Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-30
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
NEWS, FACTS, AND GOSSIP.
Rivers end Hsssess--Navai slsssers-wssh.
iss,es Dsmsessss-Ths Btsir Eesestiss
Hill Ferseuai Items.

Btff~Ftrecuni itemss
From Our Regular Correspondence
WASHINGTON, January 29.--Thc
river-and-harbor bill was printed last
night and given members this morn.
ing. I find, in addition TO the sppro-
pristions have already reported, that
$4,000 is appropriated for the continual
ton Of the Improvement on Dan river
and the same amount for continuing
tho improvement OF New river, Sin vir-
ginia," between the lead mines, in
Wythe county, and the mouth OF
Wilson'S creek, in Grayson county.
For improvement Of Big Sandy river,
in West Virginia and Kentucky,
s25. 00c--of which sum $4,000 will be
expended on {" Tug Fork " and $500
on Layisa Fork for Great Kanawha
river, ". Va. for continuing improve
ment. sl75.000; for Guyandotte river,
W. Va, 1880; for Little Kanawha
river. W. Va, for continuing its i'm
proyement, s22, 500--two thousand five
hundred dollars of this amount is to go
TO the improvement Of the navigation Of
the West Fork for the completion Of
the navigation Of the Monongahela
river. cas-, 300; for continuing the
improvement Of Buchanan river, w.
Va, 1880; for the continuation Of
the improvement Of Cape Fear river, n.
c., s70. 500--ofwhich sum s., 900 must
be expended between Wilmington and
Fayetteville; improving Currituck
sound. Coanyok bay, and North-river
bar, n. c., $1,000; Neuse river, in
same State, $4,000. Also, Pamlco
and Tar rivers, $4,000; Roanoke river,
$1,000; Trent river, s2,500. All of
these Improvements have been going on,
and the appropriations named are to
continue them,
GOVERNOR CURTIN's NAVAL BILL.
Governor Curtin, of Pennsylvania,
has introduced a bill proposing that
Congress appropriate eos, 900, to be ex-
pended under the direction Of the Sec
rotary of the Navy in experiments with
a view Of ascertaining the value Of
American-made steel armor as a de-
fence Of the navy Of the United States.
II is TO be hoped that money appropri-
ated under the new diSpensation will be
practically spent. They are now try
ing people i'll the courts here for small
depredations on the naval fund, but the
big offenders have escaped.
THE BURNING OF THE STAR" OF
FICE.
The fre-bells rang out loudly this
morning. and few people cared to find
out where the conflagration was, be-
cause it was cold enough to make Lieu
tenant Greedy SILVER. 1t turned out
that it was at the star office. Fire was
found in the press-room, engine-room.
and other departments of the paper.
The loss was about ESQ, 900, but from
what | hear from its employees it was
fully insured. Its proprietOrs imme- |
diately arranged to get the paper out
on other presses at another office. No |
cause Of the fire has been ascertained. |
PERSONAL NEWS ITEMS.
Mr.. Charles E. Brauer and his hand
some bride were at the Capitol to-day,
and visited both houses Of Congress.
Hon. Smith Turner. of Warren, for
mcr member of the Virginia House of
Delegates. left here to-day for Rich
mond, to attend the Court of Appeals.
Charles W. Button, of the Lynchburg
lrgiHj0n. one of the best editorial
writers in the South, was at the Capitol
to-day. He will remain until to-mor-
row. Colonel Tom Smith and Captain
Payne were in the city this morning.
THE BUREAU or ANIMAL INDUSTRY.
Senator MaXcy, of Texas, has Of
icred an amendment to the agricultural
bill to the effect that all
for violations of the act of
1854 establishing bureau of Ami
NAL Industry" shall be under the con-
troll and direction of the Commissioner
Of the Department of Agriculture.
This bureau was established to prevent
the spread Of pleuro-pneumonia among
cattle.
THE CELEBRATION on THE 22D OF
FEBRUARY.
There were distributed to-day to each
member OF the House fine invitations to
the celebration of the completion of the
monument. No tickets Of
admission. however, accompanied them,
and they looked as if intended for Sou-
rwjrs. They rcscmbled those gotten
up Cor the yorktown celebration, and
were executed III handsome style.
TIE wAsHINGToN DEMOCRATS.
There were never better Democrats
than those who for years have battled
here against power and patronage, but
there are thousands here now who have
been in Office, hurrahed regularly for
Grant, Hayes. and Garfield, who declare
they have always been Democrats.
Said AN old Jacksonian citizen of Wash
ington to-day, in telling me of this " If
there was parade tonight in honor
Of Mr.. Cleveland they would have
ON cape and helmet and be blatant
for him. They are ready to start new
clubs. and think that will
cntitlc them to preference even over
Dick Mcrrick, who for twenty years
has fought the battles of Democracy
against odds and often against hope"
Ile might have added that the Virginia
Democratic Association at Washington
has done service in every campaign in
Virginia that cannot be overestimated.
l.. q. Washington is its president.
THE INSTRUMENTATION BILL.
As was expected, Mr.. Willis, of Ken
lucky, called up the rivcr-and-harbor
bill. and Mr.. Townshend, of Illinois,
antaeonizcd it with the Mexican pen
sion bill, and the latter only received
thirty-nme votes, but that was enough
TO obtain the ayes and noes and give an
opportunity for filibustering. Subse-
quently Mr.. Hewitt, Of New York,
came forward and made fight
with view of getting up the
bill to carry into effect the Mexican
trcatv lie had no more votes than