Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-19
At THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS
The Bill to Retire Judge Hunt Passes
the Senate-The Committee Ques.
ton in the HOuse-Neetings Of
Roth District Committees, &c.

t1On In the HOuSe-NectingS OF
Both District Committees, &c.
In the Senate to-day the President pro tenn, sub
mted the response of the Secretary of the Interior
to the resolution OF the 18th instant, inquring as
to the lapsin5 of the land grant to the Northern
Pacific railroad and in connection Herewith as to
the action Of eX-Secretary Schurz, etc. The chair
referred the communication to the committee on
IairOadS.
tr. Edmunds suggested that as the question in
Vol ed was one of law as to whether the certifi-
Gates on which lands had been taken were legally
issued the matter should go to the Judiciary COM
mittee.
Mr.. Teller favored the reference already made
as the inquiry had been confined to alleged matters
OF fact, but was not disposed to object to MIR. Ed
mundS suggestion.
The communication was, thereupon, referred to
the judiciary committee.
THE BILL TO RETIRE JUDGE HUNT
Mr. Davis Qll.l called up the bill to retire Judge
Hunt, Of the Supreme bench.
MI Bayard said he would vote for the bill un-
willingly, because he regretted that an ObStruc-
tion to the proper discharge OF business by the
court had to be removed by act of Congress. Mr.
Blyards criticism was in effect, that Justice Hunt
should have resigned. He said the business of the
court is in arrears and an infusion of new blood
Is necessary.
MI. Davis thought there was no call for any
structure upon Hunt. He said this bill was for the
public good, not Hunts; that Hunt had rgh t to
remain on the bench as long as he lived, and the
bill was to get him out of the way and make room
his duties.
position belonged to a judge any longer than he
was capable OF diScharging the duties, and en-
dorsed what Mr.. Bayard had said. Mr. Hoar said
he would saw wood all his iife before he would
permit his father to remain on the bench after he
became unable to perform the duties OF that po-
SitiOn.
The bill was passed, yeas, Al; nays, H.
At ! :35 the Thurman funding bill was taken up,
and Mr. salisbury took the floor.
Nominations To-day.
The following nominations were sent to the
Senate this afternoon: Seiden Connor, of Maine,
pension agent at Augusta, Me-; and Mitchell Nc
Farland, to be postmaster at Cambridge, New
York.
House of Representatives.
The Speaker presented letter from the State
department transmitting two additional volumes
of the speeches OF the late NJ Thiers, contributed
by the sister of Madame Theirs for the library of
the House. The volumes received that direction.
reports.
Mr.. Bayne, from the committee on military
affairs, reported bill for The establishment of
home for INDECENT soldiers AM sailors at Erie, Pa
Referred to committee of thesWhole.
Bills were reported from ca5nmfttee on claims to
refund the state OF Georgia Certain moneys con-
CriDuted by that state for the common defence i'm
1T7; and to reimburse the stase of Massachusetts,
Tor certain expenditures for cbast defenceS. House
calendar.
A bill was also reported fro4n the committee on
naval affairs for the purchase OF lot of ground
opposite the Gosport navy sard. Committee of
the whole.
Mr.. Haskell moved to discharge the committee
on claims from the cOnsiderir of Indian depre-
dation claims, and to refer than to the committee
OF Indian affairs. Agreed TOD
Mr.. Burrows (Mich.) rising. to personal ques-
tlon, corrected an error in ese Detroit Post and
1It0uHe attrlbut1ng to hinsa introduction OF a
DILL last Monday TO retire nailSHal bank notes. He
would probably have enOuglsbf his own sins to be
LOT "ltnout DelAS responsible for the
sins of others.
Mr.. Burrows (Afo) said thatile would take all the
honor on himself of having hsfroduced that bill.
THE COMMITTEE QUzssIoN AGAIN.
The House then resumed thS consideration of the
report of the committee on Jules Increasing the
OF several conrnAtees.
