The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-02-06

Washington News and Gossip.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. %.

WHSHluSUON NEWS huu UUoctps
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. %.
The committee on appropriations yesterday,
completed their consideration of the items to
be appropriated for Light Houses, Beacons, &c.
The House Committee of Ways and Means,
Yesterday morning, unanimously rejected all
Propositions now before them in relation to the
rrefuntling of the cotton tax. This action does
not preclude Mr.. Beck's bill which has not yet
been formally brought before the committee.
1t will be considered at the next meeting, prob
ably On Wednesday, but the Southern members
now Lave very little hope of any action at this
session.
MIR. Becks bill may not be rejected with the
unanimity with which other bills were laid
aside yesterday, but majority is believed to
be opposed to all action oD the subject at pres
ent.
Mr. Mckee, of Mississippi, in order to bring
the subject directly to the attention of the
House, subsequently offered resolution direct
ing tie Committee of Ways and Means to re-
port ct once, and fixing day for the consider
alton of the subject. The House rejected this
proportion by an almost sectional vote. MIR.
Beck and Mr.. Porter were the only two Repre-
sentatives from the South who voted against
the resolution. Mr. Beck did so, because he was
a member of the Ways and Means committee,
and al he had had his bill referred to that COM
mittee he did not wish to be embarrassed in the
committee by any vote that he might give in
the House favoring it as he says, his bill is
subject to modification by the committee, and
he may accept the modification.
The National Theatre is on fire with prospect
of being entirely consumed.
The houses on the east side, mostly occupied
as drinking saloons, are in great danger, and
the proprietors are moving out their goods:
The Imperial Hotel, on the west side, is on
fire, also the entire front, second floor OF the
Theatre. The building is occupied by Miller
and Zones. billiard saloon; the finest in the
city. They are now moving out everything,
and will probably suffer great loss.
The Theatre is an old wooden building, and
is burning rapidly. ,,.
All the engines are on the ground, and being
worked manfully. Great crowds of people are
on the ground, and much excitement prevails.
The National Theatre is consumed with all
fixtures and large amount of private property:
Imperial Hotel badly damaged by fire and
water, and guests have left. Miller and Jones
lost everything in the billiard saloon and SAM
ple room, but are fully insured. No casualties
reported during the fire. The excitement was
great, and large crowds of men, women and
children gathered from every part of the city.
Buildings on the east side of Theatre were not
injured. At the present time the fire is almost
entirely out and everything comparatively
quiet. ~
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. %.
The Attorney General is daily in receipt of
applications from his subordinates in the South
for troops to enable them to perform their du-
ties. The Attorney General is very much bored
by these frequent requests, and expresses the
opinion that if these gentlemen would use
proper diligence they might be able to perform
the duties of their Offices without the aid OF
United States troops.
There are applications pending in the De-
partntent of Justice, for the pardon OF several
alleged Ku Klux from South Carolina, now IN
confir ement at Albany. These applications
are recommended by the District Attorney and
others actively engaged in the prosecution and
there seems to be no doubt but what these will
be granted some time this week.
The view taken that no original action could
lie, in the Senate, against Mr. Colfax, was slis-
tained. The request made by Mr.. Colfax for
specsl committee to investigate his Credit Mo-
biiier transactions, was shown by Mr.. Thurman
to be one which the Senate had no authority to
grant. The Senate, evidently, was of the opin..
ion that if any proceedings at all were called
against the Vice President, it was for the House
to taxe the initiative by impeaching him.
There was no excitement whatever displayed
in the matter by Senators, and the. request OF
Mr. Colfax was unanimously refused. After ne
preferred his request the Vice President LETT
the clair and was not seen In the Senate Cham-
Der for the remainder of the day. 1t is unde-
niable that the recent testimony before the
Poland Credit Mobilier Committee, including
particularly that given yesterday, places the
Vice President in a very awkward position be-
fore Congress and before the country. 1t is
very certain that perjury has been committed
by some one, and painful as it may be to give
utterance to such suspicion, it is fact that
not few of those who have been among the
warmest personal and political friends of the
Vice President are not satisfied as to which
party this crime can be fastened upon. Ihe
Vice President expresses the utmost confidence
in his ability to clear himself entirely of all
damaging charges and suspicious. 1t is now
very plain that the opportunity which he asked
of tho Senate, yesterday, can be afforded him
BY no other process than that of impeachment.
Rumors are very thick about the Capitol,
that the motion to impeach the Vice President
will certainly be made in the House OF Repre-
sentatives The general impression that no
movement to this end can be made by the
House in advance of the report of its commit
tee is erroneous. The investigation into the
Credit Mobilier, being conducted with open
doors. all the statements which have been made
duplicating Mr. Colfax and others, are matters
of coramon notoriety. tis, therefore, within
the province of any member of the House to
rise il his place, recite the allegations against
Mr.. (.olfax, and move for instructions to the
Judiciary Committee to report Articles of I'M
parchment. ,
The House being in the possession of the
same information as has been spread before the
country, can instruct or refuse to instruct the
judiciary Committee, according to its discre-
ton. -
WASHINGTON, D. c., January 80.
The Attorney General yesterday presented
his annual report to Congress. The report is
yoluminous, covering all the work of the de-