National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-27

RICHMOND, Feb. 2l.-Prominent MEM
bers Of the special debt committee of the
general assembly are publicly fighting the
position taken by Gov. Lee In reference TO
the appointment of a commission TO confer
with the bondholders on the subject Of tho
debt, and in the house the chairman of the
committee has asked to be relieved from
the further consideration OF the debt. But
the house refused to relieve the committee.
This is probably the last that will be heard
OF this committee In connection with the
debt legislation; the breach between the
two wings OF the bourbon party is now
wide.
INVESTIGATIONS on INVESTIGATIONS.
Yesterday the committee appointed to
investigate the treasurer's office reported
the same in good condition, and both houses
agreed TO appoint o special committee TO
investigate the Hampton Normal School.
SENATORIAL PROCEEDINGS.
Mr.. Mccormick introduced bills in the
senate to incorporate the survivors Of the
Clarke county cavalry, and to authorize
them to buy part of the public square in
Berryville.
Senator Heaton offered a resolution in
reference TO the debt, calling upon the
patriots Of Virginia to pay their taxes in
money, and authorizing the governor TO
debt, that is by enforcing the Riddleberger
acts.
THE Chambers IN HARD LUCK.
The senate in executive session yesterday
confirmed fifty more school superintend-
ents. Among them the following: Staun-
ton, W. A. Bowles; Roanoke city, w. Luns-
ford; Richmond city, John b. Cary; Ports
mouth, j. G.. Ashton; Petersburg, ID. NJ.
Brown; Fredericksburg, James Taylor;
Danvi.le, +. f. Bowen. For Caroline
county two gentlemen named Chandler
were named, one by Attorney General
Ayres, and the other by Ny. Buchanan. It
was supposed they were voting for the
same person, but that being not so, both
Chambers were put aside, and A. G. Smith
appointed.
A DANGEROUS MEASURE.
The house passed the bill creating
special board of basement officers who shall
be authorized to pay collecting officers
their costs In endeavorlng to cvade the re.
ceipt Of coupons for taxes. The bill now
goes to the governor, and when put into
effect will absorb much Of the money in the
treasury. The Republicans voted solidly
against IL as dangerous move.
RICHMOND, VA, Feb. 22.-In the senate
to-day the following bills were passed, and
90 now TO the governor for approval: To
provide for a special constable for Fau
quier; to divide school districts OF Fairfax
and Loudoun counties TO sell two school
houses in Prince William; to permit the
employment Of deputy treasurer for
Rockingham; to allow Danvllle to build q
free bridge over the Dan river; to allow
Fredericksburg q new registration OF vot-
ers to allow West Point to borrow money,
and to authorize Warren county to borrow
$4,000 to pay Manassas Gap railroad
bonds. The resolution of Senator Heaton,
introduced Saturday, in reference TO the
debt, was referred 70 the debt committee,
and local option came up as the special Or
der and was debated until 3 O'Clock.
LEGISLATORS AFRAID TO GO HOME.
In the house Mr.. Echols offered Joint
resolution directing the extension OF the
present session thirty days from the LIST of
March. The resolution lies over till to-
morrow. The assembly has done SO little
that its members are afraid to go home, but
It is barely probable they can hold a quorum
above week from the end Of the regular
term.
RICHMOND, Feb. 23.--In the senate to
day, on ordering TO engrossment the bill TO
amend the constitution to prevent the fund
ing of the debt, after the amendments
had been voted by the people, the oppos-
ton to this long step toward reputation
showed bold front and refused to engross
the bill by n vote of 81 nays to 3 yeas.
Gen. Wickham said II was too soon to
begin to repudiate a debt due thirty years
hence, when the probability was that
II would be done soon enough. The Re-
publicans voted against the bill.
THERE IS NO HARMONY
of action between the special debt commit
| tee and the finance committee, and so far
| the former has taken no action with regard
| to the appointment OF the commission ad-
vised by the governor. Lieut.. Gov. Massey
| announces to-day that he never approved
the Riddleberger bill, and explains the pur-
| pose Of his West Virginia debt bill. He
does not probably know that the lawyers
interested In West Virginia certificates In
yited members OF the Virginia assembly to
meet them in Washington to see what could
be made out Of the business IL will be re-
membered that the special debt committee
refused to allow one OF the lawyers to ap.
pear before them.
Representative A. Fullicrson, OF Wash.
ington county, again asked to be relieved
from further duty on the debt committee
alleging that while the committee was earn
question, Gov. Lee had, without communi.
eating with the committee, opened the
whole debt question by advising the ap
pointment Of a commission. As heretofore
stated in these dispatches, there is fata
division in the bourbon ranks, and the PEG
pie are bowling under great burdens. Gov
Lee has taken charge OF Virginia's debt
and Lieut., Gov. Massey has got the Yves
Virginia debt by the ear, while the bond
holders are dying Of laughter.
BoURBoNs DESERT THEIR PLATFORM.
| The house to-day ordered to engrossmen
the bill to supply school books at cost
Thus the bourbons desert their platform.
RICHMOND, VA, Feb. 24.--In the senat,
to-day the committee reported adversely :,
the establishment OF a bureau OF labo
statistics, which is a pet scheme Of tn
Knights OF Labor.
MIR. MoFFITT SURPRISED.
Senator Wingfeld, Of Albemarle, offeret
joint resolution, which lies over under tn
rules, removing from office Railroad Com
missioner Moflitt, who, 1t is said. is IN
efficient, and naming Monday next the da,
for the election OF his successor. Mofiitt
who is from Rappahannock, is much sur
prised at this move.
AT LoGGERHEADs
The bill to establish special court OF ap
peals Of five judges at n salary OF $40 da
was referred to committee In the senate
with view 10 kill the bill. The house an
gued the same bill at length, aud passed |
to engrossment, although the president o
the supreme court says that the extra cour
is not needed.
RHEA VS.. THE UNITED STATES
Senator Rhea, Of the special debt commit
tee, spoke at length to-day on the tempe
Of the people of the state In reference u
the debt, declaring that they had the sam
right to refuse to pay one cent OF the deb
as to settle on the Riddleberger basis. II
said the people did not intend TO be har
raised further by decisions of the Suprem
Court of the United States, aud by confer
ences with the bondholders. The basis o
Rhea's remarks was the proposition /
amend the constitution to prevent funding
after July /, 1888.
RICHMOND Va, Feb. 25.-In the scnat
to-day Mr.. Rhea introduced another bill o.
the debt, which repeals legislation OF Oh
last assembly, which refused to allow III