The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-10
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
SUMMARY or Fact AND GOSSIP,
Gesns for the Tebaece-rax-The loan OF
f~iags-Rivers and Harbors- Personal.

Gesne Tor the Tebaece.Tax-The loan O
fiags-Rivers and Harbors- Personal.
fFrom Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, May a.-The representa-
tlves Of Virginia, North Carolina, Tenues
see, and other States interested In internal
revenue reform held meeting to-day. ans
appointed a subcommittee TO prepare
bill aboiishing the tobacco-tax and re
ducing the tax on s%ruit-brandy to ten cent.
a gallon. Representatives Cabell and
George ID. Wise expressed themselves n
hopeful 81 early action on this line. There
Is n bin now on the calendar for which thi
bill will be offered as asubstitute.
II FLAGS FOR THE LEE.cANP FAIR.
The following Is the text OF the rcsolu
ton as approved by the President author
izing the Secretary OF War 10 loan flags
&c, 10 tire Lee-Camp Fair: "That tn,
Secretary Of War is hereby authorized &c
loan TO the Mayor Of the city Of Richmond
Va, or TO such committee as may be ap-
pointed by the II. f. Ice Camp to receiy,
The same, such flags aud bunting as can bt
conveniently spared, to be used in the dec.
Grafton OF the armory OF the First Virgins
regiment OF Virginia volunteers, on tb,
occasion OF a fair to be held there in May,
1884, TO raise funds to build = house FOL
manned and disabled Confederate soldiers
with such security for their prompt ano
safe return as may he deemed necessary
Provided that the transportation OF said
flags and bunting TO and from Rich
mond shall be without expense to the Gov
ernment"
II RIVER \ HARBoR BILL,
which as reported %appropriates $40, G19,-
100, upon engineer estimates of $50, 30l..
sS5, gives for 135 rivers S7,oS4,000 and for
10i harbors S3,Sl2,1 100; II channels and
inlets, $500, 1000; 8 ice harbors, S61 900; 4
breakwaters, Si65,o00 i canal, $500, 900
4 special surveys, $4,000; examinations.
surveys. and contingencies. 1926, 900. OF
S47 items for which appropriations were
asked by engineers, including rivers, har-
bors, &C., los were rejected by the com
mittee. The largest appropriation (S2, AGO.
0O0) was for the Mississippi river. The
Missouri river gets $500, 900. The commit
tee in making its report, which Us publish
ed to-day, calls the attention OF Congress
to the fact that the present bill carries APP
preparations for two years.
THE FRENCH %sPoLIATIoN CLAIMS.
Mr.. Vance has reported to the House a
bill to provide for the ascertainment OF
claims of American citizens for spoliations
committed by the French prior to the 3lst
day Of July, 1901. 1t provides that clam.
ants NAV apply by petition to the Court OF
Claims within two years from the passage
OF the act. Congress has been very dere-
lict in not making arrangements long ago
for the settlement of these claims.
THE PRESIDENTIAL SITUATION.
The report among Mr.. Blaine's friends
to-day was that he believes he will be nomi-
mated on the first ballot. The New Eng
land Republicans are not as confident OF
beating the Democratic ticket as they were
before the Morrison bill was disposed Of.
THE wIsE-NAssEY CASE.
General Hunton to-day argued at length
in defence Of the claim OF Mr.. Massey to
the seat now occupied by Hon. John S.
Wise. He was frequently interrupted by
Messrs. Miller, P~ettigrew. and other Re-
publican members OF the committee, Blu
made 4 strong presentation Of the case.
There were a number Of Virginians pres
ent. The action Of Judge Hughes in issu-
ing an order threatening the arrest by his
deputy marshals of all persons refusing to
receive the votes OF parties presenting the
tax-receipts OF the Auditors collectors was
severely commented on. General Hunton
also alluded TO the fact that the Federal
patronage was used through General Ma
hone TO gain votes against the DEM
ocratic party, and that Hubbell Il
Co. collected money here to influence
the election for the CoslitiOnists. He
contended that neither under section
80 nor "a, as claimed by the contestee, had
the Auditor any power to appoint special
collectors. The argument on these see
tons was fully reported in the OFerrall-
Paul case. Mr.. Wise repeatedly inter-
rupted General Hunt5a. The arrest OF the
Judges of election in Richmond was forci-
bly, used, and the conduct OF the United
States Commissioner and United States
District Attorney in this matter was
pointedly commented on. General Hun
ton closed at half-past 2 O'Clock, and in
spite of the many Interruptions made a
strong argument in behalf Of Mr.. Massey.
MIR. Massey is very much encouraged at
the proceedings to-day. The committee is
a very slow-moving body, and there is no
telling when they will reach a conclusion
in this interesting case.
THE SHIPPING BILL,
which passed the Senate Yesterday, its
friends say. can be reached in the House
anu VIII DtCOllC "a law ibC oODolbs
clause will, however. they think, be
stricken cut. The free tonnage, with
the qualification that it is not to benefit
nations that discriminate against this
country, will remain in the bill. 1t seems
singular that the House is willing to sur
render the iree-ship clause which obtained
so large a majority two weeks ago.
THE VIRGINIA DECISION
has caused unusual interest and comment
here. Virginians, especially, were surprised
at il, and regret that the Law was not so
framed that the court could not have over
thrown it.
THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF NEW MEXICO.
The subcommittee OF the House Judi
ciary Committee to-day reached the con-
clusion that Judge Axtell, Of New Mexico,
is both incompetent and corrupt. This
ought to induce the President to remove
him without waiting for further action
by the House.
BRIEF NEWS ITEMS.
Collector Brady is reported as saying
that the Malone delegation to Chicago VIII
vote for General John A. Logan after Ar
thur is out Of the race and not for Lincoln,
as stated.
1t being private-bill day in the House,
there was a small attendance OF members
and visitors. .
The siamese Embassy went TO Mount
Vernon to-day. A number oil Government
officers went with them.
Colonel boswell was at the Capitol to-