The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-24
WashingfOE.

Wasslington.
SENATOR JouNsToN,To EXPLAIN THE MERITS
OF his rEyAs-PACIFIc BILL T0-pAY-JAMEs
RIVER AND KANAwHA CANAL-THE ELEC.
ToRGI, PRAuDs-SHERMAN AND PATTERSON
on LOrIsIANA--THE ARMY NOT TO BE RE-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AN ATTEMPT TO
AMEND THE RULES OF THE HoUSE-TREA-
sUggR HUNTER, cOMMENDS JUDGE HARRIs's
BILL IN REFERENCE TO STATE BANKS
JCp6g ALFRED MORTON GONE TO FLORIDA
PRINTING NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ITEMS,
&C., &C.
from Oar Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, May Ex-senator Johnston
has arranged to appear before the Senate
Railroad Committee tomorrow morning,
when he will explain the merits OF his bill.
He will contend that The construction OF
southern road TO the Pacific is no longer
debatable question. but one upon which all
now agree, the only point Of difference
being as to the best bill to accomplish the
purpose. He will endeavor to show that his
bill. il carried out, will build more miles OF
road for one half the money than any other
now before Congress, and that its provisions
carefully guard against the preparation Of
fraud. He will further contend that it alone
offers solution Of the MeXican-border
troubles. and tends to attract Mexican trade
to the United States. In support Of the as
sertion that it will eflectually prevent mo-
nopoly, he will quote from Senator Lamar
and Colonel Tom Scott-citing the fact that
three wears ago the former made report to
the House in favor Of bill differing only
from the Johnston bill in requiring juno
ton of the Huntington and Scott roads
one hundred miles west OF Ell Paso in
stead OF at Ell Paso, as is provided
in the Johnston bill, and that Colonel Scott
agreed to the bill reported by MIR. Lamar.
Senator Johnston will speak in the Senate
in advocacy OF his bill at an early day.
Your correspondent does not think the
Texas-Paciic bill can be gotten up by Mr..
Matthews before next week. Its friends
are hard at work and in good spirits.
TIE JAMES RIVER AND KANAwHA COMPANY.
President Johnston, who has been here
for day or two looking after the general
mond tonight. The bill introduced by Mr..
Shelly, OF Alabama, by request, appropri-
ating S1SS,000,000 to water-lines, &c, in.
e Guiding Se0,000,000 to the James River and
kanawha Company, was not intended to
come up for action this session, but is de-
signed to advertise the merits Of the scheme
with view to future legislation. It is
nearly similar in detail to the recommends
tons OF the Window report. It provides
that the Government shall guarantee bonds
bearing five per cent. and running fifty
years for the companies specified.
SHERMAN AND ROBERTSON ON LOUISIANA.
Mr.. Robertson, OF Louisiana, rose to-day
in the House to a question OF personal pri-
yilege, and had read passage from Secre-
tary Sherman's- letter to Mr.. Potter, in
which he says that the frauds in East and
West Felciana were outrageous. The Re-
publicans at once raised the point OF order
that it was not a question Of personal pri-
yilege, but Mr.. Robertson insisted that the
charge was an uniustifable assault upon bis
constituents without regard to age, sex, CO..
lor or previous condition, and if true he was
not entitled to seat on the floor OF the
House The Speaker, after giving the
mem Der chance to connect himself with
the charge, decided that il was not cues
ton OF privilege, and Mr.. Robertson had
to take his seat, though he evidently had
prepared himself to yentilate Louisiana
frauds ut length
THE ARMY NOT TO BE REDUCED.
The debate on the Throgmorton amend
ment fixing the strength Of the army at
$4,000 instead Of at 20,000,,'a recommended
by the committee, did not continue long
to-day, and the amendment was adopted
ayes 112 to noes 106. All the Republicans,
all Of the Texas delegation except Mr..
Reagan, and the following other Demo
Gratis: Nlessrs. Cutler OF New Jersey, Wig
gington OF Colorado, and Patterson OF
Colorado, voted in the affirmative. The
result occasioned considerable disappotnt-
nent to the Democrats and great deal OF
pleasure to the Republicans. The Demo
cratic delegates from Virginia voted solidly
against the increase. %
During the debate Mr.. Pridemore spoke
earnestly against increasing the army, and
said, in reply to the argument that more
troops are required to protect our frontier,
that il the Government would give idle Ia
borers i'll the East free transportation over
roads built by Government bounty, and
then divide among them as much land in
the far West as they have given to railroad
corporations there will be no need OF troops
there, because these able-bodied sons OF toll
will protect the borders against all corners.
The subject OF the organi zation OF the
army promises to protract the debate con-
siderably.,e..s -.
THE TAX on STATE BANKS. ~
State Treasurer r.. NJ. r. Hunter has
written letter to Judge Harris, OF Vir-
ginia, commencing in high terms his bill
relieving state banks OF tie temper
tax now imposed on their circulation.
JUDGE ALFRED MORTON OFF FOR FLORIDA.
Now, while Judge Alfred Morton last
night informed a Republican friend that he
was going to his present home, in Syracuse,
n. T., have information that he left for
Florida. BY the way, IL is said that while
ne has rooms at the heightened Riggs and
aristoeratic Ebbitt when here, he registers
at neither; hotel. So
AN ATTEMPT TO. AMEND THE HOUSE RULES
DEFEATED.
Dir. Garfield created an excitement in
the House to-day by reporting from the
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