No. 197. House bill for the relief of Isaac N. Bussels, of Lancaster county, with a recommendation that it do not pass. No. 198. House joint resolution in relation to payment of interest on bonds held by the literary fund. The following house bills, reported from the committee on Chesapeake and its tributaries, were read a first time: No. 199. House bill to prevent the destruction of fish in the north fork of Holston river. No. 200. House bill repealing the act passed April 1st, 1873, for the preservation of oysters and to obtain revenue for the privilege of taking them within the waters of the Commonwealth, with a recommendation that it do not pass. No. 201. House bill to amend section 47, chapter 100, Code of 1873, in relation to fishing in Clinch river. The following house bills reported from the committee on roads and internal navigation, were read a first time: No. 202. House bill to declare the north fork of Clinch river, in the county of Scott, navigable for rafts, flat-bottom boats &c. No. 203. House bill providing a remedy against turnpike companies failing to keep their roads in order. No. 204. House bill to amend and re-enact 1st and 2d sections of an act to incorporate the North river railroad company, approved March 21st, 1872, and to change the name. No. 205. House bill fixing the pay and mileage of the presiding officers and members of the general assembly, reported from the committee on retrenchment and economy, with a recommendation that it do not pass, was read a first time. The following reports were agreed to: The committee on the Chesapeake and its tributaries have, according to order, had under consideration the resolution in relation to inquiring into the expediency of reporting a bill regulating the charges by law on persons and freight made by steamers between the different landings or wharves on the Rappahannock river, have come to the following resolution: Resolved, That it is deemed inexpedient to legislate on the subject. The committee on finance having had under consideration a resolution instructing them to inquire into the expediency of leasing out the James river and Kanawha canal, have adopted the following resolution: Resolved, That at present it is inexpedient to legislate upon the subject. The following report was presented: The committee on finance have, according to order, had under consideration a petition of citizens of Chincoteague island, Accomac county, praying the privilege of a local option law, regulating the sale of alcoholic liquors, &c., and respectfully report that, in their opinion, it would be of at least doubtful expediency to grant to even an entire county the privilege asked for by the petitioners, but they are persuaded that to grant it to a particular township would tend to create heart-burnings and ill feeling among neighbors, and do incalculable mischief. They therefore ask that the following resolution be agreed to: Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioners be rejected. The following were presented and referred under rule 37: By Mr. Hoenniger: A bill to incorporate the James river coal company. Referred to committee on agriculture and mining. By Mr. John L. Nash: A bill to provide for working the public roads in Princess Anne county. Referred to committee on counties, cities and towns. By Mr. Bohannon: Petition of citizens of Mathews county in regard to the protection of oysters. Referred to committee on Chesapeake and its tributaries. By Mr. Gaines: A bill to incorporate the town of Smithville, in the county of Charlotte. Referred to committee on counties, cities and towns. By Mr. Ould: A bill to amend and re-enact the eighteenth section of the act passed January 8, 1856, entitled an act incorporating the Firemen and Merchants insurance company of Petersburg. Referred to committee on propositions and grievances. By Mr. O'Neal: A bill to authorize the appointment of an additional commissioner in chancery for the corporation court of the city of Alexandria. Referred to committee for courts of justice. By Mr. Blair: A bill for protection of fish in rivers of this State above tide-water. Referred to committee on Chesapeake and its tributaries. By Mr. Crank: Petition of the citizens of Albemarle county for increase of sheriff's fees. Referred to committee for courts of justice. By Mr. Montague: A bill to amend the fourteenth section of chapter 188, Code of 1873, in relation to larceny. Referred to committee for courts of justice. By Mr. A. J. Clark: Resolved, That the committee on agriculture and mining inquire into the expediency of repealing sections 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61 and 62, of chapter 85, Code of 1873, requiring leaf tobacco to be inspected before the same can be exported out of the State. By Mr. Lovell: A bill for the relief of William R. Garrison, of Warren county. Referred to committee on finance. By Mr. Boykin: A bill allowing John R. Kilby to erect a pier on Nansemond river. Referred to committee on roads and internal navigation. By Mr. Boykin: A bill to authorize the treasurer of Nansemond county to invest, by order of the school trustees of the town of Suffolk, the district school tax of the town of Suffolk. Referred to committee on schools and colleges. By Mr. Massey: Resolved, That the committee on constitutional amendments be instructed to inquire into the expediency of so amending section 4 of article 6 of the constitution, as to allow the supreme court of appeals to dispense with giving written reasons for reversing or affirming judgments or decrees when, in the opinion of said court, the public interest will not suffer thereby. The morning hour having expired, special order No. 105. House bill to amend and re-enact sections 3, 4, 6 and 12 of chapter 154 of the Code of 1873, in relation to the jurisdiction of county courts, came up. On motion of Mr. Bagwell, the special order was postponed for fifteen minutes. No. 123. House bill to pay Henry A. Wise for his services as commissioner, and for his expenses on the commission, to adjust the boundary line between Virginia and Maryland, was, Ón motion of Mr. Bagwell, taken up out of its order on the calendar. The bill was read a second time and ordered to be engrossed to be read a third time. Mr. Bagwell (under a suspension of the rules), presented No. 206. House joint resolution to provide for the safe keeping of certain bonds of the Commonwealth, which was read a first time. Mr. Bagwell moved that