The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-02-19
WashingtOu.

hlIIhb-A JAMES'RlNkR AMENDMfNT-THE
SENATE PASSES A THREE PER CENT FUND-
ING BILL-THE TARIFF ~ THE uOUSR-PER-
sONAL NEWS TTEMs--THE AGRICULTURAL AP-
PROPRTAT1ON BIIL--THG CREDENTIALS OF
SENATOR'S GENERAL MAHONE's not IN
BRIEF ITEMS, &C.
From Our Regular Coriespondentl
WASHINGTON, February lS.-Tbe action
OF the Senate on the funding bill and the
certainty that the House will substantially
concur in 1t has made il evident that there
will be no occasion for an extra session.
Then the fact that Mr.. Cox will tomorrow
call the previous question on the apporion-
ment bill Is enough to satisfy everybody
that the necessary business Of Congress will
be transacted by The 4ih OF March. IL is
clear, however. that bills OF great import
ance TO the business interests of the country
are in fair way Of being lost for the want
of time TO consider them.
THE HOUSE TO-DAY-Tw0 HUNDRED AND SEW
ENTY FIVE SENATE BILLS.
The House by three majority refused TO
consider the Fitz John Porter bill, and voted
to take up the agricultural appropriation
bill The following bills are before the
House with the chances that they will not
become laws: The export-tobaccO BILL the
bank-deposits' bill, and the educational bill.
The first two have not passed either House.
Thele are in the House 265 bills. great and
small, which have passed The Senate, and
will have to be rushed through at odd times
If passed at all. The short session suited
the country when Congress was small
body, but it should be Heightened in the in
terest Of welI.cOnsidered legislation.
THE AGRICULTURAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
The agricultural appropriation bill ap-
propriateS nearly 100000, and involves an
expenditure OF nearly $4,000 more than
last year. This increase arises mainly from
the proposed additional number Of attaches
in the chemical division OF thelDepartment.
increased appropriations for experiments
the manufacture Of sugar from sorghum,
and an appropriation for the erection Of
new building on the grounds OF the Depart
ment for the exhibition OF new agricultural
Government for such purpose. The CON-
mttee concluded to-day that the agricul-
| tura interests OF the country are constant
ly increasing in importance and extent, and
that the appropriation should keep step
with them. The appropriation for the dis
tributiOn of seed, &C., is $4,000.
THE RIVER AND HARBcR BILL.
The Senate Coma cree Committee to-day
considered the House river and harbOr bill,
and already amendments have been sug-
gested which will aggregate millions. There
were thirty amendments, for example,
offered TO it by senators to-day. Mr.. Jor
gensen called on Senators Withers and
Johnston, and urged them TO offer an amend
ment increasing the appropriation for the
AppomattoX river to $4,000, and Senator
Johnston subsequently offered an amend.
ment fixing that as the amount, and afiiXing
the conditions to it suggested by the Coun-
ell and citizens of Petersburg. He went
before the committee in advocacy Of that
and the James.riyer survey amendment.
THE SENATE PASSES THE FUNDING BILL.
The Senate further considered the fund
ing bill, and rejected the amendment OF
Mr.. Bayard to change the rate OF interest
from 3 TO g by a large majority. At
O'Clock the bill was passed substantially as
il came from the IOuseA-that is, with per
per cent. bonds and 3 per cent. certificates,
and with the Carlisle amendment retained
in the bill. This, ii will he remembered, is
compulsory as to national banks. The
length Of the bond, however, was changed
from a j-10 10 ) 20. This will
not cause much trouble in the House,
as il is immaterial il the Government
can at the end OF five years redeem the
bond, whether the option is ten or twenty
at the end OF ten years no one viii think
OF not redeeming the bonds then. have
talked tonight with members OF the House,
and they say they look upon per cent.
funding bill as absolutely certain OF becom-
ing a law. They furthermore say that the
bonds will be eagerly taken at par by capt.
talsts on both sides OF the ocean.
THE SLEEP OF DEATH.
Bills now introduced stand abOutas much
chance OF passing as grain does OF sproutng
in the polar regions in mid-winter. Com
mittee clerks smile as they cOnsign them to
the pigeOn-holes without hope OF ever dis.
turbing them again this session. Yet mem.
bers, in order to please impOrtunate cOnsit-
uents, will continue TO introduce them until
March.
THE.TARIFF IN THE HOUSE.
Frank Hurd made his tarifi-reform speech
o-day, and 1t was mastery effort from
lis standpoint. Judge Kelly, OF Pennsyl-
sana the most ra-protectionlst in the
House, replied toe him. | cannot see how
my tariff matters can be considered this
session, and do not see how the sugar-men
ire to be benefited by appearing before the
Ways and Means Committee at this late day.
PERSONAL NEWS ITEMS.
Colonel Charles Ronald, OF Montgomery,
Colonel Robert Beverly, and Messrs. Con-
ially Trigg, Of Washington, and Meredith,
u Prince William, visited both houses OF
congress to-day. Senator Hereford intro.
luced bills for continuing the Improvement
IN the Great Kanawba, the Little Kanawha,
md the New and Elk rivers, In West Vir-
yinia. These hills went to the Committee |
IN Commerce, and will be considered with |
be river and harbor bill. Senator With |
,rs was to-day busy in the Senate with
he District OF Columbia appropriation bin.