The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-05
Washington.

/ Washington.
THE JAMEs-RIvER OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Observation-Disclosures BRASHAM PARDON
ED-TnE TARIFF BILL-THE EIGHT-HOUR
sYsTEX-THE PRESIDENTIAL sQUABBLE-
THE POLK INvEsTIGAT1oN-LACK OF c0EFI-
DENcE IN THE SECRETARY OF THE TREA-
sURY-BELL-PUSCHEs PASSAGE OF THE
PENSION BlLI-PERsoNAL, &C., &C.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, March 4.-The House Com
mittee on Commerce to-day considered the
estimates for the northern lakes, and will
certainly conclude their preliminary bill by
the end Of the week. Then the committee
will go over the bill before making their
final report to the House, and If ever there
was time when the Improvement OF the
James river should be looked after that
time is near at hand Let the business
men of Richmond back their representative
in his effort to. get 100000. Your corrc-
spondent does not agree with the man who
says northern men prevent an injury from
being done their trade and section, while
southern men wait until tine damage is done
and then hold an indignation meeting.
MARSHAL RAIsDELL.
The Senate committee was ready to-day
to report in favor OF confirming Mr.. q. P.
Ramsdell as United States marshal of the
Eastern District Of Virginia, but postponed
their report until tomorrow in order to
confer with Senators Johnston and With
ers in regard to the matter. hear OF Re-
publlcans who will oppose his confirmation
if fight Is made against him, but it does not
look tonight that this will be the case.
There is no telling, however, what q night
may bring forth.
VIRGINIA POSTMASTER PARD0NED.
The President to-day pardoned A. Carter
Branham, the Lancaster postmaster, con-
victed in Judge Hughes's court and sem
fenced to the Albany penitentiary. The
President told Messrs. j. B. Sener and j.
Amber Smith, who have been looking after
Branham's case, that he would pardon him
after be had served an actual term OF thirty
days, and he has done so.
THE TARIFF BILL.
Owing to the fact that delegations from
Massachusetts,, representing wool-growers
and woollen manufacturers, desire to ap-
pear before the Committee of Ways and
Means, the subject Of wool and woollens
were to-day passed by. The committee
then took up Schedule M-the omnibus Sec
ton Of the bill. The duty on laces OF all
material was fixed at 40 per cent, whereas
the committees report made it 20 per cent.
Shel-almonds were reduced from Is per
cent to II per cent. ARGOS were placed on
the free list. All articles OF which bonnets
are made, or with which they are ornament
cd, not otherwise provided for, were fixed
ut 10 per cent. Morocco has not been dis
posed OF, and Mr.. Tucker will contend for
free goat-skins. He will also look out for
licorice. Wool and woollens promise to
give rise to much discussion, heeau 90 man
ufacturers want free wool, and wool-grow-
ers protection. --.
/ THE SILVER QUESTION.
To-day Mr.. Cockerell, OF Missouri, in
PRODUCED bill in the Senate authorizing the
deposit OF silver bars in sums OF not less
than $40 at the treasury or sub-treasuries,
on which shall be issued certificates, on the
same conditions as gold-certi6cates are now
issued. These certificates are to perceived
for all dues, public and private.
THE EIGHT-uoUR SYSTEM.
Delegations Of workmen from the Nor
folk. Brooklyn, and League Island navy
yards appeared before the House Commit
tee on Labor-Mr. Goode chairman-to-
day, and occupied the entire session in
arguing that the Department should be
compelled to adopt the eight-hour system
at all the Government yards, &c. The Nor
folk delegation consisted of Messrs. j. W.
BROMLEY and Peed. The committee took
no action to-day, but will consider the sub
iect at its next meeting. These delegations
made good impression.
THE LEES OF THE PRESIDENTIAL soUABBLE.
The subcommittee on Elections to-day
heard two hours argument in favor OF
Mr.. Bisbee Republican,, who holds a seat
from Florida in the House, contested by
Mr.. Finley, Democrat. The question in
this case, as in the presidential contest,
turns on the Archer precinct, which Fin
J ley contends should be thrown out on &C.
? count of fraud. This done he b as 258 ma.
} iority. Two hundred and ten voters, who
could neither read nor write, swear they
| voted for Bisbee there, and the returns
show that less than 800 votes were polled
and that Finley got 1876. tits said that Bis
bee could have gotten 1000 or more Of the
same sort to swear they voted ''the Publ
can ticket at Archer"
A LONESOME CONGRESSIONAL MEETING.
While Washington is ablaze with temper
ance enthusiasm the annual meeting Of thu
Congl essional Temperance Society, at Me
tropolitan church, last night, was as lone
some and as cold as possible. Dir. Ballou
of Rhode Island, who presided, said sixt.
thousand die drunkards annually in thu
United States and that six hundred Thousand
others are prepared to take their places
Seven hundred millions OF dollars are annu
J ally spent in liquor, and one million chill
. dren made helpless orphans by it.
. THE POLK INVESTIGATION.
The Polk investigation was about CLOSED
: to-day, and the only witnesses to be heart
now are congressman who were mentioned
by Colonel Polk during his examination
: witness. His friends say he will get clear
and his opponents say the committee vii
stand eight against and three for him.
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