Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-04
LEGISLATURE BACK.
THE TWO HOUSES OF THE GENERAL As
sEMBLY 70 BE IN SESSION TO-DAY.
Holidays Being Over, Vow for Work on the
Public Debt, Railroad Charters,
Local Bills, &c.

az - Ah. tC-Nh1 tnc tNO hOuStS VI bilO
General Assembly will reconvene and
proceed to the serious work OF the ses-
sion. Before they adjourned for the
holidays they were able to elect United
States senator and all but one OF the
Capitol officers, that exception being the
Register Of the Land Office. Action in
that instance was postponed to await the
report of special committee appointed
to inquire into the truth of the charges
advanced when it was an open question
whether this Office should be abolished
or not
Judges for the Chancery Court and
Hastings Court of Richmond e~e also to
be elected, but the elections are mere for
malities. The nominations have been
made bythe Democrats, the selections are
accepted by the community, and it only
now remains for the eulogistic speeches
TO be made and the roll in each house
to be called.
The Republicans have determined,
with great unanimity, to cast their votes
for Hastings Judge for the present in
cumbent, Hon. Thomas S. Atkins while
with equal unanimity the Democrats
will support Mr.. Samuel B. Witt. For
judge OF the Chancery Court the Repub-
licans have resolved to throw their votes
for Henry Hudnell Esq, while the
Democrats will successfully record the
community's wishes that the Hon. T.. II.
Fitzhugh shall he returned TO the office
which he hoDored and from which he
was thrust by Malone.
GENERAL BUSINESS.
OF legislation of general character
there is less needed or proposed than
usual, and the public-debt question is in
a more satisfactory condition this year
than at any time since The funding bill
of 1871 was drafted by Governor Gilbert
G. Walker and passed by the Legisla-
ture.
The Coupon-C -Crusher has destroyed the
markets for coupons, and it is now for
the bondholdcrs to decide whether they
will accept 3 per cent. bonds in lieu of
their holdings or will devise new plans
for resisting in the courts 1.-THE crusher. "
Certain publications that have been made
to show that Virginia has not now
enough revenue to pay cent. on the
scaled-down debt If funded are being
used to demonstrate to holders of consol
bonds that if they fund in new 3's they
Will be 10 better of than now, and there
is rs yet no movement to show that the
British accept the situation. Mean
while, since the decision of the United
States Supreme Court, there have been
$500, 600 of 10-40 bonds and consol
coupons most of them fundable at 80
cents in the dollar surrendered for ex-
change into new 3's
BY an amendment put upon the Rid
dleberger bill since the Democrats came
into power certain coupons and interest
now amounting TO 5000, 600 have been
outlawed. 1t is believed that if prOyi-
sion could be made for these, even at 40
cents on the dollar the foreign bond
holders might possibly be inclined to
fund.
As things now stand very little debt
legislation is needed. Next to none, in
deed, prominent Legislators say, unless
the General Assembly is prepared to re-
peal the outlawry of the aforesaid
coupons and reinstate the Riddleberger
bill as it was when Malone passed it.
But then there is the financial condi-
ton of the State uttering warning!
The signs are that war is TO be made
on the peddlers, and if Mr.. Pollard's bill
passes each peddler afoot will have to
pay $500 for his license. At present by
tender OF coupons it costs him $l5.
Very few country merchants will weep
il this bill becomes law.
Mr.. Cooper has gone to England, but
will return in few weeks.
Mr. Royal said yesterday that he was
going to sue the sheriff Of Middlesex
county for Sl5, 600 damages for arresting
and confning in jail Friedman, one of
the peddlers heretofore referred to. Mr..
Royal added: "Within the course of a
week ] shall institute some twenty or
thirty more suits for damages in the
United States Court in cases III which
the States officers have trespassed upon
the rights OF persons who have been ten
dering coupons for taxes"
1t was understood yesterday that Mr..
Royal had received a cablegram from
the Council Of Foreign Bondholders
authorizing him to continue the fight,
but when approached on the subject he
refused to give anything out for publ
cation.
LIVELY FIGHT.