The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-07
TO BE VACATEDIN MARCH
CANDIDATES ANXIOUS 10 BECOME
EEGISTLR or THE LIND OFFICE.
Patronage of the O~nce->tate Senator
Williams to be MIR. Ipes' >ectetary.

present Register OF the Land Office, has
been elected member of Congress from
M Fourth District. will soon create a
vacancy in one of the most important de-
partmcnts OF the State Government.
While Mr.. Epes has not yet rendered fis
resignation, he will DO so soon. for the
iaw requires him TO do so before he can
lLaHfy as member of the House OF Rep
r-csentatiyes. Governor O'Ferrall Will
have To appoint his successor for the
uneNpired term. which will end with the
present year. and "A good deal OF specula-
ton is being INDUCED In at present about
the Capitol building. as TO VINO the lucky
person Will be.
While Speaking on the subject yester-
day morning. Mr.. Epes told "a representa-
tive OF The Times that he had not yet de-
tcrmined when he would present his re-
signation 10 the Governor. but whenever
he decided to take this step. he would do
so with the prOviso that the resignation
should take place on March LIST. The
Governor will then have 10 appoint a sue
ccssor. who is to serve until u LIST.
lsgs. and the Legislature will at the be-
ginning OF the session next winter elect
"A Register of the Land once. together
with tho other State officials. who come
under their Jurisdiction for a term Of
two years. The salary of that Office is
81. 500 a year.
APPOINTED HIS SECRETARY.
Mr.. Epes has in his gift rs "a member
Of the House Of Representatives the
privilege OF appointing a private secre-
tary. who viii draw q salary OF 1920 per
year. OF the various applications made
10 him for the place. Mr.. Epes has al
ready made his selection and has APP
.H-.- H.-a. .a..s. Lnrmn A"HN-
Iams. OF Gainesville. M~ecklenburg coun-
~. Mr.. Epes viii qualify together with
AN the other Congrcssmeu-elect on March
ith. and quite "a number OF his personal
friends have expressed their intention 10
accompany him on that trip 20 Wash
ingtOn 20 see him take the oath AS mem
Der OF tho House OF Representatives.
Should there be no extra session Of
Congress. Mr.. Epcs viii not take his seat
until next December. but will Of course
be- entitled 10 the emoluments Of his Of
fee from the very moment Of his qualih-
cation. I'm that case the contest for his
seat. which will be- made hy Mr.. Thorp.
VIII not he considered by the committee
ON contested elections before the end Of
the present year. and no matter what
tho result may be. il will not be reached
before Mr.. Epes has served at least one
half Of his term.
SOME OF HIS CANDIDATES.
Among the numerous applicants men
TONED for the position of Register Of the
Land Ofice is Colonel John u. Richard
son. OF Marion. Smyth county. who IS
az present one OF the attaches Of the
office. Ills friends claim that he stands
the best Glance OF being appointed. mas
much az his selection would give recog-
milton 20 the Southwest. which az pres
ent has no direct representation IN the
principal state offices. Besides him there
are mentioned "a good many other names
for the place. and among them the fol-
lowing: Henry ~. Marshall. OF Charlotte
county. nc present q clerk at the peniten-
tiary. q. Sterling Stratton. member OF
the House OF Delegates. from AppOmat-
t0X county. who was "a competitor for the
office nc the beginning OF the last session
~ the Legislature. John Jackson. a
former member of the Legislature from
Richmond; Joseph 4. Duke. of Norfolk.
Ben. T.. owen, Jr., OF Manchester.
AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION.
While Section ls3 of the Code Of Vir-
ginia fixes the salary OF tho Register Of
the Land OAice at $3.50 per year, Sec
tons 800. and 1905 OF the Code gave him
am additional t5JO per year as custodian
OF the standard weights and measures.
The gentlemen VINO preceded Mr.. Epcs
-FE E"E- E.H ELNN
500 annually under section 1908 of the
Code, but FOR many years past the
weights. measures nd balances were hid
den away I'm the garrett # The Capitol
building over the old State Library rooms,
and the State officials hardly knew OF
their existence. When Mr.. EDcs entered
upon his duties as Register OF the Land
onfce after the death of Major Gaines.
De lound the weights, measures and bal
auct3 on one OF nis trips or inspection
through the building. He had them at
once removed 90 the basement, where he
sa- a room aside for their keeping after
thcy had been properly cleaned.
when the Legislature met during the
session 1926. Nr. Epcs. who had then
completed the uucXpircd term OF Major
Gaines. was reelected for the position by
the Lawmakers OF this state. lie had.
how ever. hardly entered upon his full
term when the LEGISLATURE amended the
Code by repeating section 1916. which
liked tho duties a. se1lcrs Of weights and
measures iu This state. After the offices
Of sealers Of weights and measures had
been abolished I'm this manner in tho
various sections Of the state the Lcgisla-
turo. Of course. declined 20 continue the
additional $500 as compensation for the
Superintendent Of Weights and Measures.
PATRONAGE OF THE OFFICE.
ono OF the reasons why the oilce Of
Register or the Land Office is "a very
desirable Do may boz found ODD the large
amount of patronage ln the glft Of that
Official. The Governor, by whose appoint
meut. as stated above, the new Register
OF the Land Office viii hold Office until
the end Il the present year. is said TO
have received already more han twenty
applications Jf persons Who are willing 10
serve the 81 te in that capacity.
Under the provisions OK the Code. the
Register of the Land Office is entitled to
make the following appointments, nlne-
teen IN all.
one clerk. at a salary OF $3.50 per year.
ono jauitOr 10 the basement C%tlces. at
$3.50 per year.
one engineer for the Capitol and other
public buildings. az $1,000 per year.
one JauitOr for tho galleries OF the
Capitol building. az $500 per year.
One conductor Of the elevator in the
Capitol building. az $3.50 per year.
one fireman of the elevate I'm the
Capitol building. at gao per year.
some policemen az the Capitol building.
Including one sergeant. az $50 per year
each.
one night Waterman for the Treasurcr's
and Second Auditors Office in the Libra
~ building. a. 500 per year. he D. APP
pointed by the Register of the Land Office
upon The recommendation Of the Auditor
Of Public Accounts. Second Auditor and
Treasurer.
ono night Waterman for the Court Of
Appeals. IN the Library building. at $3.50
per year.
one conductor Of tho elevator at the
Liir@rv building. az $3.50 per wear.
Ore fireman at the Library building. ~
$50 per year.
one policeman at tho Library building.
al $50 per year.