The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-02-25

THE LOUISIANA RETURNING BOARD. RE
/ FUSED A NEW TRIAL-THE LONDON FL
MANUAL AND COMMERCIAL MARKET
THE EASTERN OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
FOREIGN NEWs-CARDINAL MccLOsKEl
/ IN ROME, &C., &C.
Washington.
ABusY WEEK IN coNGREss-PERs ITEMS
THE RIVER AND HARB0R BILL; 100000
| WANTED FOR THE JAMEs-THE TARIFF BILL
THE POLK Observation-Disclosures SILVER BILL
AND THE PREsIDENT-THE FINANCIAL PRO
GRAAME-THE FREEDMEN'sHOsPITAL IN
] yEsTIGATI0E-TEMPE NCE-BRIEF ITEMS,
from Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, February 23.-Neithel
house OF Congress was In session to-day
and there were comparatively few people al
the Capitol. Next week, however, will be
busy one with the committees, as many
of the most important subjects before them
will be then considered. The House Com.
mittee on Railroads and Canals will receive
the report Of the subcommittee on cheap
transportation, and so voluminous is it that
it will furnish work for some time to come.
The Ways and Means Committee will push
ahead vigorously with the tariff bill, and
the Pacific railroad committees will further
hear the tedious discussion in regard to the
Texas-Pacihc and Southern-P Pacific rail.
roads. The Appropriation Committee Of
the House has its hands full, and the Com
mcrce Committee is anxious to make head
way with the river and barber bill. Finan-
cial questions OF Importance will engage
| both houses.
DoORKEEPER POLK.
The investigating committee was in ses-
sion to-day until half-past O'Clock, and
heard numerous witnesses to prove that
under former doorkeepers messengers and
laborers were permitted to employ colored
substitutes. Mr.. Folks counsel asked an
adjournment until Monday, when he pro-
poses to introduce further testimony for the
defence. The committee are evidently anx-
ious to get through. There was rumor
current this morning that 1t is proposed 10
abolish the Office OF doorkeeper, and turn
over the document and folding-rooms to
the clerk, the engineers and police depart
ments to the architect, and the floor OF the
House and the committee-rooms TO the SER
geant-at-arms. the general opinion is that
1t svery doubtful, to put it mildly, whether
Colonel Polk will be permitted to continue
in Office Senators Lamar and Gordon were
among the witnesses to-day, and they testi-
fed that all they had to do with Payne's
appointment was simply to recommend him
to Colonel Polk.
PERSONAL ITEMS.
The constitutional argument Of Daniel B.
Lucas before the Court OF Claims attracted
much attention, and is to be printed.
Among the visitors here to-day are
Messrs. w. q. II. Lynn, Of Staunton; W.
Proctor Smith; Alexander Mathews, bro
ther OF the Governor OF West Virginia;
Ernest Wilt and Colonel Patton, Of Mon
roe. Hon. James B. Sener has been here
for several days.
THE RIVER AND HARBOR BILL.
While the estimates which the House
Committee on Rivers and Harbors are ma
king for Virginia rivers are only prelimi-
nary they will have their due effect when
the committee makes its final report. There
fore, think that members OF the commit
tee should have information given them
privately before our Virginia congressman
and others appear before the committee to
formally discuss these amounts. Now,
James river requires and is entitled to at
least $780, and the committees prelimi-
nary estimate is only 100000. The reason
the North gets more than the South is be-
cause nothing is agitated in Congress cal
culated to affect any line Of business or any
interest at the North that it does not right
away attract here delegation armed with
facts and statistics. These delegations go
before committees and furnish information
to individual members.
THE TARIFF BILL.
The House Ways and Means Committee
had the sugar schedule OF the Wood tariff
bill before them to-day, and it does not give
quite as much trouble as iron.
THE MARsHALsHlP OF THE WESTERN DISTRICT.
Public sentiment here is decidedly in IA.
vor of the appointment Of ex-senator Lewis
marshal for Judge Rives's court, for few
eX-members OF Congress have more warm
personal friends among both parties in
the present Congress, but the impression
to-day prevails that when Mr.. Grey goes
out General Devens will have his way
in the matter, and give the office to
his friend and companion-in-arms, Colone
Ralston. Colonel Ralston is we'll known in
Richmond. The action in the case OF the
marshal of the Eastern District Of Vir
ginia does not look as if the President wa:
now disposed to interfere with the Attorney
General in making appointments OF thi:
character.
THE FINANCIAL PROGRAMME.
I am informed that on Monday judge
Buckner, chairman Of the House Banking
and Currency Committee, will move to sus
! pend the rules so as to take up and pass tht
committees bill for retiring the circulation
| OF the national banks. On Tuesday thu
Senate Finance Committee will consider TIT
House bill for the repeal Of the resumption
act, and it seems to be conceded that it wll
be reported to the Senate with amendments
Some senators think the report will faYol
resumption, but fix no date. There is still
to,t NJ fundamental bill to the silver bill