The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-04-20
Washington.

ITEMS, &C, &C.
Washington.
THE ARMY BILL REP0RTED-AN EARLY ADJ
JeURNMENT wANTED-THE INTERSTATE
CoMNgRCE BILL-THE NAvy-THE RIVER
AND HARBoR BILL: THE APPROPRIATIONS TO
THE JAMES TO BE MISUNDERSTANDING
J0HNsroN--PERsoNAL- OF THE
GgSEvA AWARD, &C.
From our Regular CorrespoudcntI
WASHINGTON, April 19.-Tbe Senate APP
preparations Committee to-day reported
without single amendment the army bill
as il came from the House, and this is re-
garded as evidence that the Senate Appro-
priaiious Committee is as anxious as that
Of the House for an early adjournment.
The indications are that when the army bill
is taken up 10 the Senate all OF the speak
Ing will be done by the Republicans. and
that the Democrats will adopt the silence
policy. which was so successful in the
House. Several Democratic senator's have
informed me that they intend to suggest this
in caucus, and have no doubt Of IFS adop-
ton. As | have stated once before, the
Republicans pursued this course when the
force bill was up, and left to Messrs. Thur
man, Bayard Il Co. to do all OF the talking.
A BLOW AT THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE BILL.
Senator Don Cameron to-day called up bis
Joint resolution 10 appoint commission
consisting Of nine to investigate during re.
cess all questions relating to railroad trans
portaton. The resolution provides that
three OF these commissioners shall be Sc
lec,ed by the Vice-Presidcnt from The men,
bers OF the Senate, three by the Speaker
from the members Of the House, and three
from the community at large by the Presi-
dent. Their pay rs TO be ten dollars day.
After debate it was taken Up-ayes %,
noes 21-and discussed until the expiration
of the morning hour. There is an amend
ment pending TO reduce the number of
C mmissioners 10 six, and contine them 10
Congress. The resolution will pass, and
its effect VIII be to prevent the passage OF
an Interstate commerce bill, such as Judge
Reagan has been adyocatingf for some years.
TUE CONDITION OF TUE AMERICAN NAVY.
Mr.. Harris, OF Massachusetts, wn" is
very active member OF the House Naval
Committee, says there are 50 steam-ves> ell,
| iron. clads, and sailing-veSsels in the navy
tbat must be sold, Or they will so TO ruin.
We have fighting navy OF 81 sfeam-ves-
sell, IA iron-clad monitors, and one solitary
torpedo boat, the " Alarm" The Nary
Rcgister, however, makes the entire num-
Der of vessels, sound and worthless, 140.
| AT the close OF 1878 England hal 1S4 steam
vessels of war afoat, aud at the close Of
1879 bad a feet OF 90 iron-cads. She has
guns OF 81 tons, which throw sbot weigh
Ing nearly ton through % inches OF sohd
iron arnor. France has 326 steam and 1l3
sailIng-ves>els. Spain has 81 steam-vessels,
including 10 ron-clads armed with modern
guns. Brazil has steam navy of 81 YES
sells, 10 of which are iron.clads.
THE RIVER AND HARBOR BILL.
The House Commerce Committee met this
morning at 8 O'Clock, and was busy until IL
listening 10 congressm> n and reviewing tue
work of the subcommittee on Rivers and
Harbors. ascertained that the appropria-
ton for the Appomattox river has been in
creased to $50 O0O. The Pamunkey and
Maitaponi each get $500, and the York
river $4,000. Mr.. Cabell gets $1,000 for
New river. These appropriations have been
agreed upon by the full committee, and
were not in the bill as it came from the
sub. committee. The subcommittee al
first Ouly gave Apponattox $4,000
General Beale represents Virginia Oh
the committee. Senator Johnston went
to the House to-day and urged Messrs
Reagan aud other members Of the commit
tee to increase The estimate for James river
General Johnston will go before the Com
merce Committee to-porrow or next day
and am confident will succeed in having
the appropriation for the James consider
ably increased. IL the fact that Petersburg
has spent money on the Appomattox helped
, to Increase the appropriation for IL, surel!
when the committee il reminded how lbe
raj Richmond has been in her OUTLAWS fol
the Improvement Of the james it will trea
her with like liberality.
GENERAL JOHNSTON NOT A CANDIDATE Fol
REELECTION.
/ had a talk to-day with General Johnston
In regard to the statement published tina
he will not be q candidate for reelection, AMI
he Informed me that he has written to
| number of his friends in Richmond, In
Guiding MajOr Stiles and General Logan, o
his determination not TO run again
[ am very sure that II he had antici
pated having a warm contest over the nomi
, nation and then an active canvass after
wards that he would not have permitted
his name to be used at the last election. M
man in Congress commands more universe
respect than General Johnston, and Their
will be regret among his brotber-memDer
when they LEAH that he does not intend T.
be candidate for reelection.
Personal NEWS ITEMS.
The Secretary of tue Treasury wants tn
Government to purchase more land for th
Cape-Heury Light Station. On Thursday
after the reception Of Jefierson's desk II
the House. ID will be taken 10 the Senate
where Mr.. Dawes, Of Massachusetts,, VII
make the presentation speech and Senate
Johnston, OF Virginia, the reception speech
Tncre rs az inscription on this desk writer
l nv Mr. jefferson 10 1925, in which be rfcog
nized The fact that IL would be valued as
pollf,csi relic. Senator Wallace has mad
his repe,t on the bulIdoz,ng practiced b.
Republicans In Massachusetts,, and 1t VIII