The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-05
LOCAL MATTERS.
CanitOE Chat.

Capitol Chat.
The Senate Committee on Privileges and
Elections, Of which Major j. W. Daniel IS
chairman, yesterday by unanimous vote de-
cided against the proposition Of counsel for
Colonel knight to admit parole evidence in
the Knight.Johnson case. The committee
decided
/. That the statute declaring that deposi.
tons In contested elections must be taken in
twenty days after election is constitutional
and binding on the Senate, ana fixes the
mode Of taking testimony in such cases; and
that its denial to the parties Of the benefits OF
any dispositions not taken within that time de.
prives the committee of the right to extend
the time or admit other testimony.
2. That party waving his privilege OF
secrecy may testify how he voted.
The committee will meet to-day to hear
the case on the testimony already in.
General Dick Taylor, who represents GER
tain English bondholders. is here, and will
shortly submit to the Legislature plan for
the resJustment Of our foreign debt.
DuriBg brief visit to the hall of the
House OF Delegates yesterday morning, be-
fore the Speaker assumed the chair, Govern.
or kemper took occasion to speak to seye.
raj members favorably of the National Gen.
tennial Exposition, and to express bis earn.
est desire that Virginia should be properly
represented there. He tried to convert ex.
Governor Letcher, but without success.
TIE resolution yesterday introduced in
the Senate by Senator Smith, Of Nelson, is
regarded as the first shot in the long-antici-
pated "railroad war;" The resolution will
be printed before the Senate proceeds to con.
slider whether or not shall be adopted.
Senator Hairstop, Of Franklin county, re.
turned home yesterday. It is feared, but
is by no means certain, that he has the small.
pox. MeSsrs. Leech and Carpenter, the
room-mates of the late Judge Sieg, have the
disease in yirulent form.
All the smallpox or varioloid here is
traceabIe to Judge Sieg. Jerry Nelson and
q colored woman are the only patients at the
hospital. and there is only one case in the
city. Nelson is very low. He was vaccina-
ted so long ago that if the virus took effect
at all it long since passed out of his system.
Jerry is an old pressman turned hotel.waiter,
and is we'll known in the city. Many Of the
members Of the Legislature when they came
here had not been yaccipated, but probably
all of them have now taken that necessary
precaution.
Governor kemper has very kindly given
Colonel w. d. Coleman time from his prison
duties TO prepare some additional papers in
his (Coleman's) case. Colonel Coleman by
no means despairs of getting pardon
Some new points which may be presented
| in his favor he hopes will influence the Gov
ernor to extend to him the much.longed-fol
Executive clemsncy.
Mr.. r. Spencer Curlett, member of thu
House OF Delegates, has presented to the
State Library a copy of Andrew Jackson.
proclamation to the South Carolina nulitiert
printed on white satin. In one corner. by
some strange arrangement, there appears {
small but quite perfect representation Of tht
Confederate flag, showing that some ''rebel
has tried to nullify Jackson's notification
ideas.
The expenses of the Legislature have 81
far been about $4,000.
Delegate Kelam, of Richmond, who spen
the Christmas at his old home, on the Eastern
Shore Of Virgiuia, was in his seat yesterday
| aud the day before looking fresh and reiayig
! Grated.
The letter Of Professor Malet and hi
| brother committeeman rendering their re
signation TO the Governor was read will
genuine regret by many members of the Le
gislature yet it was felt that every word il
the letter was true.
Ina few days the House Committee or
Prisons and Asylums will meet to near tn,
views of Judge Guigon, Mayor Kelley, Po
lce.Justice White, Major Poe, and othe,
citizens as to the propriety of establishing {
house of correction in Richmond. There i
widespread feeling in the Legislature tha
Richmond can have the house of correction
as soon as she is willing TO pay for it.
A number of ladies of the Lee Monumen
Association called on the Governor yester
day On official business.