Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-02-26
FROM WASHINGTON.
Especial Correspondence Of the Alexandra Ga1ettel
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 26, 1884.

WASHINGTON, ~. ", L GU. ~, 4oc1.
The House District of Columbia Commit.
Tee had the license bill for that District I'M
der consideration to-day, but did not get
through with it. Among the sections ap-
proved was that which imposes license tax
of 500 upon theatres.
Certain democratic members OF the House
saw that all they want in order to show fir-
uinia what they think of Malone and his
methods, is for the report OF the elections
committee in the O'Ferrall-Paul contested
election case to be presented to the house,
Tint the whole system Of tax receipts as
n,sc,iced by the Mahonetes was fraud,
and that O. Ferrall will have his seat or that
they will know the reason why.
The House committee on Public Lands
agreed TO dav to postpone vote upon the
hill forfaiting the land grant of the Baton
Roupe Wick sburg and New Orleans Railroad.
The strange thing about this is the fact that
some of the members of the committee who
have heretofore been great advocates OF the
bill voted for the postponement. This sug-
pests the idea that a change has come over
Them. and changes of that sort give rise to
suspicious.
The evidence in the star route cases which
was sent from the Postoilice Department to
the House, and which was published 'un-
HEX nownst'' TO the Honse, was secured by
newspaper correspondent, before it came
into the hands of the House, from copies of
the papers sent to the House, so that no
officer of the House nor the public printer
has betrayed his trust, at lest i'll that par
ticuar case.
All the arguments on the claim of Nir-
ginia for money advanced the General
Government with which to erect the Capitol
that was destroyed by the British, have
been heard by q subcommittee of the House
Judiciary Committee, and 1t Is rumored
that the subcommittee has agreed TO report
it. favorabIy to the whole committee. Col.
Parker is Nir.inias agent in the case, and
Col. Nat. Tyler the agent OF Maryland,
which has Il similar claim.
The House Banking and Currency Com
mittee to-day agreed 10 report tavorably the
Mcpherson bill, providing that the circula-
ton of national banks shall equal the par
value Of the bonds they deposit. The House
Commerce Committee agreed to report
what is known as the Long bill, which
creates commission to examine the subjec
of Interstate commerce, and TO report the
result of its investigation to Congress. The
WAYS and Means Committee received a
protest from the owner Of a lime manu-
factory in Maine against putting lime on
the free list. The committee will hear the
arguments of the sugar men against reduc-
ing the tariff on sugar, and will then com
mence the preparation of the bill they will
report to the House, which, it is said will
he completed about the 18th proximo. The
Postoilire Committee agreed to report favor
ably Il bill aholishing department stamps,
making the departments use the penalty
envelopes, aud denying the privilege of
such envelopes to members of Congress.
In the Senate to- day on motion Of Mr..
Sewell, the Senate fixed the 18th proxino
rs the day for the consideration Of the Fitz-
John Porter bill. The House bill is not ex-
actly satisfactory to the friends Of General
Porter and an attempt will be made TO
amend il in the Senate. General Porter
was at the Capitol to-day He looks al
most as we'll and as young as he did TWEEN
ty-tive years ago. In a short talk with the
GAZETrE'S correspondent be expressed
much interest about Alexandria, where be
| lived when Il boy, and made inquiries about
many of the older families of that place.
He seems confident that the bill for his re-
lief will pass the Senate.
The committee Of the Senate Post
Office Committee heard DR.. Noryin Green
continue his argument against the bill pro-
viding that the Government shall do the
teegrapbing business of the country. He
declined to expose the private business of
the Western Union Telegraph Co. The
Sherman committee heard several negroes
testify regarding the Danville riot. Nothing
new was developed and the proceedings
were uuinteresting. One Of the witnesses
testified That negroes as well as white peo-
pie were armed during the riot. Captain
Wise still continues TO conduct the exami-
nation, and has several other white men
haiing from Virginia assisting him in his
efforts TO make it appear that his State is
the safe abode of 'negro-killers."
In the House to-day Mr.. Mayo rose to a
personal explanation, saying that since Mr..
George d. Wise had stated that his certif-
cate of election was fraudulent, he had I'M
derstood that several members of the House
.nad inspected it. The point was raised that
he WAS not speaking on privileged ques-
ton Mr. Wise said he could go on if be,
Wise, could answer him. The Speaker
called Mr.. Mayo TO order, and he subsidized,
not personal he should like to know what
il was.
Col. F. l.. Smith, Of Alexandria, and Mr.
w. G.. Taylor, Of Richmond, the latter of
whom has a claim against the Alexandria
Canal Company. were at the Capitol to-day
to see if something could not be done TO
prevent the destruction of the Alexandria
Canal, which would be the necessary con-
sequence Of the passage Of the bill for
bridge at the Three Sisters
A Northern man and a republican now
here who lived in Alexandria during and
for some years after the war, and who WAS
acquainted with all the proceedings under
the l. :. Court and its officers there, says
that in the matter Of confiscation sales the
rascality was monumental He relates in.
stances in which peoples furniture and 9TH
er portable property was seized by those off,
GERS and sent oHby steamer load to New
York, and sold for their individual profit.
Chief Engineer Melville of the belong expedi-
ton, will accompany the Greedy Relief E1pedi-
ton as engineer of the advance Snip which will be
commanded by Capt. Schley.
Among the bills reported in the Senate to-day
was ono making everybody connected with a
newspaper office liable to fine and Imprisonment
for Uriutnr lottery al ver tispmauts