Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-24


on account or their liability to make
good any recovery which may be had against the
defendant therein or otherwise, and that they
also inquire into the existing rules o; law as to
the allowance OF primitive damage in such cases
and whether any change In the same is expedlent
and proper, and that they report by bill or other
wise at as early day as practicable.
[Thts resolution is aimed at the Kilbourn case,
or rather that case suggested its Introduction.
among them, who regard the Verdict in that case
as excessive. and the object OF the resolution is
to secure lrgislstio that VIII prevent similar
result In kindred cases hereaiter1
House 0f Representatives.
MR.. RoBINsONs PRIVILEGED QUESTION.
Mr.. Robinson(N. Y )ristng to privileged question
offered resolution dischargtng the committee on
foreign affatrs from the further consideration OF
the resolution calling on the President for inform
alton as to imprisoned American citizens, and
declaring that the same BE- brought before the
House for immediate consideration.
Mr.. Orth, the only member OF the foreign affairs
committee present, stated that that committee was
at present engaged in an investigation of the
Chili-Pcruvian matters and asked that the resO-
luton go over until tomorrow.
Mr.. Robinson declared that this unSlvOry Pc
ruvian matter could not compare in tmporta nee
with the question OF the relief Of imrri, ,one,i
he had first offered his resolution ana this delay
looked to him like giving Wy Dear Granville" an
opportunity to patch up some humbug to blind
the eyes OF the American people: He, however,
consented that the matter should 60 over until
tomorrow, and it was SO ordered.
BILLS INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE.
Mr. Anderson to-day introduced in the House a
bill to reduce the rate OF postage on letter matter
to two cents; also to establish national agricul-
tural experiment station in the District OF Colum-
bia -
Mr.. Phelps introduced bill to increase the
number or the Capitol police
District Business i'm the House To-day.
The District committee WIS called in the House
dyi MaV
til" next District day was adopted without dissent
Mr. Garrison reported the bill to extend the ju-
risdictOn of justices OF the peace In the District.
Under the bill there is no appeal to be taken from
the decision OF justice OF the peace on sums less
than twenty dollars. A justice can also compel
any constable to make a return OF any powers en-
trusted to said constable. AN amendment was
adopted limiting the jurisdiction OF justices to
caS,S in which the sums amount to $500, after
which the bill passed.
THE POLICE BILL DISCUSSED.
Mr. Urner next called up the blll to increase the
police force OF the District the provisions OF
which are explained elsewhere. An additional
clerk is also provided for at police headGu arters
dents OF the District OF three months Immediately
preceding said appontnent The bill was
A debate sprang up on the section to allow the
commissioners to appoint soldiers, call things
being equal" The law now makes it mandatory
Mr. Mliler said the Commissioners now Isolated
the law by establishing q rule that no person over
40 years OF age should be appointed.
MIR. Robson spoke against the repeal of the law
as 1t now is, asserting that there were plenty OF
cx.solders competent and brave enough Tor police
duty.
Mr. Neal explained that under the existing law
the Commissioners could appoint men who served
in the regular army. They were entitled, he
thought, to no consideration from the House.
Mr. Robson asked Mr.. Neal If ne considered the
police force efficient.
Mr. Neal said he (Mr. RObeson) could answer
uUnCtiOD q 10 Hp Sai6 hat
New York city had only one square mile Of terri
tory more than the District, and yet New York had
Mr. Urner said he had never heard until to-day
that the District Commissioners had rules pre-
scri bling that ne cne over 40 years of age should be
appointed On the force II they have such rules,
they are in cOntravention OF law.
SHARP WORDS.
Pending the further discussion Of the bill, Mr..
Cox and Mr. Robson had quite a spirited passage
OF words. Mr.. COX asked Mr.. Robson II he had
been soldier. The reply was, eyes: 1 belonged
to the same brigrade you did" MI. Cox said he
had always voted money and men to carry on the
war; and some OF the amounts he had voted for
in the shape OF liberal appropriations after the war
had given him reprOach OF conscience. The
latter remark was intended direct for Mr.. Robson
on his administration OF the Navy department.
Who needed strengthening at home wourd drag
In the bloody shirt On such bill as Washington
Mr. Neal said the District was, in his Judgment,
the worse poiiced OF any city in the United States
Other cities have one policeman for every five
hundred inhabitants New York, one for every
one for every one thousand people. Every man
now on the force was soldier, and could not be
Commissioners had a regulation requiring two
years residence In the District, and an age under
forty as requisite for appointment
A vote at half-p two was ordered by yeas and
nays on motion to strike out the second section
OF the committees bill which allows the District
Gomms,oners NM to give soldiers preference, all
This will no doubt prevail, and the law will
stand as 1t now Is, AS follows: "No person Shall
be appointed as policeman or watchman who has
not served in the army or navy OF the United
States and received an honorable discharge"
The District Committees.
IMPORTANT ACTION OF THE HOUSE DISTRICT CON.
The House committee on thA District OF Colum.
bia. at to-days meeting, unanimously adopted q
resolution to ask for the second Monday in May
for an additional day to be devoted by the House
to the consideration OF bills reported from the
committee on the District OF Columbia.
to increase the police force. As amended and
agreed upon the bill provides for one captain ten
lieutenants, twenty sergeants and two hundred
force, all other things being equal, discharged sol
diers and sailors are to have preference.
the aw 70 n be tae Of @
ported favorably.
The bill introduced a day or two ago making II
intent was ordered to be reported favorably.
Mr.. Neal was directed to report bill, which he
has prepared with care, for the refunding of what
That portion OF the municipal code which applies
to taxation was also ordered to be reported favor
bly, for passage.
THE RIVER FRONT nPRovKHENT.
The Senate committee On improvement OF the
river front at Washington held another meeting
this morning, and continued their examination OF
the surveys, etc. Major TwiHing was again before
the committee explaining the engineers reports
with their inspection of the mats and river front
Saturday afternoon, and will. go on with an exam.
Of the proposed improvemen& Physicians OF this
and other cities viii be examined. DR.. Chancellor
OF Baltimore, will appear before the committee
tomorrow.
NOni nations To-day.
The President sent the following nominations t<
the Senate to-day: