Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-07-09
LETTER FROM RICHMOND.

present session OF the Legislature are fast ruH
ming out and but comparatively little business
will be left undone. When it is considered
that six weeks of the session were occupied in
the election of judges, and nearly two weeks
lost by the Capitol disaster, and then the
amount of work done, looked at, it will be seen
that as much, if not more has been accomp-
lished by this Legislature, than by any of its
predeoe ssors; aud when it is further consider
ed that an entirely new system OF Legislation,
required by the constitution, foreign, entirely,
to Virginia customs, thad to be adopted, the
body has deserved the praise, rather than the
cepsure of tho people. Faults may have been
committed but it must be borne in mind that
the instrument under which the Legislature
works. is one of the most faulty ever enacted
contradictory to and at variance with all prev;
Gus legislation in Virginia; Therefore many al
lowances must be made,
Railroad matters still occupy good deal of
attention, and Notwithstanding but two days
of the session remain, yet the friends and OPP
ponents of the various schemes are as active as
ever. A shot contest" is going on over bill
to INCORPORATE railroad company to construct
road from Richmond to some point on the
Potomac, competing road with the Rich
mond and Fredericksburg railroad.
Messrs. L. Lewis Marshall, delegate from
Fauquier, and r. Johnston, delegate from
Alexandra, have filed with the Board Of Pub
lie Works. petition THAT the Orange and
Alexandra Railroad Company had failed to
carry out their contract with the Manassas Gap
Railroad aud requesting the Board Of Public
Works to institute enquiry The petition
refers the Board 'to the act of February H.
1867, and the act amending the preamble
thereof, passed April %, 1867, in relation to
the transfer of the NJ. q. R. R. Co.'S. property
and franchises to the 0. 4 A. h. K. Go. upon
certain terms and conditions in the said acts
set forth and proceeds land among others
that upon the failure of the o. & A. K. II. 20.
to perform all stipulations OF the contract be.
tween the said companies referred to in said
acts, the NJ. G. R. r. and all the property and
franchises connected Herewith, should be for
feited and revert TO the NJ. q. K. +. 20. beg
leave to state that by reason of the failure OF
the said O. & 4. R. R. Go. to comply with
and perform the said stipulation in sundry i'm
portant particulars, the said forfeiture and re.
version have actually taken place, and the
said nj. G. r. r. Co. is fully entitled to &C
quire the possession, management and control
Of the said road, property and franchises, OF
all which We beg your Honorable Board to take
cognizance and make full enquiry, in order that
the penalties of the said acts may he enforced
and thereby relief extended to the stockhold-
ers and people interested, from the great wrong,
oppression and injustice, which they now suf
fer from the present management OF the said
road" 1--WE refer your honorable body to the
opinion Of the Court of Appeala OF Mary and
in the recent case Of Lyons vs.. the o., 4. &
M. R. r. Co., in which the positions above
taken are fully sustained. The petition is
dated July Pod, 1870.
In the Senate, to-day, the bill prescribing
what countiea, &C., shall ramp,sc the firsi i'.Ii
cisl circuitwaa passed.
a bill supplementary TO the homestead AZ!
extending the provisions OF the said ar5 70 cor
porations was passed
The House Joint resolution for the r!rcton
of a Judge tor the town of Stanton to fill
vacancy, Oh to morrow was agreed t..
A motion to consider the Joint resolution III
relation to adjournment Wa negativrd.
\ bill concerning allowances 10 clerks OF
comfy and corporation courts Was introduced
and referred.
A bill establishing ali Insurance Department
was further considered, amended in various
particulars, end ordered to bc engr0ssed.
The House bill amending the act inc !po
rating the Leesburg and Point Of Rocks Turn
pike Company-was passed.
The committee on the charges preferred
against +. W. Haskell,a member OF the Senate,
reported that the charges are unsustained by
any proof and were thereupon discharged
from the further consideration OF the subj
A motion that when the Legislature ad-
iourn on the lth it be unit! the LIST OF De.
cember, was decided ia the negative by vote
OF | ! to 20.
The bill for recognizing the Public Guard
was read a third time and laid upon the table.
A bill was introduced 10 relation to chang
ing the times OF holding the terms of the courts
10 some of the circuits-which was referred.
4 bill further amending the election law ny
requiring the ballots to be cndorsed-was IN
PRODUCED and referred.
A bill providing for funding the State debt,
authorizing the funding of the debt up to Is;
of July 1871, and the exchange Of registered
bond for coupon bonds, interest at 6 per Ct
was referred to the Finance Committee.
An adverse report on the petition CT Gen.
Toohman for aid to immigration purposes
concurred in.
A recommendation was submitted from the
Committee on Finance to pay Judge Parker q
bond of $500 for his services as Judge from
1868 to 1865.
An adverse report was concurred IN on
memorial from the Board of Trade of Norfolk
10 favor of encouraging immigration.
A bill to provide for the appointment OF five
Revisors, to revise the Statute Law OF the State,
was defeated.
\ bill authorizing the appointment of com
missioners to report on the expedlency Of cs
tablisLing new Lunatc Asylum-was ordered
to be engrossed, and the Senate adjourned.
In the House Of Delegates, the Senate bill
to divide the townships of the State into vot
ing districts, and House bill to prescribe the
times for holding the circuit courts, were re-
ported.
Saturday was set as the time for selecting
Judge tor the Hastings Court of Staunton.
The Senate bill 10 relation to mechanics
lens was taken up and passed as it came from
that body.
The following bills were passed lncorpo
rating the Mount Pleasant free stone company
amending the act incorporating the Loudoun
savings bank, authorizing the qualified voters
Of Chesterfield to vote anew on the question
If removing their court house; incorporating
he town Of West Point. \ bill for the relief