Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-17
The District in Congress,

Chairman Hunton, of the House committee on
the District Of Columbia to-day appointed
Messrs. Aldrlch chairman, Slemmons and
Martin a subcommittee to draft report on the
charges made against the District OF Columbia
commissioners by L. S. Treasurer Giifllan.
A Joint resolution was submitted in the
House to day, by Mr.. Atherton, to relieve
livery stable propretors in the District from
duplicate taxation. Referred to District CON-
mittee.
Senator Dawes to-day presented a petition
from the Women's Christian Temperance Union
praying fer legislation to prohibit the sale OF
intoxicating liquors In the District OF Coum-
bia.
APPROPRIATION FOR A HALL OF RECORDS.
Senator Morrill, to-day reported back from the
committee on public buildings and grounds the
bill to appropriate 100000 for the purchase Of
site near the WaI department and erection
thereon Of fire proof building for the safe
keeping OF records OF the executive departments
OF Inc government.
AGAINST TRAMFs AND vAGRANTs.
The bill introduced by Senator Rollins last
session to punish ''trampng' and yagrancy in
the District was reached on the calendar IN the
Senate to day. a letter from the District Attor-
ney's Office setting forth the need of additional
legislation in order to suppress the three
card monte men, and the scampS who under
the guise OF guides rob strangers was read.
While the bill was pending the morning hour
expired. and it went over. This bill as reported
fave raby from the District committee provides
that all ldle, vicious Or dlsorderly persons with
out regular n means OF support or who go about
premises OF others; all persons found habit.
ually lotering about t1ppling and gambling
houses or houses of ill-faiIe; all persons guilrY
Of indecent behavior in the streets; all per
sons having devices for gaming and cheating;
all persons Known TO be pickpockets. thieves,
etc, or, having been convicted OF such offences,
found lettering about steamboat landings, rail-
road depotS, places OF amusement. business,
ETC.. shall be taken and deemed to be vagrantS,
aud upon conviction shall give security for
not over $500, and in case OF failure to give
such security. they shall be contne1 In the
District workhouse nou exceeding one year.
unless security be sooner given. That when a
person Is the second time convicted OF any of
the offences named. If they have given bail,
judgment Shall be rendered against the bonds
building without consent OF the owner or occu-
pant, or who shall kindle fire IL any street
alley or road, or shall be found carrying fire.
arms or other dangerous weapons, Or who shall
threaten Injury 10 the person or property 81
another, Shall be punished by imprisonment at
hard labor fer two years any vagrant who will
ful inlutes the person or properly OF any person
tGH get two years imprisonment at hard labor:
any act OF beggary or vagrancy by a person not
resident OF the District shall be evidence that
tee person committing the same is a vagra II in
ne meaning OF this act Minors, under II years
old, &C nv,cted under this act, may be committed
70 one or the charitable, educational, III
dustrial or Teformatory institutions Of the Dis
trlct there to be kept and employer until dis
cnalged Dy the District Commissions, Or bound
out by the commissioners authority, or until
the parents or guardians give security Tor the
good behavior OF the convicted minor 1t
arrest persons violating this act, and females
and blind persons, who are worthy objects of
charity, are exempted from the provisions OF
the act. The debate to-day indicated that the
bin VIII pass the Senate, possibly with some un-
important amendments