Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-12-15
Letter from Richmond.

The Election of State Obicers-7he Stolen
Boads-A Flood Of Resolutlons-1he Pro
posed Cutting Dolon of Per Dien1-An In.
stance
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette. !
RICHMOND. Dec. a. The Indications lead
me TO think that the Legislature will not 60 into
the election Of any of the basement officers until
after Christmas, and perhaps not elect any OF
the State officers until that time.
The investigation into the abstraction OF
funds is progressing very slowly. The officers
10 the Second Auditors Office are pretty we'll
satisfied as to who committed the theft, and at
the proper time will make the fact known to
the Investigating committee. The committee
is DOW examining each of the clerks VII" rore
employed wuen the additional force was put on
Tor funding. The party who stole the bonds is
not in the Office now That much is certaio.
Nothing like the number of resolutions were
ever known here before 10 the House. ResoIu'
resolutions of instructions, resolutions tart and
acrimonious resolutions Of complaint, all pour
in to the clerk desk. and clog the business very
materially. The committees will have their
hands full of them Many are not worth con.
sidcriug. The committee for Courts of Justice
has the bulk of them to consider. learn that
Judge 3. w. Lacy of New Kent, will be as.
signed to duty on this committee. Many Of the
resolutions are looking to the abolition of Offices
or the cutting down of salaries. There is no
doubt that q great saving can BIO effected in the
criminal expense Of the State.
Senator Smith has brought in another bill
looking to rctrcnchmeut and reform. 1t fixes
the pay of the legislators at three hundred and
sixty dollars per session. 1t Won' t pass, for o
line must be drawn somewhere, as the man
said when he jumped fence with mad bull
behind him.
What docs the ledge expect US to live 90
said an irate and dsgusted member of the
Legislature. lie wants TO cut our pay down to
twenty eight dollars q week, when our board
comes to twenty five dollars, and drinks arc
fifteen cents apiece.
Yes, chiued 10 another, what between Senator
Smiths bill and DR.. Motfett's punch, there
wout be nobody but tramps 10 the House next
year.
Yes, said an honorable member from the
Southside, that reminds me of fact L saw last
wioter was on the Committee of Asyums
and Prisons, and on visit TO the Williamsburg
asylum. The superintendent pointed out lu
natic covering 10 a corner of a cell. The
poor typo of humanity was fearful obi ect to
lock ut, the very qulntessence OF abiGct wretch.
ednes>; his form was fearfuIIy emaciated, his
face was like death itself and bia eyes so SUCK
10 his head as to be scarcely disoerniblo.
Who is he, aud what type Of madness has
he 2 asked.
He has singular mania, said the superb.
tendent. He imagines that be can live or air
and water, and refuses all nourishment, aud We
cant force him to eat. He still clings to the
idea that he is succeeding wonderfully well,
but be is sinking daily. Two days afterwards
| was Informed that be was dead.
Those fond of drawing infereeoes can pull
strong one from this.
A conference of conservative members of the
Legislature was held at the capitol tonight,
having for it's object the perpetustion of the
conservative party, and to exclude from all flu.
ture caucuses all independents and members not
elected as regular nominees of that party. Res
outious were adopted excluding all members
from conservative conferences who did not bind
themselves to abide by the objects for which
the meeting was called. Only sixty.two of the
conservative membership of the General As.
sembly affixed their names to the pledge, None
Of what is Known as simon pure readiusters"
were among the number. The meeting was at
one time quite turbulent, and difficulty be-
tween H.. IL. Harrison, leading adjuster of
the House from Sussex, and Senator John w.
Daniel, of Lynchburg, opponent of that faction,
seemed imminent. The readjusters present
withdrew, entering a protest to tho proceed
iogs, aud giving notice that they would not
be bound by its action.
A bill has been introduced 10 the Senate to
amend the charter OF the Potomac and Ma.
nassas Railroad Go. which provides that the
may construct branch of their line
from the most suitable point on its line 10 the
Valley Of James river to the city of Richmond.
The company wants the use of the convcls free
of charge. 1t is proposed, to further The pur.
poses OF the company, tina. the State assign to
the company all claim and demand for principal
and Interest it has against tho government of
the United States for advances made BY said
State to aid 10 the construction of the public