Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-20
TOPICS AT THE CAPITOL.
Senate Proceedings T0-day-HOuse Ap.
pOintments-COmmi Work. Etc.

communication from the Secretary of War trans.
hitting report Of Major Mcfarland. of the
engineer corps, relating to the survey of Sack.
ett's Harbor, N. Y. Referred to the committee
on commerce.
Mr.. Maxey presented the petition Of the Aus
tin Methodist Conference, of Texas for the pro-
hibition of polygamy. Referred to the commit
tee on judiciary.
Mr.. ingalls,, from committee on Indian affairs
reported favorably without amendment bill for
the sale of the lands of the Miami Indians in Kan
sas. Placed on calendar.
Mr.. Platt, from committee on contingent ex-
penses reported a resolution directing the
Sergeant-at-Arms to appoint . clerk to the
superintendent of the document room at salary
of 81 800 per annum.
4 discussion followed in which the necessity
for the clerk was conceded, but difference OF
opinion was developed as to whether the Ser
geant at Arms should have the appointment un.
9ualifedly or be confined to the recommends
tion of the superintendent. The resolution wae
finally laid over till Tomorrow
Mr. Anthony from the committee on print
ing. reported in response to an instruction here
totOre given that committee that the RESPONSE
bliity for the delay in the publication of the
Agricultural reports was not chargeable to the
Public Printer; that that officer had b., en- un-
able, under the statute. to make contract for
the printing of the lith0-caustc engravings
until July 1st, when the appropriation became
available; that these could not be completed in
less than eight months in the most extensive
establishment in the country, and that the work
had been temporarily superseded by more i'm
pOrtant government printing. An explanatory
letter from the printer was read.
Reports from committees were made as fol-
lows: By Mr.. Bayard, from the committee on
nnance (upon unanimous vOte), favOrably
without amendment, bill to release the PhiIa-
delphia Il Reading railroad company from GER
tam taxes: placed on calendar. BY Mr. Pendle-
ton, from committee on foreign relations,
adversely, bill authorizing Lieut. Com. Chas d.
Slgsble, US. N. to accept a decoration from the
Emperor of Germany: indefinitely postponed.
by Mr.. Johnston, from the committee on
claims. adversely. to authorize the President to
make the necessary arrangements to carry into
erect any convention between the United States
and Nicaragua for the adjustment of claims
which may be concluded between the two yOy-
ernments: Indefinitely postponed.
Bills were introduced as follows: BY Mr.. Rol-
llns, TO refer the claims of the captOrs of the
ram Albemarle to the Court Of Claims; referred
TO committee on the judiciary. Also, to fix the
term OF Office of collectors of internal revenue:
referred to committee on finance.
THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE,
The Senate committee on finance this morn
ing by majority vote decided to recommend
for passage. without amendment. the bill re-
Gently introduced by Senator Morrill,. providing
for the appointment of commission '.to inves-
revenue laws" and decided to report adversely
on the tariff commission bill introduced bv SEN
ator Garland The Morrill, bill was placed in
charge of Mr.. Bayard, to be reported by him to
the Senate after the holiday recess, but it was
determined to report the Garland proposition
adversely to the Senate this afternoon. The
committee agreed to report favOrably on the
nomination Of Thomas c. Acton to be United
States Assistant Treasurer at New York CITY,
vice HilhOuse. resigned.
FAVORABLE REPORT ON JUDGE GRAY's NOMINA-
TION.
The Senate Judiciary committee this morning
agreed to report favOrably On the nomination of
Judge Gray, of Massachusetts, to be associate
justice of the Supreme Court of the United
States.
APPOINTMENTS ON THE HOUSE SIDE.
The following appointments have been made
under the Clerk of the House, Samuel Houston.
an assistant clerk, vice Cromwell; Egbert A.
Chamberlain. clerk, vice Jones. Reuben NJ
Weaver has been appointed session messenger
under the doorkeeper.
The following appointments were made this
afternoon under the DOorkeeper of the House,
Alex. Oglesby laborer, vice Mankin; w. r. Nc
Dougal, folders roll, vice Murray; Henry Jen-
kins, folders roll, vice Walker.
Capitol Notes.
Joel GraysOn, of Virginia, has been appointed
assistant file clerk in the House document room
The bill introduced by Representative Petit
bone, Of Tennessee, relative to the retirement
of army officers, provides that all general Off
GERS and officers of different staff corps of the
army shall be retired from active service when
they have served forty-live years in the army
and that all officers of the line shall be retired
when they have reached the age of sixty.
The bill introduced in the House yesterday by
Representative Mcmillan. of Tennessee, relative
to income tax, provides the assessment and col
lection OF three per. centum tax from each
graph company, railroad company, or other
incorporated companies or firms, doing business
in the United States and Territories. OF. all net
incomes above SO 600.
The Senate to-day adopted the House ad-
jonrment resolution by vote of A to Is.
DOOrkeeper BrOWnlOW has gone to Tennessee
for two weeks.
The House Of Representatives yesterday ad-
journed until Wednesday.
The District in Congress.
s3 Senator or Williams to-day introduced bill to
payment OF certain improvement taxes.
THE LEGAL HOLIDAY BILL PASSED.
Both houses of Congress yesterday passed the
bill providing that in the District of Columbia
when legal holiday falls on Sunday it shall be
observed on the following Monday.
Rules at the White House.
AS TO vIsfTORs-APPLICATIONs FOR
OFFICE MUST GO TO THE PROPER DEPART
MENTs.
The President has adopted and caused to be
posted around the White House the following
regulations in regard to the conduct of public
business:
''Hours for the reception of visitors upon busi-
ness by the President are from 10 o'clock am to
l O'Clock pm, daily, except upon SATURDAYS and
Sundays and the days upon which Cabinet meet
ings are held The regulsf meetings of the Cabi-
net are at IL m. upon Tuesdays and Fridays
All applications for appointment to office must
be presented at the proper department. Per-
sOnal applications to the President will not be
considered"
1t is authOritatively stated that the Presi-
dent does not desire to receive even men,
bers of Congress upon Saturdays and SUNDAYS.
He desires to have those days to himself. The
rooms of the house will only be shown to visit
ors from 10 to on any day, land the chances
are that upon some days they viii not be shown
at all.
THE PRESIDENTS NEW YEAR RECEPTION
President Arthur will leave next Thursday morn
ing for New York. He will return in time for
the New Year reception at the White House.
The ladies of the Cabinet will assist the Presi-
m hot