Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-02-02
LETTERS FROM RICHMOND.

| correspondence oil Tue AlcShiihrlh dahkfTa.
RICHMOND, Va, Jan. 30.-The local option
bill is exciting no little interest, as the large
daily attendance upon the sessions of The
House will attest For three days the Hous,
has bcen whacking away on this measure
and vet the bill has not reached the epgross
ment Stage. Leading temperance men from
different sections Of the State are here, and
! Saturday they were scattered about on the
Gcor OF the House.
SPEAKER Stuart made big fight TO relieve
ci.:rs from the operations Of the bill, and SO
strongly did he contend for the exemption
Of cities, that tho most prominent local op.
ZIONIST in the House, Mr.. Pollard, of King
and Queen, supported Speaker StuarLs
amendment. The Richmond delegation
voted solidiy with Speaker Stuart, and the
| republicans voted almost solidiy against
bin.
| Ii ,hc bill is ever put upon its passage, a
| thin. whch will be done early next week,
| il will be passed by decided vote, but it
viii not be il shape satisfactory to the
| Il temperance extremists.
The measure will be antsgonized when it
| reaches tho Senate, and tho indications are
that the bill will not become law, even if
the Senate concurs in every amendment Of
ferctl by the House, for at least ten days.
Had the House rejected the amendment
which excepted cities and towns with 5000
or more inhabitants, the Senate would, it is
believed, fail to concur, and such being the
case, local option would be retired from the
General Assembly, for the present session
at least
AS soon as The local option bill is disposed
IL
their attention principally to the election of
circuit judges. Over some of the circuits
their will be lively contest. An effort is
now being made by Petersburg parties. and
persons living in what is called the BLACK
Belt" to defeat the reelection Of Judge B.
A. Hancock, who was elected TO fill an un-
cxnired term, and who will be candidate
for reelection. The fight is made solely on
geographical grounds. and will terminate in
decided victory for Judge Hancock.
The matter in relation to the Judgeship of
Alexandria city will assume some definite
shape to morrow or Tuesday. Mr.. Stuart
stated to the GAZETTE's correspondent to.
day, that he was holding the case over for a
day or two, but that Monday he expected
to have it brought before the Legislature,
and some action would be taken. A point
in Judge Meade's favor is that Dir. Stuart
will have some difficulty in securing the SER
vices Of Senator to make a warm and ag-
gressive fight against Judge Meade. Speaker
Stuart could manage the matter in the
House, and will do so if it comes up. The
only Senators think Capable to make the
Fight Judge Stuart would like to see are
Senators Mccormick, Berry and Heaton.
There is bill pending in the House which
makes it a misdemeanor for one person to
point an empty gun or pistol at another. in
Jest or in anger. 1t was introduced by Mr..
Miller, of Manchester, and was sent to the
committee yesterday. The object of this
bill is to prevent persons from being killed
or wounded by weapons that come under
The head of didn't know it was loaded,
and had no idea that it would go off,"
B. 20.
This letter was written Saturday, ard
should have REACHED US Sunday; but it did
not get here until this morning
RICHMOND, Va, February 1.-The vote
on the question of ordering the local option
bill to its engrossment was AZ to 10, but this
was not q test vote of the relative strength
Of the local option and snti-local option
men respectively, because city delegates
who had opposed the bill when it included