The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-01-17
A DESPERATE STRUGGLE.
FIGHT TO A FINISH OVER THE
BAYONET BILL.
All Might Session of the Senste-Pbysics1
Test of Endurance Between Democrats
and Reyolutionists-Hoar Dies Hard
Congregational and Capital Notes.

iest OF Enuurance between DehoSt"'
and Reyolutionists-Boar Dies Hard
Congregational and Capital Notes.
| WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. l6.- Special.
The Force bill commanded attention in th'
Senate to-day, but only from small pro
portion OF the Senators. For good portion
of the day not more than half dozen Sena
tors were In the chamber at any one time
II was extremely difficult to obtain any in
formation as to the plans Of the Republic
cans. Indeed, they did not seem TO have
any concerted plans. senator HOar said the
| Force bill must be passed, and that II a
continuous session would not accomplish
1t, cloture would be adopted at once. Sena-
| tor Aldrich. on the contrary, says that II
anything lew or late has been decided with
regard TO clOtuTe he is not advised OF II. ana
he has charge of the matter. Meantime,
the Democrats are watching every step,
and are prepared to meet any movement of
the enemy. There is no doubt as to feel
ing Of apprehension among the Republicans
with regard To the negro vote in Northern
States. Without that vote Republican
hopes in Indiana, New York, Ohio aud
other close Northern States are scarcely
worth serious COusiueEdtlOu.
REED AND THE SILVER BILL.
About fifteen minutes before the House
was called to order to-day. Speaker Reed
sauntered into the hall with an air cool and
calm. In reply 10 "A question from TIE
TnIEs correspondent, be said most emphati-
caly that he would not seek to inierpOse
any obstacle 10 fair and full consideration
of the Free Silver bill lie said he
was opposed TO free silver, and would glad
ly see it defeated. but it was matter for
the House TO determine. and so far as he is
concerned that decision will he binding
Speaker Reed added that all reports or eX-
pressiOns puTpOrting tO emanate from him
TO the effect tnat he would exert his iuflu-
ence 10 suppress the bill in committee or to
prevent free action By the House were fab
fications. This positive declaration of the
Speaker confirms previous dispatches to
THE TIMES to the effect that he IL not dis
posed to burn his finger pulling chestnuts
out of the fire for President Harrison.
TANGIER HARBoR, VIRGINIA.
The Secretary Of War to-day transmitted
to Congress n report from the engineer corps
giving results OF preliminary survey OF
rangier HarbOr, Virginia, as ordered by The
last River and HarbOr bill. The report Is
by Major Smith, who holds that the harbor
is not worthy Of improvement, for reasons
as follows:
Tangier lIarbOr is a natural cove or in
dentatiOn in the shore on the east side and
near the southern extremity Of Tangier
Island This island is the most sOutherly Of
a chain of islands in Tie Chesapeake Bay
which extend in an almost due sOutherll
direction from Bishops Head Point. IN Tor
chester county. Mary land, and which FORM
the dividing lire between Iangier sound
and the main channel Of the bay. Ihnglel
Island is in the State Of Virginia and IS a
low alluyial formation. not more than two
feet above high water, through which in
Vulnerable small channels and drains run
in every direction. The island Is o.
triangular shape, with the greatest width
about two miles at the apex. me west
shore forming the lpns side OF tn rnngle.
Its area may be about three squa.e miles,
From the southern point extends long and
very narrow hook lu south Nestefiy direc-
ton. which finally feiarn1 upon Itself ana
thus forms natural haFDOr, sheltered
from the north around by west 10 south.
This harbOr is also known as God ildrDor.
IL is an excellent harb0r VI lCldgv Iur stei
and fishing boats plying upon Iangic'
sound with good hCling ground for an
chOrs, aud an average depth OF watei
Of ten feet. The island is inhabited
by about eight h indred people, who liz,
principally bv fishing and Oysterlng.
A very small area Of the island Ii
ft for cultivation, the main portion being
marsh. Ther, is a school-hOuse. a church.
and six stores. 1T an old wharf, erected
for a fish factory fourteen years ago, ab0ui
The centre OF the harblr, The boats OF tht
Eastern Shore Steamboat Company land
twice per week. en- route between Baltl-
more and Snow Hill. Ihe people want
clearance seven feet deep and one hundred
feet wide dredged flOm the centre OF the
harbOr to the shore, 10 give them better
facilities for landing. The present landing.
az the isolated pier mentioned. Is nearli
halt a mile from the shOre, and Is dilhcult
0f access in rough weather The proposed
cut would obNiate this difficulty, and would
locate the landing nearer the centre OF the
island.
There can be no doubt" continues Major
smiths report, "of the great convenience
that would accrue to the inhabitants bl
such an arrangement, but there is at pres
ent no commerce except that absolutely
necessary to supply the necessaries OF life,
and no increase Is possible under any cir
cumstances.v Aside from this. II Is doubt
iul even if the improvements, though made,
would be OF lasting heneht 10 the commu-
nifty. The cut certainly would not be a per-
manent one,
Colonel CrMghil and the War Depart.
ment approve the report.
HARRY TUCKER HAPPY.
Representative Tucker is one Of the hap
piest members of Congress tonight. The
DILL for the er1ctiOnsof public building al
>tauntOn, which passed the senate recently,
has been signed by the Speaker and Will go
10 the President tomorrow. Speaker Reed
fgI 10
able methods To- prevent the passage Of this
bill. When Tucker bad got IL up ard
everything was ready Tor a vote, Reed de-
ciared that motion 70 adjourn had
interpOsed and that il took precedence.
Fucker and the House were astOunded.
As no such motion had been made, Tucker
and a dozen other Democrats protested, and
Reed said that McCOmas, who had charge
OF the District Appropriation bill, when
was the regular order, had moved u al
iOurn. McCOmas, with the mablinevs that
mas made him many friends. protested that
he had not moved 10 adjourn. Reed, stu
determined to defeat Tucker, then said OBJ
lection had been made to the StauntOn bill.
and, deliberately pausing, glanced oveT The
Republican side, as much as saying: Il
want some person 10 object" Kerr, OF Iowa
objected. but was induced TO withdraw II,
and the bill passed. IL is believed the Pres
dent will approve 1t.
THE FORCE BILL BLOCKADE.
Representative McCOmas, who has cbarg,
Of the District Appropriation bill, said to
your correspondent tonight he was satisfied
that no progress could be made with thai
or any other appropriation bill until the
Force bill shall maze been finally disposed
Of. He said: IL believe the Democrats are
determined to block all business in both
houses until the Force bin is got rid Of"
He added that, so Tar as his Information
went, there was no chance Of either passing
or defeating the Force bill in less than MS
or SIX days.
To EQUALIZE STANDARDS OF rIaiE.
4 bill 10 eaualize standards OF time in the
United States was introduced IN soc senate
today by Mr.. Evarts. The bill provides
that time throughout the United states s0aii
be reckoned in sceordauce with the hour
meridian system, cOmmaniy called STANDARD
time, the prime meridian 70 re the initiai
=. . ft..r ftruo = pFok l1i