Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-06
WHAT CONGRESS IS DOING.
PROCEEDINGS IN BOTH HOUSES.
MEETINGS OF VARIOUS COMMITTEES
MATTERS AFFECTING THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA.
The Senate TO.daY.

The president pro tenn. OF the Senate to-day sub
mitted communication from the Secretary oil
the Treasury transmitting the report OF the ma.
tonal board OF health. Referred to the committee
on epidemic diseases.
Mr.. Sherman presented twelve petitions of citi.
zens of Ohio for the passage of the bill to increase
pensions to those who have lost an arm or leg in
the service.
Mr.. ingalls, presented several similar petitions
from citizens OF Kansas
Bills were introduced
BY Mr.: Anthony: To prohibit the use of the
Capitol for other than its legitimate purposes Re-
ferred to the committee on public buildings and
grounds
building at Pueblo, Colorado; same reference.
BY Mr.. GrOOme-TO adjust the rank of certain
officers OF the navy; referred to committee on
The President pro tenn laid before the Senate
the account OF the Treasurer OF the United States.
Mr.. Johnston offered resolution for the print
ing OF TO- 600 copies of the report of the proceed
1ngs Of the Yorktown Centennial commission; re-
ferred to committee on printing.
THE ARLINGTON ESTATE.
Mr.. Edmunds offered resolution instructing
the committee on the judiciary to inquire and re-
port, by bill or otherwise, whether any further
legislation is necessary to secure the title OF the
United States to the national soldiers cemetery at
Arlington. He explained that this was made
necessary by the recent decision OF the Supreme
Court in relation to the rights OF Gen. Lee. The
resolution was unanimously agreed to.
THE PENSION ROLL.
At the close Of the morning hour Mr. Platt called
up his resolution, offered yesterday, asking the
Commissioner of Pensions to furnish certain in
formation in reference to the pension roll and the
probable effect upon it OF the passage Of the pend
Ing bill to increase the pensions Of persons who
have lost an arm or a leg in the service or are
suffering from equivalent disabilities
Mr.. Beck moved to amend by further instructing
the Commissioner, without delaying the informal
tion called for in the resolution, to transmit also,
as soon DIS practicable. complete list Of all per-
sons borne on the pension roll, and claimants for
pensions, with their addresses and the amounts OF
their pensions respectively. Adopted.
Mr.. Logan said that the information called for
SO far as it related to one-armed and one-legged
soldiers, was already in possession OF the commit
tee on PENSIONS and he therefore moved to except
that class. The Commissioners of Pensions
the proposed increase OF pensions to
oneoarmed one m and one-legged soldiers would amount
MI Platt said that the bill proposed to
increase the pensions not only OF this class but
also OF persons suffering under equivalent disabi-
ltleS and the committee desired TO ascertain what
additional expenditure this would make neces-
sary.
Mr.. voorhees, agreed with Mr. Logan that the In
on pensions was suficient 70 enable the Senate to
act upon the pending bill for the relief of one
armed and one-legged soldiers
GEN. FITZ JOHN PORTER
Mr. Sewell gave notice that he would call up at
an early day the bill for the relief OF General Fitz
John Porter.
BANKRUPTCY.
At o'clock the Senate lookup the special order,
the bill to establish uniform system of BAN
kruptcy, and Mr.. ingalls, proceeded to explain the
House OF Representatives.
POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS AT THE LATE ELECTIONS.
Mr. Willis, OF Kentucky, offered a resolution in
the House to-day directing tue committee on civil
service reform to inquire whether at the recent
congressional election money was raised by as
seSsment or otherwise from federal office holders
or employees for political purposes. and If so by
whom and what amount Was so raised and how
the same was collected and expended, and whether
such assessment was not in violation Of law?
The District in Congress.
FIRST MEETING OF THE SENATE CoMMITTEE-THE
UNION DEPOT BILL-THR QUESTION OF TAXES, ETC.
The Senate district committee will hold its first
meeting Of the session tomorrow and will estab-
lish Thursday OF each week as its regular day Of
meeting. This being the short session, the COM
mittee will take up only such questions as are OF
real Importance 10 the District. 1t is the purpose
to press the union depot bill, with the view OF
making it a law. The municipal code will also be
pressed for consideration In the hope OF getting it
through at this session. The committee also re-:
gard the subject Of the assessment and collection
OF taxes as one calling for special attention. They
consider the existing laws as very defective and
the prevailing opinion among the members seems
to be that the best plan will be to enact new law
to sqpersede all existing laws and to regulate the
whole matter Of the assessment and collection OF
taxes: The idea seems to be to frame law rigid
IN all its provisions for the collection of taxes law
that will compel the rich man as well
he Senate committee VIII Fay proeaoly ns 'axss Wst
to see what measures the House committee pro-
probable that new tax law will be passed, and It
Is likely that it will contain O provision for tax
sales; a provision authorizing thesale of property
for taxes, and making tax certificate lien on
the property sold.
CLAIMS AGAINST THE DISTRICT
In the House this morning Mr.. Rosecrans, OF
California, introduced bill to amend the law
creating the Court of Claims so as to extend its
jurisdiction to and give the court legal and euuit-
able jurisdiction OF all claims existing against
the District OF Columbia arising out OF contracts
made by the late board OF p;lblic works and ex-
tensions thereof made by the District Commits
sioners since the passage Of the act of June 2Oth,
1874, and OF all claims for work done by direction
or or order OF the Commi ssioners and accepted by
prior to the l4th day of March, 1876 also all Ger
tlcates OF the auditor, all claims based on con-
tracts made by the levy cour,. all sewer certi1-
mentS made since February 21st. 1871, for which no
certificates have been issued and all claims based
upon oral or written made 6y the vice
OF October 1871 The bill was referred to the Dis
trict committee.
THE DISTRICT APPROPRIATION BILL.
den. heCcnaIn, OF new York, who Will nave IN
charge the preparation OF the bnl for the support
OF the government of the District Of Columbia,
will at once enter upon that duty He finds HIM
self considerably embarrassed, however, because
IN many instances the Commissioners have Jumped
their estimates instead OF setting them out In de-
tall This Will delay him in his work until he re-
ceives such Information more specifically.
Capitol Notes.
Senator Beck expects to get vote tomorrow on
his resolution to investigate political assessments
and he thinks 1t will be adopted.
The debate started In the Senate to-day on the
bankruptcy bill will continue for several DAYS at
least, as several Senators want to speak on that
subject
It is evident now that the Senate is not inclined
to take up the subject OF tax reduction until after
the republicans shall have consulted together as
to what should be done.
The indications are that the Senate will vote to
take the usual Christmas holiday.
Two Senator's have been reelected within the
last few days-Messrs. Morgan, of Alabama, and
Butter, OF south Carolina. Senators Coke, of
TexaS and Harris, OF Tennessee, Will be reelected
TO succeed themselves shortly, as both are practl
catly without opposition.
The doorkeeper OF the House of Representatives
mas transmitted communication to the Speaker,
covering an account OF the money received from the
$706.
The Journal of the House df Representatives for
the last session of Congress Is INST out and shows
eco printedl pages more than any previous journal
has ever contained.
TUE GOVERNMENTS TITLE 10 ARLINGTON CEMETERY.