Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-02
The District in Congress.

The House committee on the District OF Co
lumbia will hold special meeting tonight to
further consider the question Of the repeal OF
the charter of the Washington market COM
pany.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE IN THE DISTRICT
Senator Edmunds to-day reported bill from
the Judiciary committee to extend the juris-
dtction Of justices of the peace in the District
and regulate proceedings before them. It pro-
where the amount does not exceed $50 and the
value OF the property does not exceed 5000, may
be tried before justices, except where the title
to the property is at issue. No appeal shall be
taken in common law cases. except where an
amount exceeding $40 is involved, and where
the amount at issue exceeds 500, both sides to
the case may be entitled to trial by jury.
Hereafter there shall be nc removal OF any
cause from one justice to another and supe-
ror court, to which a case is appealed may re-
quire production of the original papers In all
other respects the regulations are substantially
the same as now exist.
POTOMAC UNION RAILROAD COMPANY.
The bill that Senator Withers introduced In the
Senate yesterday, to incorporate the Potomac
Union Railway Company Of Washington, pro-
vides that said railway shall commence at the
northern terminus Of the Aqueduct bridge In
Georgetown, thence run In an eaSterly or SOUTH
Rock Creek; along said creek to its junction
with the Potomac river; thence along said river
bank to foot of 26Lh street of Washington; thence
on south side Of canal to its terminus; thence by
most direct and eligible route to foot of l4th
street. The depot and other privileges usually
granted In such charters are contained In this
bill.
THE CLAIMS BILL REPORTED.
Senator Harris reported from the Senate Dis
trict committee, yesterday, the ''Claims" bill,
mentioned in last Saturdays STAR, as ready
for report The committee adopted several
amendments, extending the provisions of the
bill All such claims are referred to the Court
of Claims to be adjudtcated upon the usual
rules, except that the Court may make new
rules to save costs and prevent delays. The
only other amendment adopted Is In relation to
interest. The Secretary Of the Treasury Is
directed to call upon the sinking fund commits
sioner for 1865 bonds to pay judgments
awarded by the Court OF Claims, and the com
in issuing 1865 bonds TO pay such judgments,
the coupons shall be detached from the date of
said bonds to the day upon which such claims
OF were due and payable. This is to prevent
the payment OF interest for time before the
claim was payable. The section OF the bill with
that may be referred to the Court: IAN claims
now existing against the District OF Columbia,
arising out Of contracts made by the late board
by the Commissioners Of the District and such
claims as have arisen out OF contracts made by
the District Commissioners since the passage OF
the act Of June Sota lss4 ana ny an SertnSaaes q
certificates issued by the board OF audit, all GER
tifcateS issued by the auditor and comptroller
OF the District, all sewer taxes not heretofore
converted into 1865 bonds; all measurements
made by the engineers Of said District, Of work
done under contracts made since February 21st,
1871, for which no certificates have been issued
to and received by the contractor or his as
signee, all claims based upon contracts made by
the board OF public works, for which no evidence,
of Indebtedness has been tssuedn