The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-05-10
Latest News from Washington.
The Elght-fIoHr LaH--Civii Service
...l-. ReIOgm.
speci4l telegram to the DIspatcI

- :
/ 2 .s.. Reform.
sperill telegram to the Dispatch,
.WAsHiNGToN, May 9s--Ip the case of the
application Of the worknisn at Richmond
engaged in cutting stone for the new State
| Departments fortathe endorsement Of the
cight-hour law on all work. done under con.
tract for the Government, made to Secretary
Fish and by him referred to the law officer
OF the Government, the Attorney General
decided that employees of contractors doing
work for the Government are not emp!oyes
of the Government. In Il similar application
to the President by committee of work
men engaged on the New York post-office,
the President directed the enforcement of the
spirit of the eight-hour law, and directed the
Acknowledgement to make IN order to that
effect i'll all cases where the work is being
done for the Government. The Attorney
General had an interview with the President
Oh the subject to-day, and it is understood
the decision in the case of the Richmond
stone-cutters applies in the matter of the
New York operatives.
The examining boards of the Depart
ments under civil service reform have deter
mined to make the new service as practical
us possible, and will coniine their examina-
tions to practical questions rather than theo-
rctical. There is no sympathy with civil
service reform in the Executive Depart
ments, and the examining boards have a
hard time of it. 1t is contemplated to put
the new regulations in immediate practice in
the Treasury Department. TIMoN.
+ Congressional.
WASHINGTON, May 9.--!Scndte.-Thc am
ncsty and social equality bills occupied the
day with no results.
MIR. summers civil rights bill as sllbsti-
tutc for the amnesty bill WAS deferred, but
it was adopted as an amendment by the cast
ing vote of Vice President Colflx.
Several amendments modifying Summers
amendment were defeated by ColfaX'S vote
The bill, as amended, finally failed to pass,
This brought the House bill again before
the Senate, when Mr.. Sumner again moved
his amendment. and Mr. ColfilX again voted
aye.
Mr.. Norton renewed his amendment re-
quring persons applying for amnesty to
swear they were not kuklnX or members Of
such associations. 1t was adopted by 20 yeas
to il nays. ...-
The bill, however, requiring two-thirds
vote, was finally rejected by the following
vote :: ..*
Az Es-- hrssra.--hins:- Rucklng,inm- Caldwell,
Cragius, Clayton, C0nking, Corbett, EdmOnls,
Fcnton, Ferry of Michigan, Flanagan, Gilbert,
Harland Hitchcock, Howe, Kellogg, Lomis, Nor
ril of Vermont, Morton, Osborne, Pool, Pratt,
West. Wilson, and Window SO.
NAYS-aiessrs. Alcorn Bayard, Blair, Boreman,
Connecticut. Goldthwslle. Hamilton of Marylaud,
Hamilton Of Texas, uill, Johns9n, on Kelly. Logan
Housc.-NIr. Wallace. from South Caro-
lima, was confirmed in his seat. The con-
testant was allowed = ,154. Good business).
Mr.. Morey, from the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs, reported bill restoring certain
wharf property to the city; which was
passed:
The bill admitting "Japs to West Point
WAS tabled by Il vote of IS to %.
The tariff bill was resumed. There was
long fight over salt and leather, but all
amendments were repealed.
There is night session on naval affairs.
Vice President Colfax OH Civil Rights.
WASHINGTON, May 9.--At meeting to-
night--Fred. Douglas presiding-the follow
ing from the Tice-President was read:
"VICE-PREslDENT's CHAMBER
"WAsHISGroS, May !, 1872.
"Dear Sir,--Having voted recently III the
Senate upon the question of civil rights, to
which YOU refer, I need not make any en-
tended statement as to my views upon it, for
actions always speak more loudly than mere
words. But if that vote needed juStiiica-
ton, as it does not, the travelling experience
Of your delegates to the National Colorel
Convention at New Orleans, as detailed by
Fred. Douglas, ST., in the National Ne,r Era,
would he its fullest vindication. If orderly,
sober citizens of the United States. entitled
| by its Constitution to equality under the
| law, cannot obtain food and lodgings at public
| hotels, like the rest of mankind, or even ave-
rage accommodations on railroad trains after
paying firSt-class fares, we should either ao
knowledge that the Constitution is nullty,
or should insist on that obedience to it BY
all, and protection under it to all, which are
alike the right and the duty of the humblest
as well as the most influential throughout
the land. Respectfully yours,
| (SigneO "SCnUYLER CoLFAX.-
| 10 NeSSIS. 4. -. ALhlllSoll, U. 1. DONHluS,
+. Douglass, Jr., j. w. LIE Barner, and
F.S. Barbados, committee"
The ,American.Spanish Claims Com.
mission.
WAsH1NGToS, May 9.-The United States
and Spanish Claims Commission, although
organized more than six months, have as YET
decided no cases, there being delays in con.
sequence of the difficulty in procuring proofs
the United States having proposed that mode
of settling the claims Of citizens of the United
States growing out Of the rebellion IN Cuba
There can be no disagreement on this point
but there are other questions, including that
| pertaining to DIR. Houard, which may cause
| furtber irritation and give occasion for 0
| more determined policy towards Spain.
Naval AGairs--PrOposition 70 Increase
| the Efficiency Of the Navy--0ur Rein'
ssons with Spain, &c.
w AslIlSGToN, May 9.--The Committee OF
Naval Affairs will hold a meeting tomorrow
night to arrange their business previous tt
asking the House to set aside an evening
reyt week for the consideration of the va
rious bills already prepared by them, bu
which they have not, as yet had an oppor
tunity of reporting to the House. fE !s,ss';
| Among these measures is bill providing
for the construction of ten steamers, as sug
gested by the Committee on Foreign Affairs
and apart from any recommendation OF thu
Esecretary of the Navy in his annual report
Not only the Committee on Naval Affair
hut distinguished officers Of the navy aud tn
Secretary Of the Navy are fully impresset
with the necessity Of an efficient navy, as ou
present force Is inadequate for extended ser
vice in case of emergency. fl<h,
i Besides, it is said among public mea tina