The Legislature.
--From the Committee of Finance a bill was reported for ascertaining the value of property in
real estate sold since the first day of July, 1861, and to tax the same upon such valuation.
Also, a bill to provide for the payment of certain claims against the
Eastern Lunatic Asylum.
Mr. Christian, of
Augusta, from the
Committee on
Banks, rendered an adverse report as to the expediency of compelling banks to receive deposits.
A substitute was reported from the
Committee on Finance for the bill to increase the salaries of certain officers of the
Government.
Mr. Randolph presented a memorial from the mechanics and working men of the city of
Richmond, which had been handed him by the committee appointed by the meeting held at the City Hall on Saturday evening last.
The memorial is signed by the committee appointed at the meeting.
Mr. Randolph also presented a petition from certain citizens of
Richmond whose property was destroyed and carried off by the mob in April last.
This petition is signed by
Messrs. Tyler & Son,
John T. Hicks Pollard &
Walker,
Jas. Knotts,
Mena Sweitzer, and Marcuse and
Hutzler.
The petition was referred to the Committee of Courts of Justice.
The communication of the
Governor, enclosing the report of the
Superintendent of the Penitentiary, was reported back from the
Committee on Public Institutions, and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Armstrong offered a resolution that the
Committee on Roads and Internal Navigation inquire into the expediency of so amending the 25th section of chapter 61 of the Code so as to require the railroad and canal companies to transport all supplies, of any munitions, and provisions of every kind, intended for the use of State and Confederate troops, and all supplies sent to soldiers in the army, on the same terms as they now transport troops and their baggage.
Also to inquire and report whether any railroad or canal companies have refused to transport arms and equipments of the
State troops unless paid in advance, and what legislation is necessary in regard to it.
The Senate then resumed the consideration of the bill to reorganize the militia of the
Commonwealth, and was still engaged upon it at the hour of adjournment.
In the
House, Mr. Bouldin, from the
Committee on Finance, reported a bill for the payment of losses of tobacco by the burning of the public warehouses in
Richmond.
Mr. Anderson, from the
Committee on Military Affairs, reported a resolution asking to be discharged from the further consideration of a resolution authorizing the
Governor to call out all white males over the age of 16 years to repel invasion; and also to be discharged from further consideration of several other resolutions already provided for by bills reported.
Mr. Buford, from the
Committee on
Banks, reported a bill to protect the currency of the
Confederate States from depreciation by the suppression of its exchange at less than its nominal value, and the prohibition of the exportation of
gold and
silver.
Mr. Haymond, of
Marion, offered a resolution, which was adopted, instructing the Committee of Courts of Justice to inquire into the expediency of authorizing the city of
Richmond to impress coal pits and wood and wood land; and also to impress the free-negro convicts in the penitentiary to work in said pits and to procure wood; and also to impress railroads and other means of transportation.
Mr. Walton submitted a resolution to instruct the Committee of Finance to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill to provide for a tax of not less than two dollars and a half upon the seal of registry for free negroes.
Agreed to.
The resolution yesterday offered by
Mr. Brooke for the appointment of a special committee to investigate thoroughly the causes of delay in the delivery of salt by
Stuart,
Buchanan & Co. was taken up, and, after some discussion, agreed to by a vote of 103 to 11.
The bill for the reorganization of the militia of the
State was then taken up, and the
House engaged in its consideration the remainder of the day.
