Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-01-18
Correspondence OF tho Spectator.

RICHMOND, Jan. IA, 1904.
Your abstract of Legislative proceedings gives
everything of interest which occurs during the
session Of the Assembly, but the real labor oil 'es
islation is transacted in the Committees OFT OF
reach ofpublic observation. The Assembly meets
! at ~ and adjourns at o'clock, but several Com
mittees meet at o. and adjourn at IL TO meet a.
gain in the evening and sit till bedtime. The
Committee on Roads has $50 propositions now on
its docket, with two thirds of that number not yet
acted on
The bill before the Committee on Schools grant
ing an independent charter TO the Medical College
at Richmond, is still under discussion U. n.
Johnson and J. M. Patton, Esqs., of Richmond
advocate the bill, and Saml Anderson and w. c.
Flournoy, Esqs.. of Prince Edward, and Mr..
Watson of Richmond oppose it on behalf Of Hamp-
den Sidney. The vote in Committee will bs ia
ken early next week.
The right Of way over the "Pan- handle" in
Brooke county for the Piusburg and Steubenvile
(Ohio) railroad is yet uuder discussion before the
Committee on Roads. 1t is ve1ed question land
is debated with great ability and much feeling
Messrs. Edgington, Of Wheeling, and Patton and
Watson, of Richmond, argue the bill on behalf of
Pittsburg and Brooke county, and Messrs. Camp
bell and Gally, the delegates from Wheeling, op-
pose it. The vote in Committee will be taken a.
boat Tuesday next.
The Senate Committee on roads reported a
gains. the proposition of Mr. French to construct
a railroad on his patent plan along the short line
from Charlottesville to Richmond. The Senate
is engaged In "war of the roses" over the rival
routes of the Valley Railroad and the Lynchburg
and Gordonsville connection. Both have been
"killed" once But the latter is up again on a
reconsideration and the Valley bill will be put
upon its legs again in the same way. The mode
Of warfare is by obnoxious amendments, cloggng
the road, or cutting of the ends. The contest
will probably result with them like the fights Of
Kilkenny cats, leaving nothing but their tails.
The proposition for railroad from the Virginia
and Tennessee Railroad at Buford's Gap, by Fin.
castle to the Central road near Clifton Forge at
tracts considerable attention. 1t is pressed as
substitute fer the Valley railroad, and also for the
Chrlstansburg and New river connection. 1t
would make the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad
a rival to the Central for all transportation from
West Of Clifton Forge to Eastern Virginia. the
distance to Richmond being not materially longer
on the Va. and Tenn, and the distance to Peters
burg and Norfolk being shorter than by the Cen
trail. l..t.
The internal improvement policy of the present
Legislature is yet undeveloped. All is in the
dark. Each bill lies upon the table afraid to move
itself, yet jealously watching the others lest they
move before it, Next week, however, must bring
on the crisis. Various plans have been proposed
for sysematizing the subjects by resolving to aid
certain classes of schemes only; but no such plan
will as yet pass, or be efectual each scheme will
be considered on its own merits.
1t is remarkable that the old bug-bear of Balt-
more is most solemnly paraded yet on all occasions
whenever anyIimprovement bill comes up. Ii has
been so since that fatal day when it was SO poten-
tial as to influence the "assembled wisdom" Of
the State to commit the climax of folly in reject
ing the muni6cent offer of Baltimore to build rail
roads throughout our whole valley and to the Ohio
River, not only without cost to US, but actually
binding herself to pay into the Va, treasury bo-
mus forever erory thrpush passenger IL was
not all of the evil simply to deprive one halfthe
State for twenty years of the benefits Of this rail-
road; but it frightened the Legislature into NOR
bid constitutional fear of Baltimore which alone
has done ineffable injury by retardng for so long
the Improvements of the State. "Beware ofBal- |
timore!" is still the boding cry that solemnly
challenges every new scheme. it was gravey |
said the other day that if proposition were in
troduced, to build railroad to the moon, in
stantly dozen members would pop up to enquire
if that route would not be shorter to Baltimore
than to Richmond
The Executive Committee of the Agriculture
Society was in session this week. Reports were
read arguing the propriety of abolishing the in
spection laws for guano and plaster, and so far
for -four as to leave it optional with farmers to
have flour inspected or not. Much flour, it was
said, is ruined by exposure to air through the o.
penng made by the inspection bore 1t was de-
cided to ask the Legislature for an appropriation
from the State Treasury for the purposes of the
Society, in the ratio of dollar for dollar for any a
mount over S. 900 and less lhan$ 100000 which
may be raised by the Society; the fund to be the
property of the Society while in existence, and in
the event of dissolution, the whole amount TO re-
vert to the State. The next annual State fair
was appoiated to be held in Richmond, and pre-
MUM list was made out of over $4,000. The
meeting of the Committee was full, and great in
terest in the good cause was manifested by men,
bers. C..
SOB Senator Crittendcn.
The telegraph announces the election by the
Kentucky Legislature. of the Hon. John J. Crit
tenden as IT, S. Senator The whole country
will rejoice at the return fthis DISTINGUISHED pen-