Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-31
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
FACTS, NEWS, AND GOSSIP.
The Cattle Interest Discussed - Nirginia's
CisIm-The Back Track-Gndiron Club

tisim-The Back TTack-Grdiron tiub-
Personal Notes, &e.
. From Our Reeulsr Correspondence
WASHINGTON, ID. c., January 3d.
The National Cattle Breeders Associa.
ton addressed the House Committee on
Agriculture to-day in favor Of adding
to the present law in regard to the
eradication Of contagious diseases 10
cattle two features that were in the
original bill when it was before Con-
gress a year ago. They want the Com
missioner Of Agriculture to have the
power to cause diseased animals to be
condemned, appraised, and slaughtered,
and their value paid for by the Govern
ment also, the adoption Of more strin-
gent provisions for preventing the spread
Of disease, especially pleuro-pneumonia.
All Of the gentlemen who spoke to-day
agreed that the disease originated with
imported animals. chiefly from Holland.
Professor Salmon. chief Of the Bureau
Of Animal Industry. said that so far as
he had been able TO discover the flesh
and milk Of animals in the first stages Of
pleuro-pneumonia were not dangerous to
human health. But in the later stages
the flesh was poisoned and scarcely
sslable. He thought perhaps the dis
ease was communicated by the breath.
Its poisonous quality might be COM
municated to the grass and herb
age, so that its effects might be
communicated many months afterwards.
He advised that herds in which the dis
ease was supposed to have been eradi-
Gated should be kept in quarantine for
fifteen months after exposure to the
disease.
Commissioner Coleman thought $780,
600, or at least s3j0,000, ought to be
appropriated to defray the annual ex-
pense of carrying out the law.
vIRGINIA's CLAIMS.
Colonel Trigg's report in favor Of the
payment Of Virginia's claims against
the Government was submitted to-day
to the subcommittee Of which he is
chairman. and adopted. lie is conf
dent that it will also be approved by
the full committee.
TOOK THE BACK TRACK.
Under the advice Of the Democratic
leaders, and staggered by the prospect
of adding hundreds of millions to the
pension burden of the country, two Of
the three Democrats who voted with
the Republicans in committee last week
in favor Of extending the time for filing
applications for arrears Of pensions
took the back track at the meeting yes
terday. When the Republican mem
bers Of the committee found that the
favorable vote upon the Morrill, bill was
about to be reconsidered, they talked
against time until the hour for adjourn
ment arrived, and the vote was stayed
until the next meeting.
W. c. p. Breckenridge. Of Kentucky,
showed his oratorical powers in the
House. even in the debate upon a war
claim. This was his first speech in
Congress, and he quickly attracted and
held the attention Of the House, which
is a difficult undertaking when private
claims are under discussion. His cousin,
a son Of General John G. Breckinridge,
is serving a second term in Congress as
a representative from Arkansas.
CAPTAIN EADs.
The smiling face Of Captain James
=. Eads is occasionally seen at the Cap
itOl this winter. The outlook seems to
be propitious for Government aid for
his project for a railway to transport
ships across the isthmus Of Panama.
The President indirectly gave his
scheme a good send-of in the annual
message by his remarks in regard to
inter oceanic canals, and Captain Eads
was encouraged to hope that he could
obtain authority from Congress for
a Government endorsement of bonds to
be issued for the construction of the
railway.
THE GRIDIRON CLUE.
The Gridiron Club had among its
guests at the monthly dinner tonight
Senator's Jones OF Nevada, Aldridge
Of Rhode Island, Butler of South Caro-
lima, Wilson of Maryland, Harrison of
Indiana, Eustis of Louisiana Post
master-General Villas; Representatives
Tucker Of Virginia, Randall of Penn
sylyania, Long of Massachusetts,, But
terworth and Mckinley Of Ohio, Col
Inns of Massachusetts,, Bayne of Penn
sylyania, General Joe Wheeler Of Ala
bama, Speaker Carlisle Speaker Hustled
of the New York Legislature, and
Civil-Seryice- commissioner Edgerton.
The Club is composed of thirty-two
special correspondents Of newspapers,
out Of about l25 that comprise the
corps at the Capitol. The membership
is limited to forty, and it is purely a
dining club-not press club-and per-
sons not connected with newspapers
are eligible to membership. The sit
tiDgs usually last from 1870 to ii P.
NJ, and there is always royal time
on these occasions,
Colonel O'Ferrall addressed the Vir-
ginia Association last night, dwelling
chiefly upon national questions. He
declared in favor Of tariff reform and
against suspension of silver coinage.
lie had a warm reception by the Viz
ginians.
Among the yirginians in the city to-
day were p. T. Sutton and DR.. j. j.
Lafferty, of Richmond; ex-State Sena-
tor William II. Glasgow, Of Botetourt
Captain John r. Rust, of Warren f.
c. Jordan, of Frederick.
NEWS NOTES HERE {. THERE.