Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1883-02-16
FROM WASHINGToE

Especial Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
WASHINGTON, D. c., February 49, 1885,
AT last nights session Of the Senate, at the
instance of Mr.. Ransom, of, North Carolina.
the tax Oh cigarettes was reduced from I2O to
5O cents thousand Should this action be
concurred in by the House it will give a
boom to light colored tobacco. in which
seventeen counties in Virginia are largely
interested.
The Senate to-day spent several hours in
the discussion of the conference report on
the japanese indemnity fund, which was
finally adopted. By this report Japan will
be paid the principal of the fund improperly
exacted Of her; but will be readjusted ont of
the interest.
The consideration of the tariff bill was
resumed in the Senate this afternoon, and
II is understood that the republicans say
they will surely sit it out al to-day's session.
The House to-day suspended considera-
ton of the tariff bill for while in order to
take up the legislative bill, the clause of
which requiring the department clerks to
work eight hours day was the occasion Of
a long and animated debate.
The Military Committee OF the House al
ter determining to investigate the charges
OF crookedness against the management of
the Soldiers Home at Hampton, have dc.
termined that they will not commence that
investigation for the reason that thew can
not complete it before the end of the SEES
sion
Among the nominations recently sent TO
the Senate Was that Of Herndon Fife to
be postmaster at the University Of Virginia.
John Bibb an old time republican has been
postmaster there for several years past. 1t
is said that the only recommendations Mr..
Fife had were the two facts that he voted
for General Malone al the last election,
having previously been democrat) and
that he was distantlv related to the Presi-
dent by marriage The nomination has
stirred up quite a commotion among the
Albemarle county republicans. = delegation
of which, white and colored, are here to-day
seeking General Malone and Mr.. Paul with
the object Of requesting the President to
withdraw it, but their efforts will be vain.
The Naval Committee of the House to
whom was referred a resolution for putting
Smalls. the negro member Of the House from
South Carolina, on the retired list of the ma
Wy, agree that such action would be too
rank, but in order to do as much as'possi-
bic to continue the republican soidity with
the negroes, have determined to reapprase
the steamer Planter, which Smals, who was
her pilot, ran into the Union lines during
the war, so as 10 give her more prize money.
member Of the House Military Com
mittee said this morning that no bill to re-
store General Grants name to the rolls OF
the Army would be reported by that COM
mittee this session.
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the
Senate agreed to-day to report in favor of
the new reciprocity treaty with Mexico.
This treaty will rebound greatly to the ma
terai interests of General Grant who was
one OF the commissioners VINO negotiated it.
The Foreign Affairs committee of the
House this morning concurred with the ac-
ton OF the Senate to notify Great Britain OF
TINS countrys desire to abrogate the fishery
clauses Of the Canadian treaty.
1t is rumored to-day that the President
will send in the names of the civil service
commissioners next week that Mr.. Eaton
will be one of them. a western democrat
another aud a New England republican, and
not Mr.. Hoge, of West Virginia the third
\ hostile correspondence was the result
OF the late 'spat" in the House between Mr.
ToWnshend, democrat of Illinois, and Mr.
Haskell, republican of Kansas. in which Mr.
Springer was the friend of the former. 1t i.
understood to-day that the difficulty has
been settled satisfactorily.
1t is said to-day by Virginia Congressman
that the appointment of t. 5. Judge of the
western district Of Virginia will not be made
until after the 4th proximo
\ delegation has called upon the Presi-
dent to urge him to make Mr. Jesse Wilson
District Commissioner i'll the place Of Major
Morgan. Mr.. Wilson is democrat with
Malone proclivities. Mr.. Houck, the seal
awag member Of the House from Tennessee
wants the President to wait until more tes
timonials in favor Of Mr. Wilson can he y, e.
sented, but it is understood that the Presi
dent says he will send in the nomination
next week.
The following Virginia postmasters were
commissioned to-day: S. p. Campbell Mid
vale; j. d. Ashford, Burke's Station J. NJ
Motley Molly: J. J. Hall, Great Bridge
W. r. kestman, Hysler's Gap: J. n. Motley
Cascade.
The general sentiment among democrats here i:
that the State committee Of their party had better
| have not called any convention than called il in
July, aud that the party in the near future. as in
the recent past, must rely upon dead weight and
not brains for It's hopes OF victory.
| The common talk now is that Mr. Davis will
resign the presidency of the Senate before the adj
iournmcnt oi the session that fair republican
will l'c elected in his place, aud that there will he
| no changes in the other officers of that body unit
| the commencement OF the naXt regular session OF
Congress in December.