The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-06-19

!
BILL-BRIEF ITEMS.
| From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, June 1S.-I left the House
at half-past 2 this morning and the Senate
at a few minutes before 4. Ny object was
to see whether the reduction Of the tobacco
tax had any chance in the Senate. found
that Mr.. Beck, o; Kentucky, was without
hope, and that the Virginia senator's did
not believe it possible to get UP the bill.
subsequently ascertained that Senators
Herman, Bayard, and Mcdonald agreed that
| it was impossible to pass it at this session.
A careful canvass OF the Senate, however,
showed that there are majority OF eight in
that body for reduction, and that II there
had only been time left the Senate would
have concurred in the action OF the House
making the tax on tobacco sixteen cents in
stead Of twenty-four cents. The most in
fluential tobacco-man from the West has just
informed your correspondent that it is bet
ter for the trade that the reduction bill
should bang in the Senate instead OF being
defeated, because toblcco-men ow under
stand the situation. They see, he says, that
the bill will become law next winter, and
can arrange accordingly.
WHAT MIR. TUCKER SAYS.
I asked Mr.. Tucker, who has had charge
OF the bill, tonight, whether lie thought it
could pass the Senate even with the cXten-
sion OF the session, and he said that it could
not. He believed, however, that reduction
has 4 majority in the Senate on a square
issue, and that the tax will be sixteen cents
before the 4th OF March next. The bill for
reduction was reported OIL the Goth Of May.
and never we're more earnest efforts made
to pass any bill than have been made by
Messrs. Tucker, Cabell, and Robbins to get
this through. They have encountered OBJ
structions from representatives from the to-
bacco States who ought to have given their
assistance, and have been opposed by
the Government at every turn. McssrS.
Vance OF North Carolina and Turner
and Knott OF Kentucky have done more
than Hale or Garfield 70 retard the pas
sage Of the bill in the House, and
thus prevent the Senate from acting on
it this session. One thing, however, has
been ascertained, and that is that the pre-
sent Congress is willing to reduce the to-
bacco tax, and that nothing but time was
wanting to enable members to do justice to
Virginia's great staple.
EXTENSION OF TUE SESSION.
The Senate at an early hour to-day voted
to extend the session until tomorrow eve
ming at G O'Clock, and the House with mai
den modesty concurred, after an effort to
shorten the term two hours. This gave
sangunc friends Of the reduction Of the
tobacco tax considerable hope.
THE COURT OF CLAIMS.
When the House to-day passed the bill
referring multitude OF claims to the Court
of Claims that have heretofore been before
Congress there was good deal OF applause
in the galleries.
THE POSTAL CLAIMS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN
SETTLED.
At hal3-past O'Clock this morning and
again to-day the Senate was earnestly en-
gagged in discussing the claims OF postmas-
tiers and AUTHORIZATIONS who served the
country in 1861, but who, owing to the war,
rot no pay. Mr.. Window costendcd that
fourteen out of eighteen OF these claims had
been shown to be fraudulent, and Mr. Conk-
ling said the claimants were set OF rascals,
according to the testimony. Mr. Blaine
wanted them to give indemnity bonds
to the Government so that II they
received pay they were not cnti-
tied TO the United States could get
it back. Mr.. Hill, of Georgia, opposed
this amendment, and said that man might
be poor and honest and yet not able to give
security. After adopting every possible
safeguard to prevent the Government from
being swindled by fraudulent claimants the
section was agreed to, and became part
OF the sundry ciyil-appropriation bill. Mr..
Blaine said it involved an appropriation OF
over half a million dollars.
The sUSDRY clvIL-APPRoPRIATIoS BlLL.
After a good deal Of discussion the Senate
finally tonight passed this bill, increasing
the House appropriations considerably.
This was not unexpected, because it is the
custom of the Senate to add to every House
appropriation bill. .#.--
FLORIDA AND LOUISIANA.
Members OF the Potter committee were
needed in tue House to-day, and hence
nothing of moment was done in regard to
the Florida and Louisiana frauds. Judge
Morton, however, who has just returned
from Florida, proved TO your correspondent
beyond doubt that Mr.. Tilden carried that
State by 800 majority. he gave me facts
and figures which will come out when Den
mis- and others are examined next week ny
the full committee. 3e,
Personal ITEMS. 81,
The Speaker OF the House to-day received
dispatch announcing the death OF Con-
gresham Quinn, of New York, who was
paralyzed several months ago. The Potter
committee will call Mrs. Jencks in due
time. Messrs. William B. Isaacs and W. G..
TAYLOR were in the gallery Of the House to-
day; and if the Senate had only done what
General Wise and Colonel Burwell wanted,
it would have passed the characterization
bill. Mr.. Bundy, who was military COM
monwealth's attorney Of Richmond, has
been appointed by the president JUS
tice Of the peace for Washington. Secre-
taries Sherman and schurz were on the floor
OF the Senate to-day. The latter talked with
mr.. Lamar. Minister Noyes is here, and il
he tells all that Judge Morton knows, be did
in Florida IL will furnish an interesting
4 r,f. IL H.