Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-12-22
Letter from Richmond.

lCUllCspOu0ChSS " u ooLStlSs
RICHMOND. VA, Dec. y, 1ST6.-The Leg
~islatura will adjourn Saturday for three days.
The members do not relish this much but they
will have to stand il. Az old darkey here who
used to wait On Mr.. Austlo Neal, of Richmond
county, says, Il never heard Of such a thing.
When Mr.. Austin Neal was in the Legislature
he used to take two weeks holiday for Christ
mas. But white people gettin' mighty close
these days aDyhow-aint like they used to be-
The old fellow head is level | am inclined to
think.
The Speaker of the House to-day laid a com.
mu1ication before that body from GoV. hem
per, transmitting a renewed application from
the War Department Of the United States ask
log the General Assembly OF Virginia to cede
to the United States jurisdiction over certain
lands in this State, now occupied as National
cemeteries. The communication was referred
to the Committee on Courts. There Will be no
trouble abou. this. A bill for this object was
prepared last winter, but it vas not reached on
the calendar.
The report of the President and Secretary Of
the State Board of Immigration was presented
to the General Assembly this morning. The
report shows little progress 10 securing imul.
grants. The expenditures OF the Board since
the last annual report have been $4,60l.5 "a.
The report states that Com. Maury's Physical
Survey Of Virginia has been placed 10 the
hands Of Gen. Francis II. Smith, who will
prepare it for publication. Five thousand copies
of Hotchkiss' Geographical and Political
Summary of Virginia were published. VI
these 90 copies have been sold at the price
fixed upon. The Board now ask that the law
under which they act may be 80 modified as
to allow them to distribute the work in such
quantities as they may deem best. which means
10 plain English that finding they cannot sell
them they deem it best to give them away
rather than let them rot 10 the basement OF the
Capitol.
If any 0ue expects the Legislature 10 get
away from here early this winter he WILL be
mistaken. The two bodies have not yet begun
to work, and they will have a great deal OF 1t to
do. The Constitutional amendments are to be
put into effect, and these alone will require 40
amount of we'll matured legislation that Will
stagger an average legislator, and cause him
to Hranqle aud eat oysters here until Sprl0g
time, Then there are many other important
matters to be considered. The revision OF the
Code will require time. The Code amenders
and re euactors will have q glorious time over
this. ,
The Committee ca Revision OF Criminal
Laws are authorized to employ a clerk. Two
gentlemen are named for this work. ). VI.
Mathews, the Law book writer, and Hoo. }.
L, Marye, ex.Lieutenant Governor. It will
require a thoroughly competent clerk, and nc
will have his hands full. The committee will
be allowed 2 sub committee to aid them 10 their
work.
The House, today, passed a bill authorizing
the Cincinnati and St. Louis Railroad Com
pany to record mortgages aud deeds OF trusl
under certain conditions. The title was amend
ed by adding Washington. 1t also passed The
bill to amead and re.enact sections, two and
five Of an act to provide for the working o!
roads ia the counties OF Shenandoah, Page and
Rockingham, aud a bill to amend the Code
fixing the pay OF the A1jutant General. All
are House bills.
The Legislative Committee % Retrenchnen,
have reported against the abolition of the Office
Of Superintendent: Of Public Printing.
10 the House to-day the bill to amend the
code 10 regard to admission TO the public Tree
schools, came up on lis second readlog.
Under the present law many parents Oh
3 guardians escape the payment OF the capltatlor
, tax because the 6choo! session is over, or ball
6 over, before the cxpiratiao CT the time 10 Which
the tax may be paid. The bill proposes that
+, receipt for the capiratioa tax Of the preceding
year shall be exhibited as a prerequisite toad
mission Of the child or children.
The Gill led 10 q long debate, chiefly On the
1 question whether, 10 view Of the amendment Il
the constitution depriving Of the right oil sat
: frage all who fail pag the capitatioo ta2, there
. shall be any obstacle 10 the admission Of child
req to the public schools.
Mr.. Gordon moved to amend the bill bJ
striking out all 10 relation to the cap.tatlon tax,
The amendment was advocated by Messrs
Smith of Fauquier, Armstrong, Ball, and Cor,
f don, and opposed by Messrs. Massey and Nc
, Mullsn.