No. 106. Senate bill entitled an act to amend and re-enact section 39' of chapter 49 of the Code of 1873, in reference to sales under judgements, warrants or decrees for debts contracted prior to April 10, 1865, was reported from the committee for courts of justice.

The following senate bills were reported from the committee on roads and internal navigation:

No. 94. Senate bill entitled an act to incorporate the Chesapeake and Albemarle railway company, with amendments.

No. 98. Senate bill entitled an act to amend and re-enact the first section of the act to incorporate the Richmond and Henrico turnpike company, approved March 20, 1873.

No. 40. House bill for the relief of William M. McGruder and others, sureties of Patrick H. Huffman, late sheriff of Henrico (heretofore recommitted to the committee on finance), was reported back from the committee with a recommendation that it do not pass.

No. 218. House bill allowing John R. Kilby to erect a pier on Nansemond river, reported from the committee on roads and internal navigation, was read a first time.

No. 219. House bill to provide the mode of ascertaining compensation for land condemned for a road or landing, reported from the committee for courts of justice, was read a first time.

No. 220. House bill to incorporate the Abingdon academy of medicine, reported from the committee on propositions and grievances, was read a first time.

The following house bills, reported from the committee on finance, were read a first time:

No. 221. House bill for the relief of J. R. Shield, of York county. No. 222. House bill appropriating five hundred dollars for the removal and reinterment in Washington cemetery, at Hagerstown, Maryland, of Confederate soldiers.

The following house bills, reported from the committee on counties, cities and towns, were read a first time:

No. 223. House bill to amend first section of an act approved March 29, 1871, concerning the town of Columbia, Fluvanna county.

No. 224. House bill to amend the charter of the town of Chatham, in Pittsylvania county.

No. 225. House bill to amend and re-enact section 5 of an act entitled an act to incorporate the town of Luray.

No. 226. House bill to allow the voters of the town of Suffolk to

elect a supervisor.

No. 227. House bill to amend the first, third and fourth sections of the charter of the town of Ashland.

No. 228. House bill to incorporate the town of Smithville, in the county of Charlotte.

No. 229. House bill to provide for working the public roads in Princess Anne county, Virginia.

No. 230. House bill to authorize the mayor and council of the town of Suffolk to borrow money.

The following report was agreed to:

The committee on finance having under consideration the memorials from the bars of Orange and Shenandoah, asking an increase in the compensation of sheriffs, beg leave to report that, in their judgment, it is inexpedient to legislate upon the subject.

Mr. Popham offered the following preamble and resolution:

Whereas, grave charges and intimations are constantly made by the leading journals of this State to the effect that great wrong and injury have been done to her by her official agents in the sale, transfer, or other disposition of her large and valuable assets in works of internal improvement, and in the settlement of large debts due to her from private parties; therefore, be it

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed with authority to investigate each and every case of sale, transfer and settlement as aforesaid occurring since the close of the late war, and that they report to this house the character of the contract in each of these cases, by whom and with whom made, the cost of executing the same, the fees paid to attorneys or other agents employed therein, together with all other facts deemed pertinent to this investigation; and that the committee aforesaid be empowered to send for persons and papers.

The house refused to refer the preamble and resolution to a committee. The preamble and resolution was agreed to.

Mr. Riddlebarger moved a reconsideration of the vote by which the preamble and resolution was agreed to, which was rejected.

Leave of absence was granted Messrs. Flood and Neeley three days each, Holbrook four days, Gaines and Critz five days each, and Raines six days.

The speaker appointed P. K. Jones on the committees of privileges and elections and officers and offices at the capitol.

The following were presented and referred under rule 37 :

By Mr. Moore: A bill to incorporate the Virginia and West Virginia narrow gauge railroad. Referred to committee on roads and internal navigation.

By Mr. William Hoskins: A bill to authorize the counties of King & Queen and King William to negotiate a loan or loans for the purpose of purchasing a steamboat. Referred to committee on counties, cities and towns.

By Mr. Lightner: A bill to amend and re-enact section one of an act approved March 28, 1873, entitled an act for the protection of fish in Jackson's and Cowpasture rivers, and their tributaries, from the junction of said rivers to the boundary line between the counties of Bath and Highland. Referred to committee on Chesapeake and its tributaries.

By Mr. Massey: A bill to amend and re-enact sections 24 of chapter 34 of the Code of 1873, prescribing the mode of granting licenses to

liquor merchants and keepers of ordinaries and eating-saloons. Referred to committee on finance.

By Mr. Bagwell: A bill to incorporate Kecoughtan Lodge, No. 29, of the order of Knights of Pythias. Referred to committee on propositions and grievances.

By Mr. Lamkin: A bill to provide for the punishment of employees on railroads or steamboats if they become intoxicated when on duty. Referred to committee on propositions and grievances.

By Mr. Henderson: Petition of members of the bar of Fauquier county, to increase the fees of sheriffs. Referred to committee on finance.

By Mr. Boykin: A bill to repeal section 10 of an act to regulate and define the jurisdiction of the county and circuit courts, and to prescribe the number of terms of the circuit court, and to fix the pay of county judges, in force April 2, 1873. Referred to committee for courts of justice.

