The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-19
ESPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE STATE JOURNAL
Washington News and Gossip.

the Senate with amendments, and the
probabilities are that the entire day will
be consumed with it.
1t is not expected that Congress will ad-
journ sine die before to-morrow or Friday.
General Grant and his private secretary
will leave Immediately after the adjourn
ment of Congress for st. Louis, where he
will spend week on his farm.
The clause in the deficiency appropria-
tion bill providing for attorneys to repre-
sent the government before the Southern
Claims Commission will probably cause
the defeat of the bill if it is not stricken
out by the new conference committee
Leading members of both Houses argue
that to appoint attorneys for that Commits
sion, will commit the government to an
recognition of the Southern claims.
The House yesterday passed Senate bill
providing that all the waters, shores, bays,
harbors, creeks and inlets on the south
side OF the river Potomac, comprehended
between Boyd's Hole and Cockpit Point,
now part of the collection district of
Tappahannock, Virginia, be annexed to
the collection district of Alexandria, and
that Potomac, Virginia, be constituted and
created port of delivery within the col
lection district of Alexandria, and that
there shall be appointed, at a compensa-
ton not exceeding the rate of one thousand
dollars per annum, deputy collector of
customs, to reside at said port, who shall
perform such duties as may be conferred
upon him, in pursuance of law, by the
Secretary of the Treasury All acts and
parts of acts establishing at Dumfres, in
the collection district of Tappahannock,
port Of delivery, are repealed. The object
of this bill is to enable certain railroad in-
terests to land imported iron at Potomac,
whereit is to be used, instead of delivering
it in Alexandria or Washington.
The Democratic caucus at its meeting
last night finally concluded to issue ma
tional address, which should cover in
general manner all the political questions
at issue up to the present time. The
Southern Democrats have no opinions to
offer, but left everything to be made up by
their Northern brethren. The address will
not be issued until after the passage of the
pending Ku-Klux bill 1t will set forth
that the Democracy fully abide by all the
questions settled by the passage of the
fourteenth and fifteenth amendments, and
that there is no disposition to dispute any
of the legal consequences which may fol-
low from the same. Then touching upon
what the questions involved in the propo-
stion are, it will conclude with an indict-
ment Of the entire policy of the Republican
party.
The Republican Congressional Executive
committee have appointed the following
resident committee to attend to business
during the recess Senator Harlan Rep
resentative Platt, of Virginia Henry d.
Cook, Governor of the District Fred.
Douglass, traveller; and j. M. Edmrnls
of the District.
The legal-tender case was discussed yes
terday in the Supreme Court The AttOr-
noy- General appeared on behalf of the gov
ernment, arguing against the present deci-
sion of the court, that contracts ante dating
the legal-tender are affected by the act,
and also for an affirmative decision upon
whether the act was binding on contracts
made since its passage.
The cases of Knox ageinst Lee and Par
ker against Davis, involving this question,
were reargued yesterday before the Su-
preme Court by order of the court. Hon.
Clarkson N. Potter, of New York, argues
the cases against the constitutionality Of
the act, and by the Attorney General in
its favor. The argument was closed by
Mr.. Potter to-day.
The following cases were heard by the
Southern claims commission yesterday
Robert S Hehin, late representative in Con-
gress from Alabama Armistead Burwell,
of Vicksburg, Miss, for sugar taken by the
army to the value of over $4,000; Hugh
L. Gallaber, of Wsynesboro', Va, for cattle,
forage, and farm produce, reaching over
$4,000. Senators Ames, of Mississippi,
and Lewis, of Virginia, Judge Advocate
General Holt and other distinguished per-
sons appeared as witnesses in the several
cases.
A leading Democratic Senator ad mitted
to several personal friends yesterday that
the Ku Klux debate had been losing bu-
siness for the Democratic party. Every
body knew that before.
Chief Justice Chase appeared on the
bench of the Supreme Court yesterday
looking greatly improved in health.
The graduating class at the Naval
Academy this year consists of fifty-three
midshlpmen.
Specie shipments to Europe yesterday,
$4,000 Bonds to the amount of ST.
100000 will be shipped to-day instead Of
gold
SECOND DISPATCH
Washington, April 19.--The new con-
ference committee on the deficiency appro-
priation bill has agreed upon report,
which strikes out the clause providing for
counsel to represent the government before
the Court of Claims. 1t also reduced the
appropriation for rebuilding the hospital
of the Sisters of Mercy at Charleston from
500, 1000 to $4,000, and strikes out the
clause in relation to increasing the COM
pensation of assistant marshals employed
ia taking the census.
The Senate is now in executive session.
A patent has been issued to Thomas
Howell, of Morgantown, Va, for hand
seed sower.
Telegrnuhfc Sum nrv