National Republican., 1888-02-06
GOSSIP FROM RICHMOND.

senate.
Special Correspondence of the REruBLIcAS.l
RICHMOND, Feb. 4.--Richmond is unique
In one particular at least, her newspapers
do not quarrel with one another. 1t is the
first city, town, village, or community OF
any sort able to support more than one
newspaper that have yet known OF In
which this happy state OF things was 80
beautifully illustrated. There are four
daily papers here-the Dispdtch, Wig,
Times, and State, the latter being the only
afternoon publication. 1nstead.of the nsual
chickering's that so much disiigure jour
nalism, we sec here nothing but mutual
compliments. Whether this has always
been so know not, and 1t may be sort OF
calm before the storm, and therefore
untrustworthy as a permanent sign.
only speak of the situation as It is Here
tofore II has been the custom OF the morn
ing dailies to publish only eix Issues
week, skipping Monday, but with this
week Mr.. Page McCarty's journal, the
Times, inaugurated the fashion OF an issue
every Cay, and the Dispatch forthwith has
an editorial paragraph compllmenting Mr..
McCarty, and saying all the other morning
papers would eventually come to the came
thirg. Really this makes one feel that the
lion and the lamb may soon lie down to-
gether. The Dispatch and the Wig also
compliment each other every few days,
and thus IL goes on all around the whole
journalistic circle.
A member OF the house OF delegates has
been detected in using railroad passes that
he bad borrowed from fellow members to
carry two Of bis constituents to Washing
ton and back as 0 sort OF recompense for
past political services, II not bait for sim
| liar services in the future. A resolution
was passed yesterday authorizing the ap.
pontment OF a committee Of five to investi-
gate the wrongful use OF railroad passes.
| No doubt there have been abuses 10 more
| than one instance. But would IL not Look
| better II members would not accept these
| fayOrs from railroads, even for their own
use is not the acceptance of pass by
| member Of the legislature good deal as II
| member Of the supreme Court were to do
| the same when the giver OF the pass had
| a case pending before the tribunal of
which be is member? In other words,
| is IL not mild form of bribery
| Why does the railroad give pisses
to couple OF hundred members of the
legislature unless they expect return.
But suppose the legislature Is unfrendly to
the railroad? Does 1t look well to accept a
favor with one hand while you strike II
blow with the other? In either event 1t puts
legislature In au awkward position, and 1t
would certainly look better II me.iUers
would not accept passes at oil III some OF
, TIE ota;2a .hcy are not allowed to do so
| under the constitution.
II must be rather embarrassing to the
members Of both branches Of the assembly
here to have such poor accommodations for
visitors In their respective chambers There
is but one gallery In the senate chamber,
and as II is taken possession Of early In the
day by all sorts of people, ladies could not
be asked to 60 there, and the only other
place for them Is the corner on the main
floor and behind the last row Of seats, where
there are two or three chairs and two small
divans-room enough, perhaps, for six or
seven persons altogether. There are two
galleries In the house, one for colored peo-
pie, the other for the same class of whites
as use the gallery in the senate. There Is
absolutely no accommodation for ladies'
except at the desks Of members. Where lady
visitors have friends in the house they can
find seats, but II they are strangers they
are obliged to stand or go out There is
hardly day that ladies are not subjected
to the humiliation of having to leave the
house without finding a seat. This en-
barrassment will probably have to be en-
dured until Virginia is able to have new
capitol.
One Of the noticeable features Of the
present membership Of the state senate Is
the membership OF four young men who
were classmates at the university, and all Of
them, | believe, are yet unmarried. They
| arc ". NhiIOu VI tilC lOuitCtubu
triet; j. W. G. Blackstone, of the thirty
seventh; James L. Gordon, OF the thtr-
teentb, and T. w. Harrison, from the
twelfth. Each one is serving his first term,
and all are this side Of 30. Gordon looks
like youth, being rather slight Of stature,
and all Of them are innocent OF beard,
except Moore, who has the beginning OF
one in the form of mustache. They are
certainly a youthful looking quirtette
of senators, Mr.. Moore being the
largest aud most mature looking. Hs
is perhaps the finest looking man In the
Senate and would attract attention in any
company. Blackstone is tall and very
slender, and has a perchant for dudish
clothes, in fact, If such designation were
admissible, he might be appropriately
calt d the dude OF the senate. He sits be-
side Gen. Wickham, who is gray and fat, so
that the contrast is striking. All those
young men have shown aptitude for their
work in the senate, Messrs. Moore, Cor.
don, and Harrison often taking part IN the
public discussions; In fact, they are among
the most active and useful members of the
body.
Never before in the history OF Tie ' r.
ginia legislature have there been before tina,
body so many applications for railroad and
developing charters as there are at this
present session. A great mai ority OF them
hail from the southern, southeastern, and
southwestern parts Of the state. The greatest
activity seems to be developing along the
North Carolina line and in the direction Of
Tennessee. or course, not every road will
be built for which charter is asked ol
, granted, but the very fact that the legisla
ture is being pressed for the privilege OF
opening up this country indicates unusual
activity, and good deal is sure to come oi
| IL. Great mineral deposits exist In the re-
gior referred to, and untold wealth will
some. day flow from them, Virginia receiving
her share OF the beseGts. II is more thar
possible line of road will be be con.
structed into the coal and lumber regIo rs
Of West Virginia, with an eastern terminus
on the Potomac at Alexandria within the
, next two years, thus opening up another
rich field, the chief advantages Of which
will come to this state. The prospect Is
more hopeful all around. While the lands IL
exhausted and unfit for agricultural
purposes, the manufacturing industries Of
the state are just starting into prosperity
with boundless field before them. In nc
part of the United States has development
} Of latent wealth been so backward since
, the war as in the two Virginias, but II
, looks as though the era Of prosperity had
: its growth Will make amends for Its tardi-
) | ness.
The disposition OF the senate of the pres.
ent legislature is to give the greatest en-,
couragement to all railroad, mining, and
manufacturing enterprises. The members
! OF that body are an unusually liberal and
/ broad'minded class OF men. They are ex-
! eeedingly anxious to see new elements ot
wealth and prosperity added to the state
and they are thoroughly In sympathy witt
l the idea that Virginia is to be manufac
, turing state, and that all manufacturing
endeavors should be encouraged. In The
house there is more narrow. mindednesc
, and greater disposition to hinder new de
= yelopments, but this retrogade element /:
| in the minority, and the enlightened senti
! ment ia in the lead. One Of the best mem
| berg is Mr.. j. 4. RYAN. OF Lnndnnn nnnnEu