By Mr. Brooks: A bill to establish a corporation court for the town of Manchester. Referred to committee for courts of justice.

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. Coghill, the special order was postponed until Monday next, second day of March.

No. 177. House bill to prescribe the times for holding the terms of the circuit courts of this Commonwealth, and to repeal the 15th section of the 155th chapter of the Code of 1873, which authorizes the judges of said courts to fix said terms, was,

On motion of Mr. Coghill, taken up out of its order on the calendar. The bill was read a second time, amended, and ordered to be engrossed to be read a third time.

Senate joint resolution of welcome and congratulation to the British settlers in Virginia, was,

On motion of Mr. Lovenstein, taken up out of its order on the

calendar.

The senate joint resolution was read a third time and agreed to. Mr. Lovenstein moved a reconsideration of the vote by which the senate joint resolution was agreed to, which was rejected.

No. 15. House bill entitled an act authorizing D. A. Plecker to erect a toll-bridge across North river, at Mount Crawford, in Rockingham county, came up.

The amendment of the senate was agreed to.

A message was received from the senate by Mr. Nowlin, who informed the house that the senate had disagreed to the report of the committee of conference on senate bill No. 31, entitled an act amending section 24 of chapter 196 of the Code of 1873, providing for organizing chain-gangs, and had agreed to a joint resolution in relation to the appointment of a committee of conference to take into consideration the

disagreeing votes of the two houses on senate bill No. 31; in which joint resolution they respectfully request the concurrence of the house.

The hour of one o'clock P. M., having arrived, special order, senate bill

No. 5. To provide a charter for the city of Petersburg, came up. On motion of Mr. Paige, the house adjourned until to-morrow, at 12 o'clock M.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 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 26, 1874.

The senate have rejected house bill entitled

An act to amend the 65th section of chapter 47 of the Code of 1873, in regard to the duty of township assessors to extend school tax; No. 80. They have agreed to the report of the committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two houses in relation to senate bill No. 86, entitled an act prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors on the Sabbath day.

They have passed a bill entitled

An act to provide for a new registration in Alexandria city and county; No. 32.

In which bill they respectfully request the concurrence of the house of delegates.

No. 32. Senate bill, was read twice, and referred to the committee on privileges and elections.

No. 90. Senate bill entitled an act to amend and re-enact section 19 of chapter 77 of the Code of Virginia (edition of 1873), concerning the board of visitors of the Virginia agricultural and mechanical college, and the board of curators of the Hampton normal and agricultural institute, was reported from the committee on schools and colleges.

No. 13. Senate bill entitled an act to provide for the registration of the voters of the city of Lynchburg, was reported from the committee on privileges and elections."

No. 115. Senate bill entitled an act to provide for an artificial leg for A. J. Nunn, was reported from the committee on finance.

Senate joint resolution appointing a committee of conference, to consist of three on the part of the house and two on the part of the senate, to consider the disagreeing votes of the two houses on senate bill (No. 31) entitled an act amending section 24 of chapter 196 of the Code of 1873, providing for organizing chain-gangs, was agreed to.

Mr. Coghill moved a reconsideration of the vote by which the senate joint resolution was agreed to, which was rejected.

Ordered, That Mr. Coghill inform the senate that the house have agreed to the senate joint resolution.

The speaker appointed Messrs. Coghill, Koiner and Round the committee on the part of the house.

A message was received from the senate by Mr. Taylor, who informed the house that the senate had agreed to house joint resolution amending the joint resolution extending the time for collection of taxes and county and township levies for the year 1873, approved January 23, 1874; No. 135.

The following house bills were reported from the committee on schools and colleges:

No. 231. House 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.

No. 232. House bill authorizing the school boards of Northumberland county to apply the funds derived from the tax on dogs.

The following house bills, reported from the committee for courts of justice, were read a first time:

No. 233. House bill to prohibit county and city treasurers, and townships and city collectors, from receiving coupons for capitation tax, and the per centum of State tax set apart for free school purposes.

No. 234. House bill to amend the first section of chapter 44 of the Code of 1873, so as to prevent the institution of suits against the Commonwealth for the recovery of any part of the principal or interest of the public debt.

No. 235. House bill to exempt additional property from levy or distress upon contracts hereafter made.

No. 236. House bill to provide for the publication and distribution amongst the people of this State of matter relating to agriculture and the mechanic and mining arts, reported from the committee on agriculture and mining, with a recommendation that it do not pass, was read a first time.

No. 237. House bill to establish a bureau of insurance, reported from the committee on propositions and grievances, with a recommendation that it do not pass, was read a first time.

Leave of absence was granted Messrs. Henderson and Fitzpatrick three days each, and Loving and Franklin four days each.

Mr. Williams offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That on and after Monday, March 2, 1874, the house shall meet at 11 o'clock A. M.

Which was agreed to.

Mr. Montague offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That the use of this hall be granted Hon. James H. Platt, Jr., on to-morrow night to speak on the subject of a national exchequer. Which was agreed to-two-thirds of those present voting in the affirmative.