JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS

Ordered, That so much of the Governor's Message as refers to
the repeal of the Stamp Tax, be referred to the special committee
already appointed to bring in a bill for the repeal of the Act im-
posing a tax on Mortgages, Bonds, &c, and other evidences, of
debt.                                                     

The Speaker decided that it was out of order;

Which decision was sustained.                                                

The Secretary of the Senate delivered the following Message:

By the Senate,
                               January 8, 1856,

Gentlemen of the House of Delegates :

We have received your message proposing the appointment of
a joint committee to take into consideration the report of the Com-
missioners appointed under Article 3d, Section 17 of the Constit-
tution, to revise, simplify and abridge the rules of practice, plead-
ings, forms of conveyancing, and proceedings of the Courts of
Record in this State, and have appointed Messrs, Tyler, Gaither
and Schley on the part of this body.

By order,                                             

C. Harwood, Sec'y.

Also the report of S. R. Waters, Inspector, of Tobacco in

Warehouse No. 5.

Endorsed, " Read, and referred to the House of Delegates."

On motion of Mr. Scott,

The said message was referred to the Committee on Ways and

Means.                                                                                           

Mr. Scott offered the following order :

Ordered, That the Librarian be required to furnish the Com-
mittee Clerk of this House with erasing knives and such other ar-
ticles of stationery as maybe necessary to expedite their business.

Which was adopted.               

Mr. Roberts offered the following order:

Ordered, That so much of the Governor's Message as relates
to a monument in commemoration of the Declaration of American
Independence and in honor of the signers thereof, be referred to
a committee of one from each county, and one, from the city of
Baltimore.                                                         

Which was adopted.

Mr. Brooke offered the following order.

Ordered, That the Committee on Ways and Means be instruc-
ted to inquire into the expediency of repealing the Act of 1844,
chapter 184, which imposes a tax on the commissions of executors