Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-11

RICI
top dressing Of fertilizers and a largo
quantity OF brick and gravel, entailing
considerable labor and expense"
The committee also called attention 10
tha hues for the heating of the House
and the pavement of the veranda, which
serves the purpose of roof to some OF
the basement Offices which are now leak
ing. The cost will probably reach 81, 200.
That the State OF Virginia is poor has
been remarked before but poor as she
is she o1ght to take immediate steps to
restore the Capitol Square to its former
beautiful condition. It has been allowed
to run down, down, until it is but the
shadow of what II used to be.
The old.time policy, under which the
Square was made one OF the most beauti-
full little parks in the couutry, was as
soon as one tree died to set out another.
Thus the cost fell very lightly upon the
State but having been abandoned for
years scores of trees have died out and
need TO be replaced. The row OF trees
on Ninth street has almost entirely dis
appeared. That on Capitol street has
been very much thinned. That on Bank
street also. Every one should be replaced
by others.
Some OF the trees within the Square
have been lost. Certainly they above all
should be replaced.
There used to be beds of flowers and
shrubs in the Capitol Square. Why
should not they he restored ? The
nower-beds near the fountain in Monroe
Park constitute one Of the chief beauties
Of that place, and the one officer on duty
there has no great trouble in protecting
them against spOliatiOn.
The erass-plots in the Square are no
longer what they used TO be, and some
of the walks are disgrscefully ragged and
broken. No doubt the smallness Of the
fund that has been applicable to this
purpose is the excuse for this state OF
things, but it ought not longer to con-
tinue. Certainly the General Assembly
can appropriate the moderate sum need
ed. If not, then let an appeal be made for
contributions, and without doubt our
nursery men, florists, &c, will give the
Commonwealth the trees, grass-seed,
and shrubs she needs. IS for labor, the
State still adheres to its purpose to work
cOnvicis on the Square, and one or two
hundred able-bodied men can now be
gotten from the penitentiary as easily as
the small squad that daily do laborers
duty there.
The Pilot Laws.
The House Committee on Commerce, OF
which Mr.. Basil b. Gordon is chairman,
met yesterday morning to consider the
bill introduced by Colonel Buford Tor the
abolishment of compulsory pilotage on
coastwise vessels. Both sides were
present with their counsel-Mr. b. b.
Muniord appearing for the shippers of
Richmond, who favor the bill, and Cap
tain r. c. Marshall appearing for the
Pilots Association. Mr.. Mumford,
Colonel Buford, Mr.. Curtiss. Mir. ). D.
Crenshaw. Mr.. S. Blair Morris, and Mr..
5. II. Hawes urged the favorable con-
sideration Of the bill, and Captain Mar
shall and Mr.. Edwards president OF the
Pilots Association opposed the bill
The committee at the evening session,
which was private, made favorable re-
port uDon the bill. Ii now goes to the
House, where it will be watched with
great interest. The vote on the bill re-
sulted-ayes >. noes the coiored MEM
-. tho off affvn
ChiIdren's Labor.
Mr.. Lyon G.. Tyler offered a bill,
which reads:
l. BE il enacted bV the General As
scmJW, That no child under the age OF
ten years shall be employed in any
manufacturing, mechanical, or mercan-
tile establishment.
2. No child over ten and under fourteen
years shall be 80 employed unless during
the wear next preceding such employ
ment he has for at least twenty weeks at
tended some public or private day school,
nor shall such employment continue un-
less such child in eachan every year at
tended school as herein provided, and no
such child shall be so employed who
does uOJ pTeb6Ut u CCIlluchlt ultuc ny VI
under the direction of the principal Of
the school which he has so attended ;
provided, nevertheless, that tue provi-
sions of this section shall not apply to
the children of such parents who shall re-
ceive from the superintendent of schools
of the county, city, or town in which
such child resides a certificate that said
parent or parents are in a dependent or
helpless condition.
3. Every owner, superintendent, or
overseer of any such establishment who
employs or permits to be employed any
child in violation of the preceding sec
tions, and every parent or guardian who
permits such employment, shall forfeit
not less than $40 nor more than $50 for
the use of the public schools OF the coun-
ty. city, or town wherein said parent or
guardian resides
/. This act shall be in force from and
after the lst day of May, 1888.
whose Heifer Was 1t?
Edward Horsen atlas Archer Lee (cOl-