The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-09

20 ~ "'~''. o'f tuttUls titt Se~f o'Ss =,
the total amount required by law Tor inc
sinking fund, including the year 1883. wa,
Sio0.2So,03O. The total debt OF the Uniteo
States, less cash In the Treasury at ~
maximum point, August 81. 1888, WA
~, IW.4Sl,o1l. On June 30, 1883, II wa
S1,551, 091 ,207.
The Secretary says this shows reduc
ton OF the debt, including interest, less
cash In the Treasury, OF 81, 205, $40, 363.9o
or Si0o.ll6.333.55 moro than would pave
been supplied by the sinking fund under
the provisions OF sections 1904 and $685. o
the Revised Statutes had the requirement.
OF the sinking-fund acts embodied in those
sections been strictly complied With. IL II
to be remembered, however. that ior
time the state Of the public Treasury wa
such that no payment could he made, ano
IL was not until the year 1869 that the iirs
supply to the sinking fund was effected. =,
In reply to the question, what sums VII
hereafter be required annually until ma
turity Of the per cent. bonds in 1907
In order to comply with the provisions o.
said sections as now construed In the Urea
sury Department, the Secretary names
sums ranging by successive increase from
Sfo,olpst1 III 1901 W -iC,'cJstVV !" -.
and for the following year S29,9S2,o'o
To the question how the amounts so re,
quired can be applied 10 the sinking iund
prior to 1907 the Secretary says: Il reao
this inquiry rs seeking my opinion o.
what may lawfully he done in thai
regard. and not my judgment Of
what 1t may be eXpedient to Go.
think that the acts Of Congress
authorize supplies TO the sinking fund In
the following ways BY calling in the ;
per cent bonds; by the purchase OF ~ pei
cent. bonds; by the application OF The
terms Of the sinking fund to the purchase
OF these bonds. IL is estimated that the
whole issue will be exhausted prior to july
/. 1905. do not mean by the foregoing
that the 45 and per cent. bonds must be
purchased In that order; that Is. the order
in which by their terms they are redeema'
BILE. They may be purchased without re-
gard to that order"
GENERAL TOPICS.
WASHINGTON, January S.-Mrs. Lucretio
+. Patterson. the wife Of ex-senator John
j. Patterson, of South Carolina, died OF
heart-disease this morning at her residence
In this city.
All Interstate commerce bills before the
Committee on Commerce are to be
considered by the Whole Committee,
and have precedence over ali other
business. There are now ten Interstate
commerce bills before the committee. and
number were referred yesterday. The
chairman OF the committee was instructed
this morning to report back TO the House
ut any time for reference to the Committee
on Rivers and Harbors all river and har-
Dor appropriation bills and papers.
The Ways and Means Committee this
morning agreed to report the customary re-
solution referring portions OF the Presi-
dents message to the several committees OF
the House having jurisdiction OF the sub
jcct matters therein referredtO.
Mr.. Morrison has not yet announced his
subcommittee. A Democratic member OF
the Committee at the close of the session
this morning said that the action OF the
Protective Democrats OF the House was
still matter of doubt, but in any event
the action of the Democrats OF the Com
mittee would be conservative and calcutta
ted to unite the party in favor OF tarifi-re-
form.
Another call for3 per cent. bonds for re-
demption is expected to be issued this
week.
The Senate to-day confirmed the noml-
nation OF William +. Craig to be collector
OF internal revenue OF the Sixth district
OF Virginia.