Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

porter.) from whom he received instruction and advice; and that, although the superintendent is required, and did certify over his signature the correctness of the printing accounts, he was unable, of his own practica! knowledge, to do so.

III. That for the purpose of examining and certifying the correctness of the printing accounts, the law knows no officer or other person than the superintendent, who is required by his oath to PRACTICALLY know whether an account is sorrect or not; that the commonwealth's fund, appropropriated for this branch of her service, was at the dictation of the porter, and the office has been wholly run and managed, so far as mechanical knowledge is concerned, by the aforesaid porter, and the state has not that protection from the oath of office that it was designed to

seire to her.

IV. Tint the porter is managing the office now executing the printing ander the superintendent's contracts, as well as rendering assistance to the superintendent, and that the state is liable to the perpetration of gross frauds from the incompeteney of the superintendent, which it would be difficult to detect, without an examination by a disinterested expert, of copies of the work submitted with the

[ocr errors]

V. That the said porter has repeatedly said that he had to examine the accounts and pass upon their correctness, and in other ways perform the duties of the oflice, sol that the superintendent did not know anything about the printing business. The superintendent has admitted and so stated to others, that he was wholly dependent on the said porter for information of a practical character-thus making the porter de facto the superintendent, and Frayser, superintendent de jure.

VI. That he has so constructed his annual report and m'ood figures, as to make it appear that to his alministration is the credit due for the reduction in expense therein shown that he has omitted certain figures, but given their results, well knowing that the very figures omitted, produced those results, an are the same upon which HE PAID the bills for the work.

RICHMOND, December 1878.

JAMES E. GOODE.

The communication and specifications were referred to the committee on printing.

The SPEAKER announced that the standing committees will remain as arranged last session.

The SPEAKER assigned Mr. WILKINSON to the committees on counties, cities and towns, and manufactures and mechanic arts.

Mr. HARRISON of Sussex offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the committee on finance be instructed to consider the recommendations contained in the message of the governor, to ascertain and report the precise and comprehensive amount of the public debt on the 1st day of December, 1878, and further to report what increase in the rate of taxation on real and personal property will be necessary to enable the commonwealth to pay the full rate of interest upon the same, or in the alternative, to pay four per cent. upon a new funding of the debt as proposed by the bondholders, and also whether such increase is expedient or not.

The House referred the resolution to the committee on finance.
Mr. STEVENS offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That the committee on finance be instructed to enquire into the propriety and expediency of authorizing the board of education to convert the certificates of indebtedness now representing the literary fund, into six per cent. coupon bonds of the state, and making said coupons receivable in payment of all taxes, debts and demands

due the state.

The House referred the resolution to the committee on finance.

Mr. LOVELL offered the following joint resolution:

Resolved (the Senate concurring), That the general assembly will on Thursday 12th instant, at 1 P. M., proceed to elect the circuit judges of the state, beginning at the first circuit and proceeding in numerical order until all are elected

Which was agreed to.

Mr. LOVELL moved to reconsider the vote by which the joint resolution was agreed to, which motion was rejected.

Ordered, That Mr. LOVELL carry the joint resolution to the Senate and request their concurrence.

The following were presented and referred under rule 37:

By Mr. MOFFETT: A bill for the relief of the sureties of John Huddleson, late collector of Central township of the county of Rockingham. Referred to the committee on finance.

By Mr. STEVENS: A bill in relation to the use of the hall of the House of Delegates and Senate chamber, and to repeal section twelve of chapter twenty, of the Code of 1873. Referred to the committee on offices and officers at the capitol.

By Mr. TALIAFERRO of Norfolk city: A bill to provide for the settlement of the public debt. Referred to the committee on finance.

By Mr. GRAVES: A bill to authorize the colored Baptist church of Liberty, Virginia, to borrow money and secure the payment of same by deed of trust on the church property. Referred to committee for courts of justice.

By Mr. WHITACRE: Petition of citizens of Frederick county relative to public free schools. Referred to committee for courts of justice.

By Mr. KYLE:

Resolved, That the committee on retrenchment and economy enquire into the propriety of reducing the amount of stationery to members of the legislature to $2.

By Mr. HENKEL: A bill to make parties accused of rape and seduction competent witnesses. Referred to committee for courts of justice. By Mr. HENKEL: A bill to authorize the sale of certain church property belonging to the vestrymen of the Andrew Protestant Episcopal church, Bedford parish, county of Shenandoah, to make a valid title to the same, and to re-invest the proceeds of the sale. Referred to committe for courts of justice.

By Mr. HENKEL: A bill to provide for the more effectual application of the funds set apart by the constitution to the operation of the public schools of the state-making the certificates of county superintendents receivable for taxes. Referred to the committee on finance.

By Mr. WATSON: A bill to incorporate the Planters Savings Bank at Chatham, Virginia. Referred to the committee on banks, currency and commerce.

By Mr. TAYLOR of Henrico: A bill to refund to Edward Cannon license tax. Referred to the committee on finance.

By Mr. BARBOUR: Petition of G. T. Bonner & Co., asking the general assembly to pay or return certain coupons cancelled by the second auditor and not paid. Referred to the committee on finance.

By Mr. HUNTER: Petition of liquor dealers of Alexandria, in relation to tax on liquors. Referred to the committee on finance. By Mr. BARBOUR:

Resolved, That the committee on finance enquire into the expediency of authorizing the issue of tax-receivable certificates of indebtedness, in proper annual payments for the arrearages due the literary fund and the school fund, and the distribution of the same among the school boards entitled thereto, with authority to sell them, when due, to tax-payers within the district of the school board holding such certificates, at a price in no event less than sixty cents on every dollar of the face value of such certificates.

