Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-04-25
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
THE FIGHT OVER THE NAVAL APPRO.
PRIATION BILL, ETC.
WHAT THE COMMITTEES ARE DOING.
The Senate.

The Senate.
TIE NAVAL APPROPRIATION Bill.
The Chair laid before the Senate message from
the House non-concurring In the Senate amend
ments to the naval appropriation bill, with the
ception OF the amendment providing for the arma-
ment of the steel cruisers already in course of
struction.
Mr.. Hale, in moving that the Senate insist on its
amendments and appoint a committee OF confer
ence, said that the House had rejected the amend
mehtS providing for the additional cruisers; for the
completion or the fronclaid monitors; for fitting up
the navy yards In order that they may be enabled
Tevivlng the gun-foundry board, and that providing
lor addlt1onal guns and armament for the navy
generally. Mr.. Hale's motion was agreed TO.
ACTING SECRETARY OF THE SMITHSONIAN INsTIrU-
MI. Sherman, from the committee on the library,
reported favorably, and the Senate read three
times and passed, the joint resolution authorizing
the chancellor OF the Smithsonian Institution to
appoint an acting secretary for the institution to
act In the absence OF Professor Baird.
M. sherman reported favorably from the same
committee a resolution providing for the deposit
sented TO the Senate by Mr.. Joseph Newman OF
California, being the first American nag made OF
american SILK The resolution was agreed 10.
ENHANCING THE POWERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE.
proceeding to the calendar, the Senate took up
the Dill reported by Mr.. Plumb, from the commit
tee on agriculture and forestry, to enlarge the
powers and duties OF the Department OF Agr1cul-
lure The bill enlarges that department TO an
executive department OF the government under the
supervision of Secretary OF Agriculture receive
the same salary as the Secretaries OF the other
CutlVe departments.
Mr.. kenna offered as substitute the bill hereto
fore submitted by him.
The substitute provides for the creation Of an ex-
ecutlve department, to be known as the DEPART
ment OF Industries to be In charge OF Secretary OF
industries The department is to comprise sepa-
Tate DIVISIONS OF agriculture, commerce, manufac-
lures, etc., TO be under the supervision Of experts
In the several subjects OF division.
MI. Bayard thought the subject covered by the
nlll and substitute (as contemplating an addition
10 the cabinet officers OF the governmenD too i'm
portant to be disposed OF properly debated with
out careful examination Of the measures presented.
lne LnaIter went over for the present.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
At 2 O'Clock Mr.. Wilson, according to previous
notice, addressed the Senate his joint resolution
recently submitted, and the several bills already
introduced, relating to interstate commerce
House of Representatives.
In his prayer this morning the chaplain OF the
House invoked Divine aid for a successful termina-
tion OF the Greedy relief expedition.
The House, at 1905, on motion OF Mr.. Mcmillan
Tenn). went into committee OF the whole tMr Cox,
N. ", In the chair on the private calendar
Capitol Notes.
INVESTIGATION OF THE SOLDIERS HOME AT DAYTON.
The House committee on military affairs Will ask
for the appointment of special committee to In
vestigate the management of the Soldiers Home at
Dayton, Ohio. General Patrick governor OF the
home, has been charged with being overbearing
and lnhuman In his treatment OF the inmates. At
the request OF the committee, Representative Rose
cranZ wrote to w. b. Franklin president OF the
board OF managers OF the national homes for dis
abled soldiers asking him to investigate the COM
plants. Mr. Franklin replied that the charges had
been investigated and found to be groundless- He
recommended that congressional committee be
appointed to make the investigation
THE MARINE HOSPITAL SERVICE.
Capt Fisher, OF New York, who is on a short
visit to this city, will represent the Steamboat
Owners association In an argument before the
congressional committee on commerce for a mOdlfl-
cation OF the laws relating to the marine hospital
service 50 as to provide for the expenses OF that
service by specific appropriation, instead OF as at
present, by the collection OF fees, etc.
POSTAL TELEGRAPHY.
The House committee on post offices and post
roads to-day appointed the following committee to
draