Prayer by Rev. Dr. J. E. Edwards, of the Methodist church.
The journal was read by the clerk.
The Speaker made the following additions to the committee for courts of justice and the committee on finance:
Messrs. Warner T. Jones, Suttle and St. John to the committee for courts of justice.
Messrs. Critz, Sangster and Jack Carter to the committee on finance.
A message was received from the senate by Mr. Roler, who informed the house that the senate had agreed to house joint resolution to discontinue the issue of bonds required to be issued by the act for funding the public debt; No. 5.
No. 43. House bill to amend and reenact section 7, chapter 158, of the Code of Virginia, in relation to the adjourned terms of the circuit court of the city of Norfolk, reported from the committee for courts of justice, was read a first time.
The following house bill and joint resolution, reported from the committee on finance were read a first time:
No. 44. House bill for the correction of the assessment of the lands of D. C. Moorman, J. C. Grisson and Mrs. Mary Hall, lying in the county of Montgomery, and for refunding to them an excess of taxes, with a recommendation that it do not pass.
No. 45. House joint resolution to empower the auditor and attorney general to settle a claim of the Commonwealth against Andrew J. Byrne.
The following report was rejected:
The committee on public property have had under consideration the resolution to them referred in relation to altering the desks in the hall of the house of delegates, and submit the following resolution:
Resolved, That the superintendent of public buildings be and he is hereby directed to cause the desks used by the members of the house of delegates reduced in depth three inches: Provided, that the cost of said reduction does not exceed one dollar each.
The following report, from the committee on enrolled bills, was presented:
The committee on enrolled bills have the honor to report that the following bills have been approved by the governor:
An act to authorize an increase of the capital stock of the Crossroad and Summit Point turnpike company.
An act to ratify and make valid the right of the Staunton and Parkersburg turnpike company to charge tolls on a section of its road in the county of Augusta, and to ratify the acts heretofore performed by the board of public works, by virtue of said right.
An act to amend and reenact an act passed March 16, 1860, incorporating the town of Powelton, in the county of Amherst.
Leave of absence was granted Messrs. Evans, Snidow, Ratliff, Fulkerson, Bagwell, Alex. B. Lightner, Munsey and Keyser one day each; McMullan, Jack Carter, Queen, Hill, Ramsdell, Bishop and Bryant two days each; and Mr. Rogers four days.
On motion of Mr. Booker, senate joint resolution for a recess of the general assembly was taken up from the table.
The question being on agreeing to the amendment offered by Mr. Kelly,
Mr. Booker moved to amend the senate joint resolution by striking “Saturday, the twenty-third,” and inserting “Friday, the twenty-second;” which was agreed to.
Mr. Riddlebarger moved an amendment as follows (in the nature of a substitute) to the amendment offered by Mr. Kelly:
“And that no member of the general assembly shall be required by the disbursing officer to accept per diem during the recess.”
Which was rejected.
The amendment offered by Mr. Kelly was rejected.
Mr. Daniel moved to amend the joint resolution by adding:
“Resolved, That this general assembly will adjourn finally on or before the tenth day of February next.”
Which was rejected.
The senate joint resolution, as amended by the amendment of Mr. Booker, was agreed to.
Mr. Booker moved a reconsideration of the vote by which the senate joint resolution was agreed to; which was rejected.
Ordered, That Mr. Booker carry the senate joint resolution to the senate and request their concurrence in the amendment of the house.
On motion of Mr. Burkolder,
No. 11. House bill to amend and reenact section 5 of an act approved July 8th, 1870, entitled an act to reassess the lands throughout the Commonwealth, was taken up from the table.
The bill was placed on the calendar.
On motion of Mr. at the, lea was granted the committee on officers and offices at the capitol to sit (to-morrow) during the session of the house.
The following bills, resolutions, petitions and memorial were presented and referred under rule No. 37:
By Mr. Booker:
A bill prescribing certain duties of supervisors in relation to public property.
Referred to committee for courts of justice.
By Mr. Booker:
A bill requiring clerks of courts to furnish court orders and allowances to supervisors.
Referred to committee for courts of justice.
By Mr. Booker:
A bill to amend section 2 of chapter 162 of Code of 1860, in relation to exemption from juries.
Referred to committee for courts of justice.
By Mr. Dooley:
A petition of Denistown & Co. for the reissue of coupon bond lost or mislaid.
Referred to committee on finance.
By Mr. Dooley:
A bill to extend the sanitary jurisdiction of the board of health of the city of Richmond.
Referred to committee on counties, cities and towns.
By Mr. Warner T. Jones:
A petition of sundry citizens of Nelson township, in York county.
Referred to committee for courts of justice.
By Mr. Freeman:
Resolved, That the committee for courts of justice be directed to inquire into the justice and expediency of reporting a bill abolishing the infliction of stripes as punishment in all cases, and to report upon the expediency of establishing work houses in each county of the Commonwealth, in which persons convicted of misdemeanors shall be confined and compelled to perform hard labor.
By Mr. Keyser:
Resolved, That the committee for courts of justice be requested to inquire into the expediency of devolving upon the county judges the duties of commissioners in chancery for the circuit and county courts of their respective counties.
By Mr. Wm. Gilliam:
A bill to amend and reenact section 7 of an act to provide for a general registration of voters, approved April 13th, 1870.
Referred to committee on counties, cities and towns.
By Mr. Borland:
A memorial of citizens of Norfolk city, Portsmouth, Petersburg and City Point, asking that the pilot laws at present in force be allowed to remain unchanged, at least so far as these ports are concerned.
Referred to committee on banks, currency and commerce.
By Mr. Beaton:
A bill for the repeal of section 101, entitled an act for the assessment of taxes on persons, property, income, licenses, &c.
Referred to committee on finance.
By Mr. Payne:
A bill to allow further time to Jackson Godby, clerk of Floyd county court, to give bond and qualify as said clerk.
Referred to committee for courts of justice.
The morning hour having expired, the house proceeded to the business on the calendar.
No. 19. Senate bill entitled an act to amend and reenact an act passed February 12th, 1866, in relation to horse-stealing, was read a third time and passed.
An amendment to the title, proposed by the committee for courts of justice, was agreed to.
The title, as amended, was agreed to.
Mr. Burkholder moved a reconsideration of the vote by which the bill was passed; which was rejected.
A message was received from the senate by Mr. Kirkpatrick, who informed the house that the senate had agreed to a joint resolution petitioning the congress of the United States to remove all disabilities under the operation of the 14th amendment; in which they respectfully request the concurrence of the house.
The hour of 1 o’clock P.M. having arrived, special order, No. 14. House joint resolution instructing the auditor of public
accounts not to pay the amount of the semi-annual interest on the public debt due and payable on the 1st of January, 1872, as provided in section 4, chapter 44 of the Code, until directed so to do by the general assembly, came up.
The question being on agreeing to the amendment offered by Mr. Clopton to the amendment (in the nature of a substitute) offered by Mr. Sutherlin,
On motion of Mr. Matthew, the house took a recess until to-night, at 7 ½ o’clock P.M.
