Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-17
MAJOR TYLER RETURNS HOME.
He Has Many CaIlers-LegisIntfve
and Political Gossip.

Hon. j. HOge Iyltr lett last night IOr
his home. in Montgomery county, after a
stay Of several days here. He will re-
turn Thursday, December Goth. with his
family, and will take the oath of office
in the hall of the House in the presence
OF the members of both bodies at noon,
January lst.
Yesterday was but repetition OF every
day of the visit OF the Governor-elect.
Applicants for places were at his elbow
at every turn, except. perhaps, in the
Senate chamber, and he spent consider
able time there, listening to the debate
on the football bill, occupying the seat
of Senator McIlwaine. He was an in
terested listener, and said he felt several
times rather embarrassed by the illusions
of the speakers to "hayseeds," being
farmer himself.
Major Tyler assured a Dispatch re-
porter that he was not in the least wor-
ried by the assiduous attentions bestowed
upon him by the place-hunters. 81 don't
cali them ofice-seekers." he said, "only
friends who want my endorsement for
positions. Many of them are old ac-
ouaintances to whom | am indebted for
many past kindnesses and evidences OF
good will"
Major Tyler went away on the so Nor
folk and Western train, and viii reach
his home, in Montgomery county, this
morning. He says that private business
has accumulated recently, until he cannot
see over il.
TO CONFIRM SUPERINTENDENT
The Senate will hold an executive ses-
sion to-day for the purpose of confirming
the nomination OF county superintendents
OF schools, which were sent I'm from the
Board of Education yesterday. There
will be contests over several of the APP
pointments. The greatest fight, 1t seems,
will be made against the confirmation OF
the superintendents in Amherst Nelson,
and Norfolk counties. The opposition In
these counties is apparently not all due
TO the fact that the superintendent were
supporters of any particular candidate
in the rerc Il toRtese pfor the office Of
State Superintendent OF PUBLIC Instruc-
tion.
NEED OF CELL ROOM.
An earnest effort is to be made to Sc
cure an appropriation from the Legisla-
ture to be used for erecting a new cell
building at the penitentiary. The accom-
modations at that institution have long
been inadequate, and at present as many
as twenty-one prisoners are confined In
a cell not more than twenty feet square.
Architect William G.. West has prepared
plans for enlarging the institution, and
IL they are accepted the most approved
system will be adopted at the peniten-
tiary as the proposed new building VIII
be- constructed according to those In
many of the Northern States. This addi-
ton to the State prison will accommo-
date 300 convicts, and the plans provide
for steel cells, constructed similar to
those now in use at the Baltimore prison.
The House Committee on Prisons and
Asylums will meet Monday night. when.
no doubt the matter will be laid before
the body.
A WHIPPING-POST BILL
Mr.. Murphy. of Richmond, will intro
duce In the House at an early day a
bin providing for the re-establishment OF
the whipping post in Virginia. Mr.. MUIR
phy has submitted his measure TO two
prominent lawyers of this city. who have
expressed the opinion that It's provisions
are not in violation of the Constitution.
II is proposed to exempt from It's ope-
rations all persons over go years old.
The parents Of persons under ii can
elect whether they shall be subject TO
this mode OF punishment or be imprison-
ed. Women have the option OF a
like alternative. This latter feature. the
patron of the proposition thinks. will re-
iieve II OF an objection urged against
The whipping-post law repealed by the
Readiuster Legislature at the session oil
lSSl-'Ss.
THE JUDGESHIP CONTESTS.
The Carroll county judgeship contest
will he considered to-day by the special
committee appointed by the caucus. Mr..
T. T., Nuckols and Mr.. w. ID. Tompkins
of Carroll county. arrived last night to
renresent Mr. Foster. and Senator James
and Delegate Saunders will appear for
Judge Aglesby.
Owing to the absence of DR.. Snead, the
Delegate from Princess Anne, who was
called home by wire yesterday. the
caucus committee to which were referred
the charges against Judge Woodhouse
&c unable TO proceed at once with the in
vestIgation. but will probably begin to-
morrow. Judge ID. Tucker Brooke. who
was here I'm the interest of Judge Wood
house returned to Norfolk yesterday, but
will be back tomorrow.
UNIVERSITY APPROPRIATION.
Although the question of appropriatine
the usual sum of $4,000 to the University
OF Virginia will not come up until late
In the session, there Is already evidence
that II will meet with much opposition
which has, indeed already begun. There
are many University men in the Legis-
lature. and these, together with others
will make a warm fight for the appropria
tion.