The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-12-18
constitutional power 4 III the Government. 6

would authorize the passage OF such q bill,
and IL done Il must be doue Under the tax
Ing grant oil the Constitution. The pro-
ducts Of land have been held By the Supreme
Court to be taxed as land itself. That can
only be done under the rule OF apportion-
ment among the States, and not under The
rule OF uniformity. The non.tobacco States
would hardly agree to thus shift the burdens
which have up to this time besn largely
borne by that tobacco belt reaching from
the shores OF the Chesapeake to the Kansas
line on themselves.
THE yELLow-FEvER coxarTTEE-ExPEREs Sc
LEGTED.
The subcommittee on experts and the
plan Of procedure met together last night
and selected out OF over one hundred ply
sicians nominated Org. Bemis, OF New Or
leans: Cechrane, OF Mobile. and William
Selden, OF Norfolk. The first two were
members Of the Commission organized by
Surgeon. G General Woodwork, and Mr..
Goode urged the selection OF DR.. Selden,
not only because. OF his eminence in his
profession, bat because his theory is that
yellow-fever is not contagious, and he
thought all varieties OF opinion should be
represented in the experts appointed.
The subcommittee will select others in due
time. Their recommendations have to be
endorsed by the full committee. The plan
OF procedure agreed upon is an elaborate
one, aud includes visits by subcommittee
and experts to all Of the recently-infected
districts and the Atlantic cities during va
cation. Senators Matthews, Paddock, and
Garland, and Representatives <Hartridge,
Goode. and Garfield, constitute the SUBJ
committee to ascertain how far Congress
under the Constitution can go in preventing
the introduction and spread Of the yellow
fever. a.g
INTERESTING IN REGARD TO TIE NEXT
CENSUS.
The joint Committee on the Census
present, Senators Morrill,, Davis OF Illinois,
Matthews, and Morgan, and Representa-
tiyes Cox OF New York, Jorgensen, Mills,
and Ryan-held meeting last night, and
heard ex-Superintendent Walker. now pro-
lessor at Yale College. His delivery was
very bad, but he impressed all present with
his perfect familiarity with the subject. He
opposed the present system OF taking the
census by deputy marshals, many OF whom
have been utterly unfit for the duty; and
urged the appointment OF $50 superintend-
ents OF the census, with authority TO appoint
the enumcrators and other subordinates.
Hc thinks the statistics in regard 10 mining,
manufacturing, &C., should be collected by
experts. By his plan he will not only secure,
he contends, 4 more correct and reliable
census, but will get the work completed for
$500, 900 less than the census OF either 1880,
go, or 20 cost. The idea seems to be to
place Mr.. Walker at the head OF the Census
Bureau.
THE STAR-CHAMBER INyESTTGATION-THs DE-
BATE TO-DAY-THE RESOLUTION PASSES.
The debate on the proposition whether
the Blaine investigation shall be in secret
or with open doors, as the Democrats de-
mand, was continued to-day, AR. Mcrr-
mon, OF North Carolina, making the open
ing speech. He coutrasted most effectively
the reign OF anarchy and terror in the South
under Radical rule with the peace which
prevails now that tie Democrats are in
power in every southern State.
Mr.. Whytc, OF Maryland, made capital
reply to Blaine. and the latter evidently felt
kccnly his pointed thrusts. In reply to
Blaine's question why emigrantS do not go
South, Mr.. Ransom spoke temperately, and
showed that settlers are coming to North
Carolina, while Senator Morgan gave an in
teresting account OF the emigration which
is pouring into Texas, and which will trans
fer the power from New England to the
Southwest. He also told how Alabama is
being filled up with settlers from Germany
and the Northwest, and in reciting the
causes which make white settlers avoid the
rich lands in the black belt he gave Blaine
and his party good lick.
Mr.. Teller, of Colorado, made few weak
remarks, saying the Republican party OF
Colorado was ready for investigation !;
after which the resolution OF Blaine, as
amended by Mr.. Thurman, was adopted
ayes, Sc; noes, 6.
Blainc's friends say he feels that he has
not met with the sympathy from Repub!i-
can senators in this fight that he had right
to expect, and to-day he has looked to your
correspondent like deserted leader.
BRIEF NEWS ITEMS.
Dir. Sudler, Mr.. Lorilard's partner, will
tomorrow address the Senate Finance Com
mittee in opposition to the bonded-ware-
house feature inserted by Mr.. Hewitt, Of
New York, in the tobacco bill.
Senator Johnston was detained from his
seat in the Senate and prevented yesterday
from attending the tobacco discussion by
indspoStion.
The House partially discussed again to-
day the Geneva award.
The wlsest Republicans think Blaine
erred in not agreeing to Buffers amend
ment for an open session.
Captain Conder occupied the entire ses-
sion Of the House Committee on Commerce
to- day with his plan for draining the Mis-
sissippi Valley.
Secretary Sherman and other Treasury
officials were before the subcommittee OF
Ways and Means to-day. They gave an
account OF the frauds under the present sys-
tenn OF testing sugar, and advocated the po-
lariscope.
Senator Butler to-day received q highly
unfavorable telegram in regard to Governor
Hampton.
DR.. Spence says Governor Baylev, OF
Michigan, is now for reduction Of the TO-
bacco tax.
The condition of Mr.. Williams. Demo-
cratic member OF the House from Michigan,
is unfayorable to his recovery.
ASSOCIATED Press Reports by telegraph to the Dis
patch.l
BEFORE THE SENATE FINANCE
COMMITTEE.
WASHINGTON, December IA delega-
ton OF Observation-Disclosures appeared be-
fore the Senate Finance Committee to-day
in advocacy of u reduction in the present
rate OF tax on manufactured tobacco.
DR.. Spence, of Ohio, was the first speaker.
He maintained that the public mind, so far
as it related to tobacco-manufactur was
entirely unsettled, and until the pending
controversy regarding the permanent tax
which should be levied on tobacco was def
niteIy settled, the state of affairs could not
be improved. .......
After making detailed statement regard
ing the amounts consumed under previous
rates Of taxation, he said that the action OF
Congress increasing the rate from twenty to
tWentv.feur cents stupeted the trade gene