The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-04
Washington.


THE PROPOSITION TO REDUCE THE TOBACCO
TAXA NEW TEIAS-PACIFIC BILL-THE AG-
RICULTURAL BUREAU-THE FREDERICKSBURG
PosT-oFFIcE-THE GENERAL APPROPRIATION
BILL-PERSONAL-A PROPOSITION TO INyEs-
TIGATE THE FLORIDA FRAUnS, &c.
from Our Regular. Correspondent
WASHINGTON, May 3.-Tbe advocates OF
the reduction OF the tobacco tax are very
active to-day, and l observed Messrs. Tuck
er, Cabell, and Jorgensen at the same time
talking tobacco in different parts OF the
House to members from other States. or
course all OF the Virginia members are earn
estly for reduction. Messrs.. BurweIl, OF
your city, and Robbins, OF North Carolina,
were similarly engaged in another part Of
the Capitol. Now the understanding is
that the tobacco bill shall be called up Mon
day under suspension of the rules. This
cannot be done if it's friends are absent, and
there is no reason why they should be away.
No time could be more suspicious. The
two parties IN the House are not embitter-
ed against each other by any recent quar-
rels, or as they may be when the Florida
matter comes up. The strength OF reduc-
ton can therefore be as advantageously
tested on Monday rs at any time during
the remainder OF the session. The tobacco
men who want the tax reduced to sixteen
cents should work now as they have never
worked, for the monopolists have been do
ing their level best. They have not operated
in vain either, for know Of Republican
who ten days ago was all right, who is to-day
all wrong, and there may be others like
him. The members opposed to an income
tax are still against reduction OF the to-
bacco tax. Yet vino knows but that they
may settle their little difficulty by compro-
missing on suspension Of the sinking fund?
That would save s37,O0O,OO0 year, and as
the income-taX will not raise over $4,000
900, and the deficiency from reduction Of
the tobacco tax is only estimated at from
S.. 000, 900 to S9,0e0,000, the arrangement is
entirely practicable. Stranger things have
happened in legislation, and why may not
this happen?
NEW TEXAs-PACIFIc RAILROAD BILL.
Senator Johnston, OF Virginia, has crea-
ted quite stir by introducing another
TeXas-Pacific bill in the Senate. The bill
provides for the construction Of Texas
Pacific road from Fort Worth, Texas, to a
point at or near Ell Paso, there to meet and
connect with the Southern Pacific road or
ganized under the laws of California. All
the grants, rights, and privileges heretofore
conferred to the TeXas-Pacific and pertain
ing to its route west OF the Rio Grande are
to be transferred to the Southern Pacific.
The TeXas-Pacitic is to put in operation at
least 100 miles of its road from Fort Worth
westwardly within two years after the pas
sage OF the act, and not less than 100
miles for each year, or 200 miles for every
two years thereafter, and shall complete the
same to Ell Paso in six years. The South
ern Pacific is to complete and equip its line,
including the connection to San Diego, in
six years. 1t is required to commence work
within one year from the passage OF the act,
and complete 100 miles in one year there
after, and not less than 80 miles in every
succeeding year thereafter until the same is
completed and fully equipped to the Rio
Grande. The bill provides for a branch
from Ell Paso to San Antonio, branch to
Vicksburg. and another TO Memphis. There
is no branch provided for to st. Louis.
The bill provides that the Government
shall aid these roads to the extent Of SO, 0Ot
per mile in greenbacks, and that the road:
shall transport mails, supplies, munition;
OF war, &C., for the Government at reason
able rates. But they are to receive no money
from the Government until they have re-
cent. interest on the same. The bill i:
lengthy and carefully drawn.
| GARDEN-sEED AND THE AGRICULTURAL b.
| REAU.
| When the clause in the appropriation bill
appropriating $4,000 for the distribution
of garden-seed, &C., was reached in tht
House to-day, Judge Durham, OF Kentucky
pronounced the Bureau humbug and thu
seed no better. Mr.. Townsend, OF New
York, in reply, said there were districts il
this country where they use the beans ant
peas so roundly abused by the gentleman
from Kentucky, and there are district
in which the people are unable to subsis
alone on Bourbon whiskey and tobacco
This occasioned a considerable laugh, il
which Judge Durham Joined. Mr.. Chitten
tendon, OF Brooklyn, said he had distrib
uted some OF the bags Of seed sent hin
among his constituents, and they have no
forgiven him for it yet. An amendment t.
increase the appropriation 10 500, 900 wa
adopted, all the Virginia members votin!
cave" These seed except hower-secd
are to be distributed in each congressional
district according 20 the agricultural popu
lation.
| THE FREDERICKSBURG POsT-oFFICE.
President Hayes said to Republican
member OF Congress who went to see hin
this morning in behalf Of Mr.. Pritchard
who is candidate for postmaster OF Fred
ericksburg, that he saw no reason why tn
matter should not be decided to-day. Their
seems to be no doubt among those VIII
ought to know OF Mr.. Pritchard's appoint
ment.
NAVAL MATTERS.
The Naval Committee OF the House tc
day heard Chief-Engineer Shock, VIII
argued that it is best for the navy that SUP
plies should be purchased in open marke
instead OF advertising for bids and givin
the contract to the lowest bidder. The bi
for re0rganizing the navy-thc details
which j have already giyen-will be dis
cussed at the next meeting OF the commit
80 M, yy;lI;c ~ Nau Yorly coomS YER