The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-09
evening State 5ni1rnaI
CAPITOL NOTES.

There are fewer confirmed drunkards il
the present Legislature that in any whicl
has convened in this city since the war
Nearly every one previous to the presen
has had from one to three soakers who's
chief delight seemed to be to make them
selves spectacles for men and gods. Th'
present Legislature, onthe contrary, 1t Il
true. contains number Of men who love
their tod, but they don't devote their time
exclusively to its pursuit. The most o.
them are prudent, careful, dollar-savine
persons, who have high appreciation OF
members pay, and will save all OF it they
| can. #
The Senate bill to provide new charter
for Petersburg is now in the hands OF the
House committee on the judiciary, where
its opponents will attack it with the same
vgor that characterized their proceedings
when it was going through the Senate. In
the Senate all of the Republicans and some
of the leading Conservatives opposed it Tor
its want of constitutionality. Whether the
House will hold that ground to be more
tenable than the Senate did remains to be
seen.
The Senate had barely quorum to-day.
1t is always SO Saturdays and Mondays.
The members of the House are rather
more attentive but the fact is, many
members Of each house earn their s42 per
week very easily but whether their abb
sence is more desirable or more profitable
than their presence is an unsettled ques-
ton.
The proposal of the finance committee
of the House to lay heavy tax on mar
rage licenses don't scare worth cent.
The young men are willing to pay so at
any time for the girl they want, and the
latter would subscribe half the money to
be agreeably mated. A majority OF the
House members being already married. are
said to be more willing on that account to
impose tax on those who are not SO
blessed. In ordinary times, a high tax on
marriage licenses would be severely
frowned on as in direct opposition to native
emigration into the state.
The Office of inspector Of guano was
abolished four years ago. We say this for
tic information of Virginia farmers who,
being constantly fooled by the purchase Of
inefficient guanos and other fertilizers, are
daily importuning the Legislature for relief
from what they deem the incapacity of the
officer charged with the duty of analyza-
ton. In the purchase Of guano, as of every
other article, farmers can only rely on two
things, the integrity of those from whom
they purchase and their own judgment.
A greatrcry comes up from the country
to the Legislature for a restoration Of the
county court system as it existed prior
to last August. Those concerned on the
subject may as well make up their minds
to "sndure the evils they have" for the
General Assembly is decidedly unwilling
without trial of the existing mode of
dispensing justice to give them chance
to 'Hy to others they know not Of"
Randolph. Macon college buildings, not
now used, which is capable of holding 300
patients, will be offered to the Legislature
on easy terms if the project for building
new lunatic asylum is further urged.
The joint committee on immigration
will meet in the Senate chamber at four
o'clock this evening, when an address will
be made by Colonel Joseph Pargaud. for
merly of Norfolk and late of London.
The joint committee on the library met
in the Capitol at eleven o'clock to-day, and
after consultation on the subject declined
to recommend the purchase on the part of
the state of Julio's picture Of the last
meeting of Lee and jackson, on the
ground of the impecanious condition Of the
state exchequer. The picture, however,
was highly commended as an artistic per-
Torrance.
The bill amending the charter of the
Richmond Humane association was or
dered to its engrossment in the House
to-day.
The Governor to-day appointed the fol-
lowing notaries, viz: D. H. Jones, Central
Depot, Montgomery county; D. R. Wood
son, Appomattox G. H., and A. V. Daniel,
South Boston, Halifax county.
The pay of members Of the House
already consumed in talking about the Office
of superintendent of public buildings
amounts to 1894, enough to pay the
salary of the officer in question five yaars.
The House again to-day occupied itself in
confabulating on the subject.