Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-07
MISREPRESENTATION CASE.
Its Hearing Postponed-ObJect" W
Retrosction in Medicine Tax

WASHINGTON, D. c., May 6.-Osp"'
cial)-General James A. walker. having
been unable to call up the Browne-s"dh-
son contest. on account OF more pressing
business before the House, 1t may not
now be heard for couple or weeks
General Walker left for his nome az
Wytheviue. yesterday and will go from
there to Abingdon, where he has some
legal business in the United States Court
now in session there. Judge PAU pre-
siding When General Walker returns
here he will leave Immediately for Bur
falo n. Y. where he is booked 10 deliver
an address before a Grand Army post
This will further delay the hearing De-
fore the House Of the Browne swanson
contest. and may postpone IL indefinitely
Mr.. Swanson feels confident OF retaining
his seat on account of having a ma
jorlty report from the Elections COM
mittee in his favor Mr.. Browne, VINO
has been here constantly since the com
mencement OF the session, feels equally
certain of being seated, whenever the
contest can be heard by the House. lie
claims that very few Republicans Will
be absent when the vote is taken.
TAX on MEDICINES.
Mr.. r. W. Powers. of Richmond, Is
here opposing the retroactive feature OF
the proposed tax on proprietary and
patent medicines. He does not object 10
the imposition of a tax 10 raise war
revenue. but he merely objects 10 a tax
on the stock on hand All the wholesale
druggists OF the country entertain views
similar TO those Of Mr.. Powers's.
TRAVEL TO KLONDIKE.
Consul Abraham +. Smith, writing from
Victoria, b. c., April 9Th, says:
There has been a decided change in the
volume of travel north since my report
OF February Is 1898. Then II was largely
in excess OF the estimates; but the rush
eliminated about March LIST, ana since
then has decreased TO one-tourth OF the
travel during February. The diincuity
experienced at that time to secure trans
portation for the Drospectors has changed
so that now IL is a problem Tor the va
rious steamers, even at reduced rates 10
secure sufficient patronage 10 defray eK-
penses Instead OF adding 10 the large
fleet then engaged IN the trade between
Puget Sound and Victoria and the dl1e-
rent Alaskan gateways 10 the klondlke
region. several vessels have been with
drawn from the service, and are now
lying idle al serious loss 10 the owners
and lessons. The vast crowds during
January and February caused several yes
sells 20 be leased al rates varying from
500 10 $50 per day for the season; but
since March LIST several OF these have
been Withdrawn, the lessees finding II
less disastrous 70 let them lie idle than
to run them with scarcely enough pas
sengers and freight 10 pay Tor the coal
consumed.
The demand for miners licenses at the
custom-h house In Victoria has dropped
from an average OF 20 per day some
~ 70
rage OF less than 50 per day. The same
great falling on is shown az all the
points where licenses can be obtained.
The correspondence at this consulate
in regard 10 the Klondike has almost en-
tirely fallen OFF. and the callers here OF
Americans on their way 10 the Yukon. de-
string information or assistance have
also dropped TO very small number.
Several transportation companies have
been compelled TO Temporarily suspend
business. having suffered serious losses.
The defeat OF the proposed Stikine -Tes-
lin railway subsidy bill In the Canadian
Senate Is regarded here as an abandon
ment OF the proposed railroad 70. this
year. and the provlnelal government mas
determined 10 Immediately build wagon
road along the same route. A large party
of men are already al work, and Will
| AT once corduroy ali the swamps between
Glenora and Teslin Lake. IL is expected
| that this road VIII be completed and
| ready FOR travel by June LIST.
liz is believed there are at least 5000
people at Copper River. and as many
| along the Stikine river beyond Wrangell.
| while double that number are choking the
| passes beyond Dyea and Skagway. many
| of The latter suffering great hardsnlps.
| Only to-day the news has been received
| here OF a snowslide az Sleeps Camp. be-
| yond Dysa. which resulted In great loss
| OF life, almost entirely OF American citi-
| gems who recently left the United States
| for the gold-helds.
| PERSONAL
Colonel Andrew Jackson, grandson
OF Old Hickory, who was appointed