National Republican., 1878-06-01

DISTRICT IN CONGRESS.
Biii. Introduced In the senate Ycs,ertia.

Bills Introduced ia the senate Yesterday.
Mr.. Mcdonald yesterday reported from the
Judiciary Committee, with an amendment, the
bill to reorganizo the judiciary of the District
Of Columbia, and to expedite the administra.
tion Of justice in the District. Tho amend
ment provides that there shall be appointed
by the President, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, one additional associate
justice of the Supreme Court of the District.
The additional justice shall havo the same
power, authority, aud jurisdiction as now or
hereafter may be exercised by any of the as.
soCiate justices of the said Supreme Court
ahal be entitled to the same salary, payable in
the same manner as the others.
Two of the justices sitting at General Term
shall constitute q quorum for the transaction
Of business but when the two justices shall
be divided in opinion the same shall be noted
upon the minutes of the court, and thcrcupon
and within four days thereafter either party
in such cause may file with the clerk of the
court motion In writing to have such cause
| rcargilcd before three or more justices, but
no justice shall sit in General term TO hear an
appeal from any judgment, or decree or order
which he may have rendered at the special
term.
The General Term Lay order the terms of
the Circuit Court to be held at the same time,
whenever in their judgment the business
| therein shall require 1t. They shall designate
| the time and place of holding the same and
the parties by whom they shall respectively be
held and shall make all necessary orders for
q division of the docket between the justices
holding such terms; petit juriGs shall he
drawn therefor in the same manner rs is p:O.
yided for in such Circuit Court, at least ten
days before the commencement of any such
sitting.
The final Judgment or decree of the Supreme
! Court Of the District in any case where the
matter in dispute. exclusive of costs, exceeds
| the value of 81, 800, may 10 rc-cxsmined and
reversed or affirmed in the Supreme Court Of
| the United States upon writ of error in the
same manner as provided in cases of writs of
error on Judgment appeals from DEGREES rcn-
! dcrcd in Circuit Court.
| All acts or parts of acts inconsistent with
| this act are repealed.
Two other bills on the same subject were re-
ported adversely and indefinitely postponed.
CLAIMS AGAINST TfIE DISTRICT.
A bill to provide for tho settlement Of out
standing claims against the District of Column
bia was introduced in the Senate yesterday by
Mr.. Barnum. The bill is mainly similar to one
| introduced in the House for like purpose.
| This bill, however, provides that in all cases
where claims are made for special damages sus-
! tanned in consequence of improvements or re-
! pairs muNe DN tue lltC lbaru OF luDllC WORKS
| or the District Commissioners the referee or
engineer shall, alter personal inspection, like
/ wise report, in connection with the amount of
such damage, any special benefit caused to the
real property on which damages are claimed,
and such benefit mny be assessed by the court
| to offset damages
ASSESSMENTS A0AlN-r STREET RAILROADS.
| Senator Rollins yesterday introduced a bill
! directing the Commissioners of the District
! of Columbia to enforce the cole CtiOn of asSrss-
ments heretofore made against street railroads
| in the District, and il it shall be iOund that
any of the taxes authorized by thosevcrRl acts
of incorporation Of said companies have not
been levied and assessed for any year since
| July |, ISL, the assrS,Ors shall procecd to
make the proper appriscmont and assess
thereon the taxes, at tho rato prescribed by
law, for each fiscal year for which tho omission
was made.
Section ? provides that in lieu of any Ii.
ccnSe tax upon the personal aud other property
OF strcet-rTilroals tax Of 80 shall br i'm.
posed for each street used by th'ir ears drawn
by two horses, and $50 for each car drawn by
one horse The last section makes 1t the duty
of all strcct.r corporations 0i the District to
| make at least Onco year report to the Dis.
trict Commissioners, setting forth tho rmoIlt
of capital actually paid in. the number OF
shares Of stock issued the gross receipts aud
expenditures, and the amount paid in divi.
dehds or interest for each year; such report
to show the actual financial condition Of the
said companies and the Commissioners shall
transm. copy Of such reports to Congress.
MORE ABOUT sTREET-RNILRoADs
The following is the resolution introduced
by Mr.. Rollins aud adopted by the Senate yes
tcrday:
RcSDrcd. That the proper officers Of the street
railway companies of thu District Of columbia he
and they hereby. directed 10 furnish the Semal,
n sworn statement Of the amount Of their Cupita
stock, the amount of their bonded and floating in
dubc'lmcss the amount of their gross and net eurn
ings aud operating expenses with the dividcnd
paid annually by such respectively since their In
corporation.