Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-12-12
Letter from Richmond.

CORRESPONDENCE OF the ALEXANDRIA GA7 ETTE !
RICHMOND, Va, Dec. II Three speech.
es were delivered in the Senate aud three
in the House to day upon the resolutions in
respect to tie memory of Jeferson Davis,
and Senator Moore, of Fairfax, can justly
Law claim to having made the best speech of
the occasion in either branch Of the General
Assembly. The Senate chamber was crowd
ed az the time with members OF the Farm :
ers' Assembly. members of the Grand Lodge
Of Mssors and quite number of ladies.
The nsnal noise and humdrum of the Senate
chamber was noticeably absent to-day. a
deem degree of solemnity manifested itself
in the large audience. and the occasion was
one that will long be remembered by all
WIN were present. Had Senator Moore's
snaecb been written out the Senate would
doubtless have adopted q resolution direct.
ing that it be spread upon the records ofthe
Senate. Such an honor has not been &C
corded. as far as l have been able to ascer-
tair, but to three Senators in history of our
Com wealth. believe it was Edmund
Pendleton who was first accorded this hon.
or. next came Beverly Douglass, and the
last was General Williams G. Wicknam's
speech, when Col. Heros Won Borcke
presented to the State of Virginia the large
sword he wore when following Jeb. Stuart.
I he sword is now in the State library.
Colonel Morton Marye will retain all his
old clerks. He has been urged by several
members of the legislature to give positions
to new men, but the Colonel does not seem
willing to put force or even part OF q
force of verdant clerks in places BOW filed
by men who are thoroughly acquainted with
their duties.
1t is not probable that any bill relating to
change In the election laws will be con.
si6ered by either branch of the General AS
sembly until after the Christmas holidays.
There seems to be a very general desire to
amend the law now in existence, aud
number of legislators have numberof views
upon this subject which they will lay before
the committee which will have to consid.
or this subject.
Mr.. Massey the Superintendent OF Public
Instruction will have the appointment OF
TWO clerks and autor. The first clerk
in his office is paid Sl2C0 year and there
ale q dczsn or so men who would like to
have that place. The appointment will be
ma lie eery next month. The present frs.
clark in This Office i5 Mr.. Sandy McGlldrsy
of Richmond.
Delegate w vi
ty, is q great public school man. He takes
considerable interest in everything relating
to the advancement Of the public schools in
the Commonwealth. He has just intro
duced bill that will send q thrill Of icy
through the heart of every school trustee In
the State if the bill becomes q law. The
salary OF school trustee at present is 3
wear, unless be Ia clerk of board, and
then 1t will average $50 10 the counties.
MIR. Wilkins wants the g trustees to be
made S12 men, and it is expected that when
bis bill comes before the House be will make
the effort of his life and convince that body
of intelligent statesmen that salary of ST.
aud exemption from jury service is not too
much to give men VITO do SO .000 worth OF
work year for 81 and get LOCO abuses
Thrown in to boot"
Senator Mcdonald, of Northumberland,
was 10 federal Office, and it is said that
he made splendid record there. he is
republican and may, perhaps, get the next
republican nomination for Congress in the
First district While the eu!ogies CD J fer
son Davls were being delivered in the Sen
ate tc- lay Mr.. Mcdonald was one Of the
most attentive listeners. He did not make
q speech on he occasion, but seemed to be
deeply touched at the deep love and veneer
alton manifested by the Senator from dlou.
cester, Mr.. Stubs, fer the dead President OF
the Confederacy
The bill introduced by Mr.. Maynard, o. Ports
mouth, making it perjury for falsely swearing in
rendering liss of personal property for assess
mont 20. taxatlon is being much discussed. 1t
is g fact said friend OF the bill to-day, that
not ono man in one hundred gives q tair valua
tion OF his personal property to the ssessor, and
if this bill ia passed and the law strictly carried
out there will be trouble in paying the State
debt" There are others. however, who take a
different view OF the bill, sud think that the e1-
atng law csn be made to cover the point at lssue'
B.P. O.
--S--s---------