Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-06
WASHINGTON.
NEWS NOTES AND GOSSIP FROM THE
NATIONAL CAPITAL.
The Education Bill = The virginians
and the Arbitration Bill-Reorgani-
zation Of the Army. &c.
[From our Regular Correspondent.l


zation Of the Army, &c.
From Our Regular Correspondence
WASHINGTON, d. c., April s.
The ripple Of excitement injected into
the usually prosy proceedings OF the
House by O'Neill's labor bill will
doubtless find its counterpart this
week. The ghost Of the Blair bill,
killed in the Committee on Education,
will, it is understood, stalk forth from
the Labor Committee to the floor OF
the House. At last. Mr.. O'Neill says,
his committee is strenuously exerting
itself to prepare and present its report
this week. The report will favor the
passage Of the new bill presented by
Mr. Willis, which is in substance the
Blair bill as it passed the Senate. There
may, however, be a minority report.
With here and there an exception the
western and southern members favor
the bill. A few southern members OPP
pose it on constitutional grounds"
among them Hon. j. Randolph Tucker,
who has prepared and will make very
elaborate argument against the passage
Of the bill. The meagre opposition de-
veloped in the West is inspired by par
tisaDship grounded in what they are
pleased to term the solid South, where
they claim the lions share Of benefits
will be distributed.
The labor arbitration bill has been
denominated "a Premium for Quarrel
ling" by the Hon. John W. Daniel.
lie, together with Messrs. Croxton,
O'Ferrall, and Tucker, the only Demo-
Gratis Of the Virginia delegation present,
voted against the bill. 40 one about
The Capitol regards the measure as
having any virtue, those that favored it
with their votes terming 1t "a little
piece Of harmless demagogism to catch
the laboriDg- mans sufirageS." That
vote should have been reached Saturday
was surprise TO everybody, asst was be-
lieved the silver orators would be strong
enough to hold their own, the day being
given TO them by a standing order Of
the House. For this reason the roll
call fails to reveal the names OF Messrs.
Csbell, Wise, and Trigg, who paired
and left the city under the impression
that no business aside from silver ora
tory would be INDUCED. Mr.. Barbour
left the hall under a Misrepresentation
and did not return in time to 60 on re-
cord against the bill, as would the
other Virginians had they been present.
1.-The only result of the bill" said
prominent member in private CONVEX
sation to-day, would be to pile up
cords of worthless testimony in the Of
flee Of the Commissioner Of Labor
worthless before it is printed and
worthless still after it is printed-be-
cause too yoluminous to read and I'M
derstand." However, the bill will never
see the light of day after it reaches the
Senate.
The Wo,kingmen's Ethical Associa-
ton Of Washington adopted the fol-
loving resolutions at last meeting
w ltItdS Lnt VIA III NlC llOloC VI
Representatives to provide court Of
arbitration is Of such a character as to
leave room to doubt its utility and
whereas the apparent cowardice Of
public men in expressing and voting
their honest convictions on questions
affecting the welfare Of labor can only
be viewed as mournful decline of
craftsmanship therefore
Resolred. That the thanks Of this or
eanization are hereby extended to Hons.
Thomas Croxton, John w. Daniel, c.
T. O'Ferrall, j. K. Tucker, William
d. Kelley, n. 6. Hammond, ". {. p.
Breckenridge, N. A. Foran. W. d.
Hill Of Ohio, j. II. Reagan of Texas,
and others for their manly defence Of
the true interests Of workingmen.
ReSolred, That the best interests Of
labor can be served by repeal Of the
vicious legislation Of the past creating
monopolies in our midst and cessa-
ton of class legislation IN the future.
The members Of the Committee on
Expenditures in the Treasury Depart
ment ale informally considering the
prcpriety Of going into the inyestiga-
tion Of expenditures made for public
buildings. The opinion that this ought
to be done is unanimous, the only
question being how far back the inves-
tigation should extend. If the matter
is taken up the committee will ask
leave to sit during the summer recess.
They will in all probability investigate
the expenses attending the collection of
revenues, which comes, with the pub
lie buildings, directly under the control
Of the Treasury Department. 1t is ex-
pected that these two fields will yield
abundance Of campaign literature for
1888.
The House Military Committee be-
gan preparing a bill to-day looking to
thorough reorganization of the army.
One of the features OF the proposed
change will be to change the rank OF
officers so that each company in the
infantry service will have two captains
a senior and junior-and but one lieu.
tenant. The numerical strength of the
army will also be somewhat increased.
The Committee on Alcoholic-Liquor
Traffic held a meeting to-day, and from
the sentiments developed there is but
little hope for the proposed commission
to examine the effects Of the traffic on
the morals Of the people.
At the meeting Of the Committee on
Territories to-day the subcommittee
having in charge the project to organize
the Territory Of Oklahoma made an
adverse report. The full committee.
however, is divided on the subject, and
minority and majority reports will be
prepared by Wednesday to be submit
ted to the House at the first opportu-
nifty.
Among the bills introduced was one
BY Hon. George c. Cabell authorizing
the Court Of Claims to pass upon the
claim Of the Piedmont Railroad Com:
psny, Notwithstanding that the time for
its adjudication has lapsed.