Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-10
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
MILITARY ACADEMY BILL PASSED.

CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS, COM
MITTEE MEETINGS, Etc.
The Senate.
Mr.. Sherman presided over the Senate to-day,
having been designated for that purpose by Vice
President Edmunds, under the rule.
The Chair laid before the Senate an invitation to
that body from the commissioners OF The New Or
leans exposition to participate In the opening OF
the exposition on the 10th inst The conImunica-
tion was raid on the table-that being the usual
formal disposition OF such documents In the SEN
ate when no special or Immediate disposition is
demanded by any Senator.
The House joint re5olut On for continuing the
work OF the census bureau was passed.
MI. Vance submitted joint resolution. which
was referred TO the committee on military aft iirS
providing for the return the state OF North Caro-
ma OF copies OF the official letter books OF It's execu
tive department.
NEW SYSTEM OF NAVAL DEFENSE.
Mt Blair submitted a resolution, which went over
Till tomorrow, 1nStructiny the committee on naval
affairs 10 investigate Captain John Ericcson's new
system OF naval defense, especially his submarine
gun and torpedo ard TO inquire wnethersthe same
are about TO be purchased for the exclusive use Of
any foreign power, and whether prudent provision
Ior tne national defense requires the purchase OF
sucn invention by the United States government
OUR DEFENsELEss sEACoAsr.
In presenting the resolution Mr. Blair referred to
the helpless condition OF our seacoaSt and the
necessity of investigating inventions of the char
acter OF these before undertaking to provide the
enormous sum necessary to place the United States
In complete condition OF naval efficiency and
coast defense.
Mr. Vest, on behalf OF the committee on COM
merce requested that that committee be discharged
ffoIn the consideration OF the inter- oceanic ship
railway bill. Agreed to, and the bill was with
drawn from the tiles OF the Senate
On motion Her. al I ho
foreign relations was granted permission TO sit
during the sessions OF the Senate
On motion OF Mr.. Slater the senate then took up
the oregon Central land forfeiture bill.
THE DAKOTA BILL TAKEN Up.
AT ? o'clock the bill was laid aside until to-mor-
row. and the Dakota bill was taken up.
Mr.. Vest addressed the Senate in opposition to the
admission of Dakota.
House Of Representatives.
The Speaker laid before the House communca-
ton from R. NJ. Scales representative from the 5th
district OF North Carolina. announcing that he had
forwarded to the governor OF that state his resig
nation, TO take effect December 30th. Laid on the
table.
THE MILITARY ACADEMY APPROPRIATION BILL
The House then, at 1915, went into committee OF
the whole (Mr Cox, n. Y, In the chair on the mil
1tary academy appropriation bill 1t appropriates
s309171. being reduction OF s4792 from the appro-
prlatlon for the current year, and SS less than
the estimate
ding that hereafter all appointments TO the grade
OF second ileutenat In the army Shall be confined to
grauuaIes OF the military academy and to merito-
rlouS hon-cornrnlSsioned officers recommended for
promotion In the manner now provided bv law.
Mt. Randall lPa-) said that the amendment had
not been considered in the committee on appro-
priations, and he would prefer that the committee
should have time TO inquire into the propriety OF
adopting such a measure.
Mr.. Keller said that his proposition was to secure
positions In the army for the West Point graduates
Mr. Rosecrans lCal) could not see why the
amendment should not be adopted. Its effect was
TO limit the appointing power of the President but
he thought this limitation proper one in time OF
peace He suggested that the amendment be modi-
fed by including enlisted men within its provisions
and by making the law tnapplicable in time OF for
eign war.
Mr. Keifer accepted the suggestions, and the
amendment, as modified, was adopted
Mr. KEIFER's AMENDMENT DEFEATED AND THE BILL
PASSED.
At 1:15 the committee rose and reported the bill
to the House. yea and nay vote having been de-
manded on Mr.. Refers amendment agreed to In
committee, IT was defeated-yeas, IS; nays, I50
The Dill was then passed.
DISTRIBUTING THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
On motion OF Mr.. Morrison Qn). the committee
OF the whole was discharged from the further con-
sideration of the Presidents annual message.
Mr. Morrison then offered a resolution. which
was adopted without debate or opposition distrib-
uting the message appropriately among the stand
ing and select committees Of the House. So much
of the message as relates to the revenue provisions
referred To the committee On ways and means.
HOLIDAY RECESS.
Mr.. Morrison offered a resolution providing for a
holiday recess from 23d December until 5th JAN
uary. Referred
Capitol Topics.
A MOVE 10 CONSIDER THE SPANISH TREATY IN
OPEN SESSION.
An effort will be made In the Senate to have the
Spanish treaty considered In open session AS it
relates to revenue and not to international rela-
tonS, ETC., it is claimed that the people should be
posted as to everything that is done with the in
resolution to provide for suspension
OF the rule requiring treaties TO be considered
secretly will be offered. II is said that secretary
Fren huySen is In favor OF having the treaty con-
stdereG In open session.
THE ELECTORAL RETURNS.
The electoral returns received by Senator Ed
munds as presiding oflcer OF the Senate have been
deposited In Marvin safe purchased for the pur-
pose, and placed in the Vice Presidents room. At
night member OF the Capitol police force, Mr..
Florence, OF Georgia. is detailed to guard the Vice
Presidents room. The room Is locked and the Off
Ger does sentry duty In the marble room. The off,
Ger detailed was selected because Mr.. Edmunds eX-
duty.
THE HOLIDAY RECESS
Mr. Randall and Mr. Morrison have had a con-
sultation, and it has been agreed between them
that recess Of Congress should be taken rom the
23d OF December until the 5th Of January. A reSo-
luton to that effect will be offered in the House.
REPRESENTATIVE ARNoT IMPROVING.
News received at the Capitol to-day from Repre-
sentative Arnot Of New York, who was injured dur
ing the campaign by gas explosion, announces that
he has begun to Improve steadily, and his friends
think he will be able TO appear at the Capitol be-
fore the close OF the session.
THE PENSION APPROPRIATION BILL.
The subcommittee of the House committee on
appropriations having in charge the subject of
pension appropriations has agreed upon bill ap-
propriating $50 0O0, ,0O0-the amount asked by the
commissioner OF penSions-for the next fiscal year.
The bill will be submitted to the full committee To-
morrow, and TO the House tue same day.
THE MCPHERSON FUNDING BILL
Representative Wilkins has been Instructed by
the committee on banking and currency to ask the
House OF Representatives to name day on which
the Mcpherson funding bill may be considered by
that body. 1t is desired that the time selected
shall be Immediately after the holiday recess
MRS. FILLEBRowN ASKS FOR A PENSION.
In the Senate to-day Mir. Jackson presented
petition from Mrs Mary E. Flebrown, widow Of
the late Commodore Thomas Scott Fillebrown, of
the navy, who died on the 9th OF last September
while In the line Of duty in command OF the New
YORK navy yard. The petition sets forth that the
late commodore served with distinction In the late
war; that he died leaving little or no property, and
that the petitioner Is in "rather embarrassed cir
cumStances," and that she has no means OF sup
porting herself. She asks for pension OF $50 a
month Mrs. FillebrOwn resides in Washington
THE LEASED INDIAN LANDS.
member OF the Senate committee on Indian
affairs says that the committee will not be able to
this session. lie thinks the Investigation will be
made during next summer and In the recess Of
Congress.
COMBINATIONS BY THE SENATE.