The Legislature.
In the
Senate yesterday, on a call of the
Standing Committees,
Mr. Armstrong, from the
Committee on Privileges and Elections, said the
Committee had met, but in consequence of the appeal from the decision of the Chair, as to the character of the present session, they had concluded that they had no authority to act until the appeal was decided.
The Chair gave an opinion to the contrary, maintaining that the
Standing Committees appointed at the last session had full power to act pending the appeal.
Mr. Thompson submitted the following resolution, which was agreed to:
Resolved. That the Committee-on Confederate Relations be instructed to inquire into the expediency of transferring our State troops to the Confederate Government.
Agreed to.
Mr. Dickinson offered a resolution that--
The Committee of Courts of Justice inquire into the expediency of authorizing a joint executor (when his county executor is absent in the military service) to execute deeds and to perform such other acts as the joint executors are authorized to do; provided that the assent of the
County or Circuit Court having jurisdiction be first obtained.
Agreed to.
A bill to redress loyal citizens injured by the exercise of usurped power, was called up and ordered to its third reading.
A motion for its final passage being objected to, it was laid over for a day.
Mr. Thompson, from the
Committee on Procuring an Adequate Supply of Salt, reported a bill to provide for the production, distribution, and sale, of salt in this Commonwealth.
Laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
On motion, the Senate took a recess until 1 o'clock.
On re-assembling,
Mr. Branuan introduced a bill providing indemnity for loyal citizens out of the property of disloyal citizens.
Ordered to a second reading.
On motion, the Senate adjourned.
In the
House, Thomas B,
Bigger, the newly elected member from the city of
Richmond, appeared and qualified as a Delegate from said city.
The Senate joint resolution in relation to the character of the present session of the Legislature referring the subject to a joint committee, was agreed to.
A bill was passed increasing jailors' compensation for the support of prisoners.
Mr. Barbour, from the
Committee on an Adequate Supply of Salt, reported a bill to provide for the purchase and distribution of the same.
The bill provides that by and with the advice and consent of an advisory committee, to be composed of members of both Houses, the
Governor may adapt any measures which may seem necessary and proper for the obtaining and distribution of salt in the various counties and towns of this Commonwealth; that he may seize, hold, and possess any personal or real property, any boilers, manufacturing implements, &c., of any person or corporation of this State, for the promotion of the object aforesaid, always respecting contracts with the Confederate Government, or any other State; that he may control the operations of any railroad in the transportation of supplies of salt; that he may regulate the price and the distribution of the same, and that any person who shall violate the said regulations shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, to be punished in the penalty of a fine not more nor less than — dollars.
The bill was laid on the table and ordered to be printed, and the
House went into secret session.
