The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-12-10

.rp.1 pI-GGLES'S PLAN FOR PREVENTING
+ ',nn,n,nrcYTS-GENERAI. JOSEPH +. JOHNSTON
,rro1yTEp TO REoRGASIzE THE ARMY
SECRETARY A'CRARY-NoRTH CAROLINA Ne
cposs--,puTY ON TEA AND CoFFEE-WAR
Tr,,ys Up AGAIN-pE ESoN AL-BRIEF
TENS, &C.
From our Regular Correspondent
v,sulNGToS, December 9.-General
..,,,,eI E. RugSles has Sent Sem
~. Johnston the details OF his plan for
.,,iucnc rain. and thereby ayertins long
!.,rrt,s and famine. He says It is well
c,drrs,ood that clouds can he collected by
<rnIoslons, as is the case after great battles,
,,3 he proposes to sepd up balloons filled
with torpedocs. These are to be con-
,actrt with others on the earth,
ard by simultaneous explosions rain is
Ultimately TO be produced. He asks Con-
rrcss 10 appropriate ten thousand dol
lore to test his scheme. The Senator has
NJ, vel laid it before the Senate. Like the
o,;pins,ors of all wonderful and startling
,r;entitic contriyances, General Ruggles
mist expect TO be tue object Of any quanti-
r. OF amusing comment. He must remcm-
h.r how Fulton, Morse, and Franklin were
treated.
cyxEgAI JOHNSTON TO RE0RGANIzE THE
ARMY.
Il Nothing that has occurred this session has
attracted more attention than the fact that
today the Military Committee OF the House
1 ,nDointed General Joseph E. Johnston TO
4 rsSrranize the United States army. All
.pree tina, he is the best soldier in Congress,
8 and fully equal to the important task i'm
a uosed upon him, but it seems strange to
many that even the greatest surviving
& cap,a;n OF the Coaiederacy should be called
3 mon 10 rC6rganze the army now under the
b command Of the general 10 whom he sur
q rendered. This shows what a wonderful
d country This is. and how rapidly we would
g be one people II the politicians would only
"a !tt rs alone. The army officers will be bet
a Ter satisfied that General Johnston should
q do tins work than that it should be com
e mted to civilians, who do not understand
g when changes and reductions can be pro-
u itably made.
81 TIE CONFIRMATION OF SECRETARY M'CRARY
81 stated in last nights dispatches that the
al Judiciary Committee had agreed to report
8 in favor OF the confirmation OF Secretary
p McCrary as Judge OF the Eighth United
n Slses circuit, and to-day the Senate in
secret session confirmed him without delay.
a This shows that the Democrats are not dis.
q posed 10 embarrass the Administration By
"a any iactious opposition to lis nominations.
u Ex-senator Ramsey, Of Minnesota, will be
81 Secretary Of War.
7Es. NORTH CAROLINA NEGROES IN WASHING.
I'D TON.
81 The negroes who came from North Caro-
81 lima are still here, and are objects OF charity
81 Some of them seem to enjoy it, and would
n not mind quartering in church and being
n led by the public for the rest o! their days
# Frederick Douglass condemns the move
En- nent, and is pronounced in his opposition
Id 10 it, while a number OF bad negro poll
d lcians here are making these poor creature:
s& believe that they are obeying the Will o
III Providence in what they have undertaken
\ Their guardians here hive been to th'
IN Providence Association OF Washington II
HA solicit; portion of its funds for them, blu
SH Mr.. William Dixon, one Of the directors
eH took the position that the money on bant
Il belonged Of right to the worthy poor OF tn
ga District. and that aid for these negroe
ga should he sought at the Capitol. His asso
II lciates agreed with him.
4 PROPOSITION TO TAX TEA AND COFFEE.
IA hear that Mr. L. Palmer, president o
Is% "tbe National Tobacco Association" ha
a Ietn TO see Secretary Sherman, and tina
hey had talk in regard to imposing dut.
30 tea and coffee. Mr.. Palmer asked hin
& i the tobaeco-men would use their influ
R nce and get Congress to put duty on tie;
# md coffee would be agree 10 correspond
M lns reduction of the tax on tobacco, adding
M Lat the tobacco-men do not propose t
8 state another reduction unless he was or
81 aeir side. The Secretary replied that III
8 lid not believe the present Congress couit
- II induced to tax tea and coffee, aud there
IN lore be did not say what lie was prepared
ia 700 in regard to tobacco in the contingent
Ia " suggested.
IA THE ADJOURNMENT FOR CHRISTMAS.
~ <ohupusn the W GSs aHu A1eaus SouihiS'
IA Se as-day agreed upon resolution that
"a "agress adjourn from December 23d to
#A 'inuary 9Th, the House wanted an earlier
@ HlounnmeDt, and amended it SO as to tx the
a Nloprnnent on The 10th instead OF the 23d.
1 TIE WAR. CLAIMS QUESTION UP. =.
Senator Davis, OF West Virginia, to-day
ID 4Rered resolution asking the Secretary to
}Fnssh the amount each State has received
y war-elaims since 1866, and Mr.. CockrelI
U %''ea to amend by making il 1864 instead
En- 1866. Mr. Ednunds moved that it ex-
Ia eaa back 10 the beginning OF the war. The
@Anlect had now reached its widest latitude,
M"omslng complete history Of the war, as
Il expenditures and claims are concern
v bn, O'clock arrived, and the morning
@ 'uf expired. The resolution and amend
IS 0h's went over. g., s- ,.as
M PERSONAL NEWS ITEMS. SO
W NJ. Keogh, chairman OF the North Caro-
republican State Committee, was at the
n''l to-day, aud In commenting on case
b. e Supreme Court said the western
sand corporations had repudiated
aad dollars for every hundred .repu.
ea IL the South. Colonel Bolivar Cnris-
sss % the Capitol to. day. General
sfonsis working hard for the appro.