Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-19
THE SEED MATTER.
How Government Distribution and EX-
change Have Benefited Virginia.
ANOTHER BLUE-GRAY INCIDENT.
Congressman Otey, Ex-Confederate,
Champions the Right of Former
EedernI Soldier to n Pension-Prc-
seryation of jamestown.


the Whole. had under consideration this
morning the agricultural appropriation
bill. and Secretary Morton was severely
criticised by members of all parties Tor
his evasion of that section OF the law re-
quiring the purchase and distribution OIL
seeds. Among those who spoke on the
subject was Representative Swanson, OF
the Fifth Virginia District. He desired
that the law be so amended as to COM
pei the Secretary Of Agriculture 10 ao-
vertise for and purchase the best SEEDS
TO be had, and to distribute them through
out all sections of the country. lie
knew that in his own district great oehe-
fit had resulted to the farmers from
this seed distribution. They had been
sent Missouri seed-wheat, and 1t had
yielded wonderfully in all of Southwest
Virginia, and the interchange of other
seed had been equally satisfactory. He
had no doubt that other sections OF the
country had realized the advantages OF
the seed distribution, and the law, he
hoped, would be so framed that no Sec
retary could again ignore any Of its pro-
visions.
Representative p. j. Otey. soon after
the meeting OF the House, asked and OBJ
tanned unanimous consent for the conside-
ration of a bill for the relief OF Forrest
Taylor a former soldier of the Thirty
fourth New Jersey Regiment. The bill
provided for the payment of a pension TO
this ex-soldier.
Mr.. Otey made statement to the
effect that this man had been dismissed
after serving three years during the
war; that. by an order of the Presidents
he had been reinstated and his name
placed on the pension list, out that his
name had recently been stricken from
the list by the Secretary of the Interior.
At this point a member arose and
asked II the bill had been reported upon,
and Major Otey replied that 1T had been
unanimously reported favoTably by the
Committee on Pensions. This member
then moved that the bill 90 over until
Friday night. which Is usually devoted
10 the consideration Of pensions. This
brought Major Otey again TO his feet.
and he made a strong appeal in favor OF
his bill. which had the effect of removing
all opposition. and without any further
debate the bill was passed.
The unexplained feature of the matter
was how Major Otey. an ex-Confede-
rate battle-scarred officer, became so
much interested in an ex-Federai soldier
from New Jersey as to make fight to
secure for him a pension. The supposi-
ton is that the ex-sodier is now consti-
trent of Mr.. Otey's.
RATHER STRANGE.
Isn't II rather strange that the bill
of Senator Hill, Of New York, repeating
the act providing that mo person who
held commission in the army or navy
Of the United States before the war, and
afterwards served in any capacity in
the Confederate army or navy, shall be
appointed to any position in the army or
navy Of the United States" and which
was reported to the House and referred.
has never been heard Of since? There it
has lain in committee, forgotten, and with
nobody who takes interest enough in 1t
to call It up. Senator Hill called il, when
he Offered IL In the Senate, "A Christmas
present to ex-Confederate soldiers" and
II was unanimously passed by the Senate
during the Venezuelan war furor then
prevailing. 1t came right over TO the
House, was referred to the Committee on
Military Affairs, and there 1t remains.
What is the matter with our ex-Confede-
rates who are representatives In Con-
gress, and what Is the matter with
Representatives Tyler, of Virginia, and
Lockhart of North Carolina VINO are
members OF the Military Committee?
Representative Tyler has secured a
favorable report by the Committee on
Military Affairs on the bill which he intro
duced January 2lst to authorize the ad-
mission into national soldiers homes OF
veterans of the nd Of Ia
Mexican war. who subsequently entered
the service Of the Confederate States, and
who may now be disabled. The bill will
be reported to the House at an early day,
and will doubtless be unanimously passed
TO RESCUE JAMESTOWN.
Mrs. W. w. Henry and Mrs. J. Lyons
OF Richmond. are registered at the Ebbitt
House, and Mrs. George Hatley Newton.
OF Norfolk, is at the Shoreham. to attend
the congress of Daughters OF the Ameri-
can Revolution. An important matter to
be brought TO the attention Of Congress
is the preservation Of historic jamestown.
The Old Dominion Chapter. OF which Mrs.
Barton Haxall Wise, of Richmond Is re-
gent, has already decided to ask the aid
OF the daughters in preserving this
famous and sacred spot I'm American his
tory. IL Will be remembered that the
Federal Congress made one appropriation
for the preservation OF jamestown of
$4,000. This proved insufficient, and Mrs.
Wise and her associates from Richmond
say that If an appropriation from the
National Council is not secured the James
river Will soon wash away what is left
OF jamestown and the Island on which
1t is situated. Many Of the delegates
have already been enlisted In the cause.
which the Old Dominion Chapter is so
much interested In. and there are great
hopes that the needed appropriation will
be secured.
POSTAL.
A presidential post-ofIice still held by
the Republican incumbent is that OF
FRANKLIN. southampton county, whose
term expires April lst next. For this
position there are Numerous applicants.
and Representative Tyler has his hands
full examining papers and weighing re-
concentrations and endorsements.
Star service has been established in
North Carolina as follows:
Winston, by Pfafftown, Vienna, Blake
ley. Mana, Shore, Eastbend. Poindexter,
and Richmond Hill. TO Rockford, 473
miles and back; six times a week. by a
schedule OF not to exceed twelve hours
time each way. From July ],
1896, to June 30. 1900.
Dobson, by Cody Copeland. and Stony
knoll. TO Rockford, fifteen miles, and
back; six times a week. by a schedule of
not to exceed five hours running time
each way. From July /, 1886, to June
30. 1900.
Star-service change has been made In
Virginia as follows: Orebank to Diana
Mills. Modify order OF February 9. 1896
bulletin 1850. so as 20 state an increase
In distance OF oil miles by the change OF
site of Orebank.
ARRIVALS