Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-12-19
A V. NJ. |. CLAIM.
EFFORT TO HAVE AN OFFICER DE-
TAcHED FOR THE INSTITUTE.
A Rse~h OF postmasters--House Rules
Contested Election Cases--Roanoke
River-Bricfs.
From Our Regular Correspondent

In regard to having military officer de-
tailed for duty at the Virginia Military In
stitute II seems that the States OF Vir-
cinia and West Virginia are under the law
entitled TO three officers between them
One officer is now on duty at Blacksburg.
Va, and West Virginia has one. and was
about 10 have the second assigned to au
academy with less than seyenty-hvc pupils.
This matter has been held up. and the
indications are that the Virginia Military
Institute will have the extra officer assigned
there. The institute has no officer OF the
United States on duty at the present time'
roSTMAsIERS.
The President TODAY sent 10 the Senate
the nominations of 126 postmasters, and
all Of them were new appointments. Iney
were pretty generally distributed. but
there was no, Virginia case in tho entire
LOT. Eight or ten men from Virginia are
waiting patiently around WASHINGTON
for their commissions as pOstm0sters,
Int somehow the President is not disposed
TO hurry himself. The followers of Malone
claim that they will get mos, of the pie when
the distribution takes place. They wlii
claim everything. at any rate: and there Is
this advantage IN their favor: hoth hepup-
hcan congressman from Nirginla nave been
training with the Aahone wing OF the
party.
Only one North Carolina nomination vas
sent to the Senate to-dav-Kdwin l.. Ra-
gan 10 be postmaster at High Point.
RULTs.
The House Committee on Rules to-day
reported a resolution in favor OF the pro
position 10 call the roll of States for the
introduction of bills. The Democrats did
not oppose seriously the adoption OF the
report. because II was a regular proceed
ing. and they assonted TO the proposition.
They fought the indiscriminate INTRODUCE
ton of bills yesterday, and sent the resolu-
ton to the Committee on Rules.
CONGRATULATIONS CASES.
All the indications are that the Republi-
cans of the House will get at the contested
election cases at the earliest possible mo-
ynent. 1t looks as if they will try 10 call
nm those cases before the new rules are
adopted in order that the Speaker may
have the greatest limit of power; Nothing
of IN arbitrary nature can be done, now
ever. if the Democrats will use their
advantage, and force the Republicans 10
keep their quorum of members on hand.
Ii will be "a hard thing for the tepubllcans
10 maintain their quorum. The night - 60
inc TO be "A long and bitter one and VIII de-
fer action on many of the leading questions
before Congress unless the RepubhcanS
should break down.
ROANOKE RIVER.
The Secretary of War sent 10 the House
to-day q report made by Captain BlXby
upon the preliminary examination OF the
Roanoke river between Clarksvillo ana
Eaton Falls. Va. Ii appears from the re-
mort that the slope of the river between
those two points Is 20 icet per mlie' anu
its navigation is obstruCtcd by projecting
hedges and points of rock and steep
slopes at the various falls. These OBJ
structions, while not preventing small
existing pole-bCat navigation, are serious
hindrances 10 any steamboat navigation,
even by boats of from thirty to forty tons
burthen. The present actual commerce OF
the river is limited TO two or three pole
boats. carrying about 1,OJO bales OF
cotton down stream. and about 4OO
tons of fertilizer upstream, making trips
two or three times week during SIX
months of the year, and constituting q
commerce valued az about $4,000 over tue
lower quarter of the river between Robin
sons Ferry and South Castor. Captain
Bixby is of the opinion that II is very
doubtful even with tho river channel I'M
proved at the estimated cost OF cZ00OOJ
whether any large commerce would be
thereby developed for many years. and
considering the circumstances, expresses
the opinion that the Roanoke river from
Clarksville TO Eaton Falls Is to-day no.,
worthy of improvement by theGeneral Gov
eminent.
PETITIONS.
General Lee presented in the House to-
day the following petitions:
Claim of Robert Terrill, of Culpeper
county, Va, for stores and supplies fur
nished TO the United States army during
the war 10 the value of SLID. Jelrlll
swears he was loyal during the war, and
wants his matter adjusted by the Court OF
Claims.
CLAIM &C Fleet Cox, of Stafford county,
amounting TO II $50. Gave 10 aid or COM
fort to the late rebellion"
Memorial Of Mrs. Horace Johnson, heir
of Amanda NJ. James. OF Fauquier county;
Va. asking to be paid $3.50 for stores and
supplies furnished TO Union troops.
Claim of Elizabeth d. Frobel and Anna :.
Trobel. of Fairfax county. whose place was
devastated. and who want damages IN keep
ing with the facts as 20 losses sustained.
This case has been before Congress since
1876.
MIR. OFerrall also presented the follow
ing: Petition of BrannOn Fletcher. OF
Frederick county, for reference OF his
claim for supplies furnished the Federal
army during the late war to the Court OF
Claims Amount wanted, S2,3l6.
Petition Of William H. Manuel. of same
county, praying that his war claim fol-
$3.50 be referred to the same court.
Similar request from Mrs. 4. Virginia
Spangler. of Same county, whose claim
amounts to $500.
MIR. Rowland, of the North Carolina dele
cation, TO-DAY asked leave of absence from
the House on account of sickness IN ms
family.
John Devereux, Jr., of Raleigh, N. c., i:
at the Ebbitt.
AFIooD OF BILLS.
There was a perfect flood of bills in the
House to-day. General Wheeler, of Ala.
bama, was the first member recognized
under the call. He offered twenty OF
more measures under the head OF bills OF
a public nature. All private balls were
simply dropped in the petition-boX
without reading the titles. General
Wheeler introduced a bill in regard &c
the cotton-claims and moved that II be re-
ferred to the Committee on the Judiciary
The speaker said he thought 1t ought 10 bt
referred TO the Committee on War Claims
This matter has been before several Con
crosses, and in the last 1t was referred &c
the Judiciary Committee. In a former
CONGRESS il was sent to the Committee OF
Claims, q distinct committee from that OF
War Claims. General Wheeler's motion was
adopted. 1t will beremembered that wher
the direct-tax bill was before the last Con
gress il provoked a most stubborn dead
lock, and Mr.. Oates and other southern
members insisted that If the direct taxes
were refunded to the States the cotton-ta,
should also be refunded. At the secpnC
session of the Fiftieth Congress the direct
tax bill was passed, but the measure wa:
vetoed by President Cleveland. II vii
undoubtedly he passed again at this ses
zion If it can be reached.
TARMER WADE.
The prevailing impression is tina
"Farmern Wade, of Missouri, will be up
pointed chairman of the House Commit
tee on Agriculture. Farmer" Funston
of Kansas, who has served on this com
mittee in two Congresses. has been tryinI
TO get this chairmanship, but three mem
bers Of the Kansas delegation who hav'
served so much longer than Mr.. Funston
will come in for big plums, and. besides
"Farmern Wade has had to give way Z
Mr. Milliken, Of Maine, on the Public
Buildings Committee, who will get tina
chairmanship.
Mr.. Tucker introduced in the House to
day O bill for the erection of public
building at stanton, not to exceed il
cost $4,000. Also q bill appropriatin.