Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-27
The District in Congress.

Mr. Ferry yesterday introduced In the
Senate a bill directing the District Commits
sioners to pay to Henry L. Davidson, out of the
funds OF the District, s52i u, which amount he
oNeIpald In taxes IN part OF lot s, square +0l, in
washington.
MEETING OF THE SENATE DISTRICT COMMITTEE.
The Senate District committee held meet
Ing this morning to hear the District Commis-
sioners In regard 10 the differences in the esti-
mates for District eN Npenses for the next fiscal
year between them and the secretary of the
Treasury. In letter dated December s, 1850,
Secretary Sherman submitted his views In full
In regard TO the estimates, and recon- mended
that $i5S, S0i 10 be taken from certain estimates
aud aaded to others. In detail, the secretary's
n cnmmendation was that from the estimates
$3.50 be taken from miscellaneous expenses OF
offices; 81 600 from street lamps s. 40 from
health department. and Sl5!,3l+ i9 from work
on sundTy avenues and streets, and added TO
the following In the amounts named: Govern
ment hospital for the insane, s52 $50; reform
school, Sd 254,9; expenses of the jail. 1909.
and Linthicum loan, SIC, 900. The Commissioners
argued against these changes. They insisted
that the work on streets and alleys would re-
quire the highest amount included In the
the appropriation for the insane asylum, by
taking money from other District estimates.
No action was taken by the committee, but It
Is believed that the members substantially
agree with the Commissioners. Senator
Wtthers, OF the District committee, is also q
member OF the appropriations committee, and
In the latter upon action on District estimates,
it is understood he will be guided. to a consid-
cradle extent, by the views expressed by the
Commissioners, and that he entirely agrees
with them In regard to the insane asylum
tnat tne estlmate for that purpose shall not be
increased.
The school trustees appeared before the com
m1ttee and desired TO be heard on the subject
of the provisions in the code relating to the
SchoOl districts and trustees. The code pro-
Vides that the number OF trustees shall not be
less than five nor more than nineteen. The
trustees thought the number should be made
specific. but before they had fairly entered
upon their statement, Jhe District Commits
siOners appeared, and as the committee meet
Ing had been specially called to hear them, the
hearing OF the trustees was deferred until some
future time.
HEETING OF THB HOUSE DISTRICT COMMITTEE.
The House committee On the District of Col
umo1a held short meeting to-day to arrange
business for to- nights session, the District Of
Columbia having the floor after 1:3O O'clock It
was decided to press to vote the bill for the
sale OF square 446 for school purposes. Also TO
cali up the bill to authorize the commissioners
OF tue District to settle with the Baltimore and
fotOmac rallrOad company tor taxes due on the
same basis OF settlement as was entered into
With the Baltimore and ohio company.
THE b. AND o. COMPROMISE.
Senator Edmunds TO day submitted resolu-
ton, which was adopted. calling upon the Dis
tr1ct commissioners Tor copy of the compro-
mise which they enteredinto with the Baltimore
ana ONO railroad la regard to their taxes.
THE NAVY YARD AND THE EASTERN BRANCH.
Mi. MCPHERSON, chairman OF the District com
m1ttee. yesterday presented IN the Senate two
communications from Secretary GOf, OF the
Navy department. One contained the following
letter from X. l.. Law, chief of the bureau OF
COCKS and yards: The bureau begS to invite
the attention OF the department to the i'm
pOrtance OF having the attention Of Congress
called TO the necessity OF providing apprOprIa-
tiOns for dredging the channel of the Anacostta
river or Eastern branch from point In front OF
the Washington navy yard TO Greenleaf point,
al the confluence Of he Potomac river at an
3umated cost OF SO oon, and for the extension
of the yard by purchase OF square s5g. at esti-
mated cost or Sle.6 .60+.,4. The shallow condition
or tthe river from Greenleaf point to the
navy yard renders navigation almost lmpos-
sl0e Tor vessels OF the navy. The vessels are
detained in the river by grounding, and have TO
remain In that condition until an eXtraordl-
nary high tide occurs and aid OF tugs to relieve
them from their hampered condition. The pur-
chase OF square s53, adjoining the western
boundary OF the navy yard is urged as mat
ter OF necessity and public benefit. The area of
the yard Is small and Inadequate to the require
ments OF flrst-class manufacturing yard: and
It's area can only be extended by the purchase
OF the square referred to. and should any pr-
vate corporation obtain possession OF the same
1t would be to the great detriment OF the yard"
secretary Con also enclosed communica.
tlon from MIR. Law, setting forth the necessity
OF tlmoer shed al the navy yard for the pro.
lection OF timber and lumber belonging to the
bureau OF construction and repairs. The bureau
recommends an appropriation of $4,000 10
carry out this much-needed improvement.
Accompanying this letter was one from Com
modore Pattison, commanding at the navy
yard, enclosing communication from Engi-
neer A. 6. Menocal OF the L. S. navy, stating
that the want OF timber shed has been felt
Tor many years: that much valuable material
has gone to waste for want OF projections; that
the workmen suffer from Inconvenience and
exposure for want OF cover from the weather.
and important works are frequently delayed
because of the need of a he'd Mr. MenOnaJ
recommends brick building $50 feet long by
O. feet Wide, with two stories, to cost about
$4,000.
The communications We're referred to the