The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-27
LATEST FROM WASHINGTON.
special telegram to the Dispatch.

LATEST FROM WASHINGTON.
Special telegram to the Dispatch.
WAsH1NaTos, January 2e, 1870.
Legislative, Judicial, and Executive
Appropriation ELL.
The Legislative, Judicial, and Executive
Appropriation bill came up for considera-
ton in the House. this P. NJ, and General
Butler made speech thereon in which he
sndeaYored to refute the argument Of Mr..
Dawes, wherein the latter had attacked the
Administration for excessive expenditures.
MIR. Butler made an elaborate exhibit of
figures and estimates to prove that the state
ments of Mir. Dawes were erroneous, and
impugned the motives of Mr.. Dawes.
The latter replied by saying that he had
only done what he conceived to be his duty !;
that he was content with his action; that
he would not attempt to reply to the per-
sonalities of his colleague; that the people
of Massachusetts are well acquainted with
him, and they know his colleage, Mr.. But
Ter, and with them he would rest the mat
ter for their verdict.
House Committee ON Elections.
The House Committee on Elections will be
much relieved by the resolution adopted last
Monday declaring that committee judicial
body. This reduces the labors of the COM
mittee fully one-half. To such an extent
has its work been increased by reason Of
irrelevant and merely political and parti-
san questions that the members had almost
despaired of concluding the investigations
already in hand, to say nothing of the con-
slant accumulation of new cases.
There are over thirty contested election
cases now pending, beside several refe-
FENCES as to legal disqualifcations OF mere
formal distractions to the taking of seats
by members elect. The committee now
proposes to dispose of the latter class Of
cases and then proceed to the more diff
cult and cumbersome ones.
OF the plain, simple class, that of the
sixth district of North Carolina is fair
specimen. Hon. F. E. Shober was elected
over his competitor by majority of 1889
votes. He is not disqualified by the four
teenth amendment, but cannot take the
test-oath, as he was member of the Le-
gislature of his State during the war. He
never bore arms against the United States,
and during his term in the North Carolina
Legislature was of the minority of that
body, which, though powerless to control
was enabled in some degree to check the
extreme secessionists and he opposed the
secession movement. He carried his county
for the Union in the Convention of his State
and accepted the results of the war when i
was concluded.
All these facts are before the committee
and are not controverted. He has the Ger
tifcate of election, and the Clerk of tn,
House has placed his name upon the roll
as member. All that is required to ena
BILE him to take his seat is the passage o
In act providing that he shall not be re
quired to take the test-oath and prece
dent for this has been established by tn
House in the case Of Mr.. Shober's imme
date predecessor, whose political record
Identical, and in like case-namely, NJ
Butler, of Tennessee. In both these il
stances resolution was passed relievin
the gentlemen from the test-oath. Simpl
as MIR. Shober's case is, yet he has bee
waiting for the action of the committe
since last April.
i ME. Segar.
Mr.. Segar, member of Congress elect {
large from Virginia, is permitted to file
brief, and it is asked that the Commute
will report adversely to his claim to sea
ALI Mail Matter to be sPrepaid.
A bill has been agreed upon by the Hous
Committee on Post-Ofice and Post-Road
prohibiting the passage through the mail
of any mail matter without prepaymer
after the lst of July next. This dispose
of the franking privilege and some othe
abuses of the mail facilities.
Action Of the House Military Com
mittee. -
| A bill, nearly completed by the Hous
Military Committee, dispenses with betwee
| 800 and 400 unemployed officers, reduce
the number Of brigadiers to six, major
generals to three, and abolishes the breve
rank. It also transfers the Indian Burea
to the War Department.
The Gold Investigation.
1t appears that Corbin notified the Com
mittee on Banking that he would be her
Tuesday yesterday, and it was reporte
that he had arrived here and put up ct
hotel but the committee received lette
from him this morning stating that his ba
health detained him, and he expected to
here tomorrow or next day.
By order of the committee messengt
was sent to New York to bring Corbin
once. Until his evidence shall be take
the committee do not feel warranted in pul
suing the investigation. a majority of II
committee ore opposed to summoning Mr.
Grant and Mrs. Corbin.
The Georgia. Representatives.
| The Committee on Elections in the Hous
has decided that the Georgia represents
tives are elected to the Fortieth Congress
and not to the Forty first, and thereto,
cannot be admitted.
Movements OF Prince Arthur.
Prince Arthur dined with the Preside1
this evening. There were present secrt
tary Fish and family, MIR. Thornton an
family. and q number Of concressmeI