Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-03-05
Letter from Richmond.
lCorrcspondcpcc of the Alcxandria CAGE
h..,L 4 1SSS

RICHMOND AiG1G' 1919.
Tie House S,Iary Bill WIS tc night pass {
by tbs Senate Without single amrD1n'"n'
much to the Consideration Of the Il0usr OnIy
five Senators vott against it. Thie It'll uak:s
swecriog reductions. 1t cus down be ply a
members Of the General Assembly {" $500
per anoum, 40 cuts Of the Assistant Stare
Librariap. THE House to-day aiso concuIred
10 the SeDsre's decision that lLi- is not he
first session Of The General Assembly and here
fore the Legislature will meet again next win
ter. Probably had the House knowo what
would be the Senate's action on the salary
bill they would not have passed this bill with
50 much aacIity.
Mr. Huoter to day received letter from
Jno. G. James, of the Texas Military Academy,
stating that MIR. James was about to publish a
Southern Reader, and requesting copy Of
MIR. Hunters speech on the terrapn, for user
ton in the forthcoming book. Mr.. Hunter
will comply.
Mr.. Hunters deg bill passed the House to-
day, without dissenting voice. This bill
allows owners to value their dogs one hundred
dollars and to pay to the commissioner the tax
on that amount, which is one dollar for the
first dog and fifty cents for all others. After
the dog is 80 listed for taxation he becomes as
much personal property as COW or horse.
Of course no one is compelled to pay the tax; it
is purely voluntary. 1t will have the effect Of
stopping the stealing of valuable dogs and a
stolen dog will DO as rare as a stolen horse
This tax will place some thousand dollars in the
State Treasury.
A little episode happened 10 one Ct our well
known legislators who is iondcr Of practical
Joke than he is Of law making. 1t seems that
the legislator was paying his deVotions to Rich
mond belle who resided in boarding house.
and as there was only ono parlor he found it
hard work 10 get that privacy which young
lovers desire for their billing, was always inter
rupted By curious old gentleman who, as
soon as the pair had settled themselves down
to business, would come in and ensconca him.
self in an arm chair aud while apparently OBJ.
livious Of all surroundings would take keen note
of all that was going on. The legislator stood
it as long as it was his nature to stand anything
and then his patience gave out, and the next
evening when the same thing was repeated,
he whispered his plan TO his fair companion
and then let out into such a love scene, az
would throw Lawrence Barrett 10 the shade,
and mako even Booth look to his laurcls. An
elopement was urged as the fashion 10 Rich.
mond requires it and the fair lady q good
actress herself by the way. answered YES"
Then the gentleman carried away became too
ardent and the lady had to leave.
During all this time the lone figure in tho
chair never stirred. Had he heard the Legis.
lator could not tell-he did not know The So
quel showed that the venerable old rooster
wasn't unmindful Of the scene, neither was he
dead or asleep, for the next morning the irate
r1Qr n MOI o6 hryf yUn
grown sons, came storming down to the capitol,
called out the lswmaker and asked him his in
teltions. The lawmakor said his intentions were
strictly dishonorable. The parent then sternly
demanded that the elopement should be post
poned- furthermore,. that he shouldn't visit his
to pay, and the General Assembly would lose
one Of its brightest ornaments. Aftor some
talking, however, so rUmor goes, the parent re-
Tented, and told the lawmaker to do better.
The House Committee on Finance to-day re.
ported unfavorsbly on Mr.. Ashton's bill to pro.
cents for each package of cigarettes, the tax to
be collected by means of the Motfett register.
Mr.. John Bell Bigger, the efficient Clerk of
the House Of Delegates, is q strongly endorsed
candidate for the position of Clerk of the Su.
preme Court made vacant by the election Of
Mr.. George L: Christian as Judge of the Hust,
ings Court. What John Bell Bigger does not
know about clerking is not worth knowing
Every momber of the General Assembly hua
signed his recommendation for tho office, for
they we'll know his capacity and 9uickness..
Some Of tho readjustors in the House tonight.
with aching hearts, spplauded an announcement
that tho salary bill had passed the Senate. The
boys were in hopes that the Senate would not
see how Legislator can &c! on with $500 per
snnum, but the Senate, simply following the
example set thom by tho House, did not soc
worth cent.
Much qualification is expressed among Epis-
copalians here at tho selection of Rev. George
Peterkin rs Bishop of West Virginia. Bishop
Peterkn was born in Richmond, and is son Of
the beloved pastor OF ST. James Church. Rev.
Joshus Peterkin.