Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-08
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
THE SENATE CONSIDERING THE new RULES
BILLS INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE.
The Senate.

The Senate.
In the Senate this morning petitions were pre-
sented by Senator Miller N. ~ asking for the re-
ductlon OF city postage to one cent, and for the
passage OF national bankruptcy law.
THE COST OF NAVAL VESSELS.
Aresolution OF Mr. Hale was agreed to calling on
the Secretary OF the Navy to furnish Information
the original cost OF all vessels whose names are
found on the naval register for 1885, under the
various bureaus Of the government, and the total
expense 1or all repairs on the same vessels under
the same bureaus or otherwise
Pettl0nS were presented by Mr.. Vest and Mr.
bayard from merchants and manufacturers asking
connrmatlon of the treaty with Mexico.
MI. van Wyck presented resolution setting
Iorth that 1t Is claimed by the New orleans and Pa
CHIC railroad company that as the Attorney General
mas ueclqed 10 favor OF said company as to lands
canned by them, and the Secretary OF the Interior
mas ieit constrained to act upon said opinion, it
VIII De resolved that until Congress at this session
determine the questions involved in the claims OF
said company for lands the secretary OF the Inte-
Ior suspend action as to issuing certificates or pat
entS 1Or said lands
THE NEW RULES.
Ine senate then resumed consideration OF the
new rules
HOUSE OF Representatives.
On motion OF Mr.: Randall Pa.), a resolution was
adopted directing the committee on accounts to
designate the committees which shall be allowed
clerks
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION.
MI. Hunt La.) introduced a joint resolution for
tne immediate appropriation Of $1,OOO,OOO In ac-
cofoahce with the urgent request OF the Mississippi
river commission. Referred.
RESOLUTIONS OF INQUIRY ADOPTED.
Mr Bingham, of Pennsylvania, from the commit
Tee on post Offices and post roads, reported back
resolution calling On the Secretary OF the Interior
to report to the House whether any railroad COM
pany which has been aided by the government has
granted or attempted to grant to any other corpor
atlon or telegraph company any right to operate
the unes OF telegraph belonging to said railroad
company, SO as to prevent the company from per-
forming its duty to the government and public.
Adopted
ported pack resolution calling on the Postmaster
General for Information as to whether a British
spy named OBrien has been allowed to tamper
Win American mails in New York. Adopted.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
Under the call OF states number OF bills were
introduced and referred. Among them were the
following:
BY Mr. Skinner (N. Y.)-Glving lettercarriers and
Gle.kS IN nrst and second-claSs post Offices thirty
DAYS leave OF absence in each year
BY Mr.. Robinson. (N. Y.)-A resolution calling on
the Secretary OF State information as to whether
oup ministers MN obey the law of March 2T, 1861.
pass Uniform laws regulating marriage and divorce
In the states and territories
ra BY Mr. BagIey, q. Y).To protect applicants for
pension, and to prevent fraud in the Pension Office
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
By MIR. Beach, Of New York-Proposlng the fol-
lowing amendments to the Constitution:
First, Uniform laws On the subject OF marriage
and divorce
Second. Giving the President power to veto one
OF more Items In an appropriation bill.
Third. Creating a statute OF limitations to all
claims against the United States.
Fourth. The credit, money and property Of the
corporations F
Fifth. Prohibiting the granting OF exclusive priv
ieyes, ana forbidding legislation On appropriation
THE RUSSIANS AND THE HEBREWS
By Mr.. Cox, OF New York-Calling on the Presi-
dent for communications between the govern
ments OF Russia and the United states with respect
10 the condition and treatment OF Hebrews by Rus
sia. and especially With reference TO Hebrew citi-
Zt'nS OF the United States
B' Mr.. Stevens, OF New York-To grant most al
Clerks leave OF absence with pay when disabled by
railroad accidents ~
tlrement OF William ". Ayerill with The rank OF
Dr.gadier general.
TIE POTOMAC BRIDGE.
BY Mr.. Vance, OF North Carolina-For free
bridge across the Potomac river at Georgetown.
