Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-05
ASKS FOR MANDAMUS.
PROCEEDINGS BEGUN TO DECIDE
WHO Is LAND REGISTER.
NO MORE NAVAL RESERVES JUST NOW
The Governor Denies the Application
for Another Division ut Norfolk
More Compnnies-CnpItoI News.
for Another

Proceedings were instituted yesterday
for the purpose OF determining the ques-
ton as TO who is legally the Register
OF the Land Office.
Attorney-General Montague. acting as
counsel for Hon. Joseph T. Lawless.
filed with the Clerk Of the Supreme Court
an application for n writ Of mandanus
TO compel Mr.. j. W. Richardson, the
Register, to transfer his office to the
secretary Of the Commonwealth.
The answer Of Mr.. Richardson will be
filed to-day by his attorneys Messrs.
| Conway r. Sands and H. r. Pollard 1t
is expected that the case will be decided
in few days. certainly before the end
OF the week, though the date when argu-
ment will be heard has not been fixed.
The application for the mandamus re-
cites that the Senate passed an act
abolishing the Office Of Register: that the
House also passed an act to the same
! effect, but that neither concurred i'm the
| action of the other 1t also recites that
| In three Items in the appropriation bill
the abolition of the office is implied. The
| application states that Mr.. Lawless has
demanded Of Mr.. Richardson that the
! duties Of the Office be transferred 10 the
Secretary Of the Commonwealth, and
that the demand has been refused
ANSWER OF THE REGISTER.
The answer of Mr.. Richardson will be
! filed by his attorneys Messrs Sands
and Pollard, to-day. II will recite that
an office cannot be abolished by .mpli-
cation, and that evidence of the fact
! that the Senate did not think the Regis
| ter had been legislated out of office Is
| found in the fact that subsequent 10 the
! passage Of the appropriation Dill. which
! is claimed TO have abolished the position.
| a bill was passed whose object was 10
| abolish the office. 1t will further state
that while there is no appropriation
made for the salary Of the Register. there
is in the bill the general provision that
all moneys not otherwise appropriated
| shall constitute a fund out of which
| shall be betrayed expenses not particu-
lary provided for in the bill 1t Is
| further provided that salaries and Off
! Gals shall not be affected by the bill
| until July LIST.
Mr.. Lawless and Mr.. Richardson are
| proceeding in the case with mutual good
| will, each desiring simply 10 ascertain
who is legally entitled to the office.
No More Naval Reserves.
Governor Tyler yesterday notified. Mr..
| F. Decordy Matthews OF Norfolk. who
wired him Saturday night for permission
TO organize a third battalion of Naval
Reserves IN that city that such authority
could not be granted az this time. The
Governor was Influenced in reaching this
decision chiefly by the fact that Norfolk
and Portsmouth already have nine mill
tor qyafx tom ~ On
would be more thar could be kept up 10
their organized strength. In the event OF
trouble, it is believed Mr.. Matthews
would be permitted to organize his di
vision.
Despite the fact that Governor Tyler
has repeatedly stated that ne does not
intend TO authorize the formation Of any
new mmtary companies. unless there
should be war, ne and General Male
daily receive letters asking permission TO
raise companies. The fund now available
Tor the support of the volunteers is not
sufficient. end it Is not thought advis-
able to increase The demands which would
have TO be mau- upon il. \ request crom
an old army man. now residing at Wythe-
! Vile, to be allowed TO form a company.
WIS refused yesterday. The application
stated that the wliter wanted 10 COM
mand the cOmuGny. and that two gradu-
ates of the Virginia Military Institute
would serve as Lcutcnants. General
Male seemed reluctant 10 have the Gov
ernor refuse the request, though real
izing that it vas not advisable to grant
IL. lie thought the Toss blity Of having
d fine company there was excellent.
Tangier Island Excited
There is a great deal Of war talk about
the Capitol and Library building. officials
Il limit raj
theme.
Mr.. Frank Brent. secretary Of the State
Board Of Education. received letter yes
terday from friend at Onancock stating
that the people OF Tangier Island are in
a state of great excitement over the war
prospect, and the possibility Of being
bombarded by Spanish fleet.
The scare originated last week, when
a man. who resides on the island, which
is in Chesapeake bay. fifteen miles from
the mainland, came to Onancock, and
was shown a picture cut from sensa-
tional paper representing the gaunt, half
naked bodies Of dead and dying Cubans
lying about with vultures lowering over
head He was told that this would pro-
badly be the fate OF the Tangierites in
the event Of war. and he was 80 worked
up that when he returned home he stirred
up intense excitement among the 1000
people who reside on the island. Tansier
Is really in a very unprotected state, and
! a bomboarding fleet could work a grsIt
! deal of damage, as there are a number
| Of valuable buildings on the island, in
GLIDING a church, which has just been
completed at a cost Of $4,000.
Charlotte Negroes Disturbed.
A gentleman from Charlotte county
who was at the Capitol yesterday. stated
that the negroes in that section are be
| coming greatly disturbed at the prospect
! OF war and Of being drafted into service.
| Many Of the younger, who have been on
| the poll-books one OF two years, VOW they
! are not of military age, and many who
have not turned forty declare they are
beyond the age The gentleman who dis
cussed this subject with the Dispatch re-
| porter said the fear Of the negroes In
| Charlotte is really serious.
| Lieutenant William w. Blow. United
| States army. now stationed in New Mex
leo has written Secretary Lawless, say
| ing he desires to serve with Virginia
| troops in case of war. Lieutenant Blow
was for several years detailed TO act as
commandant of the cadets at Webster
| Academy. in Norfolk.
Payment of Pensions.
Mr.. E. l.. c. Scott, OF the Auditor S
| Office. who has charge Of the pension
rolls Yesterday signed about l50 vouchers.
| He hopes to complete the work by the
! goth of the present month. Mr.. Scott
saws he will, as is every year the case.
soon begin TO receive letters from PEN
sioners who have forwarded their county
court certificates, asking him why their