Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-02-25
Letter from Richmond.

l(OTTCSUONueHCt
RICHMOND, Feb. 24.-Last night there was
another meeting of the Conservative members
of the Legislature when re-apportlonment was
again under consideration, but no definite &C
ton arrived at. and it was. even intlmated that
there would be AL increase of the number of
members OF the House How long it will be be-
fore any plan can be agreed uponin the present
temper of the body, it is hard to tell.
The eight in the Senate, yesterday, over
the Richmond and Washington Railroad bill
created good deal of excitement in and out OF
the Capitol Col. Walter Taylor of Norfolk.
was especially severe in his structures.
In the Senate, to-day, DIR. Taylor, OF Lou,
doun, introduced resolution lnqur1ng into the
expediency Of adopting Il Zee and uniform rail,
road policy.
Bills were introduced to appoint trustees tol
the town Of Newport in the county OF Prince
William; to provide for the re assessment Of the
lands in Culpeper county; to incorporate the
Mechanics Association Of Lynchburg amend
ing sections e, and OF chapter lS2 OF the
code of 1860 in reference to the Court Of APP
peals: to exempt the tiremen of Richmond eli;
from jury duty for the relief Of Robert Harper
The bill providing for a Board Of Equaliza
taxes on lands was discussed, but the Senate re
fused to order it to be eng .osscd.
The bill to incorporate the Female Orphan
Home Of Virginia. was ordered to be engrOssed
The bill authorizing the trustees of Rocking
ham county to issue new bonds III place OF thos,
outstanding for subscription to the Manassa;
Gap railroad, was ordered to be cngrossed,
In the House of Delegates Senate bill au
thorizing the sale of the State interest in the
O., \. l. NJ. Il. R., was reported back from
the Committee on Roads, with Il recommends
ton that the House adopt the substitute offer
ed by Mr. Manhood, as amended by the House
The House bill to amend the Code in rela
ton to granting licenses to attorneys at law Wa'
reported.
The resolutions heretofore offered providing
for two sessions of the House each day We're
taken up, and after discussion the subject was
referred to the Committee on Rules.
Mr.. Hudgin moved to take up the bill amend
ing the charter. &C., of the Alexandria l. Fred
ericksburg Railroad Co. as returned, will
amendments. from the Senate. lie cited rul,
# as permitting the House to take it up by ;
majority vote. The Speake ruled that the bill
would be referred unless the House decided by
two-thirds vote to dispense with a reference
Mr. Wood appealed rom this decision, bu
after debate upon the point in dispute, with
drew the appeal. A motion to dispense witt
the reference was then made. and decided IL
the negative by ayes 60. noes 45-not two
thirds. 4 motion to postpone the calendar t0l
one hour was carried ayes Sc. noes 80 Mr.
Wood then moved that the Committee OF
Roads be discharged FROM the consideration o
the bill, and that the same be forthwith report
cd to the House Here some half dozen point:
Of order We're raised, whether the resolution
came under rule 81 or rule SO. and whether the
remarks OF certain members were i'll or out d
order, &c, Nc, and these points were garnish
ed with rs many questions to the Speaker upon
the meaning of rules. order Of business, &c.
&c. all Of which were promptly disposed Of
Here came a motion to adjourn, which was lost
ayes A. noes 81. Fiibusterlng now set ii
turiously, mostly in moving to adjourn, upon
which the ayes and noes We're always called
The reporters mug being in great danger Of
bursting, he pocketed his pencil Tor somebody s.
and adjourned nem con-the House soon tol
lowing hinl-to dnner-ayes 81, noes A.
As an instance Of the progress Of the age
in legislation, it may be stated that Oh ycster
day, and while the railroad fight has been
going on, the average attendance OF members OF
the Senate was th;"ty-nnc but to- day: wlet
matters Of great public interest, the tax bill
included, were to be considered, there was not
Il quorum present and the Senate adjourned
In the House the whole day was occupied in III
attempt to push through the Washington and
Richmond railroad BILL 1t is full time that
railroad fights, should cease, and that othel
matters of great Importance to the common,
wealth should be attended to- The course Of
legislation does not run smoothly