Evening star., 1907-09-01

Bascom Slemp has ambition to become a
representative, and he is believed to be set
ting his wires to capture the nomination in
the ninth district next year, for 1t is a
foregone conclusion that the members Of
that party will not again support the pres
ent representative.
Opposing Road Work by Convicts.
Information here is to the effect that the
jailers Of the state unit in opposition
to working the convicts-penitentiary and
jail-on the public roads. There is not so
much opposition to working short-term
penitentiary men on the roads, but the fact
that the taking Of Jail men out of prison
and putting them on the roads is cutting
big hole In the revenues of the jailers
Is responsible for the antagonsm to
amending the present state laws.
The law at present makes it optional
with the magistrates and others in sending
men to prison, and unless it Is stipulated
that they shall work on the roads the
judges have the power to say who shall
and who shall not work on the highways.
The highway commissioner favors an
amending Of the statutes SO that the judges
VIII be compelled to sentence all men to
the roads. There are many men in the jails
at this time who are wanted on the roads.
enough. 1t Is understood to prevent the
clearance Of the jails, however great is the
demand for forces for road Improvement.
Confederate Pensions.
The state of Virginia grants a small pen
sion annually to all disabled Confederate
veterans The checks are always mailed
September I. but this year the checks will
not be mailed till September 3. The reason
for the delay is that the month comes in
on Sunday. Monday is Labor day when
all state departments are closed. There are
some 1000 of these pensioners, and in
many cases the pittance given by the state
Is the only money which the veterans and
their widows receive The list is being re-
duced from year to year. the death rate
being almost 25 per cent but the list is
not being reduced nearly SO fast as the
figures above would Indicate Each year
there are many additions, though the new
pensioners are not so numerous as the
deaths. The average age of the pensioners
at this time is some seventy-three years.
In great majority Of cases the old men
long as they could earn living. and there
are IN this city today many veterans who
have passed the three-score- -and-ten mark
who are actively at work, and who refuse
to accept anything from the state, though
they could get pension simply by apply
ing.
The Grand Camp Of Confederate veterans
is to meet in Norfolk October 16 and at
that time choir OF more than 100 young
ladies from this city, members of George
E. Pickett Confederate Veteran Choir, will
attend in uniform and will sing the o,d war
songs for the veterans. The choir Is an
excellent one, they are being rehearsed for
the occasion and the manner OF rendering
the songs is such that they hav4 been com
plimented by more than one musical direc-
tor.
The rupture between President Tucker
and Director General Barr as to social prec-
edence at the Jamestown exposition has
aroused the friends Of President Tucker
to the point of Indignation. They are say
ing things about Mr.. Barr which are by no
means eulogistic of that gentleman.
Visitors to the exposition are crowdinE
10 oil oil ncf Lo 4tt,.
Norfolk is crowded. The strangers are for
the most part from distant states. and when
they purchase tickets they provide for stop
overs in the capital city of the Old Domin-
lon. Many of the visitors are descendants
Of Virginians, and they usually spend some
time here in visiting the capital, the library
the parks, the cemeteries, the old battle
fields and other points of interest 1t is the
belief of the hotel men of the city that the
exposition is paying better than If 1T were
held in this city. An investigation was
made by local newspaper and it is found
that the hotels are doing practically so per
cent more business this month than they did
a year ago, and the garages, the liverymen
and other classes which are first to feel the
effects of transient visitors report large
increase in business.
The Wickham-Gravatt Contest.
The first clear-cut contest between the
voters and the railroads was that in which
Senator Wickham and DR.. Charles u Gra-
watt Of the thirty-second district figured
Thursday. Senator Wickham was a candi-
date for reelection. For more than twenty
years he has been counsel for the Chesa-
peake and Ohio railroad, and for a shorter
period he has been a member of the state
senate. He has been vice president of the
senate for several years. and he has been
chairman Of the finance committee for
twelve years or more. The issue was drawn
on his as counsel for the Chesapeake and
Ohio his personality. character and intee-
rity not entering into the campaign at any
time. He has never been questioned as to
any act.
The voters were allowed to choose be-
tween Senator Wickham and Dr. Grayatt-
both democrats. They were told that the
senate was not the place for q man to rep-
resent them who was at the same time
counsel for the railroads Of the state DR..
Gravatt, 1t was explained, was a retired
physician, now engaged in farming. He is
not inimical to the interests of the railroads.
and at the same time he Is not on the pay
roll Of the transportation company The
campaign was along those lines. The re-
suit was at all times conceded to be doubt
full, but 1t was believed that the excellent
record Of Senator Wickham would stand
him In good stead and end in his nomina-
ton to the senate. But the returns were in
accord with the feelings of the people of
the state, and out of a vote that will not
exceed ], 800 DR.. Gravatt Is credited with q
majority of something like 500.
When the railroad companies held q con.
ference here after the CORPORATION commits