The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-03-07
BY TELEGRAPH.
Latest News from Washington.

| Especial telegram to the Dispatch.I
WAsHrEGros, March 4, 1874.
The Centennial and Lfquor.TraH7c
Bills.
The Senate worked vigorously to-day and
disposed of the centennial.exposition bill
and the liquor-traffic commission bill, the
former having been referred to the Apprd-
priation Committee and the latter being
passed. The Senate refuses to allow an ap-
preparation Of three millions for the exposi-
ton, and there is every probability that the
bill as it came from the House will be pigeon
hoied. Sumner, who has fought the bill
steadily, made another speech in opposition
to it to-day.
Many believe that before the adjournment
Congress will provide for national celebra-
ton under Government auspices.
| All the Democrats voting on the liquor
traffic bill were opposed to it. q
The Financial Discussion
will be resumed on Monday, when Logan
will address the Senate. The debate seems
certain to last through the week, as several
senators have prepared speeches on the sub
ject. The pending question is the motion of
Senator Buckingham to recommit the bill
to the Finance Committee with the instruc-
tions proposedby MIR. Merrilnon (and already
agreed to) that the committee shall report in
favor of increasing the national bank cur-
rency to four hundred millions.
The District OF Columbia Investi-
CATION.
The Joint select committee to inquire into
the management of the affairs Of the Dis
trict of Columbia to-day examined Control
Ter Baker and Superintendent Of Public
Schools j. 0. Wilson in reference to appro-
priations and expenditures for school pur-
poses. Governor Shepherd was also ex-
amined upon the same subject, and the tes-
timony of all these gentlemen showed no
thing wrong in that branch of the district
government.
The memorialists have thus far failed to
establish the charges made against the Dis
trict, and to-day Senator Thurman, acting
chairman of the committee, gave notice that
the committee had acted thus far under
their general powers, and might so proceed
further but that the time was approaching
when the memorialists must make specific
charges. Of course, they need not make
| whole body of specifications, but they
should be prepared with some specifications
by Tuesday next, or by Wednesday at the
| furthest. TIAoN.
! ASSOCIATED Press Telegrams.I
| WAsHIsGToN, March 6, 1874.
Congressional.
! Senate.-Mr. Chandler, from the Com
merce Committee, reporteda bill authorizing
| the employment Of aliens as pilots and engi-
neers. Placed on the calendar.
The centennial bill appropriating So, 000,-
| 600 for the centennial celebration was re-
ferred to the Appropriations Committee,
where it is considered dead.
| The bill appointing three commissioners
| to regulate the trade in liquor was passed.
| Mr.. Scott, from the Finance Committee,
reported f;lYorably on Mr.. GoFdon's bili
| providing that no instrument or document
| required to he stamped which Vas signed
within the States of Virginia, West Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
| Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi,
| Louisiana, Arkansas, or Texas, prior to July
| l. 1865, shall be deemed invalid by reason Of
| the failure to place stamps thereon. 1t is,
however, provided by an amendment of the
committee that the rights of purchaser in
good faith prior to the passage OF this bill
Shall not be affected by If.
The Liquor Bill. s.
The bill regarding liquor passed the sen-
ate to- day as follows:
Be it enacted, &c., That there shall be ap-
pointed by the President, by and With the
advice and consent of the Senate, @ commits
sion of five persons, neither of whom Shall
| be the holder of any office of profit or trust
| in the General or State Government. The
said commissioners shall be selected solely
| with reference to personal fitness and ca
| pacity for an honest, impartial, and thorough
| Investigation, and shall hold Office until
| their duties shall be accomplished, but not
| to exceed one year. 1t shall be their duty
to investigate the alcoholic and fermented
| liquor traffic and manufacture, having special
reference TO revenue and taxation in distin-
| gushing as fur as possible in the conclu-
sions they arrive at between the effects
produced by the use Of distilled or spirit
| uous as distinguished from the use OF fer
mented or malt liquors, in their
economic, criminal, moral, and scien-
titic aspects in connection with pauper-
ism, crinie, social vice, the public health, and
general welfare of the people and also In
| quire md take testimony as to the practical
results of license and restrictive legislation
for the prevention Of intemperance In the
several States, and the effect produced by
| such legislation upon the consumption Oh
| distilled or spirituous liquors and OF fer
mented or malt liquors, and also ascertain
whether the evil Of drunkenness has been
decreased or increased thereby; whether the
| Use Of opium as stimulant and substitute
for alcoholic drinks has become more
general in consequence Of such legisia-
ton, and whether public morals has been
| improved thereby. 1t shall also be
the duty of the said commissioners
TO gather information and take testl'
mony as to whether the evil Of drunk
| eupess exists to the same extent or more SO
4 in other civilized countries; aud whether
those foreign nations that are considered the
| most temperate in the use of stimulants are
SO through prohibitory laws, and also to
what degree prohibitory legislation has
affected the consumption and manufacture
of malt and sprituous liquors in this coun-
| try; that the said commissioners, all oil
whom shall not be advocates of prohlDitory
legislation or total abstinence III relation
| to alcoholic or fermented liquors, shall serve
without salary !: shall be authorized to en-
ploy a secretary at reasonable compensa-
! ton. not to exceed O., 1000 per year, which,