The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-01-25
Washington.

Washington.
Nr. I.AMaR'S SPEECH AGAINST THE SiLvEI
anL--TrE STEAMBOAT BILL, AG.1N-wHns
KEY AND ToBACCo-THE TEXAs-PAcIFIC-
VARIOUS ITENS-PERsoSAI. &C.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, January a.-Mr. Lamar
made his speech in the Senate to-day agains
the Bland silver bill and the Matthews reso
buttons. The galleries were well filed, ant
the floor OF the Senate showed more thar
the usual number OF occupants. To your
correspondents. who was m attentive lis.
tcner, Mr.. Lamar fell far short OF the orator
or speaker who beat Blaine in discussion
in the other House when both were then
members.
He commenced by saying that this is not
the time, nor is the mode prescribed the
way, to remonetize silver. II we make
silver the iayorite coin. as isssuggeSted, it
will drive out gold. Gold gives you a
commercial standard en- rapport with all
other nations. Silver has a local Use, and
the proposed legislation is advocated as 4
temporary means OF relief. He acknow!-
e6cct, that merchants arc breaking, that
manufacturers are embarrassed, and that
the people generally arc in great distress,
and il the silver bill would give them relief
be would 20 for it. But it is not consistent
with sound policy. II you make silver q
legal tender you will drive cut gold and
may put your Nevada silver-miEcs to
work and give your minis employment,
but the history OF all commercial na-
tons is that when YOU bring into COM
petition two metals as coin the de-
based one will drive out the more valuable.
Austria to-day uses silver as legal tender,
but her people are only worth $15 per CAPT.
Ia and Russia, whose despotism is over
reaching the Powers OF Europe, has similar
currency system, and her people only show
an average wealth Of S12 4 head. In fact,
those nations that have demonctzcd silver
have the most OF ii. 1t is not the absence
OF silver from the market that causes de-
preston. he said, in cur financial matters.
Mr. Lamar was listened to with much
attention, but his speech did not affect the
forthcoming vote on the silver question,
nor did he reflect the sentiment OF the south
as expressed here.
THE STEAMBOAT-BILL.
The House was again to-day engaged III
considering the steamboat-bill reported
from Judge Reagan's committee. The eX-
Confederate Postmaster General opposed
all amendments, and declared it was in ac-
cord with the commercial wisdom Of the
world. Ii was presented to the House MS
the result OF the thorough investigation Of
the Committee Of Commerce. The bill ac-
complishes what the Commerce Committee
has cndeavorcd to get through Congress for
ten years past.
POSTAL MATTERS.
The Postal Committees OF the Senate and
House had q joint meeting to-day, when
General Busy, OF New Orleans, made an
interesting statement in regard to the ocean
mail service, and especially that which con-
Germs the Empire of Brazil. Colonel Tren-
holm, OF Charleston, S. c., addressed the
Joint committee as to the fast-mail service
in the southern States. The remarks OF both
these gentlemen made decided impression,
and it is believed good results will follow.
WHISKY AND TOBACCO.
Mr.. Tucker, OF the Ways and Means
Committee, was on the Republican side OF
the House to-day talking in advocacy OF the
whiskey-and-to tax. His
auditors are earnestly in favor OF q change
in the tariff, and seemed willing to give and
take in the matter OF reduction.
COURT MATTERS.
In The Court OF Claims to-day, i'll the
Driscol case, involving the eight-hour sys-
TEN, Messrs. Shellabarger and others spoke
for the plaintiff and the Assistant Attorney
General for the Government.
This is 4 test case, and upon the decision
rendered on il depends two thousand other
cases. On i plea Of the Attorney General
seven hundred cottor-cases were dismissed
to-day in the Court OF Claims. They all in
vo!yed claims growing out OF transactions
subsequent to August, 1868.
THE TEXAs-PAClFIC.
Mr.. Huntington and other great railroad
people are now here, and tomorrow will
commence before the House Pacific Railroad
Committee the discussion Of the merits OF
the Texas-Pacitic.
Governor Brown, OF Tennessee, its vice.
president, is fully able to meet any oppo.
nent Messrs. Huntington & Co. may bring
to defeat this great southern enterprise.
The TeXas-Pacifc people here are very
hopeful that they will ultimately obtain the
aid they ask for from the Government.
BRIEF ITEMS.
The House Judiciary Committee is ready
10 report that the fact that Mr.. Strong, col
ored member from South Carolina, occupies
u seat in Congress, does not relieve him OF
liability Tor arrest for misdoings perpetrated
by him down South.
The silver quarter was first issued in
1902.
The elegant seal.skin and other fur wrap.
pings worn by the ladies on the avenue to.
day would have excited the envy OF even
Franklin street.
Among the visitors at the Capitol to-day
was Judge Bali, Of Loudoun.
There was much talk to-day over the &C
ton OF the Virginia Legislature in regard
to State officers among Virginians soiourn
ing here.
, The Freedmen's Hospital, under reso
ton OF Mr.. Hamlin, adopted to-day by the
Senate, will be investigated.
Some English bondholders wanted tc