The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-11-07

house OF Congress was in the mood TO GO
much business to-day. Many members are
away looking after the elections In their re-
spective States, and the senator's who went
to indianapolis to attend Morton's funeral
have not yet returned; hence there was
light attendance in both houses. Senator
Morton's death will necessitate some changes
in the organization Of the Senate commit
tees. He was chairman OF the Committee
on Elections and a member OF the Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs and Of the Commit
tee on Railroads. Since his absence from
the Senate Mr.. Mitchell has been acting as
chairman OF the Elections Committee; but
he is also chairman OF the Committee on
Railroads, and he cannot hold both chair
manships. The necessary changes may not
be made, however, before the regular ses-
sion.
The Senate Committee on Post ffices and
Post-Roads reported favorably to-day upon
the nomination OF Mr.. Forbes, to be post
master at Richmond; and also upon the
nominations to the offices at Norfolk, SUI
folk, and Danyile. There is little doubt
but that all will be confirmed.
BILLS INTRODUCED, &c.
Senator Withers introduced in the Senate
to-day the bill which was introduced in the
House Yesterday for the relief OF the Pro-
testant Episcopal Seminary near Alexan-
dria. The bill asks payment for the use OF
the buildings which were occupied by Fed
eral troops from before the war until its
| close.
The House spent most OF its session on 4
rather unfruitful call OF the committees for
reports and resolutions, and on the unin-
tshed call OF States and Territories for bills.
Representative Whitthorne introduced by
request OF the Naval Committee the resou-
ton which the Committee on Naval Affairs
agreed to, and which was published in
these dispatches several days since, asking
the House to authorize the Committee on
Naval Affairs to investigate the diversions
OF money in the Navy Department men
toned by the Secretary in his recent report.
FRYE, OF Maine, raised the point OF order
that it was not proper for the committee to
report such resolution at the time, and
Mr.. Sayler, who was in the chair, sustained
the point.
THE MISREPRESENTATION ACT.
No progress was made on Ewing'S bill to
repeal the third section OF the specle-re-
sumption act to-day, and probably 1t will
not be taken up tomorrow. as the army
appropriation bill is also the special order
for tomorrow, and takes precedence Of
Ewlng's bill, which, however, remains the
special order Of each day, giving way only
to reports from the Appropriations Com
mittee. BY agreement five full days OF de-
bate are to be allowed on Ewing's bill, so
that the time fixed for taking the vote on
the final passage OF the bill will be post
poned as many days as are occupied by the
Appropriations Committee. General Ewing
feels very much elated at the f1attering vote
which both his bill and the Bland silver
bill received in the House, and is
confident that both will pass the Senate
and be signed by the President. Senator
Jones, who is rather the leader OF the sill
yel-men in the Senate, says he has canvassed
that body carefully, and is confident ma
jority will pass BANDS bill, but doubts if it
would get the necessary two thirds in case
the President vetoed it. Senator Wallace
doubts il BANDS bill will pass the Senate
in its present form. The objection to it in
the Senate, he says, will be on account OF
its making silver legal tender to any
amount; and he thinks the Senate will tack
on an amendment limiting the amount
Mr.. Wallace also thinks that Mr.. Ewlng's
bill will have to suffer amendment before 1t
can pass the Senate. That body, he says,
will doubtless agree to repeal the date
clause Of the resumption act, but he doubts
il it will do any more.
The same senator offered several i'm
portant amendments to the bill which he
introduced the other day to authorize the
issue OF one hundred millions OF long
time 3.e5 per cent. bond, in denominations
OF SO, $50, and 500, for the benefit OF
small investors, who are losing faith in the
savings banks. Mr.. Wallace intends to press
this idea Of helping both the Government
and the laboring classes by giving the latter
an opportunity to invest in non-taxable,
longtime Government bonds, bearing fair
rate OF interest, and has been thinking it
over until he has thought OF some improve
ments on his original idea. BE has
now offered amendments which fix the rate
OF interest at four per cent. instead OF 500,
which enable the holders to make their
bonds negotiable paper, If they desire to
use them as money, by endorsing them
in blank upon the backs, and which makes
it obligatory upon any United States depos-
tory or national bank to cash the original
bonds at maturity. IL they have been
changed into negotiable paper they must
then be presented at a sub.treasury for re-
demption and go through similar pro-
cess to that required in the redemption OF
coupons.
A BOARD OF MARINE SUPERVISORS PROPOSED.
One OF the most important bills intro
duced to-day was by Mr.. Waddel, OF North
Carolina. 1t involves complete change in
the administration OF present laws relating
to steamboat service. Supervising inspec-
tor-general and supervising inspectors OF
steamboats, will be abolished by it II it
passes, and the administration Of steamboat
law will be placed in the hands Of retired
officers OF the navy. The title OF the bill
is "to provide for board of admiralty and
local board Of marine supervisors" It may
vet play sad havoc with many patent con-
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