National Republican., 1882-07-07
THE DISTRICT IN CONGRESS-.
Important Action of the Senate COmmi
tec-The Sunssry Civil Bill.


The Senate Committee on the District of Colum-
bia, at their regular meeting Thursday, ordered
that the House bill TO ehectually suppress gaming
in the District be favoraby reported, with an
amendment which was merely verbal. The bill
provides that every person who shall keep or set
up any gaming table or gaming device, or who
shall entice or permit any person to bet or play at
such table or device in the District, shall be pun
ished by imprisonment not less than two nor
more than ten years II also Furnishes every per-
son who shall rent buildings or rooms for gaming
purposes, and all PERSONS who deal, play, or are
in any way connected with gaming, and provides
that nll devices at which money or any valuable
is bet is gaming within the meaning of the law.
Mr.. Butler reported the bill iayordby to the
Senate.
The committee agreed to a substitute for the
Senate and House bills for the relief of William
Bowen. The substitute permits Mr.. Bowen 10 take
his claim before the Court Of Claims.
The committee ordered adverse reports upon the
bills TO authorize the Washington City and Point
Lookout RuilIoad and the Washington and At
lantic Railroad to enter the district. They were
SO reported and indefinitely postponed.
joint resolution 10 provide for the suspension of
the collection OF special assessments in the dis
trict until tho improvements which said assess.
ments were made 10 pay for are fully completed,
aud II was SO reported TO the Senate.
The committee ordered a favorable report upon
the petition of Genrl c Il. Herrck. This petition
was for an allowance fr extra compensation to
the police force. joint resolution of Congress of
February Is 1867 gave TO officers in the civil SER
pensaton. The police were refused the increase
by the Treasury officials. who held that they were
not included in the resolution. The matter has
b. en- before Congress and in the courts frequently.
Herricks petition prayed Congress for an allow
ance for this extra pay, and II was accompanied
by similar requests from Others of the police force
entitled to II. The District committee reported
favorably, and recommended the insertion in the
appropriation bill OF clause approprating Si6,-
1866 10 enable the Secretary of the Treasury to
pay to the officers aud clerks and employees of the
Metropolitan police force their legal represent
atiyes, the amounts due them under the Joint
resolution of Congress OF February 2S, 1867.
III the sundry civil appropriation bill, in addi-
ton TO the items of interest heretofore printed !:
For brick building TO be used for storing, pack
ing, and shipping seed for the Agricultural De-
partment S25 600: tor the recoimAge OF uncurrent
silver coins So 000 for the repair Of the road lead
ing from the Aqueduet bridge, Georgetown, to the
Arlington Cemetery, 5000; for the observation OF
the traist of Venus, 1882, 5,000 for dredging the
channel At the Washington navy yard, $4,000; for
two dredging scows, $500; for improving the
Capitol grounds, $1,000; for the government hos
piLl for the insane, SO2 500; for general repairs
$4,000; for water supply, $4,000; for an addi-
Iionul building, Sl25OOO, the plans TO be prepared
under the Architect Of the Capitol, and approved
by the Secretary of the Interior; for completing
the tenth census $40 O0O for the United States
Fish Commission, $3.50 and for passenger ele
vator i'll the Post Office Department, 5000.
The amendment To the general deficiency appro-
pnntiOn bill, paying back 10 the District sums equal
to the amount Of all general taxes paid in draw
back certificates, was ruled out point of order
made by Mr. Plumb In the Senate Oh Wednesday.