Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-02
At THE CAPITOL TODAY.
BUSINESS I'm BOTH HOUSES
MEETINGS OF BOTH DISTRICT COMMITTEES.
Senate TODAY.

Senate To-day.
A response was received in the Senate to-day
from the Secretary OF the Treasury to the resolu-
ton introduced by Mr. Vance in regard to irregu.
trict Of North Carolina.
Mr.. Rollins asked TO take up the House bill di.
rectfng the architect OF the Capitol to remove the
House bath rooms to the southeast corner of the
basement. and add the present bath rooms to the
House restaurant at cost not to exceed 8 OOO but
MIR: ingalls, objected, and the bill went to the cal
endar
Mr.. Ferry, from the committee on post Offices
reported adversely the Senate joint resolution
granting the ranking privilege to Senators and
Representatives for Official business. Indefinitely
postponed.
Mr.. Ferry, from the same committee, reported
back the resolution OF October 13, introduced by
Mr.. voorhees,, making inquiry to the reasons for
the regulations in the Cincinnati and Boston post
offices prohibiting appointments therein OF per
sons over thirty years of age and thereby exclud-
quirfeS OF the committee from Postmaster General
James and his predecessor, expressing their regret
that such a regua ton had been made by any post
master, and that under the usages of the depart
ment it was one which the local postnasters, who
were solely responsible for the efficiency OF their
employees. had the right to make, and something
With Which the department had nothing to do.
lengthy coloquy ensued between Messrs. Voor-
hees and Ferry as TO the responsibility for the reg
ulation: the latter cUntending that there had been
no design to exclude any class from appointment,
and the former maintaining that in falling to abfo-
gate il the POStmasters General under successive
republican administrations had given nottce to
the country that as to tine large post offices at Gin
cnnat1 and Boston no union soldier need apply
for appointment
Mr.. Ferry remarked that the responsibility be-
lOnged, If to any one, to democrat as Postmaster
General Key was the first and only head OF the de-
partnent TO directly approve the reguiation-his
successors having taken no Official notice Of it.
MT: voorhees, said General Keys democracy end
ed when he became member of the Hayes cabi-
net.
The colloquy finally terminated amid loud calls
1or the regular order, and the motion was then
adopted dlscharglng the committee from the
further consideration of the subject.
Mr. Ferry introduced bill providing for the is
suance OF postal cards with flexible covers to COZ
ceil the message written thereon.
THE ORDNANCE RESOLUTION ADOPTED
Mr. Morgan's resolution for the printing Of testi-
mony. ETC., in regard to experiments with heavy
guns and projectiles being built by the govern
ment and calling for the report OF the mixed COM
mission. etc, was taken up and adopted with mod
1icdtlonS suggested by the author.
TIE FUNDING BHL.
At los the three per cent bond bill was taken up;
the question being upon Mr Plumb's amendment
to apply the surplus revenues over 500 COO 900 to
reduction of the public debt.
Mr.. Bayarl suggested that the subject OF specie
resumption involved in the amendment Was one
100 important to be disposed OF suufmarily. The
debate had shown that the Treasury reserve fund
had not been sufficiently guarded and il il would
have the effect OF calling public attention to the
TACT that there IS no law to regulate the amount or
control OF that specie reserve, or supposed specie
reserve, In the Treasury, 1t would prove advan-
tageous. Our power to convert the whole body of
paper notes.-the issue to the banks and the issue
to the peop,e-into money is at the basis OF the
present system. and he would maintain, and he
would not impair it.
Mr. I'ayard offered an amendment to the Plumb
amendment, providing that the 500 100000 OF re-
serve in the Treasury shall De- of 'standarl coin
value 1t was adopted by a vote OF 81 to H.
At2:3O vote was taken On MIR. Pumbs amend
meht and 1t was loSt-ayes s25r nays q.
House Of Representatives.
Mr. Prescott, chairman of committee on the CEN
sus. gave notice that he would call up the ap-
portionment bill for consideration Oh Tuesday
next
Mr.: Stephens, from the committee on coinage
weights and measures, reported back the follow
fwg bills and they were referred to the committee
OF the whole: To authorize new metric gold coin
for international use, to be known as the sstela"
do,ap E ad me eonaS OF the goleid metric
also for the coinage OF goloid double eagle, eagle
and half eagle.
means, reported bill repealing so much OF sec
tlon 1885 r. s., as imposes an export tax on
tobacco. Referred to the committee Of the
whole.
Mr.. Belford, chairman of the committee on pub
TIC lands, reported back bill to provide for the
leasing OF the arid and desert lands in the state
OF COLORADO. Referred TO the committee of the
whole.
An adverse report on a resolution discharging
bounty and back pay from the further considera,
ton OF all bills referred to it, gave rise to brief
discussion as to the jurisdiction of that committee
after which the resolution Was laid upon the
table,
THE POST OFFICE APPROPRIATION BILL.
The House then, at 1:l5, went into committee
OF the whole {Mr. Calkns in the chair on the Post
Office appropriation bill. A discussion sprung up
on an amendment offered by Mr.. Robeson to iu-
crease the amount provided for posmasters to
$4,000. The committee recommended in round
flgureS eight and half million. which Mr. Robe
son wanted increased to nine million and a
half.
The District i'm Congress.
MEETING OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE.
The House committee On the District of Column
ba was engaged all Of the session to-day in pre-
pairing bill to extend the Jurisdiction OF Justices
or the peace of the District of Columbia The
bill was finally agreed to and Mr. Garrison was
directed to prepare report ON the subject.
me coi1inlttee wlli. on Monday next, take up
anu consider, section by section, the bill introduced
by MT. Barr for an increased water supply in the
District
MEETING OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE.
At the regular meeting Of the Senate District
committee this morning the union depot bill was
referred to the subcommittee ON steam railroads
The District code was also considered.
Capitol Notes.
The committee on ways and means this morning
heard General Wharton, of Kentucky, in favor of
the extension Of the period in which whisky can
remain IN bonded warehouses. The present period
is three years, and the effort is being made to fix
1t at five years. While the Kentucky interest is
not inimical to reduction OF the whisky tax they
make no opposition to 1t. The opposition to a re-
duced tax comes from the vinegar manufacturers.
who fear that II the tax whisky Is fixed at fifty
cents gallon that tax viii be placed on vinegar
made from high wines, which under existing law
Is not now taxed.
The House committee on post offices and post
roads to-day further considered the subject of
postal savings banks. The committee have as vet
come to no conclusion, but 1t is expected that the
matter VIII be finally disposed Of at their next
meeting.
The House committee on military affairs to-day
agreed to recommend the passage OF a bill, as
substitute for about seventy bills now pending
befor the committee, authorizing the Secretary Of
War to correct the muster OF volunteer officers SO
as to cover the whole period which they were
commissioned and actually performed the duties.
There is no probability that the full elections
committee OF the House Will sustain its Sub-com-
mlttee In Its recommendation to admit Mr.. Ball as
delegate In Congress from Alaska.
MI. BelfOrd OF Colorado, has prepared an elabo-
rate report On the bill introduced by him for Sys-
tenn OF leasing the public lands of the United
States conditional upon the lesseeS irrigatng the
same.
Tuesday next has been agreed upon by the ways
and means committee for the consideration OF the
tariff bill
THE woNAN SUFFRAGE SENATE coMMITTEE WITH
OUT A ROOM