Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-28
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
NEWS FACTS, AND GOSSIP.

vet spseslasisns--Briefs
From our Regular Correspondent.l
WASHINGTON, January 27.--I ask
cd Mr.. Willis, Of Kentucky, last night
what were the chances Of the Blair edu-
cational bill. lie replied, "There is
majority for il, and IL the majority
takes the bit in its mouth it will pass.
The trouble evidently is that the rules
Of the House at short session will ena-
bic minority 10 defeat any measure,
however meritorious. There has been
an objection raised that this bill, which
embraces an appropriation, ought not to
have originated in the Senate. The re-
marks OF Mr.. Hunter in the Senate are
quoted in support Of the position that
the Senate had the right to originate
this bill. lie said " We exer-
else the power in almost every little
pension case and in thousands OF bills IN
which we appropriate money. The re-
striction in the Constitution has been
decided in this body only to apply to
those bills which provide for raising
rcvenue--taxing-b &C." BY the
way, whenever Mr.. Hunter is quoted
. by members Of either body Of Congress
il is as 1.-THE eminent senator from Vir-
ginia." This was the term applied to
him by Senator Edmunds, Of Vermont,
when discussing the silver question
some sessions ago, and other congress-
men without regard TO party have
adopted it. II is seldom that mem
Der of either house after long term
Of service leaves such a record behind
him.
THE MEXICAN PENSION BILL.
Citizens of Wisconsin, Illinois, New
York. Ohio, Indiana, and Iowa are petit
tioning Congress to pass the Mexican
pension bill as passed by the House and
amended by the Senate. There are no
petitions from the South for 1T IN Its
present shape, because the bill as II
nassed the House was what southern
MEXICAN veterans wanted, and what
they deserved for their services in a
war that added a territory to our
domain equal to an ordinary empire. l
have already stated that the amend
ments were offered with view of de-
feating the bill.
THE MASSACHUSETTS, sENAT0RsHIP.
Senator Dawes has been in both
houses Of Congress for a good many
wears, and good deal of interest
is manifested by Republicans in re-
gard to his return to the Senate. The
feeling among the best-informed Mas
sachusotts people here is that Governor
Robinson will beat him. Governor
Robinson was a leading representative
from Massachusetts in the last Congress.
The election will not take place for
year vet, and it is hard to tell what
combination may be formed. The hard
est blows Mr.. Dawes has received du-
ring his senatorial career were from
Mr.. Blaine, when he presented statue
of William King, the first Governor OF
his State. to the United State Govern
mcnt.
THE pOsT-OFFICE APPROPRIATION
BILL.
The post-ofiice appropriation bill went
flo the full committee of the House Com
mittee to-day. 1t contains important
provisions, as it. provides that letters
weighing all ounce shall be carried for
two cents. and reduces the postage on
ncyspapers sent to subscribers to one
cent a pound. 1t also permits post
masters TO rent pOSt-Oiiice buildings
where they are needed for five years,
instead Of one, as now required by law.
This is in the interest of economy. The
Authorizations Committee is rapidly
completing the general appropriation
bills. and as they have the right of way
IT will be difficult for other bills to get
a hearing.
CABINET SPECULATIoNS TO-DAY.
The New Hampshire people here say
that the Hon. Frank Jones will go ii
the Cabinet; but the trouble is that
New England did not give any support
to Mr.. Cleveland. asked one of the
best-informed Democratic politicians to-
dav to give me his candid opinion as tC
Mr.. Cleveland'S Cabinet. Said he, . |
nm sure that Bayard and Garland will bC
members Of it," Who else
asked. have the best chancc?" H'
REPLIED. "Why, Mcdonald for Secre
tary of War, and Stockton for Secretary
of the Navy" "Who will be Post
mastcr-Gcneral?" asked. He replied
Barbour. of Virginia, if he is properly
pressed
THE VIRGINIA COUPON CASES.
The Acknowledgement to-day moved
in the Supreme Court to advance, Will
a view to as an early decision as prac
ticablc. all the Virginia coupon cases
upon the ground that under the decision
of the United States Circuit Court th
Commonwealth is practically restrained
from collecting its revenue.
THE SENATE ON TREATIES.
The Senate has paid most of its at
tention to the treatieS-to-wit : the Mica
racuan. the Spanish, and Mexican trea
ties. Ii is hard to ascertain what vii
be done in the executive session OF thu
body, but those who have the beS
sources of information say that tn
Spanish and Mexican treaties cannot &c
through Congress. The Nicaragua
treaty has better show, however, t
pass.
THE INAUGURATION PREPARATIONS
A member of the Inauguration Com
mittee informed me that the prepare
tons are almost complete and the fund
are ample. This is a most lmportan
item. One firm has subscribed hv
thousand dollars. have never know
citizens so willing to rent their hes
rooms on such an occasion, What |
more, their charges, if properly regu
lated, will not be extrayagant.
THE HALLETT-KILBoURNE CASE
Ex-Sergeant-at-Arms Thompson,
the House, was before the JudicIar
Committee of the House to-day, an
=. A.. .llo,. him cS OuD for o.