The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-01
TO be GOVERNOR TO-DAY
HOW p. W. MklNNEy WILL TAKE
THE OATH or OFFICE.

ant-ts0yernOr j. ltoxc iltcf, anu H'""Ns
General r. TAYLOR Scott will he installed IN
Office to-day at neen. To-day, too, the Leg
islaturc relassembles AFTER the holidays, and
the legislators with their lips still rcdoleni
Of Christmas turkey and the incidental
favored Accomplishments. viii commence
their labors In earnest. OF course, all the
Members went home 10 spend Christmas
tide. No induccment that would prove
sufficiently strong could have been offered
them 10 remain In Richmond at such a time,
and II is probably fact that no Nirginians
80 thoroughly enjoy the season as those who
live I'm the country. City folk know notil-
ing materially Of the pleasures that sur
,onnd this M Rod In the districts where the
sound Of the tin horn and the popping OK
the nre-crackers would raise an alarm.
And neither class for the ncnce would be
willing 10 make the exchange.
The General Assembly rarely does more
before the usual recess than organize, ap-
poinf committees. and cut out work for the
new wear. This. Of course, Is locking at
the subject from the staiesman's stand
point. who does not regard the local meas
s,resxnacred as consequential. To allow a
man 10 build a fence or a wharf in 'front.' OF
his Mace. or 10 remit his taxes is Of vital
importanee 10 km-the very thing he may
nave been working for for ycars-but never
tbeless il Is local legislation and therefore
unimportant in the light Of public good and
welfare.
WORK DONE SO PAR.
The session began ON the 9TH Of Decem-
her. Election of officers first occurred, and
among the first bills introduced was one by
senator blackstone, declaring certain
ground under water. known as Hog Island
Flats. open and eligible for the planting and
saving OF OYSTERS" Similar bills followed,
and the Committee on Courts Of Justice will
consider the subject at an early day. Very
appropriately, the Legislature adopted reso-
buttons Of regret at the death Of their for
mer confrerees. Genera! Williams {. Wick
BAN and Colonel ID. 4. Houston, and eulo-
CYSTIC speeches were made on day spe-
cially set apart for the purpose by Senator
HeatOn and others. Then the news came OF
the death Of the father of Lieuienant-Goy-
ernOr Tyler, and suitable resolutions
Of coincidence were passed. This had
hardly been done when the President Of the
late Southern COnfederacy passed away, and
the Legislature at once ordered the Sags
waving over It's head 10 be lowered, and
adopted resolutions OF sympathy. A few
behalf of the state. TO accept the Lee mon.
ument from the Lee Monument Association
The monument will probably be finished
before the session ends. After appointing
its committees. the Legislature proceeded tf
eject the state officers controlled by It al
were reelected except Dr. Buchanan, as
Superintendent OF Public Instruction. The
Doctor had been rendered and had accepted
the Presidency of Randolph Macon College
and in his place was elected Hon. John T.
MaHsey.
FIRST RAILROAD BILL.
The first railroad bill introduced-te
-Ya,sr-,e the Martinybnrg and Potomac Kali
road Conrranrinto the Cumberland Aallel
and Martinsburg Railroad Company
passed Immediately, there being no oppOsi
lion nor objection. The company merged
was incorporated by Virginia aud Yves
Virginia to run road from Winchester
through Martinsburg 10 the Potomac river
When II had been built from the Potomac
10 Martinsburg il got into financial dlillcul
ties. and was sold to the Cumberland Val
lev and Martinsburg Railroad Company
N West Virginia organization. The roa(
has zoe been completed 10 Winchester.
CONvICIs ON THE SQUARE.
The agitation in previous years over th'
employment Of cOn1ict labor on the Capio
Smiare is likely Ia have a recurrence thi
session. The public will remember The eN
citement the measure created-at least, II
the columns Of the press, which daily point
ed out 30 the SOl0ns the necessity for r.
moving this scar from the face OF the state
green park and substituting white pai'
labor. For days the Legislature discussed
IL. and i'm either house the bill went through
,he various stages Of development. FINALLY
tod ~ IIngIEH
fused 10 concur. Senator LOVenstein ha
ALREADY introduced bill at this session
10 abolish the cOnyicts. AS matter o
fact, the striped gang ought to 60 II TN
reasons urged i'm support OF their remONa
are worthy of consideration. some people
argue. and not without force, that this com
municatiOn with :he outside world 10y pen
iteptiary prisoners is contrary to the sentl
ment implied in their sentence. VIVA
punishment. fOysOOth, Is there 10 the iel0l
who spends the major part OF his day
usua " In idleness, in the Capitol square
where the scene is constantly Drlgh
and lively. where people are constantly
congregating and passing, and where th'
distaft iron fence takes the place OF Tux
pris0p baIsy Again: IL is alleged that th'
sonyicfs conflict with honest labor; tina
they do work which respectable men SHOULD
I've given. Also, that the prisoners IN ant
about the State house. especially IN IN
dark passages of the basement. brighter
etrinyers. some Of whom have really beel
known 20 flee for fear of attack
or course there are reasons for RETAINING
,he conyicts. and they have been urged wait
Vi,or b,> seyeral legislators. IL IS said, 100
: that the squirrels object 10 CHANGE DC
cause they are well fed and cared for now
and are content TO Yet well-encugh alone
However the matter IL settled, It's consider
alton will provoke much controversy, II D.
the past the future may be judged.
THE AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER.
measure which evoked much dc
hate during the first part ot the session
WAS the bill 10 provide that the COMMITS
sioner OF Agriculture be elected by the Get
eraI Assembly instead of appointed by III
Goyerpor. I'm this connection the point wa
raised that the commissioner should be
,racticai farmer, and an amendment wa
s.ft.,red Ia the bill 10 make this accomplish
,nent obligatory but no conclusion wa
reached before the recess, and the consio
Grafton of the whole matter was postpone
until the 9th OF January.
A most unique line OF legislation iolloMo
the passage Of the bin Incorporating IN
tmerican Tobacco Company. The mea
without matSre consideration, and after
Ind passed. both Houses suddenly awaken
sdto the fact that the bill was Objectionable
inasmuch as il gave corporation "a eAS
tooce ocfiftv years. and took away lis Ow
power 10 annul it before that period M
Elapsed. Then the curious Legislation
began with the introduction OF
io;nf resolution directing the keope
Of Rolls TO withhold the bill from the Gov
crnor. In order TO prevent his signing II an
making IL law. la she senate The discus
sion Of the resolution waNed warm Tor
couple OF hours, the main question raise
be;ny as 10 whether such measure wa
constitutional after a bill had passed an
cone beyond the authority Of both houses
Suddenly somebody asked; "Nherc is th
bili now: has the Keeper Of Rolls receive
n yetf- just then senator came in an
said the Governor had already signed tn
bill.
INAUGURAL CEREMONIES.