Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-27
Washington Items Of Interest.

lBy telegraph 10 tne Dl3pitcn.l
WASHINGTON, February 26.-The Trea-
sury to-day completed. the quota OF silver pur-
chases for the month. No moro will be pur-
chased until Wednesday, March Cd.
The President to-day nominated Homer
c. Powers TO be collector VI internal revenue for
the louisiana district.
The Secretary of the Navy has made the
seventh payment OF S57, 300 10 the Richmond
Locomotives and Machine-Works on account OF
machinery for the United States steamer Texas.
The first House evening session (beld
to-night for the consideration OF private PEN
sion bills was not a success. When Mr.. Richard
son, Of Tennessee, took the chair there were not
two dozen members present, ana upon the nrst
measure called up Mr. Kigore, OF Texas, as
sumed his old role and raised the point OF no
quorum As a call disclosed the fact that there
were but 81 members In attendance, the House
adjourned.
The investigation into the workings of
the Pension Bureau was begun to-day by the
special House committee appointed at tue in-
stance Of Messrs. Enloe and Cooper CIndiansl.
Secretary Noble was bsfore the committee. His
testimony was a recapituatlon OF the familiar
story about the forced resignation OF Hreen Is.
Raum, Jr, from the bureau, ana OF tne re-
rating scandal that developed In the Pension o.
fce during Commissioner Tanners incambency.
On FeLruary Is, 1850, the Republican
CoIgress called up the ecOnte5iet-slectioD case OF
Atkinson against PendletOn from the FIRST DIS
frict OF West Virginia, and upon the following
day Mr.. Pendleton was ousIed lrOm his seat anu
Mr. Atkinson was duly installed as a member OF
the House. To-day, while tho House was con-
sidering the Pennsylvania contested-electon
case Of Craig a.. Stewart, Nr. Pendieton was
called 10 the chair and welded the sayel during
the discussion. Two years ago Mr.. Pendleton
WAS taking leave Of his colleagues; to-day be
was presiding over their deliberations
The wool bill will be the first OF the
tariff bills to be taken up in tho House. ;he
members Of the Ways and Means Committee
reaching this conclusion to-day aier short
conference The second bill TO be considered
viii probably be the Bryan bill making binding
twinc free, and the third tho cotton-bagging
bill. IL is likely that there will be more or less
general discussion OF the 8hols tGnu question
In the Confederation OF the wool bill, which,
II is expected, will occupy about tnree weeks.
The Democratic majority OF the committee held
another conference during the day, at wnicn
they talked over the subject OF getting more
separate bills ready while attacking In the
House the Mckinley law with the three bills
already agreed upon. Tin-plate was the item OF
consideration. No conclusion was reached, but
the s3nliment expressed was, cn tae whole, "a
yorable 10 nee tin-plhte-
In the Senate today Mr. Claggett, of
Idaho, took tae fioo- under the resolution OF yes
terday awarding him two hoirs to speak In sup
port OF his contest for the seat now occupied Dy
Mr. Dubois. Mr.. Claggett was frequently Inter
rupted BY questions from Mr.. Mitchell. 20 which
he replied in a manner that seemed TO justify
his own position. So much OF his time was occu-
pied Ia listening 10 and replying 10 these ques-
lions that the limit Of time was. on motion OF
Mr. Vance, Withdrawn, and he was permitted 70
speak without any time limitation. HIS argu-
nient appeared 10 interest senators very much
and they listened TO 1t ION both sides OF the
chamber) with very close attention. There was
also large audience In the galleries 70 listen 20
the speach Mr.. Claggett created general laugh
ter When he wound up description OF Mr.. Dn-
bolss election tactics by saying that, TO use O
western phrase, the sitting member was bound
two hours. but without finishing his speech, Mr..
Ciaggctt yielded the fioor ana the Idaho case
went over without action.