The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-02-21
FROM wAsrIrkGToN. p-s
Congress- Tho Ncgroes-Cfs u aervice
CORRESPONDENCE OF The Richmond ID, 'patch.l
NyAsu,sarcs. February 10. 1874. /

Congress Is certainly making haste NVlt|
its legislation very slowly. The member 50
the House who, some three or four weeks
ago, intimated that they might adjourn
about the middle Of May, if not sooner, has
probably since the debaie on the financial
situation commenced in she Senate, found
reason to change his views about getting
home early. Here that august body has been
for days and days floundeling about in the
most uncertain way In the very depths
of financial waters, and thus far
finding no way to firm land. No one
would have thought there were SO many
senator's with positive views on the subject
OF how to make 4 nation pay its expenses
and keep up its responsibility and credit as
have enune'ated principles on that subject
since the debate began. Several of the lead
ing senators oh all sides Of the great ques-
ton, Including Mr.. Thurman and Mr.. Con-
| king, are solidiy in favor Of recommi:ting
the original bill TO the Finance Committee
| without instructions, in the hope and belief
of nearer approach through another report
to clear solution of the problem. Still
others seem inspired every day with new
visions of finance, each one Of which
presented in the shape Of an amendment
icnr,hcns out an already very long debate.
What is 10 I've the end no one pretends to
know. not even the comrlaceut Secretary OF
the Treasury, who is leaving financial mat
ters entirely to Congress; but there IS an
awful proposition, 4 sort otrule-oi-three pro-
hcm, arising in the near future, "nich INA!
be stated: Ii the Senate can consume TWO
weeks in q discussion of the first financial
propn,i,ion which has had its attention with
seycnty-two members, how long will it take
the House of Representatives with its wits
sharpencd (?) by reading the senate debates 10
discuss the same subject with more than TWO
hundred and.eighty members!
II begins now to look rs if the Radical
party, tarough its representatives i'll Con-
grcsS. has had sufficient quantity Of "cul
lud puS>on" in the gallery; but how to get
rid OF the iuilictjn is n query which will
sorcly puzzle Congress If it concludes to be
more choice than heretofore in the audiences
who 10y their grace are permitted to gather
wisdom trom.the debates. The freedmen, II
suy of their representatives because OF the
poverty OF their attire or disposition to make
i regular abidipg.phce of the gallery are
ouStcd therefrom, Will take note OF party
iurrutitude, and be certain to resent 1t at the
polls.
There are reports from the West that the
grangerS will mix matters Of political char:
scttr very seriously in the next summer and
fall campaigns. The old politicians here are
watching the sigus very carefully. In Penn
syiyania there will also be considerable &C
tivty this summer, as under the new consul
tuition that State is 10 elect Lleutensht-
Governor next tall, and as this is an OF year
the straight-oat Democrats may put one oil
their party in the new office.
The ciel rs in the Government offices were
to have been stirred up this winter by sere-
raj very diSagreeable circumstances, The
greatest Of which has heen the persistent
determination of Congress to be "fusSy y
concerning the number of clerks In every
Bureau, the number Of hours duty IN a
day, and Inst, though not least, the almost
absolute indifference of everybody except
ing those who have been benefited by IFS
princi;cs) to ciyil-5ervice reform: 1t may
he predicted safely that if Congress adj
iourns without giving further practical en-
doiSement of the new system Of ciyi-serYlce
rthey making appropriations in its sup
pcru, that it will then be set down as a
dead letter, and thrown aside in all
future appointments and promotions
as, indeed, it is now in the higher oftlct
throughout the country, like last year:
,, ALMANAC. Civil service reform never seemed
TO have sound footing and has received
some Of its hardest knocks at the bands o.
lis originators, and there is hardly Govern
ment clerk officially existing, under 1t who
= does not in lis heart OF hearts feel an uncom
. Portable sort Of something that assures hin
, when the Democrats come into power, les:
' than three years from now, there will be /
regular old Jacksonian sweep whether there
:, will be or not-and that is about the sort o
confidence that is felt in civil service reform
, limos.
Exciting Scene i'm the II oasc Of Repre-
= sensatives.
During the debate on the franking priyi
lee,. ON Thursday, Mr.. Bcck's questions ant
:, Intersections led to very exciting scene be
u tween himself and his colleague, Mr.. Cross
land. Tie latter is member OF the Com
mittce on Post Offices and Post Roads, but i
=. an earnest opponent of the restoration OF thu
y frankiac privilege in any form, and there
e fore opposes tie pending Till. a few
. weeks ago he argued, as mr. kaSson die
to-day, that the Government had beer
| the caiucr. financially, by the repeal CT the
privilege. Mr.. Beck then took issue with
= him. Lut, as he stated to day, be on that oc'
casion struck out his remarks at MIR. Cross
lands request, because their insertion would
: have spoiled the force Of his (Cro>Sland'S
>, remarks Dir. Grassland. who was standing
: near Mr. Beck, at this remark approached
him in a somewhat threatening manner
Members sprang from their seats, and large
number congregaled in the area in front of
: the Speakers chair. Others loudly called
:, to order, the Speaker pummelled and pound
: ed with his gayel, but Mr.. Grassland
would not heed either the calls or the
, sound OF the gavcl, but ratified on at the TOP
of Ills voice, all the while shaking bis hand
, at MIR. Beck. Scarcely q word that he Ut.
. teaed could be heard above the din and con.
. fusion. Even the experienced official re-
! porters Of the House bad 10 give up any At
tempt to take down his words. Partial
order was finally restored, and Mr. Cross
land having said his say, retired to one Of the
, cloakrooms to cool of, Mr.. Beck keeping
his seat. Both gentlemen were subse-
uuently surrounded by their friends to talk
: the matter over, and good feeling was re-
stored after the excitement had worn OIL
Baltimore San.
Burning Of Asphalt Works I'm Wash
fnEton.
The immense tar and asphalt works, corner
, of Twenty-sixth and G streets, near George
town, were totally destroyed by fire tonight
Loss estimated at $4,000. A great many
. buildings were destroyed. The establish.
ment was owned by L. B. Warren, of Phila
dclphia.
: A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN GEoRGIA.-On
the 18th instant, near Rutledsc, Ga, John
w, Woods, a farmer, administered NOR