By Mr. RAGLAND: Resolved, That the committed for courts of justice enquire into and report whether or not any additional legislation is necessary to provide for the thorough cancellation of coupons received by the state for taxes, and if any legislation is necessary to protect the state against the issuance and circulation of counterfeit coupons. By Mr. FICKLIN: A bill to release Robert Ould from the payment of a fine imposed by the county court of Buckingham county. Referred to the committee on finance. By Mr. SHELBURNE: Petition of citizens of Montgomery county, asking that a stay law be passed. Referred to the committee for courts of justice. By Mr. BOBANNAN: A bill to amend and re-enact section 8 of chapter 19 of the Code of 1873, in relation to the duties of superintendent of public printing. Referred to the committee on printing. By Mr. REESE: A bill to provide for the printing of the acts of assembly, &c. Referred to the committee on printing. By Mr. COLEMAN: A bill providing for the election of commissioners of the revenue for Lunenburg county. Referred to the committee on counties, cities and towns. By Mr. TALIAFERRO of Gloucester: Resolved, That the committee for courts of justice be instructed to enquire into the expediency of reporting a bill to require the judges of county courts, in their discretion, when they have to make out lists for the trial of felonies at a time at which juries have to be drawn for the trial of civil cases and misdemeanors, to select the venire for the trial of felonies, as far as consistent with the conditions of fitness. and vicinage, from the jurors drawn for the trial of civil cases and misdemeanors. By Mr. CRANK: A bill allowing further time to A. J. Farish, treasurer of Albemarle county, to make his return of delinquents and insolvents for 1877. Referred to committee on finance. By Mr. WHITE of Hanover: A bill to repeal an act entitled an act for the protection of fish in the waters of the commonwealth above tidewater, so far as it relates to the waters of the South Anna, Little, Newfound, North Anna and Chickahominy rivers in the county of Hanover. Referred to committee on Chesapeake and its tributaries. The hour of one o'clock having arrived, No. 76. House bill to authorize the James river and Kanawha company to make sale and transfer of all its works, property and franchises to the Richmond and Alleghany railroad company, and to define the powers and duties of the board of public works in respect thereto, caine up as a special order. Mr. Bocock offered a substitute to the bill. Pending the further consideration of the amendment offered by Mr. BERNARD, On motion of Mr. ANDERSON, the special order was postponed until 12 o'clock to-morrow. On motion of Mr. SPESSARD, the House adjourned until to-morrow at 12 o'clock M. THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1879. Prayer by Rev. A. W. Weddell, of the Episcopal church. A communication from the Senate by their clerk, was read as follows: In Senate, January 22, 1879. The Senate have passed House bill entitled an act to amend and re-enact sections 1 and 3 of an act to provide for the election of three commissioners of the revenue for the county of Loudoun, No. 74. And they have passed Senate bills entitled an act imposing certain duties upon county and corporation treasurers and other collectors of state revenue, and fixing the penalty for failure to perform them, No. 6; an act to amend and re-enact an act approved March 20, 1877, in relation to the times for holding the terms of the circuit courts in the eighth judicial circuit, No. 114; an act to provide for annual reports of municipal taxation, indebtedness and assessment, No. 53; an act to authorize the Virginia savings bank of Lynchburg to establish a special savings department, No. 102; an act to amend and re-enact section 7, chapter 147, Code of 1873, in relation to warrants for small claims, No. 65; an act to amend and re-enact sections 14 and 15 of an act entitled an act to provide for working and keeping in order the roads of the commonwealth, approved March 20, 1875, No. 95; an act to amend the charter of the Bank of Portsmouth, No. 79; an act to amend and re-enact section 7 of chapter 15 of the Code of 1873, in relation to the distribution of the Session Acts, the Code of 1560, and Mayo's Guide, among the officers of counties and corporations who are entitled by law to receive them, No. 76; an act to amend and reenact section 12 of chapter 162 of the Acts of 1875 76, in regard to the tax on collateral inheritances, &c., No. 93; an act for the relief of C. W. Sullivan, treasurer of Montgomery county, and John H. GoodJoe, treasurer of Nelson county, No. 75; and an act to incorporate the Portsmouth library association, No. 91. In which bills they respectfully request the concurrence of the House of Delegates. No. 95. Senate bill was read twice, and referred to the committee on counties, cities and towns. Nos. 114 and 65. Senate bills were read twice, and referred to the committee for courts of justice. Nos. 6, 53, 93 and 75. Senate bills were read twice, and referred to the committee on finance. Nos. 102 and 79. Senate bills were read twice, and referred to the committee on banks, currency and commerce. Nos. 76 and 91. Senate bills were read twice, and referred to the committee on propositions and grievances. No. 43. House bill entitled an act to incorporate the Bangens hydraulic mining and manufacturing company, was reported from the committee on agriculture and mining, with the recommendation that the House agree to Senate amendments. The following House bills, reported from the committee on finance, were read a first time: No. 144. House bill to refund to John Manders part of a license tax improperly assessed upon and paid by him. No. 145. House bill to provide commutation for D. Vest, of Rockbridge county, and Jesse Couch, of Bedford county, and others, onelegged soldiers, who are unable to wear the legs furnished them. No. 146. House bill for the relief of James K. Lowry, late collector of Goodson township, in the county of Washington. No. 147. House bill allowing further time to A. J. Farish, treasurer of Albemarle county, to make his return of delinquents and insolvents for 1877. The following House bills, reported from the committee for courts of justice, were read a first time: No. 148. House bill to amend and re-enact section 10 of chapter 126 of the Code of 1873, in reference to personal