The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-01-27
Washington.

EUROPE, &C., &C.
Washington.
THE PRESIDENTS SIGNATURE TO THE PENSION
BrLL-THE APPROPRIATION FOR JAMES RIVER
FIXED AT 500, 000-PERsoNAL-THE, CHI
y NEsE QUESTIoN-ST. MARTIN AND THE POT
TER CoMMrTTEE-THE GOLoID METRIC DOL
LAR-NEw YORK APPOINTMENTS, &C. ~
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, January 25.-The President
felt the force Of the objections Of John
Sherman to the pension bill, but political
considerations in its favor were too strong
to be overlooked, and he therefore to-day
signed it, to the Joy Of claim-agents and the
Grand Army of the Republic. Sherman
still says it will involve draft on the Trea-
sury Of $3.50, 100000, and others contend
that no living man can with any accuracy
predict the amount. The bill provides that
all pensioners on account OF death, or
wounds received, or, disease contracted in
the service of the United States during the
late war OF the rebellion, which have been
granted, or which shall hereafter be
granted, shall commence from the date
Of death or discharge from the SER
vice OF the United States, for the
payment Of arrears CT pensions, and for
other purposes" The pcnsons-arrears bill
makes no provision whatever as to where
the money that is to be paid out under it is
to come from. To make it effective Com
gress will have 10 appropriate the money ne
cessary to pay the arrears. Until this is
done no money for back pensions can be
paid out OF the Treasury. i" Take this
case" said northern officer to-day, "and
it will illustrate slrikingly the operations OF
the bill: There is now q soldier at the Capt.
tol who draws $1,000 year as an officer OF
Congress. He has in addition q regular
pension OF S72 per month: and yet under
this bill he will get $4,000, and know OF
some who will draw 100000"
THE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL TO BE COM
PLETED NEXT WEEK.
Mr.. kenna, of the subcommittee, now
framing the river and harbor bill, says it
will be finished and submitted to the full
Commerce Committee OF the House next
week. The appropriation for the James, as
have already stated, is fixed at $50, 900, and
the whole sum to be appropriated by the
bill will only be S5,000,000. Governor
Walker informs me tonight that he has
already seen members Of the sub.commit-
tee, and viii urge thefull committee to make
the appropriation $4,000. He hopes the
special reasons be can give for the increase
will win oyer the committee. A delegation
from New Haven is here, asking large ap-'
preparation for its harbor. ,.....-
PERSONAL NEWS ITEMS.
Hon. John T. Lewis, United States mar
shall OF the Western district of Virginia,
and Major Samuel Yost, postmaster at
Staunton, were at the Departments to-day
on official business. Major Annable Ger
tainly deserves IN appointment, for Micaw-
Der was never as industrious in trying to
turn something up. It is said he is here
after Sc somebody's Shoes" but Republi-
can, in commenting on his prospects of sue
cess, said that if it rained official. coaches
and four the Major would not get wheel
barrow. EX-Secretary Robson, Senator
Beck, and General Pierce Young were on
the floor of the House to-day. Mr.. Mills,
of Texas, tried to resume the debate on the
loyal-clam bill so as to reply to General
Bragg, of Wisconsin, but the Democrats
voted to take up the post-office appropria-
lion bill. The Republicans were much dis
appointed. A young lady at fashionable
reception last night asked Cbef-Justice
Wait il he intended to run for another term.
| 1t is charged by Republicans that there is a
conspiracy among those interested in lake
navigation to raid on the Treasury for
S4,000,000, and tits in order for Conger TO
rise and explain.
THE CHINESE QUESTION TO COME UP TUESDAY
IN THE HOUSE.
On Tuesday the House will certainly
take up as special order the bill to dimin-
ish the introduction OF Chinese into this
country. 1t was reported from the Com
mittee on Labor, and Mr.. Willis, Of Ken
lucky, has charge of it. The bill prohibits
any vessel from bringing over more than
fifteen Chinese at one time upon heavy
penalty. No Republican Congress ever
legislated againstthe Chinese, but no sooner
did the Democrats come in power in the
House than they sought to induce the Ad-
ministration to have the Burlingame treaty
modified. AS Mr.. Hayes and his Cabinet
| paid no attention to their resolution, they
now propose that Congress shall pass. the
proposed law. The California congress
sional election comes off this fall, and there
are forty thousand voters who are intlu-
enced solely by their opposition to the Chi
| nese.
THE POTTER COMMITTEE-THE LAST OF ST.
MARTIN.
St. Martin is such IA vulgar aud unartistic
murderer OF the truth, and does it in such
bad English, that the correspondent OF a
New York Republican journal was forced
to say to-day, 81 do hope John Sherman is
not compelled to rely for his defence on
any more such witnesses as that fellow"
The fact that he was caught in the most in
consistent and contradictory statements
didn't embarrass him at all, and the Reaub-
lican members of the committee had a
shame-iaced look when they endeavored TO
assist him out Of his difficulties The Dem
ocratic members gave him no attention, but
left Mr.. Potter to attend to him, and some
times the genteel New Yorker looked indig-
nant at the fellow, and then his face would
wear smile OF supreme disgust. asked
c,,,ar,l Huntou whyfhe committee did not