Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-06-22
WASHINGTON wEVs AND GOSSIP


irsat Falls Manufacturing Company lain to
obstrnct the construction Of the Water Works,
until the Government shall consent to pay
hem $4,000, We republish letter appearing
In the Star On the 5th inst, from the pen OF
gentlemen whom We regard as better informed
q the matter of titles to lands In Inc county Oh
Fairfax, Va. than any other man IN the state
The writer. ~ may also add, Is thoroughly
versed in tho history of the legislation of Viz
i,,. nth reference to this assumed compa-
n.y. -.=----=s--a---.--s---.-.
"Tbe Star of the 9Th u,timo has this mo-
nent been placed in my hands, and my atten-
ion called to the article headed, The defea,
Il the water works appropTiat in which
Nr. Hall Nelson, president of Great Falls
Manufacturing Company" says that the,
are propriet'rs of the land in Mary and anu
Virginia on achieA atoAs- can ne coasfrrctet
he dom at the Great Falls Of Potomac TO,
IMPLYING the city of Washington n ith water
Now, The abutment for the dam on the Virginia
hore does not touch the land of Mr.. Nelson.
Tut 10 upon that f Mrs Green, from whom
SIX acres of land lbave been purchased by the
United States 1t is true the dam will CLOS
IN island in the Potomac and touch the land
f Mr.. Nelson on the Maryland side Of the
Potomac; but az you remark. the Legislature
If Maryland have duly authoriz the United
states 10 cause to be condemned all the land
on the Maryland side required for he improve
Dent
At the last session Of the Virginia Legisia-
ure, an act was passed az follows: BE il
nacted by the Genera A. sembly of Virginia.
That the consent of this State be, and is here.
~ given to the United States to purchase land
necessary for an abu'ment and quarries for
The copssr uction of dam across the Potomac
river. above the Great Falls. not exceeding
Ten acres, and to exercise, concurren,ly with
The State of Virginia, such jdrisdic ion over
The same as may be necessary; Provided.
however, that nothing in this act shall be so
construed as to Affect, in any manner, the
rights of any individuals or ipco' por.ted com
)anies within the limi's Of this State" Here
i. the authority by the State of Virginia
purchase land-that has been done. and
Nowhere on the Virginia shore, or within her
jurisdiction, has one foot of land belonging t.
dr Nelson, or in which he is in any way in.
crested, been touched. The sole question,
hen, is-does it affect their riparian rights
they own the land below that purchased by
the UDi'ed States from Mrs. Green / will NOT
,rgue that point but would like to see this
question answered-If they can sell to the
Omitted States, and authorize it TO direct the
water from irs bed, notwithstanding others be-
ow them have the same right. why may not
he owner Of the shore abore them exercise the
anne right" j..
Official Reportirg.-We have more than
once urged upon Congress the necessity Of
;aking some measures to secure the publica-
ton Of the reports of their proceedings, made
1t the expense of the national treasury, So
hat they will really be what they purport to
be-viz: verbatim accounts of what is said
md done in their halls. The gentlemen EN-
ployed as actual reporters for the publication
made at 80 enormous cost to the treasury Of
he United States. are fully competent to make
notes so as to be able to do that thing. But
under rule Of the House ermittipg them to
10 SO, members are constantly in the habit of
ioins what they call revising their remarks
before they are printed. That is; of altering
amending, expungipg from, or adding to wh t
hey actually utter in the halls Though this
IS almost invariably done only with the inten-
ion Of properly improving what has actually
allen from their lips, it not only frequently
eads to criminal on and rec rimiuation between
L
he Houses to which they belong, but i. en-
:ourages loquacty in the hall to an extent
threatening lif it goes on increasing much
longer and faster to defeat all hope of busi-
ness-.ike legislation, not long hence Thus it
aas already turned Congress into sort Of
grand pamphlet publishing association, at the
expense Of the national treasury.
The verbatim and unal cradle reports of
the London Times are the great check and
sure all upon members of Parliament who are
not able to throw light on subject under con-
liberation. or who are disposed to spout bad
logic and worse grammar in the House of
Commons. The country at large is made to
appreciate truthfully their oratorioal abilities
from the moment they utter their fret sentence
Parliament. That is. they are denied Il Q
opportunity to " DR., S. up their remarks for
5uncombe. 1t is q subject of Wonder with
Americans visiting London, that he numbe,
hose who speak in the Commons Hall is 8
small. We tell the cause Of the fact however
ibove. Gentlemen will hardly venture to mss
N speaking third time, after twice being
presented, oratoricaly, to the public, in any
,ther than an agreeable and enviabe light.
The occurrences in the House hall for the
last three days, should be sufficient to awaken
The members to the necessity for the adoption
# the reform We here suggest.
The Very Latest Kansas and Nebraska
Mares Nest.-It appears from our exchanges,
hat the Benton editors in Missouri have got
IL into their kinkey heads, that by a conspir-
a'y amsng the leaders in Congress on the
Nebraska bill, that measure was 80 framed as
t. deny the right Of presumption to actual set.
tiers in the two new territories We need
hardly assure them that this disability exists
1nly in their own noodles. The Nebraska
KANSAS bill was mea ure framing govern.
nent for the new territories. and Of course
lid no; treat Of the disposition # the public
domain there. Subsequent to its enactment
'"evsr, tho House promptly passed the mea
'ure to regulate the land system there, abso-
utely necessary to carry out the provisions
# the Communicating act az, wi hou,
settlers in the territories of course govern.
nents and laws for them would be useless. In
egulating their publio lands system, the,
have already been regularly erected, tso far
Is the action Of the House il concerned in q