representatives. No. 149. House bill to repeal section 9, and to amend section 10 of chapter 119 of the Code of 1873, in relation to descents from infants, with the recommendation that it do not pass. No. 150. House bill to prescribe the times for holding the circuit courts in the sixteenth judicial circuit. No. 151. House bill for the removal of the disabilities of James Barbour, of Culpeper, and others. The following House bills, reported from the committee on counties, cities and towns, were read a first time: No. 152. House bill for working the roads in the counties of Powhatan, Cumberland and Goochland. No. 153. House bill to amend and re-enact section 2 of an act entitled an act to incorporate the town of Gladeville, in the county of Wise, approved February 24, 1874, with reference to the boundary lines of the said corporation. No. 154. House bill to annex a portion of Botetourt county to Alleghany, with the recommendation that it do not pass. Na. 155. House bill to incorporate the town of Columbia, in Fluvanna county. No. 70. House bill to provide for working and keeping the public roads in order in Prince Edward county, was reported back from the committee on counties, cities and towns. The following House bill, and joint resolution, reported from the committee on federal relations, were read a first time: No. 156. House bill giving the consent of this state to the purchase by the government of the United States of land in Alexandria county for the abutment of and the necessary approaches to the bridge proposed to be constructed across the Potomac river at or near the Three Sisters island, and the building of such abutment and approaches upon such land and ceding jurisdiction over the same. No. 157. House joint resolution instructing senators and requesting representatives in the Congress of the United States to vote for an amendment to the banking laws of the United States fixing the penalty for usury. No. 158. House bill for the better protection of game in Alexandria and Fairfax counties, reported from the special committee on game, was read a first time. The committee on asylums and prisons submitted a report on the treatment of convicts by the James river and Kanawha company. On motion of Mr. EcuoLs, the report was passed by and ordered to be printed. The SPEAKER laid before the House a communication from the auditor of public accounts, showing the amount of insolvent and delinquent taxes for the year 1877, and a statement of the probable expenses of the government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1879, in response to a resolution of the House. Mr. HENRY moved to lay the communication on the table and print; which motion was agreed to. The SPEAKER laid before the House a communication from the auditor of public accounts in response to a resolution of the House as to the pay of the janitor of the House. The communication was referred to the committee on offices and officers at the capitol. The SPEAKER appointed Messrs. FOWLER, MCMULLAN, BOHANNAN, LACY, EDWARDS, GREEN, JORDAN, LADY, and SANDIDGE as a special committee to revise and embody into one act the fees of certain officers, &c. The resolution of Mr. HENRY, requiring supplies furnished the penitentiary to be let to the lowest bidder, &c., came up. On motion of Mr. HENRY, the resolution was committed to the committee on asylums and prisons. The report of the committee on federal relations and resolutions. upon the excercise of jurisdiction by the United States district judge in the matter of Burwell Reynolds and Lee Reynolds, came up. On motion of Mr. STEVENS, the report was passed by. Mr. TALIAFERRO of Gloucester, under a suspension of the rules, offered the following resolution: Resolved that the auditor of public accounts be and is instructed to' report to this House the cost of compiling and publishing the Code of 1873, and the amount of money received from the sale of the same, exclusive of any commissions paid to booksellers and agents. The resolution was agreed to. Mr. EDMUNDS, under a suspension of the rules, presented the following paper, which was read by the clerk: Hon. H. C. ALLEN, EXCHANGE HOTEL, Richmond, January 23, 1879. Speaker of the House of Delegates: Dear Sir-I was informed last evening, and have since seen published in the newspapers, that John Wilkenson, a member of the House of Delegates from Pittsylvania, made statements to the effect that I had acted improperly as counsel for the commonwealth in the prosecution of certain claims placed in my hands by the auditor of public accounts against the sureties of C. L. Powell, late sheriff of Pittsylvania county, and took occasion at the same time to make a gross assault upon my character, and made charges which were utterly without foundation. I beg leave to say through you, to your honorable body, that the subject to which he referred had been investigated by the committee on finance and the auditor of public accounts, and to both my explanations were satisfactory, and this was known to Mr. Wilkinson. I therefore respectfully ask, as an act of justice to me, that the House of Delegates instruct the proper committee to send for persons and papers and make a full investigation of my conduct, and report the result. Very respectfully, E. BARKSDALE, JR. The paper was referred to the committee on finance. The following were presented and referred under rule 37: Resolved, That the committee on asylums and prisons be directed to enquire and to report as soon as practicable as to the expediency of abrogating the office of board of directors of the penitentiary, and to substitute therefor the board of visitors selected from different parts of the state. By Mr. TALIAFERRO of Norfolk city: A bill to incorporate the Norfolk and Ocean View railroad and hotel company. Referred to the committee on roads and internal navigation. By Mr. DYER: Petition of citizens of Henry, Patrick and Franklin counties, praying legislation for the removal of obstructions to the passage of fish up Smith's river. Referred to the committee on the Chesapeake and its tributaries. By Mr. WILKINSON: A bill to legalize and make valid the vote of the qualified voters of the town of Danville, Va., favoring a subscription of fifty thousand dollars to the capital stock of the Dan river coalfield railroad, and to make the same applicable to the Dan valley and Yadkin river narrow-gauge railroad company. Referred to the committee for courts of justice. |