The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-04-19
Washington.

rTrrny. AND NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ALA.
n,s, CONTESTED. Ell. ECTIoS CAsE--MEETING
op THE NATIONAL. ACADEMY OF SCIENCE
now Nh. CoSELISG HAS LOST CAUSE.-THE
r7GAE.MEN REF0RE THE COMMITTEE ON
WAYS AND NEASS--BRIEF items.
from Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. April lS.-Whiie your cor.
-osnoodent as items Of news has given the
oniniops OF members from time to time who
have said the tariff bin would pass the House,
he has not himself encouraged such be-
lcf He now says, however, in view not
oojy OF what has recently passed, but on ac-
connt OF facts which have reached him
through the most trustw orthy channels, that
rho tariff bill has hardly ghost OF chance
NJ nassinr. Not only are the Democrats
from Pennsylvania bitterly against it, but
the New Jersey and New England Demo.
Gratis are with them, and l would surprise
vour readers were I to give the names OF
even 4 few southern Democrats who are
now shaky. There are Democratic senators,
100. who believe in tariff reform who think
il would seriously hurt the Democratic par
IL 10 pass Woods bill at this session.
THE INCOME TAX AND TOBACCO.
The Wavs and Means Committee again
to-day considered the income tax, the SOUTH
ern members still conteHding fora graduated
tay on incomes above $4,000. Tomorrow,
however, they will abandon this policy for
GOOD reasons, and agree to 4 uniform tax.
The committee will then decide to report
the bill, and il will 20 before the House
with greater strength than it would have il
the graduated system were Incorporated in
il. Prominent friends Of the reduction OF
lbetobacco tax had Il conference to-day, and
the opinion prevailed that it Will not do
longer 10 wait on the tariff bill, and hence
YOU HAY expect on any day to see the To-
bacco bill brought sQuarely before the
House on its own merits, and without being
coupled with any other subjects.
no MORE LOTTERY OR PoLICY-TICKETs.
Both the House and Senate to-day passed
Il bill prohibiting the sale OF lottery and
policy-tickcts in the District Of Columbia.
The parties offending are TO be fined five
hundred dollars, with not less than two nor
more than twelve months imprisonment
for each offence. Parties renting houses for
policy and lottcry-oflices are also punish
able. Ii is a little remarkable that the au-
thor OF the bill, who has been working for
lis passage for three years, finds that he
rented a house out only three days ago, and
it is already used as policy-shop.
A RADLY-SCARED NEGRO POLITICIAN.
The subj Committee on Elections heard
General Shclby'S side of the Alabama con
tested case to-day, and am sure he will re-
tain his seat 4 paper was read signed by
his negro opponent, Jere HARRISON, in
which Jcre admitted that in public speech
he declared General Shelby, when applying
for the appointment OF sheriff, told Gov
ernor Lewis, OF Alabama, that he was a
good Republican, but that it was utterly
false, and he only made it to make the Gen
cral lose Democratic votes. The chairman
here asked him why he signed that paper ;
10 which Jere replied You see, boss,
| was in General Shelby's room, and it
was II O'Clock at night. He had two pis-
tolls. and his deputy-sheriffh he had two more,
and reckon you would er signed it, too, eli
you had bin thar. tellyou this Niger was
skcered about that time, and you know
white folks knows how to skeer niggerS,
anyhow" The committee seemed much
impressed with this representative Repub-
lican leader OF the South.
NOT MUCH CONTRACTION.
The fact that the bill reported by the Sen
IN L;popca f,op,p,ittaa urcfar1av nerJni rs
the immediate sale of four-per-cent. bonds
for greenbacks, and provides that the other
features shall not take effect until October
1st, led many to look upon it rs contrac'
ton measure. The fact is, however, that
the greenbacks received for the four-per-
the funding bill, have to be Immediately
paid out in the purchase Of siX-per-
cent. bonds, so that the latter may
be retired. The only effect, therefore, Of
the feature alluded 10 will be to reduce the
rate OF interest which the Government will
have 10 pay, two per cent. A well-informeC
southern Democratic senator who has eN.
amined the committees report carefully In
forms your correspondent that under the
most unfa1orable circumstances there can.
not be by October 1st 4 greater contraction
than three millions. lie thinks the bill vii
pass.
TIE SAYANS IN COUNCIL.
The National Academy of Science hell
another meeting to-day at the Smithsonian
Institute, and large crowd OF visitors were
In attendance. Professor Newcombe rea(
striking paper on measuring the velocity
OF light by means OF revolving mrrers
de estimated that his process will save thu
Government large amount in making OBJ
serrations Of the transit OF Venus. The
Rev. Jasper would have enjoyed it, and TIT
scientific men present seemed to approve o
the views of Professor Newcombe.
MR.. coNKLING AND THE ADMINISTRATION.
There are all manner Of rumors to-nigh
about Senator Conkling and "the Worid'
interview" One statement Is that he ha
telegraphed to New York denial OF tn
truth OF its statements, another that he sail
these things in the confidence OF dinner
table talk, and still another that the autho
OF the paper was the editor Of his home or
gan, and that these things were told that h
might be posted as to Lord Roscoe's views
lie made note OF them, and being recentl,
discharged from his editorial position, b
published them in ''the World.' Whateye
may be the true version, Conkling has los
caste and made enemies. Tonight it is sail