Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-02-20
Letter from Richmond.
Special Cor. of the Alezandris GAznr,


Especial Cor OF the AleIandris GAZETTE
RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 19-Msior William,
Ellis tells NE that he can show as result of
the investigation ordered by the Senate in
the Ellis-Houston contested election case,
that be was elected By majority of twenty.
two or twenty-three, instead CT Houston
being elected by majority of eleven. The
record in this csse embracing the testimony
OF ISL witnesses, filing over 700 pages of
tvpe.writing, will be banded in to the COM
1nittee Thursday, and will be SO indexed
that there will not be the slightest trouble
in finding at once all the evidence bearing
upon a particular point. The other con
tested election cases in the House are not
looked upon with that importance that this
one is because the Senator from the Roam
oke district holds over next session. This
case will doubtless come up az privileged
one. and If the cub committee appointed to
conduct the investigation decides this week
that the evidence should be printed their
action NAV be regarded as favorable to the
seating of Major Ellis. The investigation
was a long and tedious one, and Senator
Moore. OF Fairfax, who is chairman of the
sub committee, shortened to great extent
the investigation by getting the sub-commlt-
tee to adopt resolution prohibiting coun-
gel on either side to argue any points before
the sub committee. His object wac to take
the evidence as hurriedly AZ possible, at the
same time giving each side opportunity 10
produce ali the witnesses desired. Ii there
is any argument to be made upon the ex-
ceptions taken, it will be done before The
full committee.
General Francis II. Smith, OF the Virginia
Military Institute, in giving in biz testimony
concerning the trust funds OF that institution
made a clesr statement which impressed
every member of the investigating commit
tee. One by one he explained Tho status OF
the various trust funds and when lie got 10
the Richardson gift he said General
Richardson and his daughter were dying to-
ge,her in the town of Lexington. One was
diving in ono room and the other dying
in room adioiring. Neither knew that
the other was passing away, and by alngu'
lar and might well say remarkable coin
cidence, both Mt the same time wrote will
leaving all they had to the Virginia Militia
ry l.aiitnie. Neither knew what the other
was doing, and both in their last hours
were anxious to help the Virginia Military
Institute, General Richardson or his daugh-
ter we're net worth cent. 1t ls true that
they left large farm, but 1t was so heavily
mor.gaged that the Institute could not
wipe out the debt. If it had been able to
have done so something could have been re.
allied from the advancement OF the value oil
the property, but alas thatwas not done, and
30 the institute received not cent from
General Richardson aud his daughter,
whose thoughts in their last hours turned
TO the institution that they had 80 strongly
loved" That General Smith will satisfactc-
r:ly explain all the inuendoes or impllca
tons in General Munford's report there is
not the slightest doubt AT Lexington
| General MuDford declared during the in
vestigation that it was not his purpose to
cast slur upon his old preceptor, General
Smith, but he was prompted in doing what
ne did for Virginia. Brutus.like he ex-
claimed in substance, mot that love my
old preceptor less, but Virginia more" To.
morrow night when the investigation will
be resumed in Richmond General Munford
will ask that members of the old board OF
visitors OF the institute be examined to show
that his report was but the refexed views
ofthe entire board. The witnesses summoned
for tomorrow are Cola. g. Buford, OF Rich
mopd, Col. Daingelfed Lewis of Clarke,
Capt. Ward, of Washington county, ..and one or
two others, including Col. joseph Sherrard
and Mr.. Letcher, of Lexington. At Lex
ipgton there was quite spat between Gen.
MnnfoId and Col. Edmund Pendleton, Of
counsel for General Smith. 1t was the out
growth OF somewhat personal attack
which Col PenGleton made upon General
Munford 10 an exceedingly delicate man
ner, ell OF which may find its way in the
record.
If the Chicago spectators who are so
anxious to remove Libby prison to that city
we're to visit old Libby now they would not
think it is the same old Libby that makes
such nice showing in photograph. 1t is
question whether the war memories that
cluster around this historic prison will lin
ger as long as the guano smell which per-
fumes the interior of the building. libby
is removed the Chicago people will perhaps
be required to cologne the building, or else
euano perfume or tobacco odor will mar
some of the bitter memories.
1t seems to be the general impression that
the Legislature will adjourn sine die about
the 10Th of March. Delegates are arranging
to get away about that time. The appropri.
alton bill will not be passed until the last
week ofthe session.
There are about 600 local or private
bills on the Senate and House calendar.
The only one that see of special interest to
Alexandria people is the one establishing an
experiment station al Arlington. This has
passed the Senate but it will otget through
the House unless called up by Mr.. Corbet
when his turn comes to call private bill.
B.P. o.
Why the Blair Education Bill Ought
Not TO become Law.
L. IL la O., 1rr.1rrr 10