The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-11-09
Washington.

IL
Ex-rRBsIDENT GRANT IN PARIS, &C., &C.
Washington.
THE LOUISIANA CONTESTED cAsEs--THE RE-
PUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE sENATE-DE.
BATE on THE ARMY APPROPRIATIONS BILL
IN THE HOUSE, &C., &C.
[From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, November S.-The Louisi
ana contestcd-election cases still hang fire in
the Senate Committee on Elections. The
intentions OF the majority OF that commit
tee. however, can be discounted in advance
There Is very little doubt that they will re-
port in favor OF seating Kellogg, and 9
strong effort will be made to secure report
in favor OF Corbin, OF South Carolina
Senator Merrimon, who is a member OF the
Elections Committee, sara to-day that he is
confident that the maj ority OF the Committee
on Elections of the Senate will use every
means in its power, and the majority in
the Senate will use all their efforts, to pre-.
serve intact the slight supremacy they have
in that body. Morton's death and the ap-
Williams, OF Indiana, reduces the
.cTrAI REPUBLICAN MAJORITY IN THE SENATE
to four, and the virtual majority to two, as
Sharon is almost never present, ana Judge
Davis. OF Illinois, is more Democrat than
Republican. The admission OF the two
Democratic senators-elect from Louisiana
would tie the political parties in the Senate
virtually, and the further admission or the
Democratic senator-tlect from South Caro-
lima would give the Democrats majority
OF one. History records no instance OF a
party in power voting that power away, and
it is fair to suppose that the Republicans IN
the Senate will not set new precedent.
Whether McssrS. Kellogg, Pinchback, and
Corbin Will be admitted are other and diff
ferent questions.
CIVIL they not seat Kellogg, at least"
queried your correspondent OF Senator Mer-
rimon to-day. "Undoubtedly, il we let
them," was his significant response. His
reply is doubtless the key to the situation.
The Republicans will not scat Spotlord,
Eustis, and Butler, and the Democrats will
not let them seat Kellogg, Pinchback, and
Corbin.
1t has been
4 FlELD-DAY OF DEBATE IN THE HOUSE
on the army appropriations bill. The dis
cussion has developed the fact that the
Forthwith Congress is rich in able debators.
1t has also developed three other facts-to-
wit: that the Republicans still vote solidly
whenever any Republican cracks the party
whip; that the Democrats have number
eff men competent to lead, bat have not yet
agreed upon leader, and that Mr.. Atkins,
the new chairman Of the Committee on APP
preparations, is quite equal to his position.
Fiye-minute speeches have been the order
OF the day, and the result has been that
long-winded essays have been impossible,
and only those who can think quickly and
accurately upon their feet have been able to
hold their own in the debate.
Mr.. Atkins stated the position OF the APP
Committee very clearly. The
committee had not been able to agree as to
the proper
SIZE OF TIE ARMY,
and had decided to waive the questions OF
limiting and defining the uses OF the army
until the regular session, because the commit
tee were of the opinion that it was the first
duty Of Congress, and the main business OF
the extra session, to appropriate money fol
the service of soldiers already rendered and
unpaid. 1t was the hope and belief OF the
committee that the House would acquiesce
in the committees report, and pass the
committees bill without much debate; but
it misjudged the temper Of the House. The
Texas members were altogether too jealou;
Of the interests OF their border coun'
try to consent to any reduction Of
the army, and the Republicans, Of
courses opposed it. On the other hano
it came out that there were very consid
cradle number of Democrats who thought
the army already too large. Blackburn, Of
Kentucky, was the ablest exponent Of these,
and made the best ffve-minutes' speech oil
the day. Blackburn seized the bull by
the horns, moved an amendment to re-
duce the army to fifteen thousand
men, declared broadly that the idea
that the army was to be used as
police force to preserve the peace was anti
Democratic and anti-American, and gave
notice that he would demand the ayes ant
noes in the House on his amendment. The
broad proposition, as stated by MIR. Black
burn, found a ready response from ever!
Democrat who spoke, but the Appropria
lions Committee still contended that al
questions outside of the payment OF thu
troops should be left until the regular ses
sion. Debate continued till after O'Clock
when the committee rose without taking
any action. .....-
THE SILVER BILL TO BE REPORTED TO TIL
SENATE AS 1T CAME FROM THE HOUSE.
Senate Committee on Finance met Thu
morning and informally discussed the silvel
bill. No vote was taken, but the desultor!
discussion in the. committeeman indicated
that out Of Difference to the very large Vot'
the bill received in the House that major
itv would favor reporting the bill to thu
Senate in the precise shape it came fron
the House, and the responsibility OF an.
amendments rests with the Senate. 1t
quite certain that five members Of the Fl
nance Committee will vote to get the bill
into the Senate. These are Jones, Allison
WallacesF Ferry, and Howe.
Associated Press Reports by telegra ph to the ID
patch.l
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUs-PATTERsoS's CASE
NOMINATIONS,