THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1874. Prayer by Rev. George C. Vanderslice, of the Methodist church. The journal was read by the clerk. A communication from the senate, by their clerk, was read as follows: The senate have passed a bill entitled In Senate, January 28, 1874. An act to amend and re-enact section twenty-two of chapter thirteen of the Code of Virginia (edition of 1873), in regard to superintendent, assistant keepers, and surgeon of the penitentiary, and to declare the true intent and meaning of said section in regard to extra allowance to assistant keepers of the penetentiary; No. 79. In which bill they respectfully request the concurrence of the house of delegates. No. 79. Senate bill, was read twice and referred to the committee on asylums and prisons. The following house bills, reported from the committee on roads and internal navigation, were read a first time: No. 82. House bill to authorize the Richmond, York River and Chesapeake railroad company to subscribe to the stock of the Baltimore, Chesapeake and Richmond steamboat company. No. 83. House bill to amend an act entitled an act to authorize the board of supervisors for Craig county to contract for keeping in repair so much of Price's turnpike road as lies in said county, approved March 28th, 1873. No. 84. House bill to repeal sections 21, 22, 23 and 24, chapter 172, Code of 1873, in relation to parties to suits testifying in their own behalf, (with a recommendation that it do not pass). No. 85. House bill to amend section 16, chapter 52, Code of 1873, for the more efficient collection of fines for failure to work upon the public roads, reported from the committee on counties, cities and towns, was read a first time. The following house bills, reported from the committee on executive expenditures, were read a first time: No. 86. House bill to abolish the office of aid-de-camp to the governor, (with recommendation that it do not pass). No. 85. House bill to amend and re-enact section 17, chapter 23, Code of 1873, in relation to aids to the governor. No. 13. House engrossed bill entitled an act to amend section 6, chapter 201 of the Code of 1873, with reference to larceny, reported back from the committee for courts of justice, with the recommendation that the house disagree to the amendments of the senate. The following report was agreed to: The committee on counties, cities and towns, have, according to order, had under consideration a resolution "requiring the property of the State to share in the burden of keeping the highways in repair," respectfully report that it is inexpedient to legislate upon the subject, and ask to be discharged from its further consideration. The speaker laid before the house a communication from the governor, transmitting a list of the names and residences of persons holding appointment from the executive of this State, as commissioners for other States, which list will be published in the acts of assembly in accordance with law. Leave of absence was granted Messrs. Branch, Flood and Bickings three days each, Rains five days, and Gaines six days. Mr. Brooks offered the following joint resolution: Resolved (the senate concurring), That the general assembly will proceed by a joint vote on Friday, the 6th day of February, 1874, at one o'clock P. M., to the election of a judge of the county court of the county of Dinwiddie, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Joseph S. Budd. The house refused to refer the resolution to a committee. The resolution was agreed to. Mr. Brooks moved a reconsideration of the vote by which the joint resolution was agreed to, which motion was rejected. Ordered, That Mr. Brooks carry the joint resolution to the senate, and request their concurrence. The following were presented and referred under rule 37: Resolved, That the committee for courts of justice be instructed to inquire whether any further legislation is expedient to prevent the Commonwealth being sued by individuals in her own courts, and report by bill or otherwise. By Mr. Magruder: A bill to establish the one dollar savings bank in the town of Charlottesville. Referred to committee on banks, currency and commerce. By Mr. Brooks: A memorial from the members of the bar of the county of Mecklenburg, to general assembly of Virginia, asking an increase of salary of circuit judges. Referred to committee for courts courts of justice. By Mr. Massey: A bill fixing the pay and mileage of the presiding officers and members of the general assembly. Referred to committee on retrenchment and economy. By Mr. Bagwell: A bill to amend and re-enact sections 6, and to repeal sections 7 and 9 of an act entitled an act to incorporate the New York and Norfolk railroad company, approved March 15, 1872, and to make further provisions in regard to the charter of said company. Referred to committee on roads and internal navigation. By Mr. Harrison: A bill to prevent the sale of intoxicating liquors to minors, habitual drunkards, and persons liable to become intoxicated. Referred to committee for courts of justice. By Mr. Stuart: Petition of citizens of Brunswick county, praying restoration of jurisdiction of county courts. Referred to committee for courts of justice. By Mr. Anderson : Resolved, That the committee on finance be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the cancellation of the State bonds or certificates of stocks that appeared to belong to the literary fund at the formation of the present constitution of the State, and report by bill or otherwise. By Mr. Armentrout: A joint resolution fixing the time for adjournment of both houses of the general assembly on the first day of March. Referred to committee on finance. By Mr. A. J. Clark: A bill to amend and re-enact section 11, chapter 7 of the Code of 1873, in relation to transfer of votes. Referred to committee on privileges and elections. By Mr. McMullan : Resolved, That the committeee on finance be instructed to inquire into the expediency of so amending existing laws as to authorize county and township boards to have State, railroad and other corporation bonds, subject to State taxation, listed for taxation for local purposes. By Mr. Anderson : Resolved, That the committee on Federal relations and resolutions be instructed to inquire into the expediency of memorializing congress to provide by law for returning to this Commonwealth not less than onefourth of the gross revenue drawn from the labor and capital of this State by way