Mr. PAUL moved to amend the resolution so as to require its reference to the committee on Federal relations-when, Mr. FULKERSON made an unsuccessful motion to pass by. The question recurring on the adoption of the amendment proposed by Mr. PAUL, and being put, was determined in the negative. The question recurring on the adoption of the resolution, and being pat, was determined in the affirmative. Mr. GRIMSLEY, from the committee on finance, reported without amendment, No. 1. House bill entitled an act for the relief of the tax payers of the county of Orange; which was taken up, read the third time, and the question on the passage of the bill being put, was determined in the affirmative-ayes 31; noes none. The vote was recorded as follows: AYES-Messrs. Betts, Bliss, Brooke, Chiles, Daniel, Elliott, Fulkerson, Gayle, Griffin, Grimsley, Hairston, Hurt of Halifax, Hurt of Pittsylvania, Koiner, Lee, Massey, Moulton, Nash, Numn, Paul, Phlegar, Powell, Sherrard, Sinclair, Slemp, Smith, Spitler, Tanner, Wal-ton. Ward, and Wortham-31. The title of the bill was then agreed to. On motion of Mr. GRIMSLEY, it was Ordered, That he inform the House of Delegates thereof. The joint resolution reporte! from the Select joint committee appointed to consider and report what is the true status of the present session of the general assembly, being the order for to-day at one geek, was taken up, on notion of Mr. HPT of Pittsylvania, and the pending question being on the adoption of the substitute offered by Mr. FULKERSON for the substitute presented by Mr. DANIEL in behalf of a minority of the said committee, Mr. BROOKE moved that the joint resolution and pending amendments be indefinitely postponed-whereupon, Mr. Huur of Halifax, demanded the previous question; which was ordered. The question on the adoption of the motion to indefinitely postpone, being put, was determined in the negative-ayes 5; noes 28. On motion of Mr. BROOKE, the vote was recorded as follows: AYES-Messrs. Bland, Brooke, Gayle, Grimsley, and Moulton-5, NOES-Messrs. Betts, Bliss, Chiles, Daniel, Elliott, Fulkerson, Goode, Griffin, Bairston, Hurt of Halifax, Hurt of Pillsylvania, Johnson, Koiner, Lee, Massey, Nash, Nunn, Paul, Phlegar, Powell, Sherrard, Sinclair, Slemp, Smith, Spitler, Walston, Ward, and Wortham-28. The question recurring on the adoption of the substitute proposed AYES-Messrs, Bliss, Chiles, Elliott, Fulkerson, Gayle, Goode, Griffin, Massey The question recurring on the adoption of the substitute, a amended, being put, was determined in the affirmative—ayes 17 noes 15. On motion of Mr. BROOKE, the vote was recorded as follows: AYES-Messrs. Bliss, Chiles, Elliott, Fulkerson, Gayle, Goode, Griffin, Massey Nash, Nunn, Paul, Phlegar, Powell, Sherrard, Slemp, Spitler, and Ward-17. NOES-Messrs. Betts, Bland, Brooke, Daniel, Grimsley, Hairston, Hurt of Hal fax, Johnson, Koiner, Lee, Moulton, Sinclair, Smith, Walston, and Wortham-15 The substitute, as amended, reads: Resolved by the general assembly of Virginia, That the presen session is a session in accordance with and by virtue of the join resolutions approved March 12, 1878, entitled joint resolutions con struing certain sections of the fifth article of the constitution, a applicable to the sessions of the general assembly, and the act ap proved March 12, 1878, entitled an act to amend the act approved March 29, 1877, in relation to the meeting of the general assembly The question recurring on the adoption of the joint resolution, a amended, and being put, was determined in the affirmative-ayes 18 noes 14. On motion of Mr. KOINER, the vote was recorded as follows: AYES-Messrs. Bliss, Chiles, Elliott, Fulkerson, Gayle, Goode, Griffin, Massey Moulton, Nash, Nurn, Baufl; •Phtegtr, Pawell, Sherrard, Slemp, Spitler, an Ward-18. NOES-Messrs. Bett, Bland; Brooke, Daniel, Grimsley, Hairston, Hurt of Hal fax, Johnson, Koiner, Lee, Sinclair, Smith, Walston, and Wortham-14. The joint resolution, as adopted, is as follows: Resolved by the general assembly of Virginia, That the presen session is a session in accordance with and by virtue of the join resolutions approved March 12, 1878, entitled joint resolutions con struing certain sections of the fifth article of the constitution, a applicable to the sessions of the general assembly, and the act ap proved March 12, 1878, entitled an act to amend the act approve March 29, 1877, in relation to the meeting of the general assembly Ordered, That the clerk inform the House of Delegates of th adoption of joint resolution, and request their concurrence therein. Mr. HURT of Halifax, by leave, presented No. 22. A bill to incorporate the Clover Masonic building associa tion; which, on his motions, was read the first and ordered to be read a second time and referred to the committee on general laws. On motion of Mr. CHILES, the Senate adjourned until to morrow twelve o'clock. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1878. Mr.QUESENBERRY, president pro tem., in the Chair. Prayer by Rev. Dr. Preston. Mr. SPITLER, from the committee on general laws, reported, without amendment. No. 20. Senate bill to establish the Church Home of the city of Norfolk: which was subsequently taken up, read the second and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time; and being forthwith engrossed, was, on motion of Mr. NASH, (two-thirds concurring,) read a third time and passed with its title. Ordered, That the clerk inform the House of Delegates thereof, and request their concurrence therein. Ile, from the same committee, reported, without amendment, No. 22. Senate bill to incorporate the Clover Masonic building assciation; which was subsequently taken up, on motion of Mr. HURT of Pittsylvania, and was read the second time and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time; and being forthwith engrossed, was, or his motion, (two-thirds concurring,) read the third time and passed th its title. Ordered, That the clerk inform the House of Delegates of the essage thereof, and request their concurrence therein. And he, from the same committee, reported a resolution in regard the expenditure of money collected for school purposes, asking