Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-12
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
WHAT CONGRESS ISDOING.
MEETINGS OF COMMITTEES. ETC
The Senate.

The Senate.
The Senate was to-day called to order and pre-
sided over by Senator Allison, Of Iowa, who had
been designated in writing by the President pro
tempore to perform that duty
message from the President was laid before the
senate transmitting communication from the Sec
retary OF the Navy with report from Prot simon
Ne"comoe, U s n, On She sub1ect OF recent I'M
proVements In astronomical ObservatOries, lnStru-
mentS and methods Of observation as noted by him
on a recent visit TO Europe. The recommendations
OF tne secretary OF the Navy on the subject are by
the President commended to the consideration OF
Congress.
PETITIONS.
Pet1t1ons were presented, and appropriately re-
ferred, as follows
BY Messrs. Blair, Dolph, jackson, Morrill, and
Sawyer, from societies of Good TempIars and other
temperance organizations praying for the appoint
Inent OF commission to Investigate the liquor
constitutional amendment to prohibit the sale or
manufacture OF alcoholic liquors In the United
States.
Bills were reported favorably from commit
tees and placed on the calendar as follows:
BY Mr.. Hale, from the committee on naval az
IalrS-Io authorize the construction OF additional
that at an early day he would ask action on this bill
as ne oeemed 1t a most important one.
by Mr.. Morrill,, from the committee on finance,
age.
Mr.. Call offered resolution, which was referred
10 tne committee on rules, giving the President OF
the senate authority to admit to the floor OF the
senate eminent citizens from the states and terri
tories when not an Inconvenience to the business of
the Senate.
Mr.. Morgan offered a resolution, which was agreed
10, requesting the President, If not incompatible
WIN puoc interests, to furnish copies OF cores
ponuence furnished by any diplomatic representa-
tive OF the United States near the government OF
the United States Of Colombia relating to the PAN
anna canal since the 1st OF March, 1891
PosTMAsTRRs' SALARIES.
MI. voorhees, resolution, offered some days ago,
calling on the Attorney General to explain the
delay in advising the Postmaster General as to the
Interpretation Of the law of March 3d. 1884, relating
to the adjustment OF postmasters salaries, was
taken up. A spirited debate arose, participated In
Dy MeSsrS voorhees, Morgan, ingalls,, Dawes, Gar
Mr. ingalls, said the question OF pay involved had
Deen standing nearly twenty years, and ought long
since to have been adjusted Mr.. Ingalls, severely
criticised the Postmaster General and the Attorney
General for their want OF action in respect to this
matter.
Mr.. Butler said he had a short time since re-
ceived letter from postmaster, ,inclosnga printed
clrcular from claim agent in Washington, Offering
10 collect the due the postmaster for % per
cent OF the amount On q reference OF this letter
10 the Postmaster General that officer had stated
mat no claim agents services necessary, but
thit aqeSt1on In connection with the act had been
referred to the Attorney General for his opinion,
ana no reply had up to that time been received.
Mr. Butler thought the matter should be looked
lnto at once He thought 1t very extraordinary
that no answer had been given to the inquiry OF
the Postmaster General
Mr. voorhees, defended the Postmaster General
and spoke at length OF the dilatOrneSs OF the At
tOrney General.
Mr. Ingalls, thought the Postmaster Generals de-
partment mad for years been trying to evade the
execution or the law relating to the salaries OF
these postmasters; and he in favor OF inqulring
why tnere should be this effort at evasion
MT Maxey read from the act itself to show that
II provldes that payment Shall be forwarded by
III man 10 the applicant and that there was need
ot cim agents services and stated that the object
OF The clause was to render such service unneces-
sary.
Mr.. Butler said he had mentioned the incident as
TO the claim agents, because he wished to empha-
size the necessity for prompt action OF the Senate
on the subject.
The resolution OF Mr.. voorhees, was agreed to.
House Of Representatives.