of tax. The morning hour having expired, the house proceeded to the business on the calendar. No. 13. House engrossed bill entitled an act to amend section 6, chapter 201 of the Code of 1873, with reference to larceny, came up. The amendment of the senate was disagreed to. Mr. Williams moved a reconsideration of the vote by which the amendment of the senate was disagreed to, which motion was rejected. The following senate bills were read a third time and passed: No. 33. Senate bill entitled an act to amend and re-enact sections 14 and 17 of chapter 82, Code of 1873, in reference to examination of lunatics. No. 61. Senate bill entitled an act to amend and re-enact sections 1 and 6 of an act entitled an act to incorporate the Norfolk and Princess Anne turnpike company, approved March 26, 1872. No. 57. Senate bill entitled an act to incorporate the town of Banister in the county of Halifax. Motions (severally made) to reconsider the votes by which senate bills Nos. 33, 61 and 57 were passed, were rejected. The following house engrossed bills were read a third time and passed: No. 53. House engrossed bill to amend and re-enact section 11, chapter 195 of the Code of 1873, in relation to limitation of prosecutions. No. 56. House engrossed bill to prevent obstructions to highways. No. 57. House engrossed bill to provide for the collection of taxes and county levy in the township of Manchester, Chesterfield county, assessed for the year 1873. No. 58. House engrossed bill to incorporate the Richmond, Craigton and Hanover turnpike company in the counties of Henrico and Hanover. No. 59. House engrossed bill to amend and re-enact section 2, chapter 173 of the Code of 1873, as to chancery dockets. No. 60. House engrossed bill to amend the 2d section of chapter 109 of the Code of 1873, in relation to escheators. Motions (severally made) to reconsider the votes by which house engrossed bills Nos. 56, 57, 58 and 60 were passed, were rejected. No. 55. House engrossed bill for the relief of sheriffs in the service of civil process of other counties than the one in which they reside, came up. Mr. Winn moved to dismiss the bill, which motion was rejected. Mr. Critz moved a reconsideration of the vote by which the bill was passed, which motion was rejected. No. 5. House bill to amend 4th section, chapter 182, Code of 1873, with reference to judgment liens, was read a second time. The amendment proposed by the commitiee for courts of justice as follows: Strike out in the 34th and 35th lines of the printed bill the words "in damages to any person injured thereby," and insert the words "to a fine of twenty dollars," was agreed to. Mr. Harrison offered an amendment to the bill (as amended) in the nature of a substitute. On motion of Mr. Harrison, the bill was passed by and the substitute ordered to be printed. No. 15. House bill authorizing D. A. Plecker to erect a toll-bridge across North river, at Mount Crawford, in Rockingham county, was, On motion of Mr. Armstrong, recommitted to the committee on roads and internal navigation. No. 36. House bill to validate the reassessment of the lands of Washington county made in the year 1873, for the year 1873, and to authorize the treasurer of said county to retain out of the taxes due the State for the year 1873, when collected, an amount equal to the excess of the taxes due on the lands of said county, as assessed in the year 1870, over the amount that would be due by the valuation under the reassessment made in 1873, and to apply the amount so retained to the payment of county levies, was read a second time. On motion of Mr. Fulkerson, the bill was amended by striking out the third section, and inserting in lieu thereof the following: "Out of the amount so retained by the said treasurer he shall pay to each taxpayer of his county an amount equal to the difference between the taxes paid by him for the year 1873 on the assessed value of his lands for 1870, and the amount of taxes he would have paid the State had the assessment been according to the books of reassessment of 1873." Mr. Harrison moved to recommit the bill to the committee on finance. Mr. Lewis moved to amend the bill by striking out in second line of first section the words "Washington county," and inserting "Washington and Clarke counties." Mr. Cockerille moved to amend the amendment offered by Mr. Lewis by inserting after the word "Washington" the word "Fairfax." Mr. Harrison moved to strike out the first section of the bill, and insert in lieu thereof the following: Be it enacted by the general assembly, That the valuation of the real estate of the counties which have failed to receive the benefits of such new assessment as ascertained and fixed by the assessors appointed under an act which became a law March 13, 1873, entitled "An act to amend and re-enact an act entitled an act providing for the reassessment of land throughout the Commonwealth, passed February 1, 1872, so as to enable those counties in the State which failed to avail themselves of the provisions of said act to do so," and their assessments thercon are hereby confirmed and declared as valid as if their said valuation and assessment had been completed, and the books returned to the auditor's office by the first day of July, 1873." Mr. Morrison moved to dismiss the bill. On motion of Mr. Griffith, the house adjourned until to-morrow at 12 o'clock M. FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1874. Prayer by Rev. Geo. C. Vanderslice, of the Methodist church. A communication from the senate, by their clerk, was read as follows: In Senate, January 29, 1874. The senate have agreed to the amendment proposed by the house of delegates to senate bill to extend the time within which the Farmville, Charlottesville and Stanardsville narrow-gauge railroad may be commenced and completed; No. 56. No. 50. Senate bill entitled an act authorizing the trustees of the religious society in Frederick county, known as the United Brethren in Christ, to sell and convey certain property in Winchester, was reported from the committee for courts of justice. No. 88. House bill to abolish the office of superintendent of public buildings, and to devolve the duties now performed by said officer upon the adjutant-general, reported from the committee on public property with a recommendation that it do not pass, was read a first time. No. 89. House bill to amend and re-enact an act entitled an act to incorporate the town of Newbern, and to repeal act of 27th of May, |