Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-21
The District in Congress.

"osh peTieCtlng lne DILL he now hopes 10 com.
plete 1t so as to have it ready to be reported on
Monday next. Thus far this pill has not been
very materially changed from the bill submit
ted to the appropriations committee by the
House District committee.
TIE POTOMAC IMPROVEMENT APPROPRIATION.
The House committee On commerce has de-
cided not TO vote upon the question OF the ap-
preparation for the improvement OF the Poto-
mac river until after all the other items In
tended to go with the river and harbor bill shall
nave Deen disposed Of. The object of the delay
Is TO first flnd ont what the bill will aggregate,
and be guided as TO what shall be done With the
Potomac according to the amount the blu calls
LOT, ratnec than with view for the sanitary
interest OF washington or the harbor IMPROVE
ment.
THE FREE BRIDGE BILL.
The Senate today agreed to the House request
for oommitte OF conference on the Potomac
bridge bill, and appointed Senators Withers,
Mcmillan and Rollins as conferees.
Senator Harris to-day gave notice, that as
soon as the present regular order in the Senate
Shall be disposed Of he Will call up the District
code for consideration.
PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE LAST NIGHT
The session OF the House OF Representatives.
for the consideration of District business, was
thinly attended last night. Mr.. Blackburn, OF
Kentucky, was in the Chair.
Mr.. Hunton reported a joint resolution ap-
propriatinS o,oO0 for filling up aud improving
the old canal south Of the Capitol and 1t was
passed.
AT Mr.. Hunton's suggestion, the House then
TOOK up the bills from The Senate, either original
the House bill, with Senate amendments au-
thOrizng the employment OF an inspector of
plumbing In and for the District of Columbia.
Ihe only amendment made by the Senate was
to strike out the clause which requires the In
Spector to be appointed on the recommendation
OF the health officer. The amendment was
agreed to and the bill passed. The bill author
izes the Commissioners OF the District to ap-
point the inspector, and the regulations are to
be enforced by the health officer.
Ihe next bill was the bill to authorize the
site for the Union railroad depot In the city OF
washington, which was returned with the
senate amendments.
MIR: O'Neil said:-I might as well state here,
Mr. Speaker, to the gentleman that | do moi
feel like having this bill considered tonight. /
DO not want to make any captious objections
am not ID the habit OF doing so. But prefer
10 consider 1t when there is quorum present
10 the House. would prefer, therefore, TO have
the consideration OF this bill postponed for the
present at all events
Mr.. Hunton.-If the gentleman from Penn
Sylvania will allow me to explain for moment,
feel satisfied that he will withdraw his objec-
ton.
Mr.. oNellL-I understand the provisions Of
the bill.
Mr.. Hunton.-The only object of the bill IS to
enable the commissioners to recommend site
anything; The Commissioners simply recon.
mend site to Congress, Which recommends
ton is simply for the future action of the two
houses.
Mr.. O'Neill.-I understand very we'll Mr..
Speaker the purpose OF the bill; still, as have
already said, do not wish to have 1t considered
until there Is f'''i House present. Many OF my
constituents are interested In this matter. 90
not Dei1eve If we are not In favor OF the passage
ofthis bill, in giving it any special opportunity or
aio"lng lnltlatory steps 10 De taken TO accom-
pllsh the result which Is contemplated by tile
OIL. If the commissioners are given the au-
thority 10 recommend site for this depot it is
the beginning OR the inception OF certain en-
terprtse 10 Which we object. II they are al.
lowed TO remove certain property In which
some or my constituents are deeply interested
lnen Gelleye The best way to prevent that IS
70 stop The btu al the threshold, and l must
insist upon the objection unless there Is quo.
rum present. II is much more important bill
than most Of us imagine.
Mr.. Hunton theTeupon withdrew the bill.
INC original Senate bills were then reached.
and the first was the bill to extend the ju;i,-
dlct1on OF justices OF the peace In the District
OF Columbia and TO regulate proceedings before
them. There was objection 10 the section
which prohibited appeals for amounts under
$50. and. as Mr.. Cobb made the point that
there was no quorum, Mr.. Hunton withdrew
tnat Dill also, and 1t retains its place On the
On motion OF Mr. Hunton, the Senate bills to
increase the police force OF the District OF Co
lumbla, to regulate the use aud prevent the
waste OF Potomac water this being the blu to
authorize police officers to enter residences TO
see II water is wastedl, and the bill 10 provide
FOR funding the eight per cent improvement Ger
llncates or the District OF Columbia were taken
committee.
The Senate bill to amend section 55S OF the
revised statutes, relating TO the District OF Co
lumbia, was passed. 1t authorizes telephone
companies, as we'll as other companies, to 20
before the courts for incorporation.
on motion OF Mr.. Aldrlch, OF Rhode Island.
ments to the bill to authorize the construction
OF bridge across the Potomac river at Or near
Georgetown. and conference committee was
requested. Messrs. Aldrich OF Rhode Island,
were appointed the committee. The objection
able amendment directs that the Secretary OF
War shall pay the present bridge company
sary. for the purchase OF that bridge.
on molten OF Mr.. Sanford, Of Alabama, the
OIL TO !acate and close the alley In square 504,
In washington, was taken from the House cal.
endar and passed.
on motion OF Mr.. Slemons OF Arkansas, the
Dill TO relieve the heirs OF Edward B. Clark
lfoIn the payment OF certain taxes and assess
taken from the private calendar and passed.
On motion OF Mr.. Neal, Of Ohio, the Dill to
proylde FOR the sale OF certain triangular lots
at the corner OF 10th and X streets northwest,
owned Dy the United States. was taken up and
passed.
On motion OF Mr. Henke, OF Maryland. the
Joint resolution ratifytng the settlement OF
taxes made by the District Commissioners With
tne Baltimore and Ohio railroad Company was
passed.
Mr.. Sanford then called up the bill to author
lZe the District Commissioners to dispose OF
the ground In square 446 (CorcOran square) for
market and school purposes. Mr.. Bouck OF
Wisconsin. said there was no use attempting TO
take up that bill, for he for one would not per-
mit 1t 10 pass without quorum Mr. Sanford
explained the oil, and stated the circumstances
under which MIR. CorcOran had sold IT. Mr.
CoDb, OF Indiana, opposed the bill. and said that
in the District OF Columbia appropriation bill
provision was made for the disposition OF the
square. He believed 1t better to keep the lot
for school purposes. MI. Neal moved to lay the
bill on the table, but before vote was reached,
as 1t was manifest, there was no quorum A
motion TO adjourn was made and carried at 9:I5
pm.
ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH LOTS.
Senator White to-day reported adversely
from the District committee the bill for the
relief of Archbishop Gibbons. 1t is to perfect
the title OF certain lots belonging to st. Pat
rick's church.
WOMANs RIGHTS IN THE HOUsE-On the
House calendar there Is resolution reported
from the committee on rules to appoint a
standing committee ''on the rights OF womeu.r
MI. Frye INTENDS to call 1t up at the first Op-
unit fNY HNr MI