Mr. WILKINSON offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That the secretary of the commonwealth be requested to furnish each member of the House of Delegates, on application, with a copy of the Code of 1873, and with a copy of the acts of assembly for the sessions 1874-5, 1875-6, 1876-7, and 1877-8, to be returned to the secretary of the commonwealth at the end of the present session.

The House refused to refer the resolution to a committee.

The resolution was agreed to.

Mr. FAUNTREROY offered the following resolution :

Resolved, That the committee for courts of justice be instructed to prepare and report a bill to call a convention of the sovereign people of Virginia.

The question being on the reference of the resolution to a committee was put-no quorum voting.

On motion of Mr. GRAVES the House adjourned until to-morrow at 12 o'clock M.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1878.

Prayer by Rev. Dr. Moses D. Hoge of the Presbyterian church.
The Journal was read by the clerk.

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

No. 1. House bill for the relief of the tax payers of the county of Orange.

No. 2. House bill for the relief of the sureties of John Huddleson, late collector of Central township of the county of Rockingham. No. 3. House bill to refund to Edward Cannon license tax.

The unfinished business of the morning hour being the question on the reference of the resolution offered by Mr. FAUNTLEROY on yesterday, as follows:

Resolved, That the committee for courts of justice be instructed to prepare and report a bill to call a convention of the sovereign people of Virginia

Came up.

The House referred the resolution to the committee for courts of justice.

Mr. HUNTER, under a suspension of the rule, presented

No. 4. House bill allowing any person to have his dog listed for taxation, thereby making the same personal property; which was read a first time.

Mr. HARRISON of Susser offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That the committee for courts of justice be instructed to inquire whether the commonwealth is still legally liable in any manner or form for that portion of the public debt which has been apportioned, or attempted to be apportioned to the state of West Virginia, and to make report thereon as soon as practicable.

The House refused to refer the resolution to a committee.
The resolution was agreed to.

Mr. SHELBURNE offered the following resolution:

Resolved, that the committee for courts of justice be and are hereby instructed to enquire into the expediency of so changing the constitution as to relieve the state from imposing a tax for the support of public free schools, and making it the duty of the counties and corporations of the commonwealth to levy, collect and disburse all taxes for that purpose, and report by bill or otherwise.

The House refused to refer the resolution to a committee.
The resolution was agreed to.

Mr. HARRISON of Susser offered the following joint resolution: Resolved by the House of Delegates (the Senate concurring), That a joint committee be appointed to consist of five members of the Senate and nine of the House of Delegates to whom all propositions on the subject of amendments to the constitution shall be referred, with instructions to report by bill or otherwise.

The House refused to refer the joint resolution to a committee.
The joint resolution was agreed to.

Mr. HARRISON of Susser moved to reconsider the vote by which the joint resolution was agreed to; which motion was rejected.

Ordered, That Mr. HARRISON of Susser carry the joint resolution to the Senate and request their concurrence.

Mr. MOFFETT offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That the committee on finance be instructed to enquire whether it is expedient to keep a register of the coupons received by the commonwealth in payment of taxes and otherwise; and if expedient to prepare and report a proper form for the same.

The House refused to refer the resolution to a committee.

The resolution was agreed to.

A message was received from the Senate by Mr. BLAND, who informed the House that the Senate had agreed to the joint resolution of the House fixing a day for the election of the circuit judges, with an amendment, in which they respectfully request the concurrence of the House.

The amendment of the Senate is as follows:

Strike out the words "Thursday, 12th," and insert in lieu thereof the words "Tuesday, 17th."

The question being on agreeing to the amendment of the Senate, Mr. HINER demanded the yeas and nays which was not sustained. The amendment of the Senate was agreed to.

Mr. GRAVES moved to reconsider the vote by which the amendment of the Senate was agreed to; which motion was rejected.

The following were presented and referred under rule 37:

By Mr. TAYLOR of Flare: A bill to amend and re-enact section 15 of an act approved March 29, 1875, as amended by an act approved March 29, 1876, and section 30 of the same act, as amended by the said act approved March 29, 1876, and act approved April 2, 1877; and section 18 of an act approved March 29, 1875, as amended by an act approved April 2, 1877, prescribing the duties, powers, liabilities and compensation of certain county officers. Referred to the committee on counties, cities and towns.

By Mr. FARR: A bill to incorporate the town of Herndon, in the county of Fairfax. Referred to the committee on counties cities and towns.

By Mr. ALLEN: A bill prescribing the manner of trying civil causes by jury. Referred to the committee for courts of justice.

By Mr. WALSH: A bill to amend an act entitled an act to define the limits of tide-water on the south side of James river, approved March 14, 1878. Referred to the committee on counties, cities and towns.

By Mr. FULTON: A bill to amend and re-enact the first section of an act to furnish convict labor to work on the Raleigh and Grayson turnpike, and the Wythe and Grayson turnpike, approved 28th day of February, 1878. Referred to the committee on asylums and prisons. By Mr. KYLE:

Resolved that the committee for courts of justice enquire what legislation is necessary to protect the state's interest in the railroads and internal improvements in the state.

By Mr. COGHILL:

Resolved, That the committee for courts of justice be instructed to enquire into the expediency of purchasing for the use of the officers of the courts, judges and magistrates of the state, the Criminal Procedure, "indexed and annotated," as published by J. E. Goode, to ascertain the number of copies proper to be purchased and the cost thereof, and report the facts with proper bill.

« ZurückWeiter »