Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-22
District Affairs fin Congress.

therefor, and the following bills will be re-
ported favorably for the action of the House
THR BLIND.
Mr.. Pelham will introduce the bill to provide
for the better education of the INDECENT blind in
the District of Columbia, which sets forth in
the preamble that the Secretary of the Interior
is authorized by law to educate the INDECENT
blind of the District of Columbia in some state
institutiC for the blind, and the legislature of
the District eff Columbia has authorized the
establishing of a school for the blind in the Dis
trict, under the title of the Columbia IDstitu-
ton for the Blind; and enacts that the Secre-
tary OF the Interior be authorized at his discre-
ton, to cause all the blind who are now, who
may hereafter become entitled under the act OF
Congress approved February 23d, 1866, under
the act entitled IAN act to incorporate the
Columbia Institution for the Instruction of the
Deaf, Dumb and Blind" approved February
| 10th, 1SjI, hereafter to be instructed in the
Columbia Institution tor the Instruction of the
Blind, at a cost not greater for each pupil than
Is, or may for the time being be, required TO be
paid by other pupils in the said Columbia Insti-
| tuition for the Blind the same to be paid out of
the Treasury of the United st ,tes.
THE WASHINGTON AND POINT LOOKOUT RAIL
ROAD.
The bill authorizing the Washington and
| Point Lookout Railroad Company to extend its
road into the District was ordered to be report
| ed by Mr.. Rice. The bill as amended provides,
| in substance, as iollows:-That said company
| may construct their road within the limits of
the city by the following route: Beginning at a
point on the line of said railroad east OF the
Eastern branch of the Potomac river; thence
| TO the Eastern branch, and crossing the same
by suitable bridge and causeway, so as not to
| obstruct navig ation-provided that no such
| bridge or causeway shall be constructed in
whole or in part, except upon the written ap-
prevail OF the Secretary of the Navy, upon
plans and specifications submitted to him-en-
tering the city of Washington south of o street
south, and east of James creek; thence to,
along and across James creek at or near its in
| tersection with o street south; thence in a
westerly direction to point near the southern
near the bank OF the Potomac river to the
| southern terminus of 18th street southwest;
thence westerly, south of the public grounds, to
| the southern terminus of 18th street southwest;
| thence northwestwardly, south Of the pub
lie grounds, to some point at or near
the bank of the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal; thence along or near said bank at such a
distance from the Naval Obser vatory as not TO
disturb the operations there conducted to the
| Junction OF Rock creek with the Potomac river;
thence westwardly or northwestwardly, nv the
most eligible route, TO the northern terminus of
the aquedUct bridge, in the city of Georgetown;
| thence 10 the northwestern boundary between
| the District of Columbia and the state of
Maryland; with authority to construct bridge
across the Potomac river above navigation,
provided that no part of said road above pro-
vided for through the District of Columbia west
OF the Eastern branch, including the bridge
across the Potomac river above-named, shall
be constructed, except upon specific location
within provisions of this act, to be approved by
the Secretary of War and upon plans nd speci-
tications also to be approved by him; and the
said Washington City and Point Lookout rail-
road within the District of Columbia outside
OF the limits of the cityof Washington. from its
road, to suitable points on the branches of the
Baltimore and OHIO railroad. A third section
Is also added 10 the original bill, which provides
that this act may be modified, amended or re-
pealed at any time.
STREET RAILROADS.
A difference of opinion existing as to whether
the general incorporation act of 1870 for the
District OF Columbia applies its provisions to
street passenger railroads, the sub committee
on railroads of the District committee heard
arguments on that subject to- day from General
Mussey and MIR. Chandler, of Virginia. Should
the committee conclude that the provisions OF
the general act apply thereto, no more street
railroads will be chartered, but they will organ
ize under the Incorporation act, and obtain the
assent Of Congress for the location of the routes
and teImini.
PERSONAL Chief ustice Morrison r. Waite.
VIM. M. Evarts and Edward Plerrepont were
classmates at Yale.
FROM FOREIGN PARTs.-Two hundred dol
lars conscience money was received at the
Treasury to-day from Newark, New jersey.
Gov. PINCHBACK is still hopeful of securing
seat in the Senate, and expresses a desire to
have any charges which may have been lodged
against him fully Investigated by the Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections.
CONSUL TO BEIRUT.-The President has ten
dered the appointment of consul to Beirut to
Col. George s. Fisher, of Augusta, Ca, and
that gentleman has signifed his Willingness 10
accept the position.
A DELEGATION OF DIsTILLRRs appeared
with the Commissioner of Internal Revenue be-
fore the Com mittee of Ways and Means to -day
to urge their claims in relation to exports OF al
cohol. They asked that their bonds be so ar
ranged that spirits in transtu to the seaboard,
IN tonds for export, shall be relieved from tax
II destroyed by fire or smashup without the
owners fault; that the port of destination may
De named in the bond "for ORDERS" and that
the consuPs certificate at the foreign landing
port shall cancel the bond. They also urge the
REDUCTION OF the export stamp from % to 10
cents per barrel.
TIE BILL TO REGULATE RAILRoADs.-The
bill reported by the Committee on RAILWAYS
and Canals to the House of Representatives on
tuesday, to regulate commerce by railroads
among the several states, provides for q rsgula-
ton Of passenger and freight charges through a
commission OF nine members, to be appointed
py the President and Senate, to hold Office for
TWO, four and six years; salary 81 900 and tray-
cling expenses. Accompanying the bill is an
eiaborate report, entering at great length into
the question OF constitutionality. Basing their
s aIsoIpent on section article l. of the consti-
regulate commerce with foreign nations and
among the several states, and with the Indian
tribes the committee claim to establish the
proPOsluons THAT the commerce amopg the
several states which may be regulated by Con-
gress includes commerce carried from state to
sto'o ny iailroaus ana tnat To regulate the
charges for carrying freight or passengers upon
inter state railroads, as to limit them to what
is falr and reasonable aud prevent extvrtion, is
legitimate exercise of the power to regulate
such commerce."
INDEFINITE TREASURY APPRoPGIATIoNs.-
Secretary Richardson and Mr.. Conant, chief of
the warrant division of the Treasury depart
meht, were before the House Committee on
Appropriations this morning, explaining GER
tam estimates. 1t appears that from year to
year congress apprOpriates money for the
treasury department., which is not classed
under any specific appropriation head, and is
expended at the pleasure of the secretary. The
committee desired MIR. Richardson to present
his reasons why he could not make estimates
sufnclent TO cover every expenditure, 50 as to
relieve them from continuing an appropriation
OF the kind al luded to. Secretary Richardson
SAID 1t was impossible for him to estimate lust
what the expenses Of the treasury would be.
AND cited as an instance that 1t often became
his duty to employ skilled experts In the bureau
OF engraving on temporary duty. OF course the
length OF their services depended altogether
on the occasion requiring them. He held that
70 deprive secretary OF this detinite or con-
ur gent appropriation would only tend to en-
bsIrass the operations of the government.