The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-10
THE SILVER CONFERENCE,
DEMOCRATIC SENATORS MOVING
SLOWLY AND CAUTIOUSLY.
They Propose to Delay Action Until the
Republicans Show Their Hands In the
Force BIII-C Congressional and Other
Washington News.

/
The Democratic Senators are delaying
action upon the conference report on tn
silver bill with a definite purpose. Sine
the House made concessions on silver whicl
satisfied the extreme silver Republicans
the Senate, it has been rumored that th'
latter would ignore the agreement, mad
early in the fight with the Democrats, q
oppose the Federal election bill in return
for help in behalf Of free silver, and that th'
silver Senators on the Republican side haC
been won over by Speaker Reed.
The Democrats have no information as 4
how much truth there may he in this rumor
but they say they DO not intond to take any
chances; that they will continue 10 discuss
the silver report, and thus prevent VOt'
until the Republicans shall have shORl
| their hands on the Election bill. IL the Re
publican Senators agree to support the Flee
zion bill. the Democrats will proceed
! 10 block legislation On silver and
the tariff. and hold those two important
measures as "A barrier 10 the election law.
There is a talk OF caucus OF Republican
Senators to. morrow to consider the election
bill. No doubt one will be held at an early
date, senator Sherman has suggested de.
sire 10 sit out The siiser bill, but he cannot
cut on the Democrats rs long as they see fit
to talk. Under existing rules there Is no
way 10 curtail debate. The indications are
that until the Republicans shall declare
themselves with regard to the election bill,
30 further business Of importance will be
transacted.
NORFOLK RIVER AND HARBOR.
Lieutenant Fiebiger, Of the engineer corps
in charge OF river and harbOr works at Nor
folk has submitted his report. lie states
that no dredging has been done since March.
lSS9; that the southern branch has not
shoaled perceptibly. while the eastern
branch has shoaled about one foot, owing
70 causes which the report explains.
lie states that there is sufficient depth
in the channel. but greater width
Is needed 10 accommodate the rapidly in
increasing commerce. During the last fiscal
year there was expended only y4ai, and IL
is estimated that it will require Si1i,l4i, 70
complete the improvement Of the Norfolk
harbOr. Of which Sl50,000, can be prOiitably
expended next year. A channel 700 feet
wide is wanted to reach the Portsmouth
navy yard. The dixie which was commence
cd is not deemed necessary and it is esti-
mated that SlOSOO0, will complete the work.
The NansemOnd river improvement con-
templates "A channel twelve feet deep from
suffolk to Hampton Roads. \ channel forty
feet wide and eleven feet deep has been
dredged through Suffolk shoals. Dredging
will be carried on as rapidly rs Congress
viii supply the money. TO complete the
Improvement Slil,jOO will be needed, OF
which so, 600 can be expended next year.
la the AppOmattOX river improvement.
considerable time and money were expended
in rcpairingthe damage done by the ireshet.
4 channel forty feet wide aud eleven feet
deep has been dredged, Formerly 1t was
only eight or nine feet deep. The nest ap-
preparation will be used in part 10 con-
sirict the wing dams and training walls.
The object will be 10 remove all the shoals
except those al Magazine Bend and Pud-
die Duck Cut. These shoals can only De
removed at great cost. The officer recon-
menes that the channel be kept open by
continual dredging, and to aid in this,
Petersburg offers to the government, free Of
charge, the use of dredging boat owned
by that city. The engineer states that this
drcdger, combined with the government
plant. can keep the channel open. He esti-
mates that il Will cOsi : l,Ol0 per month for
dredging, and that il will require 100000 TO
complete the work.
APPROPRIATIONS FOR VIRGINIA.
The Sundry Civil bill as reported to the
Senate to-day contains numerous items OF
interest 10 Virginia and North Carolina.
The Virginia appropriations are as i0l-
lows.
For the purchase Of additional land for
site and for repairs to the buoy depot at
Chincoteaque Island. increased from SLOW
to S2,000; for establishing on new and Sc
cure site the Cape Charles Light station,
$iJOOOO.
The Senate Committee inserted a new
amendment appropriating $1,000 for the
puIchase OF additional land for the site OF
the lighthouse depot. at Portsmouth, includ-
mg about ninety-siX feet of water front.
For the liie-saying service the bill remains
as il passed the House. Ii apprOprates
81 800 for one superintendent for the coasts
of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, and
81 800 for one superintendent for the coasts
of Virginia and North Carolina.
As for the lighthouse establishment the
senate committee has made increases all
along the liue. For establishing, supplying
and maintaining post lights on numerous
rivers, including Cape Fear river, North
Carolina, the appropriation Is increased
from $2GO.OOO to $3Jj,OOO.
new amendment appropriatine S6,No
for completing the restoration, mounting
ard Papers Of Washington, Jefferson, Madi-
son. Monroe and others.
Tine appropriation for the purchase OF
eight acres of laBd for tho enlargement OF
the National Cemetery, Cf Hampton, Is re-
ducCd from SIS goo 10 $4,000.
The appropriation OF $500 for macada-
MIXING and permanently improving the
roadway % the National Cemetery from
Fredericksburg, and that Of $500 for il
roadway to the National Cemetery, near
Culpeper, remain unchanged.
The r.,0oQ for the Artillery School ut For
lTCss Monroe remains unchanged.
NORrH CAKOnNA.
A new proyI-ion appropriates 5000 for a
new dwelling and oil house at Cape Hat
tpras ieht Station. Another senate amend
ment apprOprlates $4,000 for the construc-
tion ana establishment Of lightship with
fog signal for Frying Pan Shoals, coast OF
North Carolina.
REPUBLICAN FORCE BILL CAUCUS.
The Republican Senator'S are canyassing
the question Of holding caucus tomorrow
afternoon 10 consider the ederal Election
bill 10 is not yet certain that the caucus
will b0 called, as there is such diversity
of opinion among the Republicans ~ regard
10 the bill. IL may require more time
TO harmomise the Republicans. However.
it is scarcely probable that the Election bill
PASS, even though il shall receive the en-
dorsemcnt Of the caucus. There are enough
Republican Senators opposed to the bill to
defeat if on a square vote.
PRACTICAL DHhEAl AQR Malone.
The practical result Of the action Of the
Virginia Republican Committee yesterday
was defeat for Malone. lie wanted to re-
tain his arbitrary power and TO con.
troll the Congressional conventions and
lheir action, but the opposition was
too sffong. ..e representatives OF
nearly all tire districts contended
for local or home rule, for the right of the
republicans of the district to determine as
TO he .coarse d. be plgsnea and 70 make
their own selection 0f candidates, IL Is
freely admitted to-day that Malone has lost
his hold upon the Republican machine OF
Virg,ciia. His successive defeats have de-
.t.oyed his prestige, and ne can no ,onsS.
diclatG. Il Il az open question as 10
whether MahGne can retain tGe isepublinan
chairmanship Of Virginia even, II he gives
his followers a lair chance 10 make
choice.
THE sUSDRY CIVIL BILL.
rttt.. o;xi apnroprtafinu hill was