The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-09

PETERSBURG.

PETERSBURG.
,.xcrreNENT OVER tbs RAILROAD ELEcTIoN----
prprBIIcASs IN SESSION ON THE suBJkCI--
nse,T MEETING AT THE AcADEMY-TBE
rYrcT1oS OF RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS
.rSrp.I, MAHoSE TO sPEAK--THE coNsaR-
r,rryH PARTY WITHOUT AHEAD-EpTscoPAL
,IsyT,rIoN-FIvE CLASSES FOR coSFlRMA-
.rov--spEC,AI. MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
:, rvs AND coUNTER-CLAIMs-ExPE
FROM CHURCH, DC.
correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatchl
MARCH S, 1878.
Tho city is alive with excitement to-day
:, r;s,r OF the election to take place to-mor-
III u. snr the ratification or rejection OF the
n In% railroad bill. There is almost
- much feeling manifested as is usually tho
$50 an The eve OF a municipal contest. The
u, a, voters is being rapidly increased by
~. ~, navmcnt OF the State eapitation-taX for
,s-- and cutie large vote will be polied.
=, = worthy TO note the fact that the negroes
~, shaving great interest in the matter,
AID arc to-day crowding the Treasurer's
"t;co IA settle their tax accounts and qualify
Themselves for voting. 1t is believed they
viii generally oppose the measure.
The chairman OF the Republican Execi,-
two committee has called meeting OF the
Prnublican party to be held tonight to dis
russ the bin, when it is understood Peter
= Morgan and J. II. Van Auken and others
will speak against the bill. and Senator w.
\. stevens and George w. Fayerman Will
favor it. The Republicans certainly hold
the balance OF power in to-morrow's cleo
t;on. and as they vote in a body so the cleo
4 GREAT crowd assembled In the Academy
~ Music last night to hear the merits OF the
railroad bill discussed by Major Charles $.
SrrIngfellow and Colonel Samuel Is. Paul.
Never before have so many people met on
anv one occasion in that building. The
former opposed and the latter favored the
bill. The speeches OF both gentlemen were
able and exhaustive. and the discussion,
which lasted three hours, retained It's inter-
est TO the audience 10 the close.
There seems TO be no settled plan as to
the commissioners to be voted for under this
hin. While number OF gentlemen in each
ward are willing to serve on the commits
sion. no nominations have been made, and
rho neople will have TO vote for whom they
nrrier. The contest in Third Ward will be
between Colonel s. 3. Paul and Alexander
Hamilton. In the Fourth Ward Mr.. Alex
onder Dopnan, who was called out by a
number of citizens, declines to serve.
The Conservative party Of Petersburg is
inst now without working head. Senator
William E. Hinton, Jr., last night resigned
his position OF city superintendent, and
nearly all of the members OF the Executive
committee have resigned also. A new CON-
mittee and superintendent will have to be
chosen before the party can go into the
spring municipal campaign, and it is to be
hoped the proper men may be selected for
sucb responsible but thankleSS work as the
committee has to perform.
The last meeting OF the railroad canvass
will be held tonight, when Senator Hinton
and General William Malone will address
the people in favor OF the purchase Of the
road by the city. who will reply in detail
10 the figures and arguments OF Major
Stringfellow. presented last night.
Rev. J. W. Hood (colored), OF North
Carolina. Bishop of the A. NJ. e. Zion
Church. will preach twice here on Sunday.
He is one OF the ablest men OF his race.
Bishop Whittlc will arrive in the city this
afternoon on visit to our Episcopal
churches. He will have five classes to con-
firm-one at Grace church tonight, one ut
st. Pau's church tomorrow night, and one
each at ST. Johns, st. Stephens, and Bland
ford on Sunday. -......
Senator W. n. Stevens has received the
appointment OF assistant collector OF inter-
nal revenue OF this district, under Colonel
Brady, and his commission will be made
ont as soon as his bond is fixed.
Mr.. Edward S. Gregory, OF this city, has
paper in this weeks Philadelphia Times
on the siege OF Eicksburg. 1t is brilliant in
stvle, graphic in description, and many in
teresting facts in connection with that men,
orable siege not heretofore published are
brought out.
4 special meeting Of the Common Coun-
ell was held this morning to take action
upon q claim put in against the city by the
Petersburg railroad as in part offset TO the
city's claim for back taxes against the road.
Some years ago, it seems, the railroad COM
pany paid to the United States Government
the sum S2,942.70 in taxes upon the divi-
dends drawn by the city. 1t is claimed
that this amount should properly have been
deducted from the city's dividends, and
that in point OF equity and justice. If
not in law, the city should return that
amount to the company. The FINANCE
Committee had the subject before them
yesterday afternoon, and decided to
convene the Council for instructions.
The cty's claim for past taxes on the person
al property OF the railroad is S11,093.75. 1t
has in addition Judgment against the road
for the taxes of 1S71-'72 for $500. which,
with interest to date, amounts to about
S6,000-making the total amount OF the
claim about $4,000. The company has the
money in hand to pay should the United
States Court in Richmond so order; but the
receiver informed the Finance Committee
that he could not recommend the payment
OF the city's claim unless the otlset-claim OF
the road was allowed.
After considerable discussion the Council
authorized the Finance Committee to in
struct the City Attorney (who is attending
the United States Courtl, by telegraph, to
allow the railroads claim, provided the
court will order the payment Of the city's
claim for taxes; and these instructions were
at once telegraphed.
The authorities OF Mount Level church
(colored), in Dinwiddie county, warn the
public against one Hamlin holland, who is
said to be travelling about representing
himself as preacher. He was recently
expelled from that church, after an ami
mated session, for adultery.
ROBIN ADAIR.
STANTON