The Legislature.
--In the
Senate, Mr. Alderson offered a resolution to provide by law for the next meeting of the General Assembly on the first Monday in January next, which was agreed to.
Mr. Guy reported a resolution upon the expediency of such legislation as will convert into productive channels the labor now employed in the manufacture of tobacco and other pursuits, which are not necessary to the public welfare.
The order of the day, the bill to regulate prices, was taken up, and after considerable discussion was laid on the table and made the order of the day for tomorrow at 12 o'clock.
The bill to authorize the arrest of deserters by the civil authorities was taken up and passed.
The bill from the
Committee on Military Affairs to provide for arming and equipping the militia was also passed.
A number of other bills of minor importance were advanced on the calendar.
In the
House, the Senate bill to suppress gaming was taken up, and committed.
Mr. Bouldin, from the
Committee on Finance, reported a bill to increase the fees of
Commissioners of the Revenue in certain cases.
Mr. Robertson, from the
Committee on Confederate Relations, made an adverse report upon the resolution referred to them as to the expediency of urging the
President to convene an extra session of Congress.
Mr. Walkor, of
Augusta, offered a resolution that the
Committee on Lunatic Asylums inquire into the expediency of making an appropriation to meet a deficiency in the appropriation for the sup- port of the
Central Lunatic Asylum, which was agreed to.
A resolution was offered by
Mr. Welsh, of
Kanawha, and agreed to, instructing the
Committee on Roads to inquire into the cause of failure of the Richmond and Danville Railroad to connect with the South-Side Railroad, and report what measures are necessary to secure the connection of the said roads, and also their connection with other roads.
Mr. Rives submitted a resolution, which was agreed to, inquiring into the expediency of amending the charter of the Bank of Rockbridge.
On motion of
Mr. Pendleton, the Senate bill to increase the pay of certain officers of the
Government was taken up, [The bill provides for an increase to the different heads of Departments and their employees at the
Capitol.] The bill was so amended as to increase the pay of the Sergeants-at-Arms and Doorkeepers of the Senate and House of Delegates from $40 to $50 per week.
A motion was made to lay the bill upon the table, and on this the ayes and noes were had, with the following result — ayes 13, noes 97.
Mr. Burwell, of
Bedford, moved to strike out $4,000, in the second section of the bill, which is the amount fixed in the bill as the salary of the
Secretary of the
Commonwealth, but the motion was rejected by a decided majority.
After some discussion the bill was put upon its passage, and the ayes and noes being called, resulted as follows — ayes 88, noes 22.
So the bill was agreed to.
A resolution was offered by
Mr. Haymond, of
Marion, which was adopted, instructing the
Committee on Courts of Justice to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the protection of soldiers' families, so as to prevent their dispossession of tenements occupied by them during the war.
A communication was received from the
Governor with reference to the
Central Lunatic Asylum, which was referred.
The order of the day — the bill to reorganize the militia of the
Commonwealth — was then taken up, and continued under consideration.
