Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-30
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS, ETC.
REPRESENTATIVE ROBINSON AND THE IRISH
REPUBLIC NEW BILLS IN BOTH
H0USES-MEETING OF THE HOUSE
DISTRICT COMMITTEE,
Senate To-day.

Senate To-day.
communication was submitted by the chair
from the Secretary of the Treasury. transmitting
letter from W. II. Robertson, collector of the port
OF New York, stating that by reason OF defect in
existing laws In regard to obtaining search war
rants for the discovery OF smuggled goods it otter
occurs that smuggling goes undetected and snug
glers unpunished. Section 1906 of the Revision
Statutes authorize the issuance OF search warrants
Dy "any Justice of the peace, and no other auth.
ority for their issuance is given anywhere. This
precitldes the issuance OF warrant in the city o
New York, as there are no justices of the peace in
tnat city, and the judges of the courts in that city
and the United States commissioners refuse tc
issue tneSe warrants, no matter how strong case
Is presented Ihe letter with an accompanying
draft OF bill ON the subject was referred to the
committee on finance.
Mr.. German presented petition from two thou.
sand citizens OF Maryland {Of all political parties
in favor OF civil service reform
Bllls were reported from the committee on public
buildings as follows: BY Mr.. Rollins favoraby-
davora9iy, S making an appropriation for the base
and pedestal for monument in Washington city
10 the late Admiral Dupont, z. s. N.
Mr. EdmundS from the judiciary committee, re-
ported favOrably with an amendment the Senate
bill re-esta5lish1Eg the court OF commissioner OF
Alabama claims and the distribution of the unap-
proprated monies OF the Geneva award.
MI Dawes offered resolution calling for infor-
nation as TO the number OF Indians held as priS-
oners under War department orders, the cost OF
the same and what obstacles exist to a determine.
tOn or the period of their confinement Adopted
AFTER an extension OF the morning hour to dis
pose OF routine business OF no special importance
the senate (tt :45) resumed consideration OF the
funding bill.
House OF Representatives.
In the House to-day Mr. Robinson (NY.), rising
TO question of privilege, sent to the Clerks
desk and had read an extract from the New York
1i16une OF the 27th instant, stating that Mr.. Rob-
n hir,,L-n
tattve OF an imaginary Irish republic and suggest
ing that his constituents should remind him that
he was memberfrOm the second district of New
nork: He had also read an extract from the
Brooklyn DoHy Times, which commented upon
his utterances in the House.
Mr. Brown submitted that the extract did not
present question OF privilege; whereupon Mr..
robinson asked leave to make personal eXplana-
t,eman Were Permitted to occupy the time of the
House In answering newspap per criticisms, much
valuable time would be wasted.
Under the call OF st lteS the following bills were
introduced and referred: BY MIR. Wheeler-To
grant land to the state OF Alabama in aid OF the
Warrior ana Tennessee River railroad company.
by Mr.. OitS-Requiring the Supreme Court and
Circuit Courts OF the United States to decide all
cases pfedlcated on contracts or breach thereof
coming within their jurisdiction. according TO the
law Oh The place where the contract was made or
was to be performed. BY Mr.. Pacheco-To pre-
vent The unlawful occupation OF the public lands.
AlSOt0 admit steam pOW machinery free or duty.
By Mr.. Barry-PrOposing a constitutional amend
ment prohibiting state legislatures from voting on
the ratification OF constitutional amendments ex-
cept at the regular session held following the eec
tiOn OF the more numerous branch OF the state
legislature. Also to regulate Railroad fares. ut
makes IL unlawful for any railroad company to
charge 1or the transportation OF passengers in
excess OF the following rates per mile: Under 100
miles AZ cents: over 1OG and under 400 miles, 4
cents; over 300. 81 centS]. Also proposing a con-
stitutiOnal amendment making person holding
the Office OF President, ineligible for reelection,
providing that at the end OF his term OF office the
nf6 6G
annum, and declaring Cabinet officers ineligible
Tor election to the presidency for the term follow
ing that during which they held such Office. By
MI PhelpS-An appOrtlonment bill fixing the num-
Der OF representatives at 247. Also to increase the
police force Of the District OF Columbia By Mr..
CobD-Repealing all laws granting lands to GER
tain railroad companies and states for the benefit
OF such companies, and declaring the right and
interest OF such railway companies and states to
The District in Congress.
WATER SUPPLY AND OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE THE
HOUSE COMMITTEE.
The House committee on the District of COlum.
ba at tOday's meeting took up the bill introduced
by Mr. Barr, Of Pennsylvania, to increase the
water supply OF the District. Major Twning and
Col Casey were present. The latter addressed the
committee at length and submitted profleS and
maps showing the proposed increased mains
Col Casey stated that ii the reservoir was ex-
Dill, the Increased supply would be at least 81 mil
lion gallons daily. He favored also the building
OF d am from the island TO the virginia shore, to
make greater head and force. The committee
will further resume the consideration of the sub
ject on Monday next
The committee directed Mr.. Heilman to report
faVOrabiy Che Dill to authorize the German
Protestant Orphan Asylum to change its name to
the German Orphan Asylum Association of the
District OF Columbia.
Mr.. Neal has introduced bill entitled bill ia
declare the true intent and meaning Of the act en-
titled ian act to provide for the settlement Of all
outstanding claims against the District" The bill
declares that 1t is the true intent and meaning
that act, approved June 16. 1890, to pay to the
owners or holders OF any indebtedness against the
District OF Columbia the legal rate OF interest,
when specified rate Is not named, from the date
such Indebtedness became due up to the date of
the funding or payment of the same; and where a
specified rate has been stipulated for then accord
Ing to such specified rate from maturity to date OF
payment or funding; and interest shall be COM
puted and allowed accordingly. And the Treasurer
OF the United States is hereby directed to paw out
OF any money in the Treasury not otherwise an
propriated, to the owners, holders assignees of
all board OF audit certificates redeemed by him the
residue of unpaid legal rate OF interest accrued on
said certificates to date OF their conversion one
half OF said sum or sums so paid shall be charged
against the funds raised by taxation In the District
Senator Cockrel to-day introduced, by request,
bill TO incorporate the "United States Fidelity
Security and Trust Company"
DU POINT CIRCLE
Senator Rollins to-day reported the bill, without
amendments, introduced by Mr.. Bayard on the 9th
instant, to name the circle at the intersection of
Massachusetts, and Connecticut avenues, Du Pont
Circle, and to appropriate $4,000 to be expended,
under the direction OF the Secretary of War; in the
preparation OF the circle and OF the base for pro-
posed statue of the late Rear Admiral Samuel
Francis Du Pont.
LIEUT.. MCDONALD's ARREST BY THE MExIcANs.-
Gen. Sherman to-day received the Official report
In detail OF Lieut. McDonalds crossing into Mexico,
the arrest OF his party and the subsequent re-
lease by the authorities OF the town into which
they had gone. The official report does not differ
In any material point from what has heretofore
been printed. The War department will take no
action in regard to the matter. Lieut.. Mcdonald
went into the Mexican town to buy forage, and his
arrest was by the local authorities That the state
authorities acted so promptly in ordering the re-
lease OF Mcdonald and his men is sufficient guar
antee that the Mexican government did not coun-
tenance the arrest or take any exceptions to Nc
Donaids procedure. With the present good under
standing existing between the United States and
Mexico In regard to border matters such incidents
as Lieut.. McDonalds action are likely to occur
from either side OF the river Another instance OF
the good feeling is that when Mcdonald and his
men We're released the local authorities, beside
giving back all that was taken from them, offered
to pay any damages which might have been suS-
tained by the American party.