to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject, and that the same be referred to the joint committee on constitutional amend ments. The PRESIDENT appointed Messrs. GAYLE, KOINER, MASSEY, TYLER and SPITLER, the committee on the part of the Senate under the joint resolution for the appointment of a joint committee on constitutional amendments. The PRESIDENT appointed Messrs. JOHNSON, DANIEL, GRIMSLEY, WALSTON, BETTS, HURT of Pittsylvania, BLAND, SINCLAIR and PLEGAR, the committee under the resolution for the appointment of a select Committee to enquire into the exercise of jurisdiction by the judge of the district court of the United States for the Western district of Virginia, in the case of Burwell Reynolds and Lee Reynolds, tried for murder in the circuit court for Patrick county. Mr. PALEGAR offered the following joint resolution, which lies over under the rules: Resolved (the House of Delegates concurring.) That when the two Houses of the general assembly adjourn on Friday, the 20th day of December, 1878, they adjourn to meet again on Thursday, the 2d day of January, 1879. On motion of Mr. PALEGAR, the rules being suspended therefor, the resolution was taken up, and the question being on agreeing thereto, Mr. SPITLER moved to amend the same by striking out the words "Thursday, the 2d," and inserting in lieu thereof the words "Friday, the 3d;" which amendment was accepted by Mr. PHLEGAR, and the amendment, as modified, was then agreed to. On motion of Mr. PHLEGAR, it was Ordered, That he inform the House of Delegates thereof, and request their concurrence therein. On motion of Mr. KOINER, the committee on public institutions was enlarged by the addition of one member, and the PRESIDENT appointed Mr. FULKERSON as the additional member. Mr. MASSEY, by leave, presented No. 23. A bill authorizing the state treasurer to procure coupon registers; which, on his motions, was read the first and ordered to be read a second time and referred to the committee on finance. Mr. CHILES, by leave, presented No. 24. A bill to amend and re-enact the second section of an act approved March 15, 1875, entitled an act to amend and re-enact the charter of the Bank of Manchester; which, on his motions, was read the first and ordered to be read a second time, and referred to the committee on banks. Mr. WALSTON, by leave, presented No. 25. A bill to amend section 8 of an act entitled an act to provide for the election and qualification of county officers, approved March 8, 1875; which, on his motions, was read the first and ordered to be read a second time, and referred to the committee of privileges and elections. Mr. GAYLE, by leave, presented No. 26. A bill to provide for the relinquishment to the United States of title to and jurisdiction over land within the state of Virginia, for sites of life-saving stations; which, on his motions, was read the first and ordered to be read a second time; and (two-thirds concurring) was read a second time and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time; and being forthwith engrossed, was (two-thirds concurring) read the third time; and the question being put on the passage thereof, was determined in the affirmative-ayes 32; noes none. The vote was recorded as follows: AYES-Messrs. Betts. Bland, Bliss, Chiles, Daniel, Elliott, Fulkerson, Gayle, Goode, Grimsley, Hairston, Hurt of Halifax, Hurt of Pittsylvania, Koiner, Lee, Massey, Moulton, Murray, Nash, Nunn. Paul, Phlegar, Quesenberry, Sherrard, Sinclair, Slemp, Smith, Spitler, Tanner, Walston, Ward, and Wortham-32. The title was then agreed to. On motion of Mr. GAYLE, it was Ordered, That he inform the House of Delegates thereof, and request their concurrence therein. Mr. SINCLAIR presented resolutions of the school board of the county of Prince William, in relation, to the retention of the school tax in the hands of the county treasurers; which, on his motion, was referred to the committee on education. On motion of Mr. CHILES, Resolved, That the committee on constitutional amendments be instracted to enquire into the expediency of an amendment to the constitution, which shall require all votes cast in elections in this commonwealth to be cast viva voce, instead of by ballot as now provided. On motion of Mr. LEE, Resolved, That the committee for courts of justice be instructed to enquire into the expediency of so amending the act with regard to the tax on collateral inheritances, as to apply the statute of limitations to the same, and as to further amending it so as to impose the tax only on so much of the inheritance as comes to the devisee or legatee after the full discharge of all debts of the testator. Mr. FULKERSON presented the following preamble and joint resolution, which lie over under the rules: Whereas, it is reported that the superintendent of the penitentiary is negotiating for the purchase of new machinery for the shops lately destroyed by fire; and, whereas, it has not been determined by the egislature whether the shops so burnt shall be rebuilt or not; therefore, Resolved (the House of Delegates concurring,) That the said superintendent be directed to delay purchasing such machinery for the present. On motion of Mr. FULKERSON, the rules being suspended therefor, the resolution was taken up and agreed to. On motion of Mr. FULKERSON, it was Ordered, That he inform the House of Delegates thereof, and request their concurrence therein. The PRESIDENT laid before the Senate the following communication from the governor: COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, To the General Assembly of Virginia: It becomes my duty to notify you that a vacancy occurred in the office of treasurer by the inadverted omission of the Hon. R. M. 1. Hunter, the treasurer elect, to qualify within the time prescribed by law, to which vacancy I appointed the said Hon. R. M. T. Hunter, who gave the required bond. The election now devolves upon your norable body. FRED. W. M. HOLLIDAY. On motion of Mr. MASSEY, the communication was laid on the table. Resolved (the House of Delegates concurring,) That the general assembly will proceed to the election of state treasurer to-day at one o'clock P. M. |