Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-02-25

letter from Richmond.

Especial Cor Of the Alexandra GAzErTE
RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 24.-By request,
Senator Harrison presented in the Senate
to-day petition of citizens of Frederick
county in relation to transportation and ag-
ricultural bills. Judging from the printed
caption to the petition it would be supposed
that Frederick county people proceeded
systematically, in the matter of getting slg'
natures. They demand this:
1st. The regulation of the cost of freight
and passenger traffic by the transportation
companies in the State: 80 as to prevent
discrimination ard fayoriteism at the ez :
pense of the producers and small shippers.
2nd. That the laws on the statute books,
in relation to the handling inspection and
sals of leaf tobacco 10 the Commonwealth,
be enforced, and II Inadequate to compel
compliance with their provisions, that they
be amended go as to attain the required end.
3ri That adequate provision DO made to
enable our agricultural department to pro-
perlv ipspect all fertiliz ,rs offered for sale
in the State, and that stringent laws be en-.
acted protecting the farmers against fraud
10 the purchase Of their commercial fertil-
| izer5.
The two first demands" will doubtless
| be- much discussed when the State COM
| merce bill which is now before the Senate
committee comes up for consideration.
II is expected that the House committee
| on counties, cities and towns will to moro"
report the bill to incorporate Charlottesville
az a CITY. There is a big fight going on over
this bill. Charlottesville owes about Sl5,
| 900 and the dispute ia as to how much Of
rnis debt must the county assume and how
much Charlottesville will Garry it she be-
| comes city.
| This afternoon while several members OF
| the special Joint committee of the Genera
Assembly, appointed to investigate matterf
in conn ection with the Virginia Military To-
stitute. were in the hall of the House o.
Delegates waiting for the committee to meet
two big rats ran out in the centre of the bal
and fought for several minutes. 1t was a
strange sight and plucky fight. The rats
rolled and tumbled over on the carpet unit
frightened OF by the noisy tread OF Other
members of The committee.
The bill to establish Normal School al
| William and Mary College, in connection
with the collegiate course there, was defeat
ed in the House, only because there were
eleven delegates absent who would have vo
ted for the bill. On account Of the latenes
| of the session the bill stands slim chance
of being passed if it should ever be called uE
again on motion to reconsider.
The Virginia Military Institute iovestiga
ton will close to morrow night. The com
mittee appointed to investigate the differ
ences which seem to have existed between
General Smith and the old board. of which
General T. T. Munford was chairman, have
endeavored to get at all the facts, and in
this they have succeeded, or rather will sue,
coed by tomorrow night. At the session o.
the committee tonight Mr.. Barton, of Win
chester, and Delegate Mayo, of Westmore
land, had little tongue tilt, and occasion
ally there was some cross firing between
Mr.. Barton and Col. Edmund Pendleton
counsel for Gen. Smith. Speaking OF Gen
Smith, am reminded of the fact that while
Mr.. Corcoran was dying in Washington
Gen. Smith was paying him noble tribute
for the aid that he had given to the Virgin
is Military Institute in the years gone.
B. P. O.