Mt. Turner {Ga) gave notice that he would to-
morrow, after the reading OF the journal, ask the
House to proceed to the consideration of the Mssis
sippi contested election case OF Chalmers vs. Man.
ming.
Mr. Potter CI. w introduced a bill to refund the
bonded debt OF the United states at 2k per cent
Re1eTTcd to the committee on ways and means.
THE STAR ROUTE PROSECUTIONS INQUIRY
On motion OF Mr.. Stewart (vt.) a resolution was
adopted directing the committee on expenditures
In the Department OF Justice, in making nvestiga-
tlon into the expenditures on account OF prosecu-
t1Ons OF persons charged with frauds the govern
TO Inquire Into the manner in which such prOsecu-
tions have been and are being conducted, and into
the conduct. efficiency and good faith OF all Officials
or persons In the pay OF The government In connec
tlon with such prosecutions and whether guilty
parties have been duly prosecuted.
THE TRADE DoLLAR-TO WHAT COMMITTEE DOES 1T
BELONG?
Mr. Bland (Mo.) rising to question OF privilege,
moved that the committee on banking and cur
renCy be discharged from the further consideration
OF the bill providing for the retirement OF the trade
dollar and that the bill be referred to the commit
tee on coinage, weights and measures He con-
tended that the latter committee had Jurisdiction
over the subject matter OF the bill. IL ready to
report bill this morning for the retirement OF the
unwise to have contest OF jurisdiction between
the committees.
Mr.. Buckner {Mo) argued that, according to a fair
construction OF the rules, the bill was properly
before the committee on banking and currency.
The trade dollar was in circulation and being So it
was currency, over which that committee had
exclusive Jurisdiction.
The motion was agreed to-yeas 81, nays A.
Mr.. CoSgrOve (Mo) called up motion, made by
him some days ago, to reconsider the vote by which
the House refused TO adopt resolution authorizing
a subcommittee Of the committee on expenditures
In the Interior department to proceed to Hot
Springs to investigate the work on Hot Springs
creek.
The vote was reconsidered-115 to 66.
Mr.. COsgroye then offered substitute for the
original resolution providing fora select committee
OF three members TO proceed to Hot Springs and
make an investigation into the work now being
uoue Oh lIle flOG springs creek, ana Into the
management of the hotel. the bath house
property and the hot water privileges; and to what
legislation Is necessary for the protection OF the
public interests. An appropriation OF 81 600 is
made.
MIR. Rogers (Ark.) presented the reasons which
1mpelled him to support the substitute Congress
ought TO mature system OF legislation which
would take the whole subject out Of Congress for
the next twenty years.
The District i'm Congress.
FISHERMEN OPPOSED TO Mr.. TowNsHRNp's BILL
A delegation OF fishermen made an argument
before the ub-committee on ways and means OF
the House District committee, yesterday afternoon,
in opposition to MI. Townshend's bill to prohibit
They claimed that such 4 prohibition would do no
good, as the fish would be destroyed by
the large nets outside the District limits
They said that the bill was not in the interest OF
qsh, but was the result OF movement OF the boat
ing men to get their out OF the riyer as they
lnJerfered with their sport.
THE INCORPORATION OF BENEVOLENT AND OTHER
SOCIETIES.
Mr.. Harris, from the District committee, yester-
written reporp substitute for Senate bill 1O63,
amending certain sections Of the revised statutes
OF the District. The bill proposes a method by
which societies for benevolent, charitable, educa-
tlonal, literary, musical, scientific, relig-
iouS OF missionary purposes, or for mutual
Improvement, may be Incorporated without special
acts OF incorporation. 1t also amends the statutes
ule OF Such societies. and leaves them to exist as
long as each may choose, subject to the power of
congress 10 alter or amend acts relating to them
Inc Dill also cOn1erS power TO hold property make
sales etc, but limits the property held to such as
may bring an income OF So, 900 year.