Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-01-27
FkOM WASHINGTON.
Especial Correspondence of tho Alcxa. GAZETTE
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 81, 1856.

A gentleman from Accounao county, Va,
here, in talking about the recent Norfolk
navy yard affair in the House, said that a
beautifully engraved brass cannon, that " as
presented to General Chopper by General
Lafayette and which was kept at Drum
mondtown and used only to fire salutes on
the Fourth of July, aud which was never
used by Confederate soldiers, was defaced
and mutlated by The federal soldiers under
command OF General Lockwood.
Col. Jack Brown, Of Georges, q Southern
republican,, says the country has goue to
the bow. vows under the democratic admin
istration, and that whereas formerly South
ern people here would pay him fifty dollars
for attending to their business, they now
not only pay him nothing but ask him for
small loans.
Judge Harris, OF Virginia, is the attorney
of the democratic contestants in nil OF the
four contested cases before the House this
session. He says he is confident that Mr..
Hurd, the Ohio free trader, will be awarded
the seat for which he is centesting. Nir-
giniaus seem to have made corner on such
cases in the House, for General Hunton has
been employed by the republican contestee
in at least one of them, and, it is said, in all
the others.
Among tie bills introduced in the Senate
to-day was one by Mr.. Hampton for ap-
pointing Dr.. Sidney Tebbs, formerly of Viz
GINA, to the position of surgeon in The ma
rine hospita! service. 1t was referred to the
Committee on Commerce.
The building on the south side ofPennsyl-
vania avenue, occupied by W. w. Gould.
was burned to-day.
t., tl,a ~. 1ox- IF IN
Malone it was ordered that the papers in
the case Of the claim of H. II. Sibiey he re-
ferred to the Committee on Claims.
Among the strangers at the Capitol to day
was Mr. F. A. Reed, of Alexandria. He
was here in the interest of The shook trade,
which wants so,se legislation by which the
discrimination by Cuba against that trade
by reducing the export daty On sugar iii
bags, can be ctl>et by reducing The duty or
sugar imported in hog-heads.
The fear OF q flood, and the consequent
deIuge Of Pennsylvania avenue, from IN les
gorge in the river, may, it is said, do what
the commercial wants of the city have fail
ell to do-induce the people here toask Con-
gress for an ice boat with which to keep the
channel Of the Potomac open.
Tho House committee on private land
claims considered this morning the bill 10
perfect private titles TO lands in New Mexi-
co aud Arizona, pro empted before those
territories became parts Of the United
States, and will probably report bill for
that purpose. The Committee on Terrific
ries considered the bill for creating the Ter
ritory Of Oklahoma out Of tie Indian Terri
tory and opening it to settlers. The dele
CATION Of democrats from Dakota, who are
here to oppose the admission Of that Terri
tory into the Union as q State under the
Harrison bill, say they are assured that the
democrats of the House will not allow that
bill to be adopted.
Mr. Eoutelle, republican, Of Maine, rose
in the House to-day to u question OF privi-
leue, in which he denied the statement Mr.
Wise made, in his tilt with hin, last week,
that the dry dock atNorfolk had never been
destroyed duing the war. He was utter.
rupted several times on points OF order, and
informed that Mr.. Wise was not present, but
he persisted in getting statement into The
Record that papers in The archives of tho
Government sustained what ne had said.
Mrs. Barbour, wife of Congressman john
s. Barbour, of the Alexandria district in
Virginia, was found last night at the foot OF
the second flight of stairs in her house, in
an unconscious condition, with savcre cut
on her forehead from which had flowed q
pool of blood. The family were alarmed by
her shrek, but do not know whether she
fell down the nteps, or tainted, or bad an
apopectic stroke. Physicians were with
her all night, and this morning they said she
exhibited signs of returning consciousness.
The House military committee agreed to-
day to report bill appropriating $500 goo
for q monument to General Grant, in New
Id SOS0 ha to-
same purpose by the friends Of the General.
Also bill giving the President the power to
reinstate officers Of the army and navy who
bill it is said will include the Ftz John
Porter case. The House Naval Committee
agreed to day to modify the naval bill now
before the House, providing for the retire
ment of certain officers, those Of certain
age, and those distinguished for. gallantry,
so as to afford an opportunity for the pro.
motion of other officers. This bill was un-
der discussion in the House yesterday and
to-day, and tho committee to-day deter
mined to remove tho cause of some of the
opposition manifested towards it. Among
the amendments proposed will be one to
prevent the retired officers from living in
this city, but how such an infringeme nt upon
personal liberty can be attempted is hard 10
say.
The House banking and currency COM
mittee to-day commenced the consideration
of the silver question, several resolutions
upon the subject being introduced, among
them one for free coinage and one for the
establishment OF G good basis. Nothing
definite was done.
The difference between the President and the
republican members of the Senate on the subject
of the refusal of the former to give his reasons for
removing republican ofise holders Is the chief
topic OF conversation at the Capitol to- day. The
prevailing impression on the subject is that the
President will persist il his refusal and that the
Senate will reject all nominations to which his
refusal shall apply.
The Senate to-day was engaged in the consider
alton of resolution concerning the removal of |
settlers from Indian lands. The House resumed |
The consideration OF the bill! Tor retiring certain
naval officers
Bills are now before both houses Of Congress for