Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-01-16
LITTER FROM RICHMOND.
of the Alexandria GAZETTE,

Correspondence Of the Alexandra GAzETIEl
RICHMOND, Va, January 15.-The bill
introduced in the House BY Mr. Carter, of
Ri chmond, providing for the working of
convicts upon the public roads of the State
and upon railroads in counties through
which there are no roads now running is
being considered to. night by the committee.
Mr.. Carter is a merchant, and his election
to the Legislature was largely due to the
support he received at the hands Of the
Knights Of Labor 1t is known that this
organization is opposed to convict labor
when it comes in competition with honest
labor. and Mr.. Carter, in conversation with
the GAzETTE's correspondent to-day, init.
mated that he was very sure of his bill
being reported from the committee with
favorable recommendation, and that if it
was it would settle the labor problem to
the satisfaction of that growing organize
tion-the knights Of Labor. His bill is the
only one of the kind pending in the Legis-
lature. and the mechanics and laboring men
have manifested considerable interest in it,
r. is true many bills have been Introduced
in relation to the working of roads in the
Commonwealth, but none except the one
presented by Mr. Carter asks that the
Derirentiarv convicts be made to do this
work.
To day all the bills and resolutions bear
ing in any way upon the debt of the State
or upon coupons were turned over to the
special committee to whom all matters IN
relation to the State debt are to be referred.
At The head of this committee in the House
is Hon. Abram Fulkerson, of Washington,
and in the Senate is Mr.. Mccormick, Of
Clarke When this committee was APP
pointed, or rather when the resolution pro
vid;ng for the appointment of the commit
tee. was first introduced, there was some
talk OF new scheme for the settlement of
the debt, one that would more clearly and
fully carry out the idea of the Riddleberger
settlement. This new scheme" however,
was altogether imaginative, as Mr.. Buc
hanan one of the most prominent members
of the committee, said to-day that if such
thing was on foot be knew nothing about il.
Furthermore, he said that the committee
had nothing to do with presenting plan of
any kind.
TO morrow the committee appointed to
investigate the affairs of the Petersburg
Normal School will give Delegate A. w.
Harris, colored, of Dinwiddie, an opportu.
nifty TO controvert what r. l.. Mitchell,
colored the treasurer has testified to,
affecting Harris. Mitchell gave Har
ris some severe blows in the way Of
evidence, and it is thought that Har-
ris will come back at him in the same
way. The investigating committee have
not been able TO obtain the vouchers show
ing how certain money was spent, and il
seems that there is no way TO obtain these
papers, or any testimony going to show that
they are now in existence.
Mr.. Abram Fukerson's bill providing for
the appointment of three railroad commits
sioDcrs is similar to the old BILL in relation
10 this matter, which was passed, think
at the session Of 1S77.7S. There are several
prominent men seeking the Office of railroad
commissioner, and if the bill is passed these
candidates will have much better show
for Office.
Already the present railroad commits
sioners, Mr.. MolIet and Mr. r. Y. Gaines,
OF Charlotte, are spoken of in connection
with the Offices proposed to be created. The
Committee On Roads at present have bill
in regard to this matter before them.
The bill introduced by Senator Jones, to
rearrange the judicial courts of the State
places Alexandria city and county and the
counties of Fairfax, Fauquier, Prince Will
liam, Culpeper, Stafford and King George
in the Seventh circuit. The bill is now be-
fore the committee. b. Z. y.