Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-02-08

the House OF Delegates, has indicated his pur-
pose to have the assessment bill amended so as
to impose a tax upon liquor drunk by the
glass, &c.
The committee OF the House of Delegates
appointed to investigate the charges of bribery
and corruption in connection with the passage
OF the funding bill met and examined one wit
ness, who had nothing startling to relate
The vote by which the bill-whirh practical
" abolishes the office Of Secretary of the Board
of Public Works by devolving its duties upon
another-was ordered to eugrossuent IN The
Senate. was to-day reconsidcred. 1t looked as
if Capt kellum, Register of the Land Office,
was attempting to GUST Col. Coleman Tor the
Captain was thus put in false position, and
the reconsideration was moved to allow his
friends in the Senate an opportunity to state
his attitude in this matter,
Among the visitors on the floor Of the House.
to-day, was Mr. Lewis Mckenzie, Of AlcXan
dria. Y.
Letter from Prince William Co.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.
MANASSAS, PRINCE WILLIAM Co., Feb -
Prince William County Court closed its session
for February yesterday evening. The grand
iurv found two indictments one for assault and
battery and the other for obtaining goods under
false p.ctences One miSlemeanor case was
tried and the defendant fined So and nolle
proseaui was entered on the indictment against
Wileman Thomas, the matter having been
settled. James f. Clark qualified as Notary
Public.
The proposed change in the judiciary, | be-
lieve, meets with almost universal dlsapproval
among the members Of the bar here. The Leg
islature can really be dispensed with more
easily than the courts, and 1t would be great
saving to the State if that body net about half
as often as it now does, and remained In session
about half as long. With per diem OF SIX
dollars to each member and allowance III travel
ling of twenty cents per mile, when in the first
case their board don cost one-thlrd OF the al :
lowauce, and in the last every member OF both
houses has a free ticket on all contiguous rail-
road and steamboat lines, they can we'll afford
to remain in Richmond. am credib)y Informed
the expenses of the Legislature during the days
the Land Script bill was pending and being argu-
ed SO excitably, nearly exceeded the amount that
will be realized by the donation, and conSc-
quenty the State of Virginia will have to pay
the amount appropriated to the colleges aud
schools selected to receive it, it having cost the
full amount realized to ascertain who shall
have it. But the judiciary must suffer in or
der to save retrenching the per diem and nile
age! The great protection which the courts
are to the people must be denied them in or
der that other rctrenchments may be avertcd !!
"What millions died that Caesar might be
great" A session Of the Legislature every
two or tour years would be ample to do what
our annual sessions now Jai1 to do, and then
fully four or six hundred thousand dollars
would be saved in the space of four years uu-
less special sessions might be necessary, and as
amendments to the constitution are in vogue u
change Of that kind might, with propricty. be
entertained. Better men would be selected
then to represent the people and the judiciary.
and the public debt would not be so materially
impaired. TYRONE.