The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-12-29
WASHINGTON ITEMS.

WASHINGTON ITEMS.
WASHINGTON, December 2S.-Commis-
sioner DUEL, of the Patent Office, has re-
signed. Ewbanks, in the patent law bust
ness in New York, will take his place. Mr..
Chandler accepts the resignation in flatter-
ing terms. -@ ..e..
The Senate committee on devisips
measure for examining and verifying the
electoral vote held prOtracted session TO-
day, all the members being present but Mr..
Logan. The committee entered upon the pre-
liminary work by examining and discuss
ing the course pursued by each House for
meeting in joint convention, and their deci-
sions while in such convention in declaring
the vote for President and Vice-President
since the foundation Of the Government.
These were taken up Seriatirn, and debated
in some instances quite deliberately. The
members OF the committee are DESTROYS to
get all the Information possible out OF the
Journals and records Of Congress and from
contemporaneous political history. No
more propositions were debated, though
there was hardly member OF the committee
who had not received some contribution OH
the question from one source or another,
and which, at the proper tinle,> may prove
to be OF some value. The meeting indi-
Gated very clearly that the committee will
be able to secure an authentic account
Of each Joint convention, both as to
Journals and the debate on the same,
with the exception OF one Or two OF the
earlier Congresses, where the journal Of the
proceedings only can be secured. The
record Of the debate alone will make large
volume. The committee will meet again
tomorrow to resume this discussion. They
hope by the middle of next week to have
conference with the House committee,
which resumes its session January Sd.
The subcommittee OF the House COM
m;ttee, consisting of Messrs. Hunton,
Springer, and Willard, have had meetings
for the purpose OF gathering facts for the
| full committee. which will meet when Mr..
Payne, the chairman, returns, when the
two committees meet in Joint session. All
preliminary work will have been done, and
conclusive action may be expected early in
january. Mean time the special committee
OF the House, OF which Mr.. Knott is chair
man, to determine the privileges and pow
crs Of the House in counting and deter
mining the electoral vote, is pushing its in
vestigations, and will probably report be-
fore the joint committee is ready for action.
Several members Of the Senate committee
are understood to be opposed to the submits
sion OF any question growing out OF this con-
troyersy to the Supreme Court OF the United
States. They hold that this would be de-
priving Congress OF power as the repre-
sentatiyes Of the people which the trainers
OF the Constitution evidently designed that
Congress should alone possess and use ut its
discretion. The exceptional character OF
the present controversy is considered no
reason why Congress should surrender this
power. - =.
Experts have identified $500 from the
American Express safe burned at Erie. A
large amount was burned beyond redemp.
ton, and will be lost by the Express Com
pany. q" - RI. '2 .45. 90 -.
| MFR. Leopold, one OF the Freeilmen's Bank
commissioners, writes awe have, yours
OF the 10th instant, but regret our inability
to name time when the next dividend
| will be ready for payment. We are using
every effort to get an appropriation from
| Congress at its present session for
the purchase of our bank-building
property here, and, il successful, can
pay another dividend Immediately. The
existing state of political affairs may defeat
our efforts in which case it will be some
time before we can be ready, as collections
are now very slow, and sales Of our real
estate assets are impossible at present.
The Secretary Of War reports to Con-
gress as to the expediency OF reestablishing
the national armory at Harper's Ferry as
follows:
"Y have the honor to remark that it is
the policy of the War Department to con-
centrate ordinance manufactures at three
arsenalS and the Springfield armory, as re-
commended in recent annual reports, and
that neither the necessities OF the public
service nor judicious economy would
render such establishment expedfent.
A series Of meetings held in this city in
the interest Of the Missionary Society Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church closed this
evening with mass-meeting OF the Metho-
dists OF Washington ut Wesley chapel. Ad-
dresses were delivered by, Rev. DR.. r. T..
Dastyel, D. D., secretary Of the Missionary
Society; Rev. c. H, Fowler, D. D., editor
OF the Christian Advocate, New York; and
General Clinton 3. Fisk. Great enthusiasm
prevailed, and resolutions pledging hearty
i cooperation in increasing the funds Of the
treasury were adopted 5 sst.@l
The Senate Committee on Privileges and
i Elections commence on Oregon tomorrow.
The Republican electors and Secretary Of
State Of Oregon are here. ;ss s.. SI,.E
T Speaker Randall, Judge Knott, and Gene
raj Eunton arei consultations over the dit.
4 fculies thrown in the way OF production
4 OF the telegraphic dispatches called for 10y
the committees. The whole power Of the
House will be invoked to- secure these dis
patches. 2,sa Ttss.'s'5 .s.e t,t I'll. .
It is certain thar General Anderson did
not deposit with Mr.. Ferry the Republican
electoral vote OF Louisiana when he: was
here on Christmss-day. 5issg s.: II
Judge spoGord Is coming with the Tilden
vote Of Louisiana. There II dissatisfaction
with Ferry for withholding receipts from
the Republican messengers when there are
Democratic contestants; and 1t is suggested
that Anderson Hes ordered 70 withhold the
Republ fcap vote Of Louisiana till Ferry was
bulldozed Into recsi ting Tor item. .sass
DEATH OF An ACTRESS.
| NV Y0Rg, December as.Miss Amy
Fayfcett, the actress, 10 dead.