The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-02-26
Washington.

4
Washington.
BILL TO ORGANIZE THE INDIAN TERRITORY
PROCEEDS OF THE PUBLIC LANDS FOR EDC-
CATI0NAL PURPOSEs-THE SUGAR SCHEDULE
OF THE TARIFF BILL-NATI0NAI. BANK CIR
! CULATIoN--THE RIVER AND HAkBoR BILL
rICE-PREsIDENT PRO TEM.-THE SILVER
BILL; A VETO FROM THE PRESIDENT PRoDA-
MISREPRESENTATION ITEMS.
From Our Regular Correspondent r..
WASHINGTON, February 25.-For some
time there has been bill before the Senate
Committee on Territories to organize the
Indian territory inhabited by the Choctaws,
Cherokees, Chickasaws, and other tribes,
into Territory to bear the name OF Okala-
homa. Now there are three railroad COM
panies which have received Immigrants
from the Government within this Indian
country, the Government agreeing to ex-
tinguish the Indian title to the same as soon
as practicable. Mr.. VOORHEES, in the Sen
ate this morning quietly offered n resolu-
ton instructing the Committee OH Terri
torres to ascertain what bonds have been
issued ny these companies and by whom
they are held. The resolution was adopted,
and the committee authorized to send for
persons and papers. To the ordinary listen
er this seemed tame, matter-of-fact pro-
ceeding, but it meant that there is lobby
here interested in the railroad bonds re-
ferred to, who are urging the organization
OF the Territory Of Oklahoma as the first
step towards the eXtinguishment OF the title
of the Indians to the lands granted the rail-
roads referred to. The committee will give
the subject thorough investigation. Mr..
VOORHEES, thinks it will take two thirds OF
the land in the proposed Territory to satisfy
railroad grants.
EDUCATION AND THE PUBLIC LANDS.
On motion of Mr.. Goode the House to-
day ordered the bill reported from his COM
mittee for the division OF the proceeds Of
the public lands for educational purposes
to be printed and recommitted. This keeps
it from the public calendar, and enables the
committee to call it up at any time they de-
sire. When it goes to the committee on this
motion the resolution adopted by the Agri-
cultural Congress-that one fourth OF said
proceeds shall go to the agricultural COL
leges-will be considered The bill as it
now stands leaves it to the States to make
what disposition they please of the proceeds
for promoting education, except that they
cannot devote more than one half to agri-
cultural colleges.
THE POLK INVESTIGATION.
Mr.. S. X. Donovan, assistant doorkeep-
er, was the only witness examined to-day,
and he was introduced by the defence. The
committee, when he had concluded, init
mated that his statement had no bearing
upon the points at issue. The investigation
will be continued tomorrow. The testi-
mony in this case to February Goth has
been printed for the use Of the committee,
and it makes 2OS pages. Mr.. Cox, Of Ohio,
for the committee, will cross-eXamine Mr..
Donovan tomorrow.
THE TARIFF-sUGAR.
The Ways and Means Committee was to-
day again occupied until the House met.
discussing the sugar schedule of the Wood
tariff bill. Your correspondent is warrant
ed in saying that this schedule will be con-
sidcrably modified, and that when reported
will not, on an average, change the present
tariff on sugars to any considerable extent.
The duty on low-priced sugars will be
somewhat increased, and that on high
priced sugars decreased from the present
tariff; and yet it is true that the duty on
nh o1 Inv ho
masses will be so arranged as to be for the
benefit OF consumers. This looks paradox.
ica!, but it is so; and your correspondent,
when investigating the sugar question, is
forced to eXclaim, "Great are the mystic
ries OF sugar." The grade of sugar under
the new tariff will be determined by the
Dutch system and the Polaryscope, and the
committee IS endeayoring to effect CON-
promise between the interests Of retiners,
importers, and planters. Sugar-men from
Boston, New York, and Baltimore have
been before the committee.
THE NATIONAL-BANK CIRCULATION.
The House Committee on Banking and
Currency was engaged to-day on the bill
for retiring national-bank notes and substi-
tuting in their stead Government Treasury
notes, and will resume the subject to-mor-
row. The provisions of the bill have been
given in these dispatches, and the question
is. much discussed by members OF both
houses.
ELECTION CASES.
Tomorrow the subcommittee OF the
House Committee on Elections will take up
the Florida case of Finley Us. Bisbee. The
latter is a Republican, and is the sitting
member. From the report of the congress
sional committee last year it looked as if
Finley was entitled to the seat, but it does
not now seem by any means as certain that
he will Dust his opponent.
TIE WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA.
Nothing new has been developed to-day
in regard to the changes in the officials Of
Judge Rives's court, except that a leading
Republican informs your correspondent
that the authorities will probably abolish
the office of assistant district attorney.
:" What then ?" I asked. "Why," said he,
I" it will remain vacant awhile, and then it
will be revived and some pet put in It."
THE CHINESE QUESTION
Mr.. Willis, from the Committee on Labor,
reported to the House to-day the joint reso-
luton calling on the President to open ne
gotiations with Great Britain and China
with view to securing their cooperation
in putting stop to Chinese immigration to