National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-02-17
DISTRICT LEGISLATION.
Two and a Half Hours Given to
District Matters.
Five focal Brils Passed by the House-Th'
Police Bni sent Almost DeYond Reach
-washington Monument Bill Goes
over for "A Month-Somc New
Bills Introduced a New
railroad Line, sc.
The National LegleInture.

lNhllfOHu NE
The National Legislature.
Under the regular Mondays call Of States
and Territories for bills and resolutions for
rcfUroucc only, there were some $50 bills and
resolutions introduced and referred to appro.
priato committees. large proportion of these
bills were for pensions or Of some other private
nature. Among the measures of n public
nature introduced was a bill by Mr. Sanford
to incorporate the Sixth.strCet Fair Grounds
and Bludcnsburg RiilwayC Company. The pro.
posed route OF the rGnh is from Pennsylvania
avenue, through Sixth street to X street,
along X 10 Boundary street, aud along the
Bludensburg road to the District limits. The
corporators named in the bill arc Mcssrs,
Thomas 4. Yates. Henry Lqrman s. II. Suit,
j. q. McKiDb.n and b. +. Guy. Fare any
distance in the city is limited to five cents,
with five cents additional for any distance in
tho county. Tho capital stock is fixed Mt
not less than 100000 nor more than 100000,
Substantially the same restrictions arc placed
upon this road as apply TO those now IN opera
ton, including the requirement to pave be-
tween its tracks and two feet OH either side.
Subscription books are required to be opened
within fifteen days after the approval of the
bill after due advertisement. Work is to be
begun within sixty days aud the road to be
completed to the city limits within two years.
Consolidation with any road Incorporated by
the State of Maryland is authorized. The
bill was referred TO the District Committee.
Mr. Kelley introduced bill known MS the
Durant bill, which is substantially the bill
prepared by Mr.. +, j. Dlrant, aud originally
introduced in the House by Mr.. Gillette De-
ccmLcr 10, 1879 Referred to tho District of
Columbia Committee.
MI. Jorgenson introduced bill appropri-
ating $20,73l TO pny Rebocca Sears, admins
F..ll
tion for the use aud occupation of lands in the
District of Columbia du,ing the war by United
states troops Referred TO the Committee on
War Claims.
Mr.. Sanford introduced n bill to provide for
the exchange of registered bonds of the Dis
trict Of Columbia for coupon bonds of the
District. Referred to the District Committee.
AT the expiration Of the morning hour tho
regular order was demanded aud the Speaker
recognized Mr.. Coiroth, chairman of the Com
mitteo on Invalid Pensions, fora motion TO
suspend the rules and order an evening ses-
sion on Wednesday TO be devoted solely to
the consideration of pension bills. Mr..
Weaver questioned the right of the Speaker
to make a rule for himself to recognize only
the chairmen of committees for motions to
suspend the rules on Monday, but tic Speaker
responded that it was in tho power of the
House to refuse TO suspend the rules, and thus
negative the proposition. Mr. Buckuer moved
TO ad lourn and the yeas aud nays were ordered,
10 kill time until 2 o'clock p. M, when the
District committee would be entitled to the
floor. The motion was defeated, but the OBJ
icCt was obtained, the time being wasted in the
rul-call.
At o'clock the Speaker announced busi-
ness from the Committee on the District of
Columbia in Order aud the bill authorizing
the Commissioners of the District to select q
site for Union depot and report to Congress,
which came over from the last District day as
tho unfinished business before the House.
This bill was then considered and passed.
Nj Hutton reported hill to amend the act
to incorporate tho National Fair Grounds As.
sociUtion, aud it was passed. The bill strikes
the word "GrOnnds" from the title of tho Corr
pOrRtiou aud increases the mum bCr of directors
from five to eight. The bill to author2s
dCstIaiut upon personal property In satsiac-
tinn OF taxes upon real estate in tho District
was reported aud passed. Mr.. Helnan re-
ported q bill to regulate practice in the judi
cial courts Of the District, and it was passed
Mr.. Miller reported u bill to mako tho oifico
of clerk TO The Committee on the District of
Columbia an annual office. Referred to the
Committee OF the Whole. Mr.. Hcnkle
reported the bill to increase the Metro.
pOlitan police force. Sent to Committee
of the Whole on point OF order raised by
Mr.. Blount. Mr. Sanford reported tue bilf
mac, and 1t was passed. The bill to prohibit
the publication Of lottery schemes In the
District was next reported, and quite lively
struggle cnsued. A demand for tho previous
question was, however, seconded, and the
the main question ordered OH the engrOSsment
and third reading Of the bill, and pending q
yoto the House, at about 1870 p. M. adjourned
Tho third reading of tho bill having been
ordered, the bill must be disposed of imme-
diatey after the reading of the Journal this
morning. Under recent rulings Of the Speaker,
however, the bills referred to Committee of
the Whole can only be considered in commit
tee on District days, which puts of the Police
bill for another four weeks
Mr. Martin hud been instructed to report
the bill uppromiatiug S67700O for tho COM
pletun of the Washington monument, and
adversely upOn the bill to incorporate new
gas company, but failed for want Of Opportu.
nifty to present thom.
In The Senate
number of petitions were presented and
bills introduced. Dlr. Harris from tho Com
mittee on tho District, reported the bill to
amend the act authorizing tho issue by the
District of Ave per cent bonds TO redeem Ger.
tain funded indebtedness Of the District
Mcssrs Window, Blaine and WitheTs were
appointed members of tho Conference Commit
tee on tho Military Academy appropriation
bill The Senate proceeded to the consider.
at ion Of bills on the calendar, but before any
progress was made the morning hour expired.
1t was expected that the Fitz.John Porter
case would be called up, according to previous
notice, but the Senate decided to resume the
consideration of tho FIVE per cent. military
land warrant bill, which will probably occupy
several days, after which the Fi,z.JOhn Porter
case may come up.
At O'clock the Senate went into executive
session, and, confirming the nominations of
two Mississippi census supervisors, adjourned,
ChicagU's Cheeky Charges.
To he Editor of Ihs National Republican,;
SIR: Referring TO your editorial in ycster-
dnvis Issue Wherein il is stated TINT tim chi.