Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-06
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
NEWS AND GOSSIP.

tsFrosn our Regular MISUNDERSTANDING
WAsurxorox, January 5.--There
was a general hsnd-shaking among con-
prcssmen at the Capitol to-day, and
were really glad 10 see each other with |
on. regard to political differences. The
a;snos;t;ou seems in the direction Of
h.rd work. but the time between this
.na The 4th Of March ia too short to
.ccomnlish much beyond passing the
GENERAL appropriation bills. There Is
.s,l 81 an extra session Of the House
ss well as Of the Senate. This grows
-, az the fact that the House is un-
Filing to pass the naval bill as
s.rorrd by the Senate, and hence it is
assumed by some that the Republicans
sr;,l epdeayor TO retard the appropris-
49, hills 80 as to render an extra ses-
s;on necessary. Those, however, in
wbose Judgment I have reason TO have
much confidence do not regard 1T at all
rrohable that the House will sit after
,he An OF March. The customary ex-
ara session Of the Senate for the con-
s,mation Of Mr.. Cleyeland's Cabinet
and such other important officials as ne
may nominate will not be a lengthy one.
THE FRENCH spoIIATIoN BILL.
January l4th has been set aside by
The House TO consider the Senate bill
for the settlement Of spoliation claims
arising out Of depredations on American
commerce prior to July ], 1901. The
House Committee on Foreign Relations
has a similar bill, but will move to sub.
stitute the Senate bill for it. The latter
bill provides that these claims shall be
referred TO the Court Of Claims for adj
iustment. Both houses at different
sessions have often reported in favor OF
the settlement Of them, and favorable
reports have been made by webster,
Livingstone, Everett, Sumner, and other
eminent statesmen. The impression
prevails that the bill will pass. A
number of Richmond people are inter
cstcd.
THE PRESIDENT AND Mh' BLAINE
The report that Mrs. Blaine's refusal
TO take part in the Presidents New
Year reception had political significance
is authoritatiyely denied by her hus-
band. but following on it comes the in
formation that the President will not be
+, candidate for the New York SEN
atorship. He wants the place,
and the explanation is that the
Blaine men of New York do not think
his Administration gave the Republican
candidates a sufficiently earnest support
in November. Then Lord Roscoe Conk-
ling and his coterie are cold towards
him. A Republican suggests that the
President ought to marry some million
aires widow and make an extended tour
abroad after March 4th, and then return
to New York and 60 into permanent po-
litical retirement. This is not bad
suggestion. He would be society
magnate and central figure at . the
clubs"
PERSONAL NEWS ITEMS.
General Joseph 4. Johnston was at
the Capitol to-day. Hon. j. l.. NJ.
Curry was here to-day, and did efficient
work for the Blair bill. Robert w.
Burke and wife. of Stanton, are in the
city. Hon. John I. Harris has re-
turned. Major Wood, Of Richmond,
who is visiting his niece in Alexandria,
was at the Capitol to-day. Hon. Eustace
Gibson will soon deliver lecture before
the Virginia Democratic Association Of
Washington. Judge Keith was here
this morning. 1t has been understood
for some days that Speaker Carlisle
would appoint Kentuckian to the va
cant stenographer's position in the
House. As soon as this was known a
thoroughly competent and most ac-
complished Virginian, who could not
have been more strongly backed, re-
tired from the contest. l.. z. Washing
ton was on hand at the Capitol early
to-day, and looked as if he had COM
mcnced the new year with full supply
of first-rate health. The report to-day
was that General Malone was improv-
ing. The Senate to-day debated the
Cullom Interstate commerce bill.
MIR. RANDALL's SOUTHERN TRIP.
Mr.. Randall returned from the South
this morning, and expressed himself in
most enthusiastic terms in regard to the
hospitable reception accorded him
wherever he went. lie was surprised
and gratifed at the immense mineral re-
sources of the sections through which
he passed. He predicts most pros
porous future for the people developing
iron ore, coal, &C., of the South. MIR.
Randall greatly regrets that he was UNI
able TO speak at Richmond during the
late campaign. Sickness and engage
ments that could not be cancelled pre-
vented him.
TOBACCO, FRUIT-BRANDY, &C.
Mr.. Hiscock, of New York, to-day
moved to suspend the rules and pass th'
bill to abolish the internal-reycnue taA
on tobacco, snuff, cigars, cigarettes, anc
the tax on alchohol used for mechanical
and art purposes, and the tax on al
brandics distilled from fruits. This bill
had never been TO a committee. Mr.
niscock's statements showed that III
had not gwen the subject careful atten
ton. for he said that the tax or brand,
distilled from fruits now amounts t
from three TO ScEen millions an
nually. according TO the frui
crop. whereas the report of the Internal
Revenue Commissioner does not MAKE
il as much as a million aud half, III
quoted from statement made by Mr.
Hewitt. ,o,nc years ago to show that the
tax on spirits used for mechanical an'
art pun oses is now from seven to tel
millions. He placed the tobacco-,ax a
twenty-five millions. He FIRST said tina
this bin would reduce the revenue fifty
and subsequently, modified his state
mcnt 30 ~ 10 make the reduction forty
millions. Those Democrats who op
posed the bill said they favored
tho abolition Of the tobacco-tax am
otier features 81 this measure, but a