Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-04-01
WASHINGTO NEWS AND GOSSIP

HE KANSAS STArE BILL IN THE HOUSE,
Up to the time we went to press to-day no vote
decisive of the Kansas State bill had been
taken. Mr.. Giddingss motion to reject the
bill on the question Of its second reading, was
then being voted down, apparently by a ma
jority OF about thirty, the Republicans and
few nominal Democrats who now ego in with
and for them with tooth and toe nail" only
voting in its favor
This vote was demonstrating the fact that
whenever the House comes to dispose of the
naked question, Shall the Kansas State bill
pass as it came from the Senate, it will pass
the body without question.
Of course this vote against the rejection of
the bill was q mere demonstration of its
strength on the naked issue, when that shall
be made, as it must be ere the close of its con.
sideration.
In the meantime its opponents will of course
strive, by the use Of all expedients in their
power, to prevent the question from being 50
narrowed down as that the direct test vote we
name above, can be had
P. S.-See our Congressional report for later
news.
The Ex-MARsHAL AND Ex-PosrMAsrER-
The Philadelphia Pennsylranian takes occa-
sion to say of the late United States Marshal
for the District of Columbia, as follows:
The President has superseded J. d. Hoover,
the United States Marshal of the District of CO.
lumba, and has appointed Mr.. Selden, a veteran
In Washington circles, in his place Mr. Hoover
was unquestionably most accomplished and
popular officer and 1t will be difficult for his sue
cessor to give the same satisfaction The hosts
citizens MT tai ned AT hiS
hospitable mansion, his ready and generous at
tentions to strangers. his able and courteous de-
pertinent in his office have endeared him to men
Of all parties"
ALI our respected contemporary says of Mr..
Hoover, as an officer of the Government is
well known to be true by all in this community.
lie was appointed to this position when almost
unknown to the public at large, and, in it, he
proved the propriety of his selection for, per-
haps the most important Office in our midst,
winning the confidence and esteem of all in the
District of Columbia, without distinction of
party, by the manner in which he discharged
| its duties.
Col James q. Berrett too, as Postmaster of
Washington, though previously known here
only as Federal Office holder from the ad-
joining State of Maryland, demonstrated by
his remarkable efficiency as business man
entrusted with very heavy responsibilities, that
he Is we'll fitted for the discharge of duties
of vastly more Importance than those from
which he was rotated into the Washington
City Post Office.
No other two gentlemen retire into private
life under the official mutations of the times.
with more of the regard and esteem of those
among whom they have been officially en-
ployed: than the two we name above.
THE Iowa RAILROAD We mentioned on
Monday, the introduction to Congress, by Mr.
Washburne, of Ill, of a resolution providing
for an investigation OF the matter of the con-
struction of railroad from Dubuque to Sioux
| city, with a branch to the mouth of Tote des
| Morris river, by the State of Iowa, to whom
Congress had granted public lands for that pur-
pose.
In the same connection we noticed the recep-
ton by Congress Of communication from the
Interior Department, stating that in the Gen
eral Land Office there is no record Of any certi-
fcation of the grant of lands to the State of
Iowa, nor is the Department advised of the
completion Of any part of tho road or branch
We also observed that Mr.. WIS resolution was
| probably with view to the construction of
the road by some other method than under the
jurisdiction Of the State
We have subsequently learned that in 1856
the State OF Iowa accepted the grant Of land
from Congress on the conditions prescribed,
and has since assigned the same to the Du-
buque and Pacific Railroad Company, in whom
it is asserted, the title to the lands has thus
become vested. Also, that this latter company
has long ago filed in the General Land Office.
the necessary maps of the location Of the road
and branch, that these have been accepted,
and that the company is now constructing the
road in good faith, with view to its compile
ton within the ten years allowed and in ac-
cordance with the grant. Thus it would seem
that the matter has passed beyond the control
OF Congress, unless the conditions Of the act
granting the lands shall not ultimately be COM
piled with, and the result of this investing ton
WILL therefore, amount to nothing.
PATENT LAW REFORM.-The Committee ON
Patents Of the House have reported back the
Patent Law-Reform bill of the Hon. Mr.. TAYLOR
OF n. Y. (Brooklyn,J with amendments lin the
nature Of a substituted which amount to the
enforcement of the attendance of witnesses, the
creation of board Of three chief examiners.
the augmentation of the salary of the chief
commissioner, the power to restore models to
inventors and to dispense with models where
drawings are sufficient, the equalization and
reduction of fees, the regulation and economy
OF printing expenses, the giving of proper notice
to the public when extensions are applied for,
and the modification Of the act of 1912 in regard
to the labelling of patented articles.
One Of their proposed amendments contem-
plates making the decisions of the Commissioner
OF Patents fnal--taking away the right of ap
peal to the District Cou rts of the Initial Sta4.