The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-03-28
WASHINGTON.
Senatorial Spines weakeniDE-Tak-
ing Water on Free Tea ana Coffee
senator sumner In Contempt-His
Arrest and Imprisenment Threat
ened-Proposed Louisiana COM
pr0mise-Improbab Story OF q
Br0ther.in-Law The Vice-Presi-
Dental SqIuabble.
Special Dispatch to the Enquirer]
WASHINGTON, March 70.
Senatorial Stampede.

|
WASHINGTON, March %.
Senatorial Stampede.
The Senate to-day commenced 10
make retreat from its vote for free tea
and coffee. Senators have been SO over
whelmed with letters aud dispatch es
from all quarters interested in that
trade, as well as from taxpayers and
others, inquiring if the Senate means to
conine it's reduction to those articles,
and let the largely protected interests
20 free, that quite a number who voted
for a free breakfas. table now admit
that they did so under a misapprehen,
sion that the tea and coffee duty could
be abolished, and the duty on many
other articles be reduced. They now
find that the Treasury can't stand such
a reduction, and 80 to-day the Senate
commenced to modify its action by
adopting proviso reducing the duties
on wool, cottons, iron, ETC., ten per cent,
and adopting free list which will take
two or three millions out OF the Treas
ury. Nothing was done about tea and
coffee, but a rate Of reduction, as pro,
posed by the Finance Committee, snd
not an abolition of the duty, will proba'
bly, be agreed on tomorrow.
Threatened Arrest of Sumner.
Mr.. Sumner having filed q protest
to-day against the organization of the
Senate Committee to inquire into the
sale farms to France, and declining to
testify Voluntarily, was this afternoon
formally served with a summons to ap-
pear tomorrow and give his evidence
like any other witness. He is greatly
incensed at this, and declares that ne
will not testify, but plead his privileges
as a Senator. The committee are dis
cussing whether they can arrest Mr..
Sumner for contempt, and imprison
him the same as any other witness. The
opinion is general that his course is in
contempt OF the body of which he is a
member, and that he can be punished
The Republican members OF the COM
mittee are determined to show him no
mercy. The situation has awakened
the liveliest kind of an excitement here,
and people are already Laughing over
the probable incarceration OF the
Massachusetts Senator by the Senator
ial adherents OF the Administration.
Proposed Louisiana Compromise.
The colored Lieutenant Governor
Pinchback, who is stopping at the best
hotel in town at the rate OF thirty
dollars day, had an interview with
Grant today on the muddle in the
Republican party in Louisiana, and
proposed a plan Of compromise, by
which everybody but Warmoth and the
Democrats could support Grant One
feature of this was the removal OF
Brother-in.law Casey from the Collector
ship of New Orleans. Grant did not
say so, but the colored delegation came
away feeling confident that he will be
removed. Grants whole purpose seems
to be reelection, and he will sacrifice
all the brothers-in-law if necessary.
Ex-Congressman Wilson,
of Iowa, is developing considerable
strength among the Republicans in the
Southern States as a candidate for the
Vice Presidency. All the delegations
to the Philadelphia Convention which
have been appointed by these States
have expressed themselves in favor OF
Wilson. Well posted politicians here
seem to think the contest for the Vice
Presidency at Philadelphia will be be.
tween Wilson, of Massachusetts, and
Wilson, Of Iowa. 1t is said that Colfax
is in earnest about retiring from politics,
and that if his name is brought before
the Philadelphia Convention it will be
merely to obtain a complimentary vote.
Yes or No.
Itis understood that committee Of
workingmen in the interests OF the
Labor Reform party are preparing an
address to Judge Davis, demanding
from him a direct answer to the ques-
ton whether he intends to embody
their ideas if elected to the Presidency.