Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-01-04
Letter from Richmond.

| Correspondence Of the ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
RICHMOND, Va, Jan. S.-The bill in
troduced by Senator Moore, OF Fairfax, 10
| regard to the removal of causes from court
| to court regulates the removal from the Cor
/ poration Court of Alexandria 80 as to make
the practice in that court the same that at
tains in all the other Hustings courts otthe
State.
Hon. Basil B. Gordon, Senator from the
Rappahaunock district, was at the Capitol
to-day for the first time since the L-gisla
ture met. Mr.. Gordon received 8 warm
greeting from his personal and political
ftisnds who we're very glad to see him. He
is on the road to recovery but is still quite
feeble. He was talking with ex Attorney
General Ayers when I inquired as to his
health. SIT is only a question of time as to
my getting WE'LL" Aud then be added, "a
few months ago l thought 1t would be q
question of eternity" Mr.. Gordon and Gov.
Wilson, of West Virginia, were at the Capt.
toll together. The latter came here to secure
from Virginia the books in the Land Office
containing patents and land grants in GER.
tain counties In West Virginia, and contigu
oas to Virginia. He wants either to take
the original books back with him to West
Virginia or make copies Of the ssue.
Senators Berry, Moore aud Heaton will
speak to morrow upon the resolution intro.
dueed By Mr. Moore asking for On inyestiga-
ton into the criminal expenditures of last
year. Auditor Marye's report shows
some very startling and surprising fig
ures In regard to this matter. 10 the
Eighth coDgres ional district where
the revenue derived by the State
aggregated in round numbers 5000, coo,
| the criminal expenditures were q little over
thirteen thousand GOliars. Io the Ninth
| district where the revenue was in round
numbers 1928 900 The criminal expenses ag
| gregated over forty-one thousand dollars.
10 the Fourth district, known as the "black
| belt" the criminal expenditures aggregated
a little over thirteen thousand dollars, while
| the revenue derived was something like that
in the Ninth district. These figures seem to
a,tound Senators and the matter is to be
| closely investigated. Senator Smoot who
has given the matter some thought and the
| figures careful study thinks that thousands
of dollars could be saved to the State If this
sutiact was promptly investigated. He is
In favor of the re establishment of the whip.
| ping post law and thinks that whipping ia
| good for q white thief ss we'll as a black
thief. That u district which contributes
S123 900 to the revenue o the commonwealth
should expends $41 900 for criminal expenses
strikes the average Senator as being incom-
! prehensi5le, and therefore a lively discus.
sion of the suhjsc may be expected to-
morrow when Senator Moore's resolution
comes up on its passage.
Another matter in the line of sex
travagance" or "u;eless expenditure"
as Senators mildly put it, is the
amount Of money spent for certain
articles at the eleemosy nary institutions.
at one of the lunatic asylums appears an
item showing that 600 pounds of rosin was
purchased and 81 600 spent 10 liquors. II
can imagine how 80 600 could be spent in
whisky" says a legislator, "but to save the
life of me l can't imagine what was done
with 600 pounds Of rosin." A gentleman
who has given the subject OF ja!eps his pro.
found aud steady attention for some years,
and who has a statistical turn, estimates
that at the asylum where this money was
spent each inmate could have thirty.one
drinks a dav, and then, at the end Of the
year, the s. 1000 worth ofgood whisky would
not be all consumed. Upon THU particular
point Senator Peters, of Henry, is preparing
some sta istics.
The contested election cases in the Senate
will be considered by the Committee on
Privileges and Elections next week.