Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-15
WASHINGTON.
TEE WAYS AND xEANs COMMITTEE
AND THE TARIFF BILL.
A Canvass OF the House = Lumber and
Salt General sibley's ciaim-vir'
u.nia Mail Service.
IRON Our Regular Correspondent

"
Wsvs and Means Committee will pro-
baby call up the Morrison-Hewitt
tariff bill early next month. The
nlscing OF wool and lumber on the free
ist will have q strong influence in
siampeding weak. kneed western states
men over 10 the side OF the protection
lists. OF the l59 members OF the Forty
eighth Congress who voted to strike
ont the enactiDg clause Of the tariff bill
pending before that body ninety were
reelected TO the present Congress. or
the 1855 voting sgainst this propo'
sition ninety-,hree have been re-
turned, while Of the ten members re-
corded as not voting but two--lion. Il.
T. Bennett, Of North Carolina, and Hon.
j. NJ. Riggs--were reelected. A par
tal canvass OF the members from the
West and Northwest serving their first
congressional terms reveals the Tact
that the opponents OF the tariff revision
proposed by the Ways and Means Com
,nittee have very considerably augment
ed their strength for the coming con-
fliot in the House. Aside from this, the
refofrlers are greatly exercised over
new enterprises that have developed in
the South. This is particularly
afue In ihs case Of West Viz
ginia. which promises TO develop
lumber interest OF no small magnitude.
A company from Chattanooga has just
purchased tract Of forty square miles
of timber at the headwaters Of the
Cheat river, and will, it is estimated,
put 10, 600, goo feet of the finest cherry
lumber in the world on the market an
nually. In view Of this Hon. William
l.. Wilson, in whose district the new
enterprise is located, will not commit
himself to the bill until he feels Of the
pulse Of his district in re-
gard TO tho matter Of free lumber.
He voted with the Morrison men
in the last Congress and made
a speech in favor Of the horizontal tariff
bill. lie expresses the opinion that
any measure which places wool on the
free list will meet with defeat, and he
will not give his endorsement to the
lumber proposition until further in
formed as TO the wants Of his constitu-
ents. The tariii-men feel confident that
there will be no change made in the law
as il now stands, and will undoubt-
edly antagonize as much as posi-
BILE any amendments curtailing the
free list, with a view to uniting
all localities in a solid vote against the
bill as an entirety. In the last Congress
the Michigan members voted seven to
three in favor Of the Morrison bill.
1.-THE placing of salt on the free list"
said member from that State to-day,
"makes it almost impossible for us to
support the present bill. The salt in
dusiry in Michigan is fast becoming one
Of the most important features. The
benefit to the individual consumer of
salt contemplated is too thrilling for con-
sidcration-a few cents worth will last
a family for months. Toplace it on the
free list, however, will absolutely close
up our works. Why, sir, just over
the line in Canada they have salt
nearer the surface Of the ground, which
can be procured much cheaper than on
our side, to say nothing of the advan-
tage in their favor in the matter of
labor. They would drive us out Of the
market" Mr.. Morrison said to-day
that it was a very easy matter to frame
q tariff bill, but it was another thing
altogether 10 make one that would
pass. lie thinks the session will drag
along until the middle Of July, for the
reason that every one will want to
make speeches on his bill.
Hon. Thomas Croxton delivered his
maiden speech in the House yesterday,
and at its conclusion, OF rather when
compelled to suspend by reason of a
lapse Of the time allotted to him, re-
ceiyed congratulations from friends and
opponents alike. The matter under dis
cussion was the Romeis- Hurd contested
election case, Mr.. Croxton defending the
minority report in favor Of the seating
of Mr.. Hurd. lie had his arguments
well in hand, and held the attention Of
the House, the members gathering
around him from the opening to the
close Of his remarks.
On Friday evening next Hon. W. a.
Richardson. of Tennessee, will deliver
his lecture on THE Life and Times Of
Thomas Jefferson " before the Virginia
Democratic Association. Governor (Ex-
ira Billy Smith will also deliver short
address.
GENERAL SIBLEY.
Hon. c. F. Trigg, from the Commit
tee of Claims, has prepared favorable
report on the bill for the relief of Gene
raj II. Ii. Sibley, of Fredericksburg.
The claimant, an old Virginian, IN 1856
invented the now.celebrated Sibley tent,
and the United States adopted it for the
army, contracting to pay the inventor a
royalty OF five dollars for each tent
made and used by the Government.
Two years later General Sibley sold a
half. Interest in his invention TO W. W.
Burns. The war breaking out, Gene
Ial sNpley, pVinb va S"i"', "Shs
with his State, and joined the Confede-
rate army, while Burns fought on the
Union side. Mr.. Burns continued to
receive his half Of the royalty until it
was stopped by order Of the Secretary
OF War December GO, 1861. October
3. 1866, Mr.. Burns instituted suit
against the United States for royalty
due him and recovered his claim, while
Sibley has never received cent either
Of this recovery or Of his share of the
royalty. No legal action has ever been
had snnulling General Sibley's claim,
the War Department simply issuing an
order that the royalty formerly paid
Siblcy should be withheld" It being
considered that all his rights aud title
theIeunto had reverted TO the Govern
ment." The Supreme Court has
decided that the War-Department Or
ders could not set aside the justice Of
Mr.. Burns claim for half the royalty,
and it is not pretended that they could
snnul the claim Of General Sibley. Ii
was supposed that the latter gentleman
was barred from prosecuting his claim
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