Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-07
The District in Congress.

MEETING OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE TO-DAY.
The House Committee On the District OF Co.
lumbla, at to-day's meeting, agreed to report
1avorably the bin TO incorporate the Fidelity
security company. The object of the corpora
tion is TO guarantee the bonds OF officers in the
pubic service OF the United States The COM
mittee amended the bill TO make the 18th OF
March legal holiday. so that ii Will not de-
priye any OF the public employees Of days pay.
MEETING OF THK SENATE COMMITTEE.
AT the meeting OF the District committee OF
the Senate this morning letter from the Com
nissioners recommending an appropriation
for general hospital was read. Dr.. Ashford
and Others urged the appropriation, but the
committee by vote determined that they
would not make the recommendation. The
Idea was TO convert the DuddingtOn property
into hospital. Senator Withers was directed
10 report favorably, which he did the House
bill authorizing the Chief OF Eagineers L.
and grounds in the District to sell
to each CT the owners OF lot l, square lSt lot ),
square ls5: lots 5. 6 and /, square 19S, and lots
II. square 1879, in Washington. such portions of
the ground Immediately adjoining the front OF
said lots, or either Of them, as will make the
angles at the four corners of 10th and X streets
northwest right angles, upon payment into the
|. ). Treasury by said owners Or each OF them
OF an amount for the number OF feet in each
lot so TO be conveyed, at tie rate tne same may
be appraised by three dIsinterested free
holders, residents OF the city, to be
selected and sworn 10 appra5e the
ground at IT, It's true value IN money;
spectively shall pay into the Treasury of the
United States, for the erection OF school build
ingS in the city or Washington, one-thtrd OF
said purchase money. and the remainder there
or. with interest, in one year from the date of
sale. No conveyance shall be made until all
the purchase money is paid, provided that said
CHIEF OF engineers shall not sell or convey one
portion or any part OF said real estate unless all
the same Is sold and conveyed.
THE DISTRICT CODE IN THE SENATE
senator Harris to-day asked the Senate to
consent TO session Tomorrow night for con-
sideration OF the District code, as it Is import
ant to act upon that measure, and the time IS
short. Senator Thurman was opposed to a
night session, because he did not believe a full
Senate could be got together at night. He
thought the code should be carefully cOnSd-
cred by full Senate. Senator Conkllng said
he had heard from q number OF leading citizens
here objections 10 some provisions or the code
and the instrument should be deliberately con-
sldered. There are good many people in this
District. but there Is a custom In Congress OF
hurTyiDg over District legiSlati0n-not the
fault OF the District committees, but OF all Of
Congress. He trusted that at least some OF tue
provisions OF the code would be ratified into
law. 1t was an important measure. X
a night session were set apart to read
Senators present. Senator Harris said his
desire was TO get the code considered; that the
cCde was not satisfactory TO everybody but il
was the result OF consideration by the House
and was adopted Oy majority OF the District
committee. He earnestly desired 10 have the
code considered by a fun Senate. 1t is really
necessary TO c0dify the DIstrict laws, and the
instrument under consideration is a cOiLn "a
tion Of the laws as they exist. He could not
see remote possibility OF getting the ole
through except by night sessions. II had been
suggested by Senator's Thurman and Conklng
that the formal reading OF the bill might be
omitted and that ii might be read section by
section. Senator ingalls, said he would insist
upon at least one reading OF the bill that there
were only three subjects that would cause dis
cussion: lst, compulsory education; 3D. taxa
tlon, and Sd, the Issuing or refusing to issue
Licenses for the sale OF Intoxicating liquors.
These were important questions ana ought to
be considered by a full Senate.
Mr.. Thurman.-DOn't you believe that when
the question OF grog is TO be considered we VIII
have quorum?
Mr.. lDgallS-YeS perhaps OF dem ocratS but
don't know about our side.
Thls created laughter, Whereupon senator
Conkling said tnat the license matter would
bring party question up, as the substance
that furnished one OF The political parties with
Its inspiration would be involved. Mr. Thur
man wanted that question up He wanted to
see II republicans who had for years been get
tlng votes by promising prohioitory laws would
vote Tor such law. For his part he would vote
for license; that in 1851 Ohio adopted a prohlb.
ltory constitution. and ever since then there
had been two liquor establishments where
there was but one before. He believed prohtbi-
ton did harm 10 the temperance cause, and
should vote for issuing licenses In the District
The motion for night session tomorrow
night was objected to. whereupon Senator Har-
f1s by direction OF the District committee SUBJ
mitted resolution requiring a night session
beginning at O'Clock every evening, beginning
to- morrow and continuing until the code shall
De disposed or. This was objected to and went
over.
WASHINGTON CITY POST OFFICE SITE
A bill was introduced ip the House to-day
authorizing the Attorney General to appoint a
board TO appraiSe the value OF the Seaton House
property with view TO It's purchase for The
permanent site OF the Washington city post
Office. lt was referred 70 the committee on
public buildings and grounds.
WASHINGTON ASYLUM PROPERTY.
Mr.. Herman to-day presented IN The Senate
petition from the trustees OF the Washington
City Orphan Asylum praying an act of Con-
gress 10 exempt all property or the Institution
nom taxes. An accompanying Sechedule
shows that back taxes amounting TO between
$4,000 and $4,000 are assessed against the prop
erIy. Mr.. Herman introduced a bill directing
The Commissioners 10 release the asylum prop.
efty from all taxes standing against ii. Re-
1eTred 10 District committee.