Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-11-22
UP UNDER THE DOME.
fAcTsANc GOSSIP cATRsREoiN rHE
CAPITOL OFFICES.


for the coming Of the General Assembly,
which meets nj u O'Clock NJ. on she first
Wednesday in December, which Is the
second dAy OF that month.
The prospect Of settlement Of the
public debt has gwen cheer to tho off,
ciass as well 40 TO the community gene
rally. Tho Democratic party Of Virginia
through its accredited commission Is
deserving OF the highest commentator
for the earnest manner In which they have
lshored 70 reach q conclusion and the pa
triotic and generous impulses which
prompted such. The Democratic Legisla..
ture which is about 20 assemble will
doubtless voice the wishes of their con-
stiiucnts Ia promptly passing such statu-
tory enactmcnts as will carry into effect
the final solution Of this long-agitated
subject.
CANDIDATE ron oyyTcE.
Candidates for the Offices to be filed by
The two houses respectively and by the
General Assembly in its collective capacity,
II numerous, have not yet announced
themselves. Two or three are spoken OF
and two for Register Of the Land Office.
No opposition to the present incumbents
Of the various places 10 be filed by each
house In their separate organizations Is
heard OF except in the case OF q doorkeeper
Of the House. Many applicants appear for
the positions Of clerks 70 the CON-
mittees of each house. These particular
positions, though possibly deemed By some
TO be somewhat easy berths and requiring
no special capacities. are yet full OF i'm
portance.
QUALIFICATIONS OF cLEEKs.
While II is true that good handwriting
h desirable, yet many who write the best
OF hands may be far from possessing the
other necessary qualifications. such as
nuickly comprehending the nature and
purport and effect OF the amendments 20
bills which are made IN each branch and
which they are called upon 10 incorporate
In their respective proper places. These
clerks do the engrossing of all the bills and
they should have minds capable of drafting
bills when the outlines have been agreed
upon by the committees. Experience and
training are valuable qualifications, and II
those who have done practical work in
these departments and have proved ell
Gent apply for retention the appointing
powers, prompted by a sense OF official
obligation. have generally been infiu-
enced TO reappoint them. The business
pf General Assembly commences at once
and the experienced heads have no time
10 train assistants who possibly II they
had training might prove themselves as
the starting of railroad engines on rapid
transit, 10 is desirable, If not actually
necessary. to have assistant engineers who
know how TO manage the valves and steam
pressure at the outset.
couErY JuDGEsHIPs.
There will possibly be some spirited
contests over some of the county judge
ships and the friends of aspiTants are al
ready on the alert.
No opposition viii DO made to the re-
election of Hon. John w. Daniel to the
Senate of the United States. HIS acknow-
lodged fitness and faithful services are
worthy of unanimous recognition.
Toe redistricting of the State for
legislative and congressional apportion-
ment are matters that will engage
thoughtful consideration; the question
of the preservation OF oysters and OF OBJ
tanning revenue therefrom, and the sub
feet of q reduction of the criminal expenses
are full Of import.
A railroad commission bill will be dis
cussed pro and con. an increased appro-
priation to the Confederate Soldiers
Home: contribution towards the erection
Of tho monument 10 the Confederate
soldiers and sailors q Worlps-falr apprO-
pristion. and many other matters of mo-
ment will be brought up.
STATE oANvAssIEG BOARD.
The State Canyassing Board meets at the
CAPITOL tomorrow TO canvass the vote in
the last election for members of the Cen
sral Assembly. The board consists of the
Governor. the Secretary OF the Common;
wealth, the Treasurer, the Auditor, and
the Attorney-G General, any three of whom
can act. The only contest known as likely
10 come before the body is that of Mr.. Bid
rood -. r.. Il. Il. Stewart. for the House,
from Norfolk county. -,
Hon. John l.. Hurt will be candidate
for reelection as President pro tenn. of the
Senate, which position he has filled with
ability and impartiality and TO the general
satisfaction OF the body and the public for
a number of years. IL Is not likely that ne
will have opposition.
II is generally conceded that Hon. II.
III. Card well will succeed himself as Speak
er of tho House. He has made most ex-
cellent and popular speaker, and combines
In rare degree the frmness, courtesy, and
knowledge of parliamentary law necessary
for tho position.
THE DIET SETTLEMENT.
Ex-senator Warwick, secretary of the
Virginia Dent Commission, Is hard at work
getting into shape all the papers bearing
upon the debt conference. There are
many facts and figures TO be set forth and
considerable correspondence TO be ar
ranged. When his labors shall have been
completed the commission will meet to
prepare their report 20 the General Assem-
bly, II is hoped TO dispose of the debt
matter before the adjournment for the
Christmas holidays, and as the apportion-
ment OF tho State for members OF the Le-
pislature must be completed this year the
nrst weeks Of the session promise 10 exact
q vast deal of labor from the members.
THE PRIScIPAL OF THE DEBT.
l. ~ &c inf faa
tures IL the new basis OF settlement con-
sidered more favorable than that provided
FOR in the Riddlebergar bill, but when the
history OF the latter act is examined II Will
be seen that the amount OF PRINCIPAL OF
the debt that would have been held against
the State by it was but little less than the
amount will be under the new settlement.
For instance, under the new settlement the
principal foots mp S25 900 900, divided into
81 .0OD.0O0 of Riddlebergers. including
literary fund, and Sl9,0O0,00O new 2s-Ss:
Under the Riddleberger act as an original
proposition promulgated IN 1881 the
amount of the debt was arbitrarily Tecog-
Eized at S29, 900, 600, not including the
ktersry fund. When, however, the act
came TO its passage IN 1889 tue addition Oh
accumulated interest that had 10 be fund
ed and the literary fund brought the
amount Of principal up to within fraction
Of &26, 900.
YESTERDAY Governor Mckinney received
letter from Mr.. w. X. Irigg, president
Of the Richmond Locomotive and Ma
ehine-Works COMPANY. congratulating
him on behalf of the officers and emploves
of the company on the result of the debt
conference.
Mr.. John NJ. Specie, clerk of the Bedford
Court, and Commissioner of the Revenue
Toy, of Northampton. were at the Capitol
yesterday.