Dc.
BY Mr.. Foran. OF Ohio-To prohibit the impor:a-
tl0n and immigration of aliens and foreigners nm
Ger contract to perform labor IL the United states
by Nr. li!l Oh Oh.o-!o provide tor the sale and
a,s',,al ol ,he public lands; also, TO increase the
elIlciPncy or The postal service.
District in Congress.
a meeting OF the committee on the District or
Columbia vas called 10 lneet this morning bar :,
quo; Tin not being present 10 business was cons.ei-
cred.
The PROTECTION OF CHILDREN
Mr. Ray, OF Nev. Eainp5re. in reduced bill in
the Ii o'lse. yesterday, providing for tie protection
OF children IN the nis rio! OF Columbia which is
similar to the one recently introduced in the
Senate.
Capitol Topics.
REPRESENTATIVES, TowNSHEND-S PROPOSED CUSTOMS
UNION.
Mr. X. ". TownShend, OF Illinois. as stated in
THE STAR yesterday. Introduced a Joint resolution
requesting the President to invite the cooperation
m the governments OF the American nations in Sc
curing the establishment OF frea commercial !I:er-
course among those nations and m american Gus
tom, union. which sets forth ta, 1.-The blishrient
OF free commercial intercourse among the nations
nov existing upon the continent Il Alticiic, will
p.DEnt" the friendly political relations, Internal
commerce ant Industry and secure mort. eyT ar
slIr harSes 10" The s;rpiiS products of each OF said
nations. and requests the President ''o inyite the
cp-opcratirn Of the governments OF the American
nations in securing The est ;tb,ishncnt OF :olnln;.-
cia! league b.; ANA Dctwe"n ;.le said nations 10 be
known IL. the customs I.ion OF America: the az
raM@c'nrnt OF common basis Of import uutics frol
other countries 1:i.n ihcs" which ma; cO!npoSt.
s'ti.i league. nl that The cGiluercu intercourse
a.non" the pSone OF al The \.lrticdn States may
a irtta nom Tie I,yneAL of any customs or OF her
uuc> Whatever. ana tiIt:J Il cOlIlmGn system uf
weights and nic;s,ireS may i,e also established for
the purpose OF facilitating such Intercourse.
TIE NEW ORLEANS PACIFIC LAND GRANT
The record or the correspondence relating 10 the
land grants OF the New Orleans Pnciiic lnd grants.
furnished the SrDat" 10y Secretary Teller yesterday
vrS full history OF The grants and subsequent in,
IesigiionS. letter from The acting commissioner
Gi the general land utntr refuses to furnish The.
company with i list y. re lands upon which the
company Is entitled tn patents, as that would be-
fnn ,I1.l. r,n
Teller 10 Vest SteeIIr, an attorney CT this city, In
which he says that the Attorney General having
decide III favor OF the company. he did not under
stand tnat the department had anything TO dowith
Of the lands
SMITHSONIAN REGENTS.
The Speaker yesterday announced the appoint-
Dcnt OF MeSsrS. Singleton, Wilson (W. Va) and
Phelps, as regents OF the Smithsonian Institution
FRAUDS IN WEIGHTS.
Mr. Willis Ky.) yesterday introduced bill In the
House to correct fraud In weights, which provides
a fine and punishment for all manufacturers and
packers who Shall In any way exercise fraud or
neglect in their system OF weights This bill is to
correct Il great evil which Mr. Willis SAYS extends
al over the country. many articles, such as can
dles canned commodities, &C.. being marked by
manufacturers above the proper weight or sold
without any mark. THIS fraud he says, extends to
medicines as well, and he hopes TO be able during
the course OF the session to prepare certain regua-
tions as to weight and quality TO be enforced by
Congress
FORFEITURE OF LAND GRANTS.
The subcommittee OF the House on the forfeiture
OF land grants met last night and prepared o bill
providing for the forfeiture OF the land grants OF
seven railroad companies, amounting tn ahout
600 acres, to report TO the committee on public