Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-03-03
District Affairs I'm Congress.

tigatiBg Committee, was absent again to-day,
and consequently no meeting of the committee
was held. The accompanying documents for
wsrded by Gov. Shepherd yesterday have not
for, owing to the absence of the chairman of
the committee. Meanwhile they are in the
special charge Of MIR. T. s. Burr, of the Audi
tors Office, assisted by detail of the clerks OF
the District government. Mr.. Burr has been
requested by the Governor to look after these
documents during the investigation, and see
that none of them are lost. 1t should have been
stated yesterday that these vouchers account
for every dollar expended by the Board of Pub
lie Works from the time the new District gov
eminent went in OPP ration up to last Saturday
night-February 2Sth.
This afternoon it was stated that Mr. Boutwell,
was i'll at his residence, on Connecticut avenue,
and that consequently no meeting of the COM
mittee would be had to-day. He appeared in
his seat at half-past two this afternoon. looking
somewhat feeble. No call for a meeting OF the
committee had been issued up to the hour
named.
THE WATER SUPPLY.
Mr.. Robertson submitted a resolution in the
Senate to- day, upon which no action was taken,
directing the Secretary Of War to report to the
Senate, at his earliest convenience, what dan
ger. if any, exists of water famine in this city;
what is the average quantity OF water that
flows over the Great Falls OF the Potomac river
per day, and what is the hight of the same above
tide when the dam from the Virginia to the
Maryland shores is completed; what quantity of
water per day Is necessary to feed the Wash
canal at the Great Falls; what is the size and
dischargiDg capacity per day of the aqueduct
how high is the bank of the distributing
reservoir above tide level; that is, the capacity
and distance OF the same from Great Falls and
the centre of Washington city; how MANY
water mains have been laid from the distribut-
ing reservoirs, their size and discharging caps-
city, in the center of Washington city, and what
proportion of their discharging capacity per
day is consumed at present By the cities OF
Washington and Georgetown.
RAILROAD BILLS.
A bill has been introduced in the House by
Mr.. Archer, of Md, authorizing the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad Company to construct lat
eral branch road from their Washington branch
Ioaa, outside the city OF Washington, to con-
froduce said new branch and said Metropolitan
branch at such point on the northern boundary
OF the city of Washington, and TO locate ard
construct them anew on such route within said
city as may be agreed upon between the said
company and the Board of Public Works o:
the District of Columbia, in a direction from
such point OF entry to their present depot OF
such new depot as NAV be erected by them on
square No. 6lS; provided, that all laws now in
force respecting the location, construction, ami
use Oh thelr existing roads shall apply aud be
IN force as far as applicable to such newly
constructed roads.
He also introduced a bill, which, with the
other, was referred to the District Committee,
authorizing the Baltimore and Ohio railroad to
locate and construct a lateral road within the
District of Columbia, outside the limits of
washington and Georgetown, from any point
on their Washington branch to some point on
their Metropolitan branch, and thence to the
valley of Piney branch and thence along the
san to the valley of Rock creek, and thence
along the valley of Rock creek to the mouth OF
II said creek at the Potomac river at George
town; the said company to exercise the same
power, rights and privileges, and to be subject
TO the same restrictions, in the extension and
construction Of said lateral road and the use
Il ereof, as they may exercise or are subject to
under and by virtue OF an act of Congress en-
titled 90 An act to authorize the extension, con-
structon and use of lateral branch of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad into and within
the District of Columbia"
AN IMPORTANT BILL-Senator West vester
day introduced bill providing that the Court
of Claims shall have sole jurisdiction on all
claims accruing against the United States By
loyal persons for all claims of property DESTROY
60, occupied. used, or taken by the army and
navy OF the United States for the use and in the
service OF the United States. Also, that all per-
sons who have been restored in person or pro-
Ierty after participation in the late rebellion,
by reason OF any amnesty proclamation or per
soDal pardODs of the President, and who re-
sumed their allegiance before the final ending
OF the war, are entitled to the provisions of the
act. Also, that all claims now pending before
end undetermined by the Southern Claims Com
mission, (Which is abolished,) Quartermsster
General, Commissary General, Third Auditor
OF the Treasury, and other executive DEPART
ments, shall be transferred for adjudication to
the Court OF Claims, who, after rendering iudg
ments on the same, are required to report the
same 10 CoLgress for their action thereon,
although either party, the United States or the
claimant, can appeal for a final review to the
supreme Court of the United States in all cases
where the amount in value is over So 200, SO
that when the action of Congress is had upon
the same the full equities and law of each claim
Will be made up for their determination. 1t
PROVIDES that commissioners shall be appointed
In each judicial district by the Court OF Claims.
The commissioners are authorized to summob
witnesses, take testimony, &c.
VERY BRIGHT "STAR."-There is scarce
~ daily paper in the United States that is moi