Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-01-16
FROM RICHMOND.
LEGISLATIVE.


the number OF terms of the Circuit Court, and
fixing the pay OF county judges, was reported
from the Committee on Courts OF Justice, with
out amendment.
A bil was reported from the Committee on
Roads incorporating the Thornton's Gap Turn
pike Company
Society, asking Legislation for the protection OF
farmers against the sale OF spurious commercial
fertilizers, we're presented and referred.
The order of the Council of Winchester, ask
ing that they be clothed with authority to tax
dogs, was presented and referred.
After some unmportant business the Senate
adjourned.
In the House of Delegates the Committee on
Public Property asked authority to employ an
architect to examine into the condition OF the
capitol and report IS to its safety, which was
agreed to.
A number of bills we're reported and refer
red, among them bill amending the charter OF
the female humatie association.
The bill incorporating the Masonic Relief As
ISOLATION of Virginia, was passed also num-
Der of local bills, after which the House ad-
journed.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Gov. Kemper, it is said will visit wash,
ngton as soon as pressing public business
will permit, to have conference with the
President. :.
1t is said that already there are five candi-
dates for Lieutenant Governor, which, how
ever, will hardly be vacant for some time yet.
there being no reason why Col. Withers should
resign for year at least
Az effort is to be made to have the present
oyster law greatly amended or altogether re-
peaed. :,
There is bill at present before the Legisla-,
ture for the continuance Of the Special Court OF
Appeals about the expedieDcy OF which there
is diversity of opinion.
A meeting of the life members Of the State
Agricultural Society was held last night, at
which it was determined to hold fairs annually;
that the payment Of IS annually for five con
secutive years will constitute membership for
that period at the end OF which, the person so
paying shall be entitled to a certificate OF life
membership, and further payments shall cease,
and making local and district societies adJuncts
to the State Society," where said societies desire
and will agree to compact proposed: CON-
mittee was appointed to ask the Legislature to
abolish the Office OF inspector OF fertilizers, and
to protect farmers from fraud 10 buying tertl-
Ezcrs; also one to determine the practlcasllty
OF lnSttuLOS al ai SeAool "ho hidoi al
cabiuet at the fair grounds.
A WASHINGTON SToRY.-The Washington
correspondent Of the Courier Journal exults a
little over the manner 10 which two Massachu-
sets lawyers we're outWltted by woman and
her counsel The correspondent says For
the past twenty years there has been claim
before Congress, known as the "AtOche claim
General Atoche, who presented the claim 10
person, was handsome Mexican officer, who
suffered in some way during the Mexican war
and was compelled by Santa Anna to cave the
country. His losses were secured to him when
Mexico paid our Government indemnity. l
saw it, with regret, that when money once
passes into the possession of the Government
it is very hard to get it back again, for the
policy appears to be to avoid the payment Of
every Just debt if possible. Thus We see per-
sons with indlsputable claims spending life.
time in the vain effort OF obtaining justice, and
bequeathing the claims as legacy to their
children. General Atoche has been dead tor
years, but bis widow and two daughters sur
vive. The eldest is the wife of Captain Am
mon, the most intimate friend OF the President
Nine. Atoche lives with Mrs. Ammon. Before
Congress adjourned, last March, the Atoche
claim was allowed, but when MIR. Jaunln, her
lawyer went to the Treasury to draw the money,
Mr.. Gushing and General Butler were 90 hand
with an attachment for their client, wealthy
Mexican named RaDdero. Randero's claim
covered the entire amount, pear S2OO,OOO. AT
ter attaching the money it was necessary to
allow certain length of time to clapse before
either party could draw the money. That es-
pecial day occurred about two weeks ago. The
first persons who entered the Treasury upon
that important day were Mme Atoche and her
lawyer, who proceeded to the Auditors Office,
where all the papers were ready to be signed.
This was Quickly done, rnd proceeding to the
cashier office. the money was duly counted,
receipted and delivered. The parties left re-
ioicing. Two hours afterward Mr.. Cushing
and Gen. Butler entered, expecting to carry off
great piles of greenbaeks Imagine their con-
sternation when told that the money was paid.
have heard that Gen. Butler made things
lively, for when had he ever before been out
witted =? He said they did not come before II
clock, because be thought that, even if Nine.
Atoche got there at 9, it would take hours to
make out tho papers. The question is, who
was the friend that hinted to the Auditor that
it would be well to be prepared to receive Nine.
Atoche as soon as the officer opened for busl-
ness MIR. Jannin gets fee of 100000, and
Mr. Gushing and General Butler are minus
about that sum.
CHEAP TRANSFORMATIONS 1t is asserted by
the friends of the Virginia water line that it is
practicable to cheaper the cost of transporta-
ton of bushe of grain from St. Paul to the
Atlantic coast at Norfolk thirty cts. This is
equal to one dollar and half on each barrel of
-four, or about twelve dollars on each ton of
heavy freight. Such an economy is almost too
startling for belief 1t would aggregate nearly
two hundred millions annually upon the to.
tai movement of heavy freights that now
pass to and from the Mississippi valley
and the seaboard One half this sum,
annually divided between or saved to the
producers of the West and the consumers
of the East, would be grand achieve
ment 1t is undeniabe that the construction
of one or more water routes below the frost
line, which could thus cheaper transportation
would constitute most desirable regulator of
rates during the whole yaer. These facts are
worthy of the closest scrutiny of the friends of