National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-16

touching the state debt, and falling back
upon the Riddleberger bill pure and simple,
although they do not know whether the
decisions Of the United States courts based
upon this subsequent bourbon tnkering
with the original bill will permit them to
do so. Whether this be the case or not is
The question Of first importance with the
dominant party, and will have TO be de-
cded by the special debt joint committee,
who now find themselves in position to
become immortaliacd in Virginia history
whether they will or will not. The
people may soon learn the true value
Of Gen. Wickham's legal acumen, for It was
he who, as chairman Of the finance commit
tee Of the last senate, perfected these ques.
tionable laws which are now in the way of
any sort of debt settlement. A bourbon
remarked yesterday that they knew how to
settle the debt well enough, but for Malone
and the Republican party, and he, no doubt,
meant to say that his party would pay the
debt by receiving the coupons, If they were
not afraid Of losing the control Of the state,
On the floor OF the senate member has
announced that he was surprised that a
portion Of the state press had declared In
favor of the bondholdcrs as against the
bourbon platform, which drew the line at
the Riddleberger acts.
IL Is a noticeable fact that all three of the
members Of the assembly from Washington
county are members of the special debt
committee, and that there is only one Re.
publican (Col. Mayo on IL. If the bourbons
were landsmen aboard n sinking craft they
would scarcely be In a more unsatisfactory
condition than they now are in respect TO
what the people need and expect OF them
with regard to this neyer.ending debt
trouble
Mr.. Koincr chairman of the senate
finance committee, was neglected in the ap-
pointment OF the 'debt committee
The assembly will authorize the payment
of the claim Of W. II. Meredith for 81 900
for defending coupon suits Ia the courts in
this city. There are many large amounts
TO other counsel which will go In this direc-
ton, ana yet another big burden to be
lodged on the back Of the taxpayer In the
form Of an extra session Of the assembly,
which has already been decided upon as un-
nvoidable. II taxes shall not be raised in a
year the officers of government will not be
paid their salaries, If all signs do not fail.
II Is a solemn fact that Virginia now feels
more than ever the need OF men and states
men Of that stamp Of character from whom
she secured the name she bears-the mother
Of statesmen.
The bill Of Senator Hodges for changing
the election laws, so as to allow both parties
fair representation in the management Of
elections, does not meet with the opposl-
tlon anticipated, and one member of the com.
mittee to whom the bill was sent says that
the Anderson law, having answered It's pur-
pose, can now be repealed. II is inferred
from this that the division OF the colored
vote was the purpose Of the Anderson law.
Mr.. Hodges will appear before the commit.
tee tomorrow to explain his bill.
Mr.. Rhea, senator from Washington, has
been made chairman of the committee on
the state debt, and all bills before the finance
committee in reference thereto were turned
over to that committee to-day.
The senate judiciary committee reported
that the terms Of Office Of school superinten-
dents begin on the 1st Of July, 1886, and
offered resolution to that effect which was
made the special order for tomorrow.
The following bills were introduced in the
senate and referred: To require foreign in
surance companies doing business in the
state to deposit a certain amount in the
state treasury; TO provide for docketing
taxes on delinquent lands; to allow the
town Of Suffolk to issue bonds to the
amount Of SO, ,000 toprovide for the assess
ment for property and carrying on the gov
ernment.
Senator Heaton offered resolution ask
ing the finance committee for the amounts
already appropriated during this session
for all purposes, and the amounts that will
be required to pay interest Of the public
debt and for running the state government
for the next two years, which was adopted.
Mr.. Heaton said that in the present dis
tressed condition Of the farmers he was
opposed to raising taxes, and the clans who
were gathering to work through special
appropriations admonished him that money
might be scarce az the end of the session,
and lie was determined to let the people
know how the money was spent. lie said
the people knew very little of what was
done in the legislature. His resolution
was aimed at the finance committee, 1t is
thought
Bills passed To allow persons charged
with crime to testify in their own behalf
to allow Roanoke City to pay her hustings
judge larger salary to prevent clerks of
the court OF appeals from practicing law
TO relieve the taxpayers OF Allegheny; to
incorporate the Chesapeake Dry Dock Com
pany Of Norfolk.
Up to noon to-day GOV. Lee had signed
onlytwenty-One bills, the result of the labors
of the present assembly. They are Of trivial
interest.
In the house to-day a communication
from the superintendent Of public instruc-
tion was read, which estimates the cost OF
free school books for oil the counties and
cities at from S252, 900 to $4,000, rs mini
mum and maximum figures. One thousand
copies OF the communication were ordered
TO be printed. The Republicans, Mr.. Wad-
dill said, wanted free books If the plan was
feasible.
Mr.. Fulkerson, of Washington, to-day
offered bill in the house for the appoint
ment Of three railroad commissioners in
stead of one, at salary Of $4,000, which is
TO he paid by the railroad companies. No
additional powers are TO be given them.
Mr.. Borum introduced a bill In the house
to prevent the town Of Suffolk from levy
ing tax for licenses on persons living out
side Of its corporate limits.
PENSIONS FOR WOUNDED coNFEDERATEs.
The question of pensioning wounded con.
federate soldiers, which has been inaugu-
rated by appropriating $40 each month to
those cared for at the II. Il. Lee camp, near
Richmond, will be one OF importance soon,
as II is already claimed that there are hun
dreds Of them In the state who are Just as
helpless and needy, while the widows and
orphans of many who were killed are In
destitute circumstances, and have never
received one penny from any soucer. Their
friends will make u strenuous effort to
secure something from the state, and the
effort will add another heavy plank to polit-
ical platforms in the future,
SCHOOL sUPERINTENDENTs.
In selecting the III county and city
school superintendents Gov. Lee and Ar
tOrney General Ayers will not always vote
for the same aspirant, and then State Super
intendent FaT will hold the balance Of
power, and decide the case. In all cases
he will vote for him who, he thinks, will
make the better officer. The state board
will allow no candidate for superintendent
To appear in person before them,
HE WORKS FOR LOVE.
Lieut.. Gov. John l.. Massey has been al
home during the week, but will return OF
Monday and preside over the senate. Mr.
Massey gets no extra pay for this work
and he does II simply because he loves tC
he before the eye Of the public, is what {
Democratic member OF the assembly tolt
me,
THE LOCAL OPTION BILL,
prepared by the Good Tempars at thei
annual meeting has been reported to thu
without nmpn1fnaut Mr. Eu1lgargpn