duce a bill to repeal section 4, of the Act of 1867, chapter 186,
an Act adding additional sections to Article 81, of the Code
of Public General Laws, title "Bevenue and Taxes," sub-
title "Direct Taxes," and to re-enact the same with amend-
ments.
By unanimous consent,

Mr. Clarke, from Select Committee, to whom the leave
was granted, reported a bill entitled an Act to authorize the
School Commissioners of the 5th election district of Balti-
county, to sell and convey a piece of land for school pur-
poses.

Which was read the first time.

The President announced a communication from his Excel-
lency, Gov. Bowie, by the hands of R. C. Hollyday, Esq.,
Secretary of State.

Mr. Fields submitted the following order :

Ordered, That it be noted on the Journal that the amount
paid for the publication of the ninety-four Public General
Laws, for the session of 1868, cost the State $31,030.25,
which made the average cost of each law about $330.

On the question being put,

It was determined in the negative by yeas and nays, as
follows:

AFFIRMATIVE.

Messrs. President, Kimmel,
Fields. Stephenson.
Henry, Timmons,
Hyland, Welch—8.

NEGATIVE.

Messrs. Clarke, Maddox,
Denson, Miller,
Earle, Parker,
Grove, Sellman,
Henkle, Snyder—10.

Mr. Clarke submitted the following message :

BY THE SENATE,

Feb. 18,1870.
Gentlemen of the House of Delegates :

We propose, with your concurrence, the appointment of a
Joint Committee of two on the part of the Senate and three
on the part of the House, to examine into the condition of
the finances of the State, in order to ascertain what provi-
sion, if any, must be made by the General Assembly to