Mr.. BelfOrd, (having obtain4l five minutes time
from Mr.. Page, who was eetitled to the foor.)
thanked that gentleman for she opportunity thus
given him, and proceeded o&dicule the pending
The District ia congress.
MEETING OF THE SENATE DESTRICT COMMITTEE.
The Senate District committee met this morning
and the chairman announcetsthe following addi-
Lional subcommittee: On steam railroads--In-
gals, German and McDill: Sn street railroads.
Rollins Vance and McMill;ss on taxes and dam
ages-Aldrich, Butler and MxDi1l. The bill to au-
th0I1Ze the vestry OF AScenst6n church to sell aud
convey certain property was Tdered to be reported
adversely, on the ground that legislation is not
necessary to give them thaE authority. The bill
amending the law which asahoriled the District
to sell certafR property and build
new police stations, SO as To enable them to give
perfect title to the property 20 De Sold and to all-
LhoriZe the construction OF sswo Or more" station
houses, was ordered to be IA varably reported The
Dill introduced by Senator GTsome, to pay to men,
oerS and ex-members Of the police force an in
crease OF compensation OF s1a per month. ordered
by the local governpent inslsr, was referred to
senator Butler as sub-comIaittee. The bill con-
,erning the land records OF tse District requiring
/ $780, 600 bond Of the recordef of deeds, and that
ne shall keep alphabetical iEiiaes, and the bill to
al Gnsn
we're referred to Senator McHllan The commit
zee adjourned until next Thursday.
THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON THBPoToMAc FLA ITS BILL.
At the meeting of the House committee on the
District OF Columbia this mosnIng, the committee
Instructed the subcommittee on the Judiciary to
lear General Hunton and others touching the
egaty of the plan contemplated in the bill for the
reclamation OF the Potomac lats, for the condem-
lation OF lands, and granttag the title OF such
andS to the United States
Capitol Notes.
Senator Lapham, OF New York, chairman of the
Senate committee on the rights OF women, has ap-
pointed his son clerk Of the committee.
The House committee on alcoholic liquor traffic,
N invitation, gave hearing today to Mr. Louis
schade, OF this city, as representative of the per-
The House committee on the judiciary met to-
lay and heard further arguments on the distribu-
lion OF the Geneva award fund, and concluded
heir hearing on this matter.
At the meeting OF the committee on patents this
morning, Gen. Young, the chairman, ub-divided
JIG dS lOllUWS. pdteuC cAJ6US1OuS-j
Messrs Vance, Scovflle, Ritchie Jones, Shelly and
Spooner; on revision OF the patent laws-MeSSrs.
Richie, Caswell, and Young on claims against
The government-Messrs. FarWell, Skinner, and
Turner.
The Senate committee on commerce to-day
agreed to recommend the passage OF Mr.. McMil-
an's bill to reduce the fees OF inspectors for ex-
amintng and licensing the masters, engineers,
mates and pilots OF steam vessels, to fifty cents
EACH instead OF five and ten dollars, respectively,
rs authorized by the existing law. Senator Coke's
oil to regulate interstate commerce and prohibit
unjust determinations by common carriers was
today taken up and referred to subcommittee,
consisting Of Messrs. Coke, Miller (N. " and Kel-
ogg.
MORE ROOM WANTED FOR THE LAND OFFICE.
The Senate subcommittee On public lands (Mr
Morgan, chairman), which has charge of the sub
ect Of investigating the needs Of the General
Land ONCE for additional accommodations and In
creased clerical force, held a meeting yesterday.
Several OF the heads OF divisions OF the Office were
present and explained that great necessity exists,
not only for additional roOm but for adequate pro-
lection OF land records, which, although OF inesti-
nable value, are now lin the crowded condition of
The Office exposed to the danger OF fire. The COM
mittee had not yet determined upon plan to re-
1eve the pressure for proper accommodations In
the Interior department, but satisfied that the
present building is not large enough for the Patent
Office, the Land Ofice and Indian Bureau, and 1t is
probable that they will recommend the erection Of
n dino for latio