noes, 0. Senators not present:
Messrs. Gose, Roberts, and Lawless.
On motion of Mr.. Wickham, the
passage of the bill was ordered to be
communicated to the House.
In the House, the Mushbach anti
gambling bill, after several amend
ments were offered and discussed, was
finally passed by for the day.
The bill for the settlement of the
State debt was next taken up as a
special order
Mr.. Ryan spoke in favor of its adop-
ton. Mr.. Letcher spoke at length and
proposed several amendments.
When he had concluded his statement
he was questioned by Mr.. MunfOrd in
the following manner: "By this bill it
is proposed in brief to substitute a
principal of over twenty eight millions
with new principal of about nineteen
millions and an annual interest charge
of over a million by new charge of
only $3S0,000. Now, you have made
many criticisms upon the form and
provisions of this bill, and l desire to
ask you this question: If every amend
ment proposed by you was accepted
would you then vote for the bill?''
Mr.. Letcher replied that he was not
prepared to answer, but he did not
think he would vote for the measure.
Then said Mr.. Munford, You are
really opposed to the whole sentiment
and trying by this method to accom-
plish its defeat"
The bill then went over until next
day
The railroad commission bill was
then taken up, and its patron, Mr..
Kent, made very strong speech in it's
favor
Mr.. Kent continued at some length, |
and in graceful, effective language,
pointed out the provisions of the bill.
Before he concluded motion to ad-
journ was made and carried, and