Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-12-15
Letter from Richmond.

| OOitCCpOhAOaS ~
RICHMOND, December l3.-Iu the Senate,
t, day, the Committee on Finance reported a
substitute for the resolution providing for an
arbitration of the public Debt with West Vir-
ginia, in which they recommend the appoint
meut of one instead oil two arbitrators.
Among the bills and resolutions Introduced
we're the following: Amending the fence law
amending the law in relation to the transfer OF
property belonging to docedents wards anu
insane persons cestus qul trust 10 another state
or county; calling for information in reference
to the population and debt OF the State, the
number of acres Of land, its value, &C., prior
to and since the war amending the law in re-
ference to leasing and selling lands of persons
under disability; into the eXpsd ency OF ap-.
| propriating the State tuads for the erection OF
| Poor's Houses and public school houses IN
| cooperating the Harrisonburg and Franklin
Turnpike Company regulating the proceed
| incs 10 cases between landlord and tenant ; IN
cooperating the Graham Lee Society OF Wash
ington and Lee University. =,
a petition was presented from the bakers or
| several cities asking Z repeal or the tax lmpoS'
| ed on them.
A bill authorizing tho Norfolk county ferries
| to borrow money was passed. T.
A bill extending the time for tho return OF
| the assessment of the lands OF Fairfax county
| till the lst OF February, was introduced and Or
dered to its engrossment.
So much of the Governor S message as refers
| TO the codeic alton OF the laws of the State was
| referred to joint committee consisting OF The
| Committees of Courts of Justice OF the Two
! Houses, with Instructions to enquire into the
| expediency Of appointing a commission to
codiIy the said laws.
A bill providing Il special road law for
LoudDun county, was passed.
The ioint resolution fer the appointment OF
arbitrators was taken up but laid over and the
Senate adjourned.
In the House of Delegates, Col Guy, the
newly elected member from Richmond appear.
ed and qualified.
Bills were reported amending the code in re.
lation to fduciaries; for compelling attendance
OF witnesses; amending the code in relation to
suspension of execution OF judgments and
wits of error il criminal cases; requiring Ger
tain officers to regulate and supervise elections
for school purposes; suspending certain sec
tons of the free school law in relation to the
removal Of the Penitentiary; in relation to the
funds paid into the treasury for the hire OF
c%onvicts; to prevent the destruction OF game
out OF season regulating the sale Of poisons.
The Senate bill allowing the county of Gull
pepper to borrow money was referred.
The Senate resolution calling Tor correct
census returns was passed.
The House adopted a report from the Com
miltee on Courts of Justice fixing the time Tor
the election Of u q. S. Senator on the second
| Tuesday alter the 18th OF March 1871. and I'M
mediateIy by a three fiiths vote Cd to S, adop
ted a resolution extending the present session
until the 18th Of March 1871.
Among the tills, resolutions, &c, introduc'
ed we're the following: Relating to fduclarles
repeating section 4 act 3 Of the act re
curing O registration OF voters; relating to
fishing in the Potomac and its tributaries IN
corporating the town OF Hilsboro, in Loudoun
county; for submitting to the people in No
vembcr 1871, the question OF holdlog a new
convention to revise tie constitution amend
ing the charter and changing the name OF the
Alexandria and Fredericksburg RailrUal Co..
providing tor the payment of certain expenses
Of the late convention regulating the practice
Of pharmacy; Tor the prolectl0a Of religious
meetings; prohibiting fishing with trap nets 10
the Rappahanucck in relation to vacancies 10
township offices.
The bill for the rcliot Of the Bank OF Win.
chester was passed, ayes So, noes 4.
Bill were passed authorizing lawyers 10 de-
eide causes or preside at trials fixing the sal
aries of clerks of county and corporation courts;
regarding reports of commissioners 10 chancery,
and regarding tducialies. ,
The Annual Communication Of the Grand
Lodge of Masons assembled at St. Adams
Hall last nicht. There was a very large at
tendance, the largest for years, OF delegates
and visitors. Col. T.. T. Owens, the Grand
Master, presided and delivered the usual ad.
dress, which was cGuched 10 chasto LANGUAGE
aud enchanted the attention OF the Grand
Lodge during its reading. Col. r. +. Withers
South was held by Major Abel. Mr.. VIM. Il.
Lambert, the Junior Warden. being unavoid
ably detained by press of business at his
home in Alexandria, sent 4 letter of apology
for his non.attendance.
The %personel of the Grand Lode is very
imposing, sonc of the abIest men of the
State being present and taking part IN It'll de-
alterations. The sessions Of the Lodge will
continue three days, and many cases of interest
arc to be disposed OF. Geo. W. Rock, is the
representative of "Alexandris Washington
Lodge No. %, and Messrs. Reid, Ksl1, and
Kemp, from Andrew Jackson Lodge No. l2O.
These gentlemen will carefully watch the iI-
terests OF their constituents, aud render 4 good
account OF the Craft iu their locality.
The Lodge is handsomely entertained night.
ly by a spIeodid supper furnished by the pro-
prictors OF the Spottswood Hotel.
GOVERNMENT FRAUDS AT FORTRESS Mon
ROE.-A systematic course OF embezzlemeIt,
which has been carried on ia tho Engineer De-
partmcnt, at Fortress Monroe, has recently
como to light, and has caused great excite
ment there, as tho individual concerned is the
son in-law Of al eminent General in the Engi-
neer Corps. 1t seems that he has been appro
priaticg Government property for the last
three years for himself aud contederates, most
OF whom were out of the Department, with the
exception CT one, who is DOW in North Carolina
receiving pay from the Government he has
helped to swind!c. This should be a warning
to heads Of Departments that. although clerk
may be the sou in-law OF u Genera, &C., he
may be light fingered at the same time. The
clerks implicated will probably get off without
the usual ten years." owing to their iDfu-
ence. This is the great fault, tn at "plagia
~rists' and the light fingered gentry 10 general
should be protected under the disgusting veil