the joint resolution be read a second time this day, which was agreed to, two-thirds of the members in the house so determining. The joint resolution was read a second time and ordered to be engrossed to be read a third time. The joint resolution being presently engrossed, On motion of Mr. Boykin, it was read a third time this day, twothirds of the members in the house so determining. The joint resolution was agreed to. Mr. Powell moved a reconsideration of the vote by which the joint resolution was agreed to, which was rejected. No. 132. House bill to provide for the payment of interest on the public debt, was, On motion of Mr. Stuart, taken up out of its order on the calendar. Mr. Stuart moved to amend the bill by inserting after "debt," in twelfth line of second section, the words "assumed by this State under act of March 30, 1871." Mr. Holbrook moved to postpone the bill for ten days. Special order No. 105. House bill to amend and re-enact sections 3, 4, 6 and 12 of chapter 154 of the Code of 1873, in relation to the jurisdiction of county courts, again came up. Mr. Stuart (by leave of the house) withdrew his resolution to recommit the bill with instructions. Mr. Hunter moved to postpone the special order until Thursday next, 26th instant, which was rejected-yeas 39; nays 62. On motion of Mr. Hunter, the vote was recorded as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Allen, Anderson, Brooks, Campbell, Jack Carter, Cockerille, Coghill, Davis, Fitzpatrick, Flood, Foster, Franklin, Gaines, Gilman, Haden, Henderson, Holbrook, William Hoskins, Hudgin, Hunter, Jordan, B. W. Lacy, J. Horace Lacy, Lovell, Lovenstein, Loving, Magruder, Montague, Morrison, J. L. Nash, Neeley, Ould, Pannill, Popham, Round, Shuinate, Taylor, Williams, and Withers-39. NAYS-Messrs. Alexander, Armentrout, Armstrong, Banks, Bickings, Blair, Bohannon, Brady, Branch, Brown, J. Armistead Carter, Peter J. Carter, Matt Clark, Cox, Crank, Finney, Gardner, T. S. Gibson, Gilliam, Goodwyn, Grayson, Hale, Hamilton, Harris, Harrison, Hill, Hoenniger, John T. Hoskins, Howard, Koiner, Lamkin, Lee, Lightner, Lipps, Lipscomb, Lucas, Lybrook, Massey, May, McGonigal, McMullan, Moore, Moss, W. A. Nash, Norton, Paige, Pendleton, Rains, Riddlebarger, Rogers, Scruggs, Sellers, Stuart, Swann, Syphax, Taliaferro, Van Auken, Wallace, Webb, Winn, Yager, and Mr. Speaker-62. Mr. Riddlebarger offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute. On motion of Mr. Coghill, the house adjourned until to-morrow at 12 o'clock M. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1874. Prayer by Rev. C. C. Bitting, of the Baptist church. The journal was read by the clerk. A communication from the senate, by their clerk, was read as follows: In Senate, February 24, 1874. The senate have passed bills entitled An act to provide for the registration of the voters of the city of Lynchburg; No. 13. An act to amend and re-enact the first section of the act to incorporate the Richmond and Henrico turnpike company, approved March twentieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-three; No. 98. An act to incorporate the Chesapeake and Albemarle railway company; No. 94. An act to amend the charter of the town of Potomac; No. 101. And An act act to amend and re-enact section thirty-nine of the Code of 1873, in reference to sales under judgments, warrants or decrees, for debts contracted prior to April tenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-five ; No. 106. In which bills they respectfully request the concurrence of the house of delegates. No. 13. Senate bill, was read twice, and referred to the committee on privileges and elections. Nos. 94 and 98. Senate bills, were read twice and referred to the committee on roads and internal navigation. No. 101. Senate bill, was read twice and referred to the committee on counties, cities and towns. No. 106. Senate bill, was read twice and referred to the committee for courts of justice. No. 69. Senate bill entitled an act to incorporate the Piedmont farmers' association, was reported from the committee on agriculture and mining. No. 145. Senate bill entitled an act to appoint a board of trustees for the Virginia female institute at Staunton, and to provide for the future government of said institute, was reported from the committee on schools and colleges. No. 27. Senate bill entitled an act to incorporate the American and European land company, was reported from the committee of propositions and grievances with an amendment. No. 76. House bill entitled an act to amend and re-enact section 4, chapter 6 of Code of Virginia (edition of 1873), in relation to vacancies in offices of governor and lieutenant-governor, was reported from the committee for courts of justice with a recommendation that the house agree to the amendment of the senate. The following house bills, reported from the committee on militia and police, were read a first time: No. 207. House bill to provide for the organization and government of the volunteer militia of the State, and to repeal existing laws concerning the same. No. 208. House bill to amend and re-enact certain sections and chapters of the eleventh title of the Code of 1873, relative to the public defence. No. 209. House bill for the relief of William B. Garrison, of Warren county, reported from the committee on finance with a recommendation that it do not pass, was read a first time. The following house bills, reported from the committee on privileges and elections, were read a first time: No 210. House bill amending the law in relation to contested elections. No. 211. House bill entitled an act to amend chapter 48, section 42, Code of 1873, in relation to elections, with a recommendation that it do not pass. The following house bills, reported from the committee on propositions and grievances, were read a first time: No. 212. House bill to prevent the sale of ardent spirits to confirmed drunkards. No. 213. House bill to amend and re-enact the eighteenth section of the act passed January 8, 1856, entitled an act incorporating the firemen and merchants insurance company of Petersburg. No. 214. House bill to prohibit unlawful hunting, fishing and ranging in the county of Alexandria, with a recommendation that it do not pass. No. 215. House bill to authorize the vestry of Grace Protestant Episcopal Church, Lexington, to borrow money. The following house bills, reported from the committee for courts of justice, were read a first time: |