Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-22
CITY AND DISTRICT.
Capitol Notes.

The House committee on commerce to-day au-
thorized Represe NATIVE Richardson to report
lpproprIating $4,000 for an electric light at Hell
From present indications the river and harbor
1t least fifteen million dollars, which will be an
increase OF nearly four million over the bill OF
The Senate committee on finance win on Mon
day hear the views OF Secretary Folger which
have been communicated to Senator Morrill,, chair
man OF the committee, In regard to the tax on
bonded spirits.
LAPsED GRANT RAILROADS.
The subcommittee OF the House judiciary COM
mittee, to whom was referred the matter of the
iapsed railroad grants, held another meeting to-
day: The chairman stated to-day that the investi-
cation will require much tnse that the committee
will not be prepared to make a report for several
weeks, If during the session, and that there is no
foundation whatever for reinstatement that any
agreement upon the subject has been reached.
THE CLAFMS lIII.
The House Of Representative expect to reach a
vote some time to-day on the pending bill to trans
fer to the Court OF Claims allfprivate claims now
pending before Congress Tor Investigation. Should
the bill pass 1t will relieve Congress OF fully one
third OF its work, and Will ina measure set aside
Fridays for public business instead OF designating
that day as one for tho consideration Of private
claims. As matter OF tact Congress has no time
to 1udicially pass upon the multitude OF claims
which annually comes beEoreeft While not q few
Sucn CLAIMS are mCIlLOrfOUS 8nQ should be paid. q
large number OF them, On the ether hand, have no
basis Of equity at all. MI. Bragg, Of Wisconsin, In
speaking against this bin to-day designated Ne las
bill to surrender the Treasury OF the United
states to the Claim agen1B OF the country.
THE BELLOWS CASE.
The Junior members OF the pay corps OF the navy
are making vigorous night against the bin, which
has been favorably reported from the Senate COM
mittee on naval affairs, restoring Edward Bellows
to position at the foot OF the list Of paymasters
The members OF the corps have employed legal
counsel, and this morning their attorney, Mr. Van
EppS, was accorded hearing by Representative
affairs. The points made were that Mr. Bellows,
having been dropped from the Naval Register upon
the findings OF court martial, and his reStoFa-
ton by President Hayes having been decided BIZ
the Attorney General to be illegal, he cannot now
be restored except through q new appointment,
which would be an act OF great injustice and hard
ship to those members OF the corps who have
served faithfully and hOnorably, and over whom he
VIII take rank. The House committee have al.
ready agreed TO report the DILL favorably to the
House. and the object OF this hearing is to induce
them, II possible, to reconsider their action.
THE APPROPRIATION BILLS
Although six Of the regular appropriation bills
preparations committee, the latter have them well
In hand. The two Of the largest bills, the sundry
civil and the legislative, executive and juiicial
will be ready to report as soon as the District Of
Columbia appropriation bill Is disposed of. This
latter bill will be called up as soon as the tariff
commission bill IS voted upon next week. Nc
special antagOntSm Is expected on any OF the ap-
preparation bills yet to be reported, as none OF
them will contain riders In the legislative bill 1t
creased force In the Pension ONCE