Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-02-06
From Richmond.

'vexed question of how to dispose of the fund
arising from the sale of the1aud Scrip donat-
ed by Congress for cducationa! purposes, oc-
cupied nearly all the time of the session of the
House again to-day, but at the conclusion, it
did not seem that the difficulty was any nearer
a solution then when it begun, and it is esti-
mated that the expense incurred in discussing
how it shall be distributed, will amount to al
most as much as the fund-certain it is that
the subject occupied most of the time of the
last session. and has been under consideration
since the present session commenced, and IS now
anuarcutly no nearer q termination than when 1t
begun, for on each occasion when it was thought
that a final vote would be taken the pail is
unset and all has to be gone over again. To-
day a vote was taken on MIR. Sutherllu's propo-
sition for the establishment of an agricultural
and mechanical school. and it Was carried by Il
vote of "a to ~, but the pending question be-
ing ordered on the engrosslnept OF the bill as
amended, by a caprice Of the House. 1t was de-
feated ayes 46, noes IS. This vote was sub
scuuently rcconsidered, as was also the vote by
Which the substitute of Mr.. Sutherlln was
adoptcd and then the whole subject was pass
ed by," and the contest will have to be gone
| over tnulU, IL " L III ttSu
The Senate. to. day, had under discussion the
bill to regulate and define the jurisdiction OF
the county and circuit courts, to prescribe the
number Of terms of the circuit courts and to Tx
the pay of the county judges, which was order
ed to be read a third time, but, owing to the
slim attendance of members, its final consldera-
ton had to be postponed until next Wednes-
day.
The Board of Public Works was requested to
inform the Senate why the Richmond and
Danville railroad company have failed to pay
the interest due the State, July, 1871, of $2l,-
600 and january. 1872, of sd 900, and also
make similar report in reference to any default
on the part of any other internal improvement
company, and report what steps have been
taken to enforce the payment Of the same, and
If none, wherefore.
Adverse reports were made by the Senate
Committee on Courts upon the proposition to
nrotect the citizens of the State in the enjoy
ment of their civil rights; on the subject Of a
resolution as to rendering compensation to com
missioners of courts. and upon the resolution as
to eyempting physicians from jury service.
a bill was passed by the Senate respecting
special meetings of the Board of Directors of
the Valley railroad company, and to make valid
certain acts of said company.
The House, amid some excitement, to. day,
passed a resolution directing the committee ap-
pointed to Investigate the question of bribery
aud corruption in connection with the passage
of the Funding act, to report as soon as possible.
The House again postponed the con>idera-
ton of the public debt question until Tuesday.
The House ordered TO be engrossed the bill
providing for a disposition Of the States iu-
tere<t in the James River and Kauawha canal
company. in which meal tub there is said to be
a cat, in the shape ola commission to England
"a trip across the waters for some one. at the
expense of the State.
A bill authorizing the Board of Supervisors
Of Orange county to adopt the provisions Of
the fence law, Was, to-day, Introduced III the
House.
1t is now considered beyond a doubt that the
present session Of the Legislature will be ex-
tended, certainly, thirty days longer. SO far no
very important measure. save the usury question:,
has been acted upon, and as there remains not
more than twenty-one or two working days, it
is impossible that the subjects that have to be
considered can receive attention ID that time.
So the deluslon of a short session is dlSpclled
already.
The debt question sleeps quietly for a time.
The impression of those we'll informed is that
the majority report will finally be adopted, if
any definite action is taken, while the friends
of the minority report are working hard for the
success of their scheme. which, it is now said Is
favored by the Governor.
The absence of members is still noticeable.
and there can be no denying the fact that
legislation has been greatly impedcd from this
cause. On Saturdays and Mondays there is
scarcely ever a quorum in the Senate, and the
House is usually very slim. Why it is that gen.
tlemen entrusted with public duties will let
private affairs interfere with them to such an
extent. is to say the least. remarkable. aud that
too. when the cry from all parts of the State is
for economy and retreuchment.
The military Committee of the House Of
Delegates have reported a Joint resolution re-
%uuesting our senators and representatives in
the Congress of the United States, to take such
action as to them shall seem proper to secure
the correction of any errors which may have
been made in the distribution Of arms by the
War Department to Virginia, and the restora-
ton of the full quota to which the State is
entitled under the acts Of lSOS and 1885, so as
to obtain for the State sufficient arms and
equipments to arm and equip the militia. T..
RAILROAD EXCITEMENT IN PETERsBrRG.-
Petersburg correspondence Of the Richmond
DISPATCH. Judge Weisiger had sustained the
demurrer entered by the counsel OF the City
Council against Mr.. Paul's bill Of injunction in
relation to the sale of the stock OF the Peters
burg Railroad, Preferred to in yesterdays GA
zette,) and had dismissed the bill, with costs,
at the time | sent you my special dispatch at
II o'clock last night. The committee, on its
return to the Council chamber, reported the
decision that had been made by the Judge:
and the motion was made at once to accept and
ratify the contract with Mr.. Ragland, and to
adopt an ordinance carrying its provisions into
immediate effect.
As a substitute for this, Mr.. Young moved
to sell the stock at auction to the highest bid
der; which move was defeated, when the orr
ginal motion of the Finance Committee was
unanimously adopted.
After the adoption of a resolution offered by
Mr.. McCaleb, appointing a committee of three
to inquire into and report upon the sale of the
Appomattox River railroad to the Southside
Railroad Company, the conditions OF that sale,
and whether or not they had been respected,
Tho Council close nm the stroke of -, adjourn