The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-02-19
BY TELEGRAPH.
Latest News from Washington.
Especial telegram TO the Dispatch. ]


The Senate today reached vote on
Scotts proposition 70 redeem national-hapk
curr eDcy In specie or interest-bearing bonds
which was defeated by two majority, and
now it looks as If the financial question will
reach point tomorrow where the com
mittee will be instructed to bring in a bill
increasing the nationalbank currency to
$4,000 900, being s46,00O,CO0 in addition
to the present roluue, as moved yesterday
by Mr.. Merrimon.
While the advocates Of ir1l,ion have been
divided as to the means resorted to for in
creasins the currency, there seems to be q
very general feeling tonight among them in
favor OF MIR. Merrimon's amendment to that
end. Should it be advocated. the next thing
in order will be vote Oh the motion to re-
commit.
Mr.. Cameron's substitute proposing a re.
peal of all laws limiting the amount of ma
t!onal bank circulation will be rejected. A
careful canvass CT the Senate made TO. day
shows that the friends of EXPANSION are in
the majority.
The Dictator-Anxfety for her Sagety.
Nothing was heard at the Navy Depart.
ment up to very late hour this afternoon
from the Dictator, and though some anxiety
is expressed at the Department. the naval
ofheers OF greater experience on duty here
say they have every confidence that she will
reach hey West safely if she does not
enter savannah. Several kilograms have
been received at the Department from
friends and relations Of those on board
asking for news concerning her. The
Dictator is commanded by Captain William
b. Splcer. TIAoN.
ASSOCIATED press :elegramsl
Congressional.
WASHINGTON, February 1S.-Senate...
Alcohol traffic was considered during the
morning.
The bill appointing whskey commission.
ers to control alcoholic traffic provoked q
sharp debate.
Mr. Ferry, of Connecticut. said the subjec,
proposed to be covered by this bill properly
belonged to the functions OF the States, and
he thought it his duty to warn the Senate ot
what they were about to DO when all such
bills interfering with the jurisdiction of States
| were brought up.
MIR. Wright thought this very proper
subject for congressional legislation and
saw no constitutional objection in the way.
Nir. Conkling said the whole object of the
bill was to constitute al inquiry, and for this
reason he saw no force in the objections OF
the senator FROM Connecticut.
| Mr.. Ferry said he had objected to this
bill because of its tendency. 1t was based
on the thousands Of memorials which had
come here. and which looked to the future
adoption of regulations On The subject of the
| liquor traffic. lie Deprecated it rs making
another step in the assaults upon the Con-
stitution which had of hate years been SC
| frequent. He lad heard senators assert thu,
under the fourteenth amendment it was in
| the power Of Congress 10 pass any law fo
| the protection Of lite, liberty, or the pursuit
of happiness.
Mr.. Morrill,, Of Maine, expressed doubt
as to anything practical coming out Of th
bill Unless there was some provision to pa
tie commission. He moved an amendment
apprcprialipg $4,000 for the expenses Q
the commission.
Mr. Conkling thought $1,000 would
enough. lie said he could name plenty 0
men among his copstituents-men like MI
Bergh--who were willing to devote thei
lives without any compensation for the bene
fit of society ard to maintain proper prir
ciples.
Finances were resumed. Mr.. Scott
amendment 10 provide for the redemption G
the national currency by gold or Unite
States interest-bcariDg notes, was defeated b
vote OF 80 to %.
The following proriso was defeated by
| vote Of 10 to 1G: That the Secretary of th
| Treasury shall once in each month sell t
| the highest bidder for United States notes
coupon bonds equal to 81 per cent. of the I'D
| ditional bank circulation issued during th
month preceding which bonds shall bear in
| terest at the rate Of five per cent. per annum
payable quarterly, ard the principal sha
| be payable at the pleasure OF the Govern
| ment after ten years from their date, bot
principal and interest TO be paid in good coin
| but none OF said bonds shall be sold at les
than their par value, and the United State
notes received in exchange therefor shal
| never be reissued, but shall be destroyed
Adjourned.
House.--Bill making The reyenue-cuttel
Relief boarding-station at Mobile bay wa!
| passed.
Mr. Wiltshire was seated. The vote stoot
135 to 129. lie took the iron.clad oath.
The bill providing that any person who
shall be convicted of the crime of manslaugh
| ter in any United States Court in any State
or Territory, or the District OF Columbia
shall be imprisoned not exceeding twenty
years and fined not exceeding one thousand
dollars, was amended so as to exclude cases
| now under prosecution for offences already
committed, and passed.
a bill Furnishing for extortion, By officers
| or persons acting under authority CT the
| United States, for tine not exceeding five
hundred dollars and Imprisonment not eX.
ceeding three years, was passed.
A bill that no person shall be prosecuted,
tried or punished in any United States court
for any offence, not capital, or for any fine or
forfeiture under any penal statute, unless in
dictment or information shall be found or in.
stituted within five years, except in the case
of persons fleeing from justice, was passed.
A bill to provide for deductiDg any debs
due the United States from any judgmtn Mt
recovered against the United States by such
debtor was passed.
The judiciary Committee made an ad-
verse report on the memorial for an acknowl-
SuSueuL vi alufSuty uou anu luC Sul iotiau
religion in the Constitution of the United
States. Laid on the table.
The bill for free distribution Of congress
sional documents, seeds, and county and
exchange papers was considered till adjoarn-
ment.
Various Items.
Mr.. Stephens continues TO improve.
Professor Pierce has resigned the superfr-
tendency Of the coast survey. He accepts
the position of scientific adviser to the same