The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-02-05
WRsniu.tOrl.


| BLES.
WRshin.to ton.
Mr.. BAYARp AND THE NAvY-PERsoNAL-TH
DUTY on STEEL RAILS THE DANvnLE Gus
TOM.HoUsE AND PosT.0FFICE-THE FISH
C0NvESTION-COLONTAL RECORDS OF yIR-
GIN1A-VARIOUs MINOR ITEMS, &C.
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, February Mr.. Bayard,
who is in favor Of appropriating the S3,OOO,-
coo TO finish four double-turreied ships.
saws that when he visited the British navy
wards last summer and saw The mammoth
iron.clad ships therc-one Of which cost
sS. 600, 000-it flied him with painful appre-
tensions, because he realized that We have no
vessels TO prevent them from steaming into
the ports on the coast OF the United States,
and in case Of war would have to rely on
our torpedo deituces alone. He also alluded
10 the four armored ships built for the
Italian Government, either OF which would
be impenetrabe to the attack OF any OF our
naval vessels, and said that one Of these
vessels alone cost more than the four ships
our Government now proposes to finish.
In his speech on finance the other day he
incidentally spoke of the possibility Of a
war on account OF the inter-oceanIc canal,
and this doubtlcSsIy has stimulated his de-
sire TO see our inefficient navy improved
right away.
Personal NEWS ITEMS.
Mr.. Blaine'> expressions OF regret at his
attack on Massachusetts when the statue Of
William King was presented to the Gov
, eminent are regarded as a bid for the vote
If the Bay State. Senator Bayard is hold
ing a reception tonight. Mr.. William l..
RovaIl arrived tonight. Mayor IL. :. Dog
get. OF Fredericksburg, and Mr. Harrison
Soulhworth were at the Capitol this after
noon.
HON. JOHN =. WILSON BEFORE THE WAYS AND
MEANS COMMITTEE.
Hon. John L. Wilson, OF Iowa, appeared
before The WAYS and Means Committee to-
day. aud both sides admit that he made a
powerful argument in favor of-reducing
the duty on steel rails from 92S to so. lie
was frequently interrupted and questioned
by Mes.rs. Kelley and C0nger, but his re-
plies helped his cause amazingly. rs they
we're clear and inCsye lie said that there
are now 10000 miles Of railway, a great
deal OF the iron rails OF which now ought to
be replaced by steel rails in order 10 secure
fast and cheap freight lines TO the producing
classes, and yet. owing TO the high duty on
them, this cannot he done. lie inStanced
the case Of cattle to show how necessary it
is that transportation routes to the sea-cOaSt
should be increased and improved because
the trade in cattle must be limited unless
this is done. lie was opposed, he said, to
the present duty because it prevented COM
petition as 10 quantity and quality in the
steel rails made IN the United States. The
English ral, are guaranteed TO last ten
years, and do last that long, while the
American rails, he said, are guaranteed to
las; five years, and last no longer. Mr..
CongCr, i'm the course OF bis remarks,
asked him il when the lakes are frozen
the railroads do not increase their rates
Of freight and thus Oppress the people.
Mr.. Wilson replied, THAT is just what
YOUR present tariff does by freezing upall the
avenues by which steel rails can be brought
from abroad. You enable the manufacturers
AT home TO charge enormous profits" lie
said he was not against protection TO our iron
interest, but he was against prohibitory rate
OF duty on steel rails. Mr.. Conger alluded
to bis being an attorney, and he said he
never engaged in any case unless it &C.
corded with his convictions of right and
truth. During the panic, be said, while all
other interests were paralyzed, the steel
. rail establishments went on increasing their
works, and even then were unable to supply
G the demand. This showed that they were
c making money when others were losing it.
e A PENNSYLVANIA followed, and advocated
:. strongly the continuation OF the present
rate OF duty, urging that sit was necessary
: now, after long series OF difficulties. to
o enable the iron-men 10 reach the promised
D land" Mr.. Tucker took him in hand. and
coutended that from his statements he
, showed that in the times Of greatest de-
e dression the steel rails did not cost over 49,
. per ton, when they sold them at S42 pei
ton. The discussion will be continued to-
, morrow. III looks as II the COnmltlec VIII
report in favor OF reduction.
4 CUsTOM-HOUSE AND POST-OFFICE FOR DAN
VILE.
Mr.. Cabell was on hand at the Senate to-
, day looking after his bill for the erection OF
, custom house and pOst-Office building at
Danyllle. Senator Johnston got it taken
up out OF lis order and he senate proHptly
passed it with the committees amendment
TIE amendment increases the amount to
$40. eco, and provides that it shall not be
erected within forty feet OF any other build
ing. Mr.. Cabell will see there is as little
delay as possible IN getting the House to
concur In the Senate amendment. So live
city rs Danyie, and one that has such an
immense tobacco trade, is entitled to Gus
tOm.house and pOst-oflice.
TIE INTERNATIONAL FISH CONVENTION.
Tie House day passed the bill appropra-
ting SO, 900 to pay the expenses Of the rep
resentalives OF the United States to the In
lernaticnal Fish Convention 10 assemble at
Berlin In April. Professor Bard will go
and take bis new fishing aud Matching Goo
ton vessel, Just built al Wilmington. lie
will carry with him experts connected with
this department, and will make no poor
show in comparison with the exhibits oi
European nations. The delegates are 10 Dc
~ tho President.