The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-12
special 70 the DisnAtch.l

Especial TO the Dispatch.I
WASHINGTON, December H. The Senate
was occupied to-day in the reception OF
bills until il went INTO executive session.
and the House was similarly occupied
To Judge from the great number OF bills
already introduced and the wide scope
they take, embracing as they do every pos
sible subject Of legislation. 1t looks as il
Congress would be here In dog-days.
Those who have been here longest, how.
ever, say that the National Conventions
will cause an adjournment before August.
THE O'DONNELL RESOLUTION.
The following is the text OF the resoIu-
ton adopted by the House on motion OF
Dir. Hewitt, OF New York:
ResolUtd, That this House brings 20 the notice
Of the President the case Of Patrick O'Donnell
now under sentence of death In (rreat Britain. IN
the hope that the President may secure such rea-
sonable delay in the execution Of the sentence rs
VIII enable the President to ascertain whether the
said ODOunel Is citizen Of the United states.
and II so, whether he was tried and convicted IN
accordance with the provisions Of the municipal
law Of Great Britain and with the requirements of
International law.
The friends Of O'Donnell here are very
active ID his behalf, and are using all the
influence they can bring to bear upon
members OF Congress.
THE MEXICAN-wAR VETERANS.
The proceedings of Congress show that
the recent meeting at Washington Of the
Mexican Veterans National Association
had good effect, and that they have now
more friends in both houses than ever be-
fore. MessrS. Townsend, OF Illinois /:
Lamb, OF Indiana; Willis and VOL
ford. Of Kentucky, have also introduced
bills placing the soldiers and sailors OF the
Mexican war on the pension list on foot
ing with those Of other wars. \ Govern
ment that has been so liberal to all other
soldiers cannot afford to neglect the men
who added an empire to the United States.
II is now proposed by Mr.. Peters, OF Kan
sas, to place all Union soldiers as they
reach flity-fve on the pension list, and an
other member proposes 10 pension all sol
diers who were during the late war iucar-
cerated in Confederate prisons.
THE MERRIHAC AND THE CUMBERLAND.
A bill has been introduced in the House
for the relief Of the officers and men OF the
United States sloop-Of-war Cumberland.
which was sunk by the Merrimac March
s, 1862. The bill recites that the Cumber-
land went down with flag flying.
INTERESTING TO THE BLACKsBURG COLLEGE.
Mr.. Holmes. Of Iowa, has introduced a
bill to establish experimental stations in
connection with the agricultural colleges
OF the various States.
COMMERCE WITH SOUTH AMERICA.
At present the English have great adj
vantage over us in trading with South
America, and one hears continually at
Washington discussions as TO how we can
secure full share Of the commerce Of that
rich region. Mr.. Bedford OF Colorado, has
introduced a bill to authorize the appoint
ment OF a special commissioner for pro-
noting commercial intercourse with such
countries OF South and Central America aS
may be found TO possess the most natural
and available facilities for railway COM
munication with each other and with the
United States.
VIRGINIA MATTERS.
Mr.. Barbour has presented a petition for
the relief of Benjamin W. Hunter, and
Mr.. Tucker one from the legal representa-
tives OF john Henry. who want their claim
referred to the Court Of Claims. Mr.. Her.
bert's bill fixes the salary Of the district
attorney for the Eastern District OF Viz
gina at 5000. and that Of his assistant at
$500. The salary OF the district attorney
for West Virginia is fixed at $1,000, and
that OF his assistant $500.
PERSONAL NEWS ITEMS.
Senator Butler proposes to give all sena-
tors who are not chairmen OF standing
committees private secretaries. There are
thirty-five Of these. Mr.. Cabell, from the
opening of the House to-day, looked as if
he anticipated a resolution in regard to the
Danyille affair. The Senate arose in a
body and stood while Senator Anthony
was sworn in to-day. He looked very
well.
BRIEF NEWS ITEMS.
Colonel Williams. OF North Carolina, has
been appointed superintendent of the
House-DOcumcnt room.
\ Republican senator to-day predicted
that the caucus on Thursday would de-
termine to re0rganize the senate right
away.
The Senate Committee on Rules has re-
commended the abolition Of the Committees
on Manufactures and Revolutionary Claims
This would legiSlate Senators Riddle
berger, and Jones OF Florida out Of chair
manships.
STRAIGHT0UT REPUBLICAN, Caucus.
A large number of white and colored
Straightout Republicans OF Virginia have
been i'm session here to-day and again to-
night. Among the former were Messrs.
II. c. Wickham, DezcndOrf, Bolts, Lurty,
and Mckenzie. Resolutions were passed
declaring the Straightouts the real Repub-
lican organization of the State, and pro-
testing against any recognition OF the Co
alitiOn party.
The National Republican Committee is
now in session here. IL is evident that
they mean to send full delegation OF
Straightouts TO the next National COnven-
ton.
(By Associated Press.l
GENERAL ITEMS.
WASHINGTON, December 1.-THE Cabi-
net meeting to-day was attended by all the
members except Secretary Folger. who is
confined TO his house by illness. Ii Is I'M
derstood that the O'DOnnell case was con-
sidered,
The United States Consul at Cairo.
Egypt, reports TO the Department OF State
that there were about $4,000 deaths from
cholera in that country during the cpl
demic which ragged between June 22d and
September LIST.
r. w. Austin, of Tennessee, has resign
the position OF Observation-Disclosures OF the
House OF Representatives TO accept Spe-
cial agency of the Treasury Department.
Cotton and Cereals.
[By telegraph to the Dispatch.J
WASHINGTON, December 1.-THE season
for cotton-picking since the occurrence OF
frosts, as in the gathering of the bottom