The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-12-02
The Speakership.


WAsHIsGToN, December 1.-Wiliard's Ho-
tel was the resort of o. large crowd OF per-
sons tonight, number Of whom were per.
sonally interested in the election Of the
officers of the House, and the remainder
drawn thither by curiosity. The respective
friends Of Messrs. Randall and Kerr repre-.
sent each as ahead, though nothing positive
can be ascertaiBed on the subject at present,
as there are only about ninety members Of
the House in the city.
At the Imperial Hotel there was crowd
to witness the selling of pools on the speak
ership. The highest price bid for pools was
$50. The betting ran most curiou'Iy. Ran.
DIAL started off as the first choice, the betting
being even for him against the field. Kerr
was then sold for $50 as the first choice
sgainst the field. aud finally the field sold for
$50, with only $40 bid for first choice. The
pool-selling is to continue during the re-
mainder of the week, and the candidates for
clerk, sergeant-at.arms, and doorkeeper will
also come into the scramble hereafter.
Representative Cox, who was left out by
the pool.setler, is also in the field, and has,
SO far as known, fifty votes to start with, or
enough to turn the scale for either of the
others.
Tomorrow Messrs. Randall, Kerr, and
Cox will meet to select the officers of the
caucus and to make the necessary arrange.
ments for the meeting next Saturday.
Western NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Company
VS.. Western Atlantic Railroad Conn
pany.
WASHINGTON, December LIN the Su-
p-eme Court the case was argue1 to-day OF
the Western Union Telegraph Company us.
The Western Atlantic Railroad Company on
cross appeal from the Circuit Court for the
Northern District of Georgia. The question
involved is whether compact made by the
telegraph company with the State as owner
and manager OF the railroad company in Au.
gust, 1870, by which the State was to have
the use of q wire along the line of the road
from Atlanta to Chattanooga for the trans
| mission, under certain conditions, OF
| messages on the business of the road,
was 8 compact of sale or lease. Un.
der q subsequent sale of the road
| BY the State the wire was included in the
inventory of the road and appertenances;
and the State having paid the telegraph COM
pany the cost OF construction and equipment
of the wire as provided in the contrast, the
railroad company set up q claim TO the wire
and forbid its use by the telegraph com.
pany, and propose to resist by force the seve'
rance of the wire By the telegraph company
from the stations along the road. The latter
company then brought this bill, and was dc.
feated in the court below the court seeming
to adopt The theory of sale, as insisted upon
By the railroad company.
Weather Probabilities.
WASHINGTON, December 1.-For the South
Atlantic and Gulf States, falling barometer,
northeast to southeast winds, cloudy and
rainy weather, and stationary temperature
For the Middle States, stationary and fall
ing barometer, northeast to southeast winds,
warmer and cloudy weather, and pc: sibly
light snow in the northern section.
For the canal regions of New York an6
Pennsylvania, the temperature will rise
above freezing during Thursday night.
Various Items.
WASHINGTON, December 1.-The deb
statement for November shows decrease
for the month of $3.50 07S; coin in the Trea'
sury, $74,500, 900; currency, $l2,000,000.
the total cost of printing, binding, litho
graphing, &C., for the year ending Septem'
Der 3Jh to be $1,500,O00. Besides this.
printing the congressional records costs
nearly $50, 900. Compositors are allowed
sixty cents per thousand ems, or four dollars
per day of eight hours.
The District Commissioners have brough,
suit against ex-Treasurer James A. Magru'
der, Of the Board of Public Works. and bis
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Sheppard. r.. A
Shum, and a. M. Sweeney-for 100000. The
amount received by Magruder and partly
disbursed by him was over S14 100000.
A. E. Wilson, of Louisville KY, has beer
'appointed chief CLERK Of the Treasury rice
Avery.
A dozen Patent Office clerks were dis.
charged yesterday, and Others notified of 8
reduction Of their salaries.
Officials have nothing TO communicate In
reference to the statement that General Bur
riel had been summoned before court In
Spain to answer about the Virginius affair,
They say it is likely the Information is
correct.
The State Department has adVices thai
Benjamin 81. Avery, the American Minister
to China, died at Pekin on the 9th OF No
yember. No particulars.
The steamer King Richard, leaving Balti
more December OH, takes the Brazil AND
West India mails uid st. Thomas.