Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-12-16
Letter from Richmond.
Special Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
RICHMOND, Va. Dsc. Is, 1891

Special Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.
RICHMOND, Va. DEC. Is, 1891.
COL Wiilism F. Giddings, Whose death
occurred in Cdris.feld yesterday Tns o
member of the House of Delegates In 1880
and vas General Mahone's right band man.
Dol. GiddlDSs csms to Virginia liz 1867 from
Oaio e1d fer twenty years was ve,y promi-
aent in politics. Giddings was committee
tlssk In the Oaio Legislature when Salmon
P. Chase vas elected to the Unifed States
Senate. have heard Col. Giddlpgs recall
that memorable contest and he wss lnstru-
mental in securing Cbass's election. There
was deadIock 10 the Ohio Legislature, and
Glddirgs being fres trader and leader In
that party, worked o racket that elected
Chase" Malone used to depend upon Gid
dngs to do The talking in the House during
the stormy days OF rea6jusmeDt. Ho was
fearless telker aud u very Impressive
speaker. There sre doZsn or more rer-
soma now 10 the Legislature who served In
the days Of readjustment whe1 Giddings
led the republican hosss and wes sss!e.ed
by Jim FREEZER of Rick bridge.
The Legislators who are personally In
tersed In the debt settlement had their
beads together yesterday end the policy
they seemed to agree upon was to assume
an attitude OF mastery inactivity for awhile
at least. If the report from London that
the bondholders will not accept the Ameri-
can committes's scheme is true then the
debt question is likely to be discussed again
in this Legislature.
Delegate Spencer OF Les county has in.
troduced bill In the House requiring judges
OF county and city courts to practice &C least
two years at the bar before they can be
eligible to the judge,hip. The member from
Lee thinks that some CT tho parties plying
for judgeships are too young and he wants
to put stop to tho rapid rise OF the young
lawyer as far ss his election to the bench is
concerned.
The speeches delivered in the House end
Senate to-day nominating Hon. John W.
Daniel for the United States Senate were
listened to with marked attention. Senator
Peters, OF Henry county, took the bouquet
for oratoticsl flights aud Won the admitting
plaudits Of the Senate. It was expected
that Cyclone Jim Marshall, Of Craig, would
have something to say, bat he did not on
this occasion. He has big speech in him
but ia saving it until after Christmas when he
will make tie Senate chamber shake. The
grip has been playing around ths round
form Of Senator Marshall and 1t hes COM
pletely ungssre1 his bust craftsmanship.
he thinks Chrlstmes holiday in the
mountains will bring him ell right egaiu.
Barkeepsrs IN the nsighbcihood OF tie
Capitol are complaining OF the drgness Of
the present Legislature. They sey that
there are only three or four heavy drinkers
in tho General Assembly a1d they speak
Of the body as IS very dry crowd" l. s g
fact there are remarkably few drinking men
In this Legislature, that is to say men Tno
are frequently going out for dram.
The bills pending In the Senate presented
by the Committee on Criminal Expenses
have jas. been printed. This is matter
that will evoke much discussion as the re-
duotlon Lha. is claimed by the passage OF
thess bills will aggregate SIS. 900 year.
There are halt dczsn more Common
weslth Attorneys in the Legislature and
these gentlemen are making special study
OF these prepared laws.