32 Assembly Proceedings, August 5-September 28, 1745.

U. H. J.
Liber No. 34

At the following Meeting the Conferees of both Houses agreed
to enter upon setting the quantum of the Fees and in Order to that
took first under their Consideration the Fees for Copying and search-
ing as being the most considerable Branches of Business and after
some Debates the Conferees of the Lower House made the following
Propositions.
1^st That all Copying should be reduced to Eight pounds of Tob^o
p side as it stands in the Bill sent this Session to the Upper House
2^d That all searchers should be Limited at 15^tt of Tobacco gener-
ally as they stand in the aforesaid Bill

p. 77

3^dly That when the Deputy Commissarys grant Letters of Admin-
istration or Testamentary and charge the Parties therewith the Com-
missary shall charge no Fees for such services
At the next Meeting the Conferees of the Upper House acquainted
the Conferees of the Lower House, that the Upper House for the
Ease and Satisfaction of the People and to shew the sincerity of
their Intentions in relation to the Subject matter of this Conference
were willing to agree
I^st To Nine Pound of Tobacco p side for Copying
2 To fifteen Pound of Tobacco Generally for all Searchers and
3^dly That a Provision shall be made in the Bill to prevent the Com-
missary General taking Fees for Services done by his Deputies, But
for saving time which had been very much Protracted by the tedious
Method of having Recourse to the Houses for Instructions on each
particular Article the Upper House did propose that all Fees be re-
duced to a Medium between those taken by his Lordships Proclama-
tion and those incerted in the Bill lately Rejected by them, with the
Condition that Naval Officers Fees be no part of the Consideration
of this Conference they being already provided for by a Law now in
force and that Examiners fees be incerted
Which Proposition of a Medium the Conferees of the Lower
House rejected
Whereupon the Conferees of the Upper House acquainted the
Conferees of the Lower House that the Upper House proposed all
Fees should be setled by a Reduction of 20 p Cent from them as they
stand in his Lordships Proclamation to which the Conferees of the
Lower House answered that they were not instructed by their House
on that head and proposed to return to their House for Instructions
thereon, and at the same time desired that the Conferees of the Upper
House would likewise resort to their House and know whether if the
Lower House should agree to a deduction of 20 p Cent on all other
fees those already mentioned to be agreed to should stand accordingly
and Copying be reduced from Nine Pounds of Tobacco to Eight
Pounds of Tobacco p side