Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-02-03
Letter from Richmond.

Letter tSSm
[Correspondenco of the Alexandria Gazette.
RICHMOND. Va, Feb. ., lS75.-ln the Sen
ate to-day, !! bill was passed to secure dcposl-
tors in backs, savings institutions, and insur-
aDce companies; q bill providing that the Board
of Supervisors of each county in the Common
wealth shall cause to be made out each year,
Immediately after the county levy is made a
statement showing the aggregate amount OF
the receipts and aggregate amount OF the ex
penditurcs OF the year next preceding; also,
statement showing tue aggregate amount al
lowed for the next succeeding year, OF lnclden-
tai expenses, salaries and commissions to be
paid county officers, which statement shall be
posted at the court house and each voting pre-
ciDct in the county, or published IN one or more
newspapers 10 the county or adjoining county
or city; also bill to regulate uniformity OF text
books 10 the public schools, and providing that
after the expiration OF the present contracts
the selection Of text books lOT the schools shall
be made by the county aud city school boards
for their respective schools; Il list may at dis
crctiou be recommended ty the Board ct Edu-
cation or upon default thereof by the Superln-
tcndent Of Public Instruction. but such recon-
mendatiou not to be obligatory; 90 book con.
tanning immoral, irrnvcreut. false, Or unp.trl-
otic statcmcolS shall be chosen l0r the use OF
public schools; any pareut, teacher, or school
officer discovering such objectionable matter 10
| any such book may cutter complaint and appeal
| TO the Board ut Elucatlou; also bl! eniarglng
the power, ant! prescribing the tnauncr In
which the accounts OF the COMMISSIONERS Of
| the sinking fund shall be kept.
La the House bills to regulate the operations
of banks aud banking institutions organized
under the laws ot this State, and TO provide
for the publication thereof transferring to the
of the Commonwealth received by the Auditor
| Of Public Accounts in equitable settlement Of
claims IN favor OF tue State; and authorizing
the commissioners OF the sinking fund to fund
certain sterling stock were reported.
| 4 resolution was presented requesting the
| Committee on Courts Of Justice to inquire into
the cXpediency of Increasing the salaries OF
county Judges in districts composed OF Two
counties, or Of authorizing the board OF super
visors to pay an additional compensation, anu
to lay levy therefor.
The bill giving the Board Of Visitors Of the
| University control over tho salaries, Nc, OF the
professors was passed ayes 81. Under the old
| law the salaries oil the professors were liked at
the uoiiOrm SUN OF $1,000 year, and each
professor was entitled to the tuition lees OF his
class or school in addition. \ year or SO ago
the law vas 50 amended as TO place the salaries
at the discretion OF the board OF visitors, aud
they at once cndeayorcd to cquallzo the incom-
es oil the professors who had large schools ard
of those who had small ones by decreasing the
salaries Of the former and increasing those OF
the latter. The tuition fees OF some Of the pro
tessors amount to so much more than the fees
OF others that it is considered advisable that
even the apporlonment OF these should be
placed in the hands OF the board OF visitors,
and the bill just passed the House is inten dcd
to effect this purpose. Its opponents say that
it will be the death oil the university, reducing
it to a uere curriculum college, deprlVIng the
professors Of the just rewards of their labors
and talents, and placing them under the heels
OF the board oil visitors. 1t is said By some the
bill will drive away the ablcst professors as In
adequate salaries have already cost the Univcr.
| sity the loss Of GIlderseeve and others. But
twelve out OF the fourteen professors Of the
| University approve it.
| Office seekers OF this city acd State are al
ready obtaining the signatures aud iudorsa
mcnts OF the legislators to their applications
| for office under the administration OF Mr.. Ill.
| dcn. This seems ridiculous, but 1t Is true, Tor
legislators who have Endorsed aud signed Tor
several of these early birds say So.
Col! Samuel \. Swami to-day sent in his re-
signaiio1 rs i membcro Of the General Assembly
from Caroline county. | hear two names men
tioocd in connection with the vacant seat Maj.
Roger II. Petross, who was major 10 the 30th
Virginia Regiment Corse's Brigade aud Capt.
John NJ. Iludgicc. The Speaker has issued
writ ordering an election to be held February
bond in the sum of $4,000 for the faithful per-
fo.mance of his duties with Mcssrs. p w.
Strother, Henry Il. Smith, j. M. Hudglce and
S. j. II. White as sUreties.
The bill cnlargiog the powers aud prescrib-
ing the manner in which the accounts Of the
Commissioners of the Sinking Fund shall bc
kept was passed by the Senate.