Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-19
WASHINGTON.
The Post-oisiee Appropriation Bill in the
House-west Virginia and the
State Debt.
lrrnm onr Regular corrrspondent. !

lfrcm Our Regular Corresponuent.l
WASHINGTON, May lS.--The con-
fiict Of opinion between the Republican
majority OF the Senate and the Demo-
cratic majority Of the House reached o
climax this morning at the expiration OF
the morning hour in the latter body.
The post-oflice apr opriation bill was
called up. The measure passed the
House some time ago and went 10 the
Senate, where an amendment granting
q subsidy Of 100000 for foreign mail
service was tackled on. The bill is now
back in the House for concurrence in this
and few other amendments. The sub
sidy amendment involves the support or
non-support OF the Postmaster-G General
by bis party on the floor ofthe House, and
the result is very serious one to the
Administration. The post-office bill
passed by the Forty-eighth Congress
contained q subsidy for the foreign mail
service, which Postmaster General
Villas, on his own responsibility, refused
to pay over to the companies perform
ing the service. Ii had been pre-
dicted that when this matter should
be reached, in the form Of
. Senate amendment to the present
bill, the champions Of subsidy
on the Republican side Of the chamber
would fairly scalp the head Of the Post.
Office Department. That official es-
capped mutilation in the Senate, which
is too digniiied and too small body to
show much fight. However, in the
House to-day the space in front Of the
Speakers desk is taken up with a map
OF the world, earth, sea, and sky, and
the members Of Congress are searching
through them all to obtain words Of
praise and condemnation for the Post
master.G General and his administra-
tion Of the Department. Tho de-
bate will probably last two
days. Mr.. Burrows, of Michi-
gan made powerful argument in favor
Of granting the subsidy. There were,
however, but few members in their
seats, it being generally understood that
the debate is intended rather for the
country at large than for any effect it
may have in influencing the votes OF
members on the question involved.
Mr.. Burrows made no attempt at dis
play, but read dry, hard facts to show
that the American flag was an almost
unknown thing on the high seas, and
that the trade of the South American
States was controlled by England and
other foreign countries. The speech
was replete with startling facts, but the
remedy provided by the Senate amend
meut is the only thing at issue, unfor-
tunately for the friends OF subsidy.
Mr.. McRea, Of Arkansas, has intro
duced bill in the House to repeal Sec
ton $3.50 Of the Revised Statutes, which
is TO the effect that "it shall be unlaw-
full for any officer to pay any account,
claim, or demand against the United
States which accrued or existed prior
to April Is, 1861, in favor of any per-
son who promoted, encouraged, or in
any manner sustained the late rebellion,
or in favor Of any person who du-
ring such rebellion was not known
to be opposed thereto, and distinctly in
favor Of its suppression, and no pardon
heretofore granted or hereafter to be
granted shall authorize tho payment of
such account, claim, or demand until
this section is modified or repealed"
The bill was referred to the Committee
on judiciary, and it was sent to the
printing Office by special messenger as
soon as it reached the Clerks desk and
was endorsed, so that there is a strong
probability that it will be reported and
passed at the present session.
The House Committee on Judiciary
to-day decided to report adversely on
the bill introduced a month or more ago
by Mr.. Brady authorizing the appoint
ment OF commission TO investigate
how far the United States stood liable
for the debt Of Virginia, and in relation
TO the partition of West Virginia and
ats liability for a portion of the debt.
The report will be prepared by Mr..
Tucker.
Mr.. Trigg made favorable report to-
day on the bill for the relief of Lafayette
Fowler, of Carroll county, who seeks
relief from the payment Of taxes and
penalty on one hundred and forty-fye
gallons of brandy destroyed by fire.
Mr.. Taulbee reported back adversely
the bill to extend the provisions Of the
pension laws to the West Virginia mill
tia who acted under the authorities Of
that State in the late war.
Captain K. 7. Daniel, Of Richmond,
is in the city, also Mr.. Thomas Blu
chanan, of Winchester.
James F. Robertson, recently nomi-
mated by the President for the postmas-
tership Of Culpeper, was in the city to-
day.
Solicitor General Goode was on the
floor of the House to-day in consulta-
tion with members of the Virginia dele
cation.
After the expiration Of the morning
hour in the Senate the Republicans,
with the exception of General Logan,
left the chamber while a prominent
Democrat read long essay on the pend
irg measure.
The National Association OF Grape
Growers was organized here this morn
ing. Ii is TO be known as the Viticul-
tural Association of the United States.
Colonel Alexander Pearson, Of New
Jersey, was elected chairman, and Mr..
Il. L. Clayton, Of New York, secre-
tsry. A committee on permanent Or
ganization was appointed, consisting of
Il. +. Clayton, Of Florida; A. j.
Swilzer, of New York @. j. Trash,
Of Virginia +; z. Rohndarf, Of Cslifor-
MIA; A. Russow, OF Virginia w.
j. Green, of North Carolina 4;
ID. Cook, Of Missouri. Among the
yiIginians present were Henry l.. Ly-
man, j. W. Parker, and Oscar Refer
son, Of Charlottesville. The Associa-
ton will be in session to-day and to-
MORROW, and will hold receptions in
Masonic Temple, where more than two
hundred samples of wine are on exhi-
bition.
General Bradley 7. johnson was ex-
aminsd by the Pan-Electric lnvesti-
eating Committee to-day. Witness de-