The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-02-16

STATUE OF JACOB COlLAMER --ThE FUNDING
BILL DISCUSSED IN THE SENATE FERNANDO
WOODS FUNERAL, &C.
fFrom Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, February 15.-The passage
OF the post-oflice appropriation bill and
the defeat OF the subsidy scheme, makes
the way in the Senate clearer for the dis
patch OF pressing business. The Appropri-
atoms Committee was at work early to-day,
and the Commerce Committee Is anXiously
awaiting the arrival OF the river and har-
Dor bil from the House. Numerous amend
ments TO it have already been offered by
senators and gone TO that committee.
VIRGINIA MATTERS IN THE SENATE.
Senator Withers has offered an amend
ment to the post.route bill to establish q
mail route from Reed Island, in Wythe, to
Fremont, in Carroll and Senator Johnston
has introduced bill appropriating $3.50
TO refund Robert +. Williams x Co., OF
Richmond. that amount on account OF du.
ties illegally collected OF them on cargo
OF salt. Both went to committee to-day.
THE IMPROVEMENT OF TIE POTOMAC RIVER
THE REPORT or COLONEL RIvEs.
There is a great deal OF talk just now
about The Improvement OF the Potomac in
front OF Washington, and this recalls The
fact that during the Pierce administration.
and while j, iitrson Davis was Secretary OF
War. Colonel Alfred Rives, son OF William
&. Riyes, OF Virginia, then fresh from the
scientific schools OF Paris, made under
authority of Congress thorough survey
OF the portion OF the Potomac referred TO-.
He also recommended Il plan OF improve
mcnt In which he proposed the removal OF
the causeway and the dredging out OF new
channel hugging the north bank OF the
river. He recommended an elegant stone
bridge for rail and commercial purposes on
the site Of the present Long bridge, and the
reclamation OF the flats in front OF the
White House. He pointed out The reasons
why the channel could be more easily and
permanently retained along what Is now
known rs the river front. The report was
approved by the War Department
| and submitted to Congress, but never
acted upon. The observer Will per-
ceiye that the Potomac river from the
point OF AnalO>tan island eastward through
the present Washington channel and by the
Arsenal forms symmetrical sweeping
curve, and it is well known that this align
ment Of channel is peculiarly favorable TO
stability. Major Myers, OF your city, who
is high authority on engineering, thinks
that the plan OF Colonel Rives is better than
any yet proposed.
WILD on THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION.
Thirty.Odd petitions from northern tenn
perance organizations went to-day to the
Judiciary Committee Of the Senate. The
petitioners want the Constitution Of the
United States amended so as TO prohibit the
manufacture, sale, and importation OF liquor.
Subsequently Senator Blair, OF New Hamp.
shire, introduced bill to accomplish this
herculean task, and Senator Plumb another
TO abolish the liquor traffic in the District OF
Columbia. Nothing more will be heard Of
them this session.
THE WAYS AND MEANS TO-DAY.
The Way, and Means Committee met to-
day and elected Mr.. Tucker chairman.
After passing resolutions in honor Of the
late Fernando Wood the committee adj
journed without attending TO any business.
FOR THE BENEFIT or THE FARMERS.
Senator Johnston has introduced an
amendment to the agricultural apprOpria-
ton bill appropriatiDg $4,000 to purchase
the plates aud manuscript work OF Pro-
fe>sor Townsend Glover on the injurious
and beneficial insects Of the United States.
1t Is proposed that when purchased the
plates, &C., hall be deposited for safe keep
inc at the Smithsonian Institute. or course
It will be published and distributed.
THE RIVER AND HARBOR BnL-AMENDMGNTs
VOTED down.
The friends OF the river and harb0r bill
were prompt IN getting it up to. day, and its
consideration did not excite quite as much
bad blood as on former occasions. While
from the first they declared theywOnld sit
il out, outsiders were inclined to the opin-
ion that an adjournment would be reached
before G, and the bill again 90 over. / am
clearly OF the opinion that 4 committee can
frame a better and more economical bill
than the House, and it was a mistake not 10
have passed it under suspension Of the
rules. IL amendments are necessary, they
can be more easily adopted in the Senate
than in a body with three parties and three
hundred members. All manner Of amend
ments OF a local character were offered TO
the BILL and they were steadily voted down
By It's friends. At o'clock the fifth OF the
thirty pages of the bill was reached, and
this did not look like getting through with
it before adjournment, as had been pre-
dicted.
The House remained in session till 8
O'Clock, when the eighth page OF the bill
was reached. Its friends seeing that they
could not get through even by sitting all
night, reluctantly agreed to Il recess until
10 O'Clock tomorrow.
The STATUE OF JACOB COLLAMER.
The House devoted an hour to-day to
S speeches 10 connection with the statue OF
Jacob Collamer, who was years ago sena.
tor from Vermont and q Wing Cabinet Off
Ger. The ve.y handsome white marble eff
gy OF this statesman Is contribution from
Vermont to National Statuary hall. II ia to
be hoped that the day will come when Vir-
ginia will be able to send better.looking
copy OF Houdon's Washington than that
which now stands in the same hall.
Tue SENATE DISCUSSES THE FUNDING BILL.
The Senate to-day took up The funding
bill, Dir. Bayard making the opening speech