Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-08

senate To-Day.
Numerous reports upon pension cases occupied
much OF the time OF the morning hour in the Sem
| ate to-day.
GOOD NEWS FOR EMPLOYEES.
Mr.. Dawes, from the committee on appropria-
tions, reported back the House joint resolution to
| Office pay for time lost during the Garfield obse-
quies. Passed.
REDUCTION OF INTERNAL REVENUE TAXATION.
Mr. Beck said that as several amendments to the
House Dill regulating internal revenue had been
reported this morning from the Republican caucus
OF last night, he gave notice OF an amendment sub
Ject1ng duties on imports from abroad after Janu-
airy 1882 to discount of ten per cent and after
July ], 1885, to ten per cent additional Referred
| TO the finance committee.
IRON VESSELS
Mr. Cameron (Pa.), from the committee on naval
affairs, reported favoraby the bill introduced by
Mr. Rollins on June 9th, providing for commits
sion to inquire into the subject OF constructing
iron or steel ocean steamers for commercial pur-
poses, convertible by the government into ships Of
| war, etc. Placed on the calendar.
THE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL
was taken up, and the Hennepin canal project
| further discussed, the question being upon Mr.
Buffers amendment providing for an additional
survey and report upon the cost Of construction,
annual maintenance and use OF the canal.
Mr.. Harrison favored this amendment, preferring
that the United States should not commit itself to
the Undertaking until the proposition Of the sta te
OF Illinois to turn over the eastern portion Of the
work, the Illinois and Michigan canal had been
| consummated by its ratification at the November
election in that state. He suggested that the
necessary legislation by Congress could be had at
Mr.. Logan replied to Mr. Harrison, and advo-
Gated the project. 1.'s
Mr.. Williams rldlculed the idea OF a little canal
with twenty y0ne feet wide locks, such as was now
| cOntended for, being sufficient to accommodate
| the commerce OF the country. He regarded such
| work, from national standpoint as practically
Mr. Window, in reply to Mr.. Williams, said the
| New York and Erie canal had been success,
not understand why twenty-One foot canal
| should not be equally successful in Illinois He
been asserted in the debate as to the worthessness
of the Illinois canal, and referred to competing
charges by rail to show that the lower canal rates
had exerted material influence in cheapening
transportation. A like showing was apparent in
behalf OF canals in other portions of the country.
eoSd be acoh tho snat S snip
to the demands Of the west for something practi-
House Of Representatives.
Mr. Crapo submitted In the House to-day the re-
port OF the conference committee on the bill to
enable national banks to extend their corporate
| istence.
Mr. Randall made the point OF order that the
report was not accompanied with the explanatory
statement required by the rules, and the point be-
ing sustained, the conference report was with
drawn, but Mr. CapO will endeavOr to get 1t before
the House during the afternoon.
THE sUNDRY CIVIL BILL
The House, at II 20, went into committee of the
whole (Ir. Kasson in the chair) On the sundry
ciyil appropriation bill, the pending amendment
being that offered by Mr. Converse, striking out
the proviso restricting the Investigations of the
national board of health to the diseases OF cholera
and yellow fever.
Mr.. Converse advocatel his amendment, con-
tending that there was no necessity for tying the
hands OF the board after it. had been called into
lStence. The country was subject to the spread OF
other diseases equally fatal with cholera and yell
low fever, and there was no reason why the board
should not be permitted to carry their tnyeSt-
cations into the cause OF and means OF preventing
| Mr.. HIscock opposed the amendment, declaring
that the intention OF Congress in establishing the
board was that an Investigation should be begun
board should have jurisdiction to inquire into
diseases of special localities and states.
Mr. Atkins was willing that the provlso should
stand, or that it should be struck from the bill;
but he trusted that effort would be made to
abolish the national board OF health, which aided
ettectually In preventing the spread OF yellow
After further debate the amendment was re-
jected.
I Mr.. Peelle offered and advocated an amendment
including smallpox among the diseases to be in
vesligated by the board.
Mt. Lord supported the amendment, maintain
Ing that smallpox was in no sense local disease,
but together with dphtheria and scarlet fever,
swept over vaSter area OF country than did either
yellow fever or cholera.
Mr.. Aldrich said that the disease of smallpox
mad been running through the western states, de-
vaStating towns and villages, and had only been
checked by the power OF the national board of
health, and he did not like this attemps OF the
fulneSs. -FLt.-T s.;rE, 80.
Mr.. Cannon expressed his sorrow at seeing To-
caiitles coming to Congress and claorfng for sip-
had the power and intelligence to protect them
selves, and should remember that the gods helped
those who helped themselves.
The amendment was adopted
MT. COX offered an amendment providing for the
abolition OF the national board OF health after the
LIST OF September next He had not, he said, been
In favor of the law creating that board At the time
OF the yellow fever epidemic until an amendment
had been adopted exempting state boards and
local quarantines from federal control But the
federal board had been steadily intrenchng upon
the functions OF the local boards OF the several
states He denied the right OF the federal govern
ment to investigate the causes OF disease It had
no more right to investigate smallpox than il had
TO Investigate chicken-pox or measles. All the
power which tne federal government possessed
over the subject was derived from the constitu-
t10nal right TO regulate commerce, and only went
SO far as to prevent the incoming OF disease from
abroad.
Mr.. o'Neill opposed the amendment No local
board OF health anywhere had asked Congress to
diminish the power Of the national board, but on
the contrary the Philadelphia board had recon-
mended liberal appropriations for its mainten-
ance.
Mr.. Cox (N.Y.) Withdrew his amendment, re-
marking that there was no chance of its being
MIR. Urner made an Intellectual effort to have
diphtheria included among the diseases subject to
lnYeStgatlOn by the national board
The committee then passed from the subject
The District in Congress.
MEETING OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE.
The Senate District committee, at a special
meeting to-day, agreed to report fayOrably on the
petition OF w. A. Leman and others for an appro-
priation OF S. 900 for the Church Orphan Associa-
tion of St Johns parish at Washington. The
Washington City and Point Lookout railroad bill
was recommltted to the subcommittee on steam
railroads
THE RIVER FRONT AND WATER SUPPLY BILLS.
At the request OF Chairman Hiscock, of the ap-
preparation committee. Mr. Neal has consented to
Withhold calling up the bill for increased water
supply until Monday next, which day is assigned
for the consideration OF District affairs. On Mon
day Mr. Neal has In contemplation the advisable
ity OF again calling up the Potomac flats BILL with
the section for an appropriation stricken out, but
leaving IN IL so much as directs the Attorney Gen.
eral to make arrangements for the condemnation
or the land which Will be necessary to go on with
the proposed improvement. II this should pre-
vail Mr.. Neal will ask authority for sub commit
tee OF the District committee to sit during the re-
cess to prepare and have ready bill to report on
the first day OF the next session OF Congress Sem
ator Ransom, it is understood, will Offer an
amendment to tue river and harbor bill, providing
an appropriation OF $500 600 for the Improvement
OF the harbors OF Washington and Georgetown.
FAVORABLE REPORT ON MR.. VESTS NOMINATION..