The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-01-31
.Wnslsingfon.

Washington.
THE YORKTOWN CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION !;
APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONERS; INTER-
ESTING PROGRAMME PROPOSED SUGAR
SHERMAN THE STRONGEST OF ALL THE RE-
PUBLICAN CANDIDATES - FINANCE MAT
TERs~-PERsONAL, sc.
lFrom our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, January 30.-The Govern
ors Of the original States are appointing
Yorktown commissioners, who have been
prompt in communicating TO Mr.. Goode
their willingness TO do all in their power TO
aid in making the celebration in October,
1871, a great success. Some 90 so far as TO
propose that il shall last a month, and that
one week Of the time be given to the recep-
ton and entertainment OF the French visi-
tors. They also talk Of an extensive parade
ground, with festivities and concerts every
day and night. Thousands Of people, they
say, will be delighted to quarter in temporary
shantieS, and hotel-keeperS will be glad to
be permitted TO erect these. | hear that
our Government will invite the French 10
participate. and the French Society at New
York is already in conference with societies
in France. The report is that the descend
ants Of Rochambeau and Lafayette take
Lively interest in the project, and will at.
tend. A French feet and at least one
French regiment will be sent to Yorktown
by the French Government, il is expected,
TO join in the jubilee, and guests will find
the entertainments on the water not the
least attractive part OF the programme. Mr..
Goode informs me that it has been proposed
TO select Thirteen ladies OF social promi-
lncEce and dstinction-one from each OF
the original thirteen States-tO inaugurate
a series OF Yorktown tea-parties through
OH. the country. and these will tend TO OK
cite a lively interest among the people.
These ladies will probably meet at Old
Point next summer and arrange pro.
gramme for the proposed entertainments.
Mr.. Goode lad a talk with Mr.. Eyarts in re-
gard to the matter the other night at
party, and the Secretary Of state not only
expressed himself as highly interested, but
promised TO do his best in his letter inviting
the French TO participate in it. A letter
from a member OF the Virginia Legislature
received by Mr.. Goode states that the York
town committee Of that body will meet on
Monday night and be addressed by the
lG0ycrnor. Virginia can at least give the
proposed celebration her cordial endorse
ment and encourage her sister States TO par
ticipate in it and make it a grand national
Jubilee. General Chalmers, OF Mississippi,
has been appointed the Yorktown commits
sioner for bis state.
4 rLARE-UP IN SUGAR TO.DAY-sHARP WORDS.
Assstant-Secrctary French was before
the WAYS and Means Committee to-day for
the purpose OF defending the Treasury De-
parlment against the charges OF bad man
agement at The custOm-hOuses in regard to
sugar and no uniformity Of charges. Mr.
Mckay, it will be remembered, went to
Demerara, and in his report stated that
sugar is artliicially colOred there with
view OF evadng the tariff laws. lie further
said that he went at the instance OF the Ways
and Means Committee. This to-day Mr..
French denied; but Mr.. Kelly said he gave
Mr.. Mckay letter, and got Mr.. Fernando
Wood to endorse it. Mr.. McKay's ire was
aroused, and he is a man OF war. He told
Mr.. French that he kept in the New York
cuStom-houSe, to the exclusion OF worthy
soldiers. two men who have stolen money
from Demerara. Mr.. Kelly subsequently
, remarked that the evidence so PAR before
the committee is conclusive OF the fact
that there is great fraud perpetrated
in the importation Of the higher
grades Of sugar. 1t is difficult TO say what
will be done where there are so many con-
flictng interests to consider, but my iudg-
? ment is that the committee will allow the
assifcation Of sugars to stand as at pres
ent, but will authorize the use OF the pO-
+ lariscope in addition to the Dutch color
test, and also, when necessary, an analysis
| OF sugars. In this way frauds in colOring
can be detected and what is known as the
intrinsic color ascertained.
Personal NEWS ITEMS.
General Gordon is strongly backed in his
State in the war he is making on the con-
frma;ion of Simmons. He says he does not
oppose him because he is Republican, but
because he is not fit for the place and wrote
bitter partisan letter in which he ma
llgned the people Of the South. The In
dications still are that Judge Bristow
will not be confirmed, and already there
: are candidates for the anticipated va
cancv. Senator Pendeton to-day held a
meeting OF his committee. Colonel PeytoD,
OF Philadelphia, who was at Richmond in
the interest OF the Centennial in 1871 and
1872, is here. The representatives OF
colored institutions of learning continue to
urge that the colored bounty fund be di.
vided among them. Nobody here now
smiles at Mr.. Sherman's presidential pre-
tensions, but the feeling is growing general
that he is the strongest OF all the Republic
can candidates.
MR.. SHERMAN BEFORE THE SENATE FINANCE
COMMITTEE TO-DAY.
Mr.. Secretary sherman was before the
Senate Finance Committee to-day for hours,
and talked to its members about resump-
ton, refundng, and collateral issues. His
statements embraced youminOus array Of
facts and figures, and he not only gave such