National Republican., 1880-03-16
Tho Distllot In Cnnrress.

Tho bill making doaili the penalty for rape
in the District of Columbia was reported to
the Senate by Mr. Thurman yesterday, with n
modification in tho nature of substitute
giving the jury discrimination whether the
penalty shall be death or ilnprisonmcnt for
life. In cases where the plea is made of guilty,
tho court shall havo the saino discretion
Senator Elmunds gavc notice of minority
report opposing tho death feature of the bill
Senator Rollins introduced bill to punish,
by imprisonment, all persons proven to DO
tramps arrested in the District of Columbia,
which was referred to the District Committee
Mr.. Hill introduced in the House q bill pcr.
mitttng citizcns of tho United States to file
claims against the District of Columbia, with
the clorks of the Senate and House Committees
on the District, during the recess of Congress.
The bill provides for filing of claims until
the first Monday in December, 1880, of the
following class and under the following condi-
tionS: First, unsettled claims for damages to
real property by reason of improvements or
repairs by the late Board OF Public Works:
second, claims for payments on special assess.
nents levied in violation of tho (Organic) act
of February 21, 1871; third, claims of STALL
holders in the Northern Liberty Market,
whose property was destroyed by the summary
demolition Of the market building, and the
claims of tho widows of such rs were stall.
holders and lost their lives in cndeavorng to
save their personal property in said building
ut the time of such demolition. The clerks
arc to be allowed an annual salary, and arc
required to have classified and arranged in
alphabetical order before January /, 1851, all
claims filed with them under this act. Section
embraces the following sweeping clause:
All claims hor1in embraced and presented as I'm
this Joint resolution provided shall bo aud hereby
are forever barred from presentation before any
tribunal whatever.
Mr. Klotz introduced in tho House a bill to
incorporate the Northern Washington Rail.
way Company, which was referred TO tho Dis.
trict Committee. The corporators named are
John Saul, Archibald Wbitc, A. n. Whiting, b.
d. Carpenter G. q. Thorn, C, G. Stone and =.
IL. Folsom. The route Is from Boundary street
out Seventh street 10 tho District line. with
the right to terminate tho route at Bright
wood. The faro is limited to live cents to the
Rock creek road and ten cents for the entire
distance The capital stock of the company
is to be not less than $4,000 nor more than
100000 in shares Of $50 each. Bonds bearing
interest may bG issued to an amout equal TO
the amount Of stock subscribed and actually
paid iOr.
The road must be completed 10 Brghtwood
within twelve months after the passage Of the
act or it becomes null aud void. Twenty per
cent. Is required to bo paid Mt tho time of the
subscription to the stock.
Mr.. Phelps introduced bill fer the Increase
Of tho police force of the District, and Mr..
Murch bill for the speedy payment of the
workingmen Of the District of Columbia.
Tho Senate District Committee agreed yos.
terday to report iavombly House bill provid.
ing for the erection OF free bridge over the
Potomac or the purchase Of The Aaueduct
bridge, neither to cost over $4,000, tho
amount appropriated by the House for the
construction of the bridge
Mr.. Withcrs was instructed by the commit.
too to report the bill regulating the practice
of dentistry in tho District Of Columbia.
At hal.past 10 this morning the House
District Committee will resume the investiga-
ton Of tho charges made by Treasurer Gil.
Allan against tho Commissioners of tho Dis
trict in relation to drawback certificates.