The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-03-12
TOWN TALK
About the Legislature, Legfsiatfon,
Legislators. and Statesmen ana
People I'm General.

The Vacant Chairs at the Capitol-A Change
OF Color In the Father OF His Country-Per-
sonaI About the Goycrnor-The Hnndwrit-
ings OF Statesmen-lEsthcti Furniture for
the Governors Mantion-D DoinRs of the Rail-
road Lobby-The Qualities or Statennnn-
ship; Mr.. Riddle ebereer-"OId Man Mas
scy" as q Debatcr-Facts About Legislative
Reporting What viii They DO About Rich
mond Charter, Police Judge, Police Conn
missioncrs, and Clerk OF Richmond Chan.
ccry Court.
The legislative fellows are now at their
homes tending their gardens, chatting with
constituents, resting their weary bones,
and preparing soon TO return here and
continue their gigantic efforts. The Capt.
toll therefore, has deserted appearance.
There are no groups on the steps. There
is no button-holing going onin the corners.
The apple and peanut-women have sus-
pended busines, Tor a little while, and the
rotunda echoes only the footsteps Of some
solitary individual who is about there to
ascertain the fate of his bill or 70 see the
sights OF the building. One sigbt-and
not very pleasant one-is the dingy coat
of dust which has gathered upon Houdon's
statue OF Washington. The Father OF his
Country begins TO look like colored
brothcr-a change appropriate to the
political season. The dust. the accumu-
laton Of years, has become ingrained. II
il not easy 10 see how it can be cleaned off,
The work is too precious one to allow
pcntentiaTy convict TO come near 1t with
brush or broom. Sooner OF later a proper
consideration OF the damage being done
the statue will induce the authorities 10
have il attended 10 by u competent hand.
The floor around the statue and the steps
were not long ago painted some dark color.
Most OF the paint has worn of, and what IL
left gives as untidy an appearance rs any
one ever secs. Upstairs a piece OF scaf-
folding put up by the painters last fall has
been allowed TO stand, as II il is supposed
that it will be needed again soon.
The Capitol looks as neat now as ever,
but il was never distinguished in that re-
spect, nor is is attractivenesS improved by
the fat, lazy-lO0king, unclean black con-
yicts generally to be seen about it.
THE GOVERNOR.
Upstairs in the large northeast corner
room Governor Cameron has his Office.
The adjoining room on the east is the office
OF his private secretary; next to that is the
Office OF the Secretary OF the Common
wealth, Mr.. Elan. The Governor in his
nigh position retains the unaffected sim
plicity Of manner which has given him so
much popularity. After a man has been
the editor OF an cxtcnsiyeIy-read newspa-
per 'tisn't so much Of an elevation after all
to. be made Governor. CameIon's news
paper experience has been OF vast service
! TO him. Look at his messages: all short.
By being short they get ten readers
where the old-iimc thunderers" scarce
ly got one. That's fact that the ave-
RAGE statesmen does not know, OF will
not recognize. Our present Governor
both knows and profits by that information
gained in journalistic life. Another thing
ah nut him wherein he differs from The
standard statesman. lie writes not only
charming English, but writes IL in Il beau
/ tiiul hand. The fact is it l. no longer
necessary TO write 50 that none but experts
can dcuphcr your words to be ,onsid r.
ed great. Cameron writes neat mot
"round' but "litcrlry') hand. John
| w. Daniels writing equals his; so d0es
Ex-Governor Kemper's; so does Chicl-Jus-
ticc Waitc's. Governor Lctcher and Mr..
4. II. II. Stuart also excel IN this respect
Cameron is II dwarf. Every one OF
his appointments shows that he is Re-
adiuster oi the most decided tlnt.
GOVERNORS MANSION.
In few weeks the Governor Mansion
will be ready for occupancy. The repairs
are being rapidly brought TO completion.
The papcring is wonder OF ioycliness.
The furniture is here, nut not unpacked.
1t is rich and elegant; fully up 20 the de-
nands OF this age OF pretcntious Gsthcti-
cism. and what Is better, well suited TO the
fine, large rooms il is TO ill. So il will not
be a long while before Governor Came
rons family come to reside amongst Us FOR
his term.
THE RAILROAD LOBBY.
No part OF the Government Is 50 con'
spicuojls by its absence during this recess
rs the railroad lobby. Mr.. Riddleberger
payc il "a blast" the last day OF the ses-
sion. At that very moment there were
three or four OF its members occupying
priyilegcd seats on the floor. Very often
they stick themselves in members seats.
In some instances the official positions
which they hold give them easy access to
the seats and ears OF delegates or senator's.
Mr.. Riddlebergcr charged them with OBJ
, structng public business, and so they have
They have bored and button-h0lcd ant
otherwise worked on members until th'
letterbayc often, in Self-defence, been com
rellcd TO take UP and act Oh their bills, an(
: Mr.. Riddlehergcr said that ii was susccpti
bIe OF proof that in some cases they wcr'
ont upOn the streets Offering 10 sell thei
charters- in one case for Sj00-bcfOre tn
! bills were approved by the Governor!
LEADEIsHIP,
' By the way. Mr.. Riddlcberger has bcel
: great speaker at this session. The Road
l iusters used to have Paul and Fulkcrsol
TO help talk. Now he does pretty mucI
n all OF il. lie il a better de5ater than
c leader. He has not the immOvable tempe
A.: of lion. Abe FulkcrsOn, nor the smoothing
: down capacity OF that sagacious old legis
4 Iotor. Mr.. Riddleberger sometimes allow
himself 70 ect hot. That has been particu
h lorly so in caucus, where he succeeded i
: ropsinc to the highest pitch OF eXciiemen
that peaceful and placid but somewha
cbanpeable Gentleman Senator Hale, Q
1 Grays)n. and he and Senator Newberr
: 0ot M daggels' points in the caucus. New
: berry is tail and thin; bis right arr
!. hangs limp by his side, the e1ec
5 of wo md received in the Cor
: federate army; when he speaks h
i goes off at the top Of his voice, but he
q full Of pluck. and rather seems to enjo
: tilts with the distinguished Senator frol
= Shenandoah.
? "OLD NAN MASSEY"
:. The man who keeps cool in debate Is lik
:. the man who keeps cool in fght-he