Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-01-26
LETTER FROM RICHMOND.

special Correspondence of the Alexandria GAzETrEI
RICHMOND, Va, January 25.-The bill
for the protection of the oyster beds in tie
waters of the CommonW ealth, though that
is not the title of it, was reported from the
Committee on Chesapeake and its Trbu-
taries to-day, and will tomorrow perhaps
be placed upon the Calendar, where it will
not long remain before it is passed by the
House. The bill provides that oysters shall
not be obtained by dredging thing which
the patron of the bill, Mr.. Lawson says has
done great deal towards destroying some
of the best oyster beds in Virginia. The
oyster question has on more than one &C.
casion been discussed by represent General
Assembly. Speaker Stuart, Of Alexandria,
showed his friendship towards the people
of the Eastern shore in this matter when he
got off few days since very strong and
iorcibe speech in support of hill looking
to the appropriation OF a sum OF money to
Captain Hinaus to be used in protecting the
people on the Eastern shore from :oystcr
pirates
There are other enactments to be made
by the General Assembly it is said, for the
protection of the oyster industry, which Mr..
Porter, of Portsmouth, we'll termed "a ma
tional industry"
When the bill consentng to the purchase
of the Arlington estate by the United
States, ceding Jurisdiction and remtting tax
alton thereon came up in the House today
on it's engrossment, Messrs. Anderson, Of
Rock bridge Stuart, of Alexandria, and
Smith, Of Fauquier, made strong speeches
in favor of the bill. The speech made by
the last named delegate, was regarded as an
exceedingly interesting one; in fact it was
quite eloquent, particularly the peroration
which touched upon the name and fame OF
that famiy-the Lee-which has played
such prominent part in the history of the
Republic.
Mr.. Smith has won considerable reputa-
ton as an orator and legislator. The other
day when arguing a contested election case
Mahoneite from one of the upper counties
stood leaning against the railing near the
door and not far from the seat of the gen
tleman from Fauquier. When Mr.. Smith
had touched upon the legal questions invol-
we'd he penetrated the realms Of rhetoric
ard with that fire of eloquence and word
painting peculiarly his own, he lauded the
democratic party for crushing Mahoneism
and made mastery peroration. Who is
that fellow ?" muttered the Mahoneite vsi-
tor sit is Col. Tom Smith, of Fauquier,
son of Ex-Governor Smith" answered a by
stander. The speech had greatly effected
the Mahoneite who in suppressed tone
exclaimed, "Byg-d he has the fire of his
old daddy and would make good Govern
or himself"
The report of the committee appointed to
investigate the recent poisoning at the Wes-
tern Lunatic Asylum at Staunton will prob
ably be presented in the House tomorrow.
1t will say that whether the poisoning Of
the six patients was done by parties outside.
or inside, the blame should rest
upon the managers of the institu-
ton. The investigation disclosed the
fact that the Asylum was used by the
Mahoneites as political machine, and that
the Superintendent was assessed or contri-
buted one hundred dollars to the Malone
campaign fund, while the other employees
disbursed according TO the size of their sala-
ries.
If the Committee were unable to place
the crime upon any particular individual
or individuals they did, however succeed
in securing sufficient evidence to justify the
General Assembly in recognizing the board
of directors of the institution and making
a clean sweep of all the officials there who
were appointed solely on the grounds that
they were Mahoneites and voted the coali-
ton ticket, and who succeeded democratic
officials, who had faithfully performed their
duties.
There are two more contested election
cases to be decided by the House-thc one
from Norfolk city and the'one from South
ampton. The Norfolk case comes up TO-.
morrow and will be the most interesting.
The Southampton case is fixed for Wednes.
day. The two seating delegates from Nor
folk are Mahoneites and the one from
Southampton is democrat. Banks, one of
the sitting members from Norfolk has not
had word to say in the House for several
days. He says be is saving his fire for his
own case Banks is looked upon as one Of
the leaders of the Mahoneites in the House
and is right good talker. Parker, the
other Mahoneite member from Norfolk, can
not make a speech for love or money. He
obtained leave Of absence to-day for one
day and will not be on hand tomorrow
when his case comes up. STRoNGBoW.
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