Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-05-25
FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
SATURDAY, May 25.

c,odh-[oon men ana TO place their names on
the DoOrkeepers' roll, and it was passed.
Mr. Sargent offered a resolution, which was
agreed TO, directing the judiciary committee
70 inquire into the expediency of limiting the
jurisdiction OF the U. s. courts so as to dimin-
lsh the pressure of business therein.
THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT BILL.
s;d. a, i;lS p: m. the Senate resumed the con-
slderatlon OF the bill to provide form of gov
unnDlShed business of yesterday.
The pending amendment, providing that
proposals Tor CONTRACTS shall be invited, when
the amount is over $1,000, by advertisement in
a newspaper in Washington, aud whel the
amount is over $500, in a paper in each
Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and
New YORK. was agreed to.
MI Morrill, moved to reconsider the vote
by which the amendment proposed by Burn
Slde making the maximum price to be paid
for payements s.. was rejected. He said he
substantial pavement could be laid for So.
Mr.. Bayard said he had since the Senate
Iast met driven over the pavement on F street,
quainted with the subject of pavements had
made inquiries of the business men there and
mad been told the pavement was perfectly sat
isfactOry. He had stated yesterday that the
pavement was guaranteed fol. ten years. 1t
was but for five; so far he was in error The
cost of this pavement was $l.75 per yard, and
it was laid in October last.
After further debate the section was amend
ed, making the total cost of pavements not to
exceed ~ per square yard, instead OF s. per
square yard.
Mr.. Edmunds moved an amendment in rela.
tlon to the bonds of contractors. His amend
ment provided that contractors shall give
bond to the United States in 2 nenal sum not
less than double the amount of the contract.
Mr.. EdmundS said that contracts were made
not many years since for laying over million
dollars worth of pavements. Soon after, those
paVementS had to be torn up, and the amount
expended was lost. His amendment is in
tended to prevent any frauds on the part of
contractors.
Mi. Thurman said that if too large a bond is
limited.
MIR. Edmunds, at Mr.. Thurman's sugges-
ton, modified his amendment SO that contIac-
tors must give bonds equal to the amount of
their contracts.
to othe fact that the bill is Unjust in one partic-
ular. 1t proposes to tax the people of the Dis
trlct to continue the local improvements,
whereas in many cases large special assess,
ments have been already paid by individuals
for works that are not yet furnished.
MI Dorsey moved an amendment after the
the word direct in section T. line A., as fol
lows: The owners of private property lying
pay One-third of the expenses thereof in pro
portion to their frontage thereon, excluding
the proportion to be paid by street railroad
companies.
Mr.. Bayard called attention to the fact that
many houses in the city have frontage on two
streets of the city.
it better for the L. S. government to pay one
half of the expense of relaying old pavements
and the District government at large to pay
the balance, except in new streets. Mr. Dor
oey withdrew his amendment.
The provision OF the bill in relation to the
laying of cobble or Belgian block pavements
for paving the tracks of the street car com
ers authority to specify the Kind of cobbie or
Belgian block to be used in paving by the
railway companies: The section was still fur
ther amended, giving the District Commits
sioners power to lay .pavements for the protec
ton to the tracks of the railroad and cause
the companies to pay for the same. The Sec
tion as amended was adopted.
egate from the District to Congress, was next
considered.
Mr. Edmunds moved to strike out the section
entirely. He believed there is no necessity for
a District delegate in Congress. There IS no
necessity to put the District and the govern
ment to the expense of $25, 600 every two years
to select Congressional delegate.
MI ingalls, told the Senate that he thought
it not best to recognize the House provision of
the bill creating council. At the same time
the committee was of the opinion that the right
in some manner, and the election of dele
gate to Congress was the least Objectionable
form OF suffrage. He believed that the people
would be better satisfied and cOntented by
Besides, the presence of such delegate
would relieve members of both the District
committees of great deal of trouble.
Mr.: Edmunds said that the experiment Of a
been tried. 1t is an ornamental position. On
this Over-taXed community it is wrong to i'm.
pose the slightest tax that is not absolutely
The ayes and noes were taken on the motion
to strike out the section. The motion was
agreed to.,ayes 40, noes 9, as follows:
Baysrd Beck Bince % BuTnsias. csfistianeyy.. ti1ey.
CockTell, Coke. Corover, Davis Ql!.), Eaton, Ed
Donald, Mcmillan. Ma1ey. Mefrimon Morgan,
Teer wsasgh wknsG
Window and Withers-4O.
~, Dorsey, Hamn Hsar Howe
Mr.. Dorsey moved to strike out section Z, in
relation TO the qualification of voters. The
motion was agreed to.
Section s, abOlishing the boards of police
and school trustees, was next taken up, and
beyond few verbal changes, it was passed
without amendment.
Section 9, abolishing the offices of sinking
fund commissioners, was passed without
amendment.
Section 10, in relation to the powers of the
board of health, was next considered. Mr..
Edmunds moved to strike out the words 'shal'
be continued" and to insert thereby is abOl-
ished," which was being discussed as our re-
THE bill, as amended by the Senate, will
undoubtedly be passed this afternoOn.l
HOUSE.-Speaker Randall having returned
presided over lhe House to-dry.
On motion of Mr.. Hartridge, a resolution
was adopted directing the committee on post
offices to report the best methods of prevent
Ing frauds on the postal revenues.
Mr. GOOde, from committee on education
and labor, reported back the bill to apply the
proceeds OF sales of public lands to the educa-
tlOn OF the people, and it was referred to the
committee of the whole House.
On motion of Mr.. Foster, the House agreed
to the conference asked for by the Senate on
the Dill TO carry into effect the bill for the com
pletiOn of the Washington monument, and
MesSrs: roster, Clymer and GOOde were ap-
pointed the conferees.
MI. Vance. from committee on coinage. re-
pointed bl authorizing the Secretary of the
Treasury TO constitute Superintendents of
mints and OF assay offices, assistant treaSurerS
OF the United States to receive bullion
Passed.
The House then went into committee of the
whole on the army appropriation bill, Mr.
Springer i'll the chair.
A BALD-FACED LEA telegram from Ashe.
vile, n. c., reports that the story published in
the Pioneer stating that Bald mountain had
been rent aSunder, is fabricatiOn--a lie out
of whole mountain.
RUSSIA BUYING AMERICAN GUNS-The
Russian government, through it's agent, Can't,
Grippenburg, has opened negotiations with
the South Boston Iron Company for the manu-
facture OF heavy ordnance, and a special
price list, with full particulars as to the
cdpacity of the works as at present run or