The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-12-14

L
SHOOTING, IN A 8uLLEDGEvILLE BAE-
ROOM GOVERNOR HAMPToEs coNDT-
rIoN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AFFAIRS, &C.
| Washington.
THE SENATE ENGAGES IN A DISCUSSION ON MR..
EDMUNDs's ELECTORAL BILL--THE WAYS AND
MEANS COMMITTEE AND THE SUGAR CUES
TION-wORK OF. TUE NAVAL COMHITTEE-
AN APPARITION AT TIE cAPIT0L-Av1RGINIA
RAILROAD BILL, REPoRTED--A SCHEME FOR
THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI VAL
I.EY-THE SEWARD MATTEa-THE CHARGES
AGAINST DAVENPORT, &C.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, December 13.--In the Sem
ate to-day MIR. Bayard made very able
speech in favor Of Mr.. Edmunds's electoral
bill, and was followed by Mr. Eaton, who
contended that no legislation was necessary,
but that if anything was to be done it must
be done by constitutional amendment. Here
MIR. Edmunds interrupted him. when he
said, =" This is all boys play" 81 think So"
replied the Vermont Senator. Mr.. Eaton, by
the quick rejoinder, r" Now, ii you Will only
des,st there will be one less boy engaged in
it." brought down the Senate and the gallo
ries. Mr.. Merrimon next spoke, aud his ar
pument in favor OF legislation was capital
one. He said that civil war in 1876 was only
ayerted by the exercise Of the highest pa
triotism. The bill changes the time OF
voting from November to October. and the
time OF counting from December to Janu-
ary. 1t deprives the Vice-President OF any
power over the count, and provides that
where there are more returns than one it
shall require concurrent vote OF both
houses to admit either. II both houses fail
TO vote for either return, then the vote OF
the State is not counted. The bill was
finally passed by a very close vote-26 to
25.
THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE.
It is very probable that as soon as the
WAYS and Means Committee disposes OF the
sugar question, now under consideration, 1t
will take up the bill to tax cigars by means
of coupons, to be pasted on the wrapper.
The National Cigar Association and leading
Baltimore and New York cigar manufactu-
rers protested last session against this novel
mode Of taxation, and contended that it
would increase their trouble and expense.
Now, your correspondent knows that 1t has
met with favor with number OF congress
men, and would suggest to Richmond and
other Virginia cigas-makers that they com
nicate their views in time to Mr.. Tucker,
who is a member OF the Ways and Means
Committee. asked prominent member
| OF this committee to-day If it would take up
the income tax this session, and he replied,
Not from present indications. The income
ftaX senators can, however, amend the
revenue bill now before the Senate Finance
Committee by adding clause taxing IN
comes, if they think proper. The tax pro-
posed last session, it was estimated, would
bring in 100000.
THE NAVAL CoMMITTEE-R0BEsoN'S CROOKED
NESS. -
In the House Naval Committee, to the re-
quest Of the Republican members that MI.
Whitthorne's report, which shows up the
delinuuencies of cx-Secretary Robson in
strong light, be laid over until Tuesday,
was granted. The committee then had q
protracted interchange Of views in regard
to the bill appropriating 100000 year
for ten years to build up the navy and for
| the appointment of board OF assistants.
No day was fixed for taking up this bill,
but it is the intention OF its friends to urge
its consideration at an early day.
AN APPAR1TIoN OF LEWIS CAss.
An old gentleman appeared at the Capitol
to-day so perfectly like Lewis Cass that men
who remembered the great Michigan senator
were startled. This fact suggested to a
bookseller the propriety OF telling your
correspondent that Mr.. Cass used to come
to his store every two or three days and buy
the trashiest yellow-cover novels he could
Law his hands on; and when asked why he
did this, said if, with all the work he had to
do, he didn't read books OF that class daily
lie would go crazy.
BLAINE HAS A DEFEAT.
Just before the Senate adjourned this eve
ming Blaine endeavored to have his bloody
shirt resolution assigned rs the special order
for Monday, but Mr.. Wadleigh (Republi-
can) opposed it, and urged that his patent
bill should be taken up Monday. The ayes
and noes were ordered, and as the roll was
called Blaine moved among the Republicans
who were on the side OF the New Hamp-
shire Senator, but failed to enlist their
support in favor OF the bloody shirt. he
watched the tally at the clerks desk with
feverish anxiety, and was crest-fallen when
he found himself defeated.
Bayard, Merrimon, and Davis OF Illinois,
were the only Democrats who voted for the
electoral bill. "t. rt.
THE WASHINGTON AND ST. LOUIS NARROW
GAUGE. '.--.a
The House Committee on Roads to-day
reported with recommendation that il
pass the bill for the construction OF a mar
row. gauge railroad from this city 10 St
Louis, and running through the Virginia
counties OF Alexandria, Fairfax, Fauquier
Rappahannock, ,Loudoun. Augusta, Page
Rockingham, and Highland. The House
ordered it to be printed, and recommittet
il, SO that 1t will come up whenever tht
Roads Committee is called. Mr.. Borsi
says it is a good bill, and that under it By
will be able to build the road. He has con
tracted for iron for the eight miles to, Falls
l.Church. e<i.j~ ty
THE MISREPRESENTATION BILL.
Judge Reagan's bill to prevent disgcrilmnt
nation by railroads, which passed thu
House. is now before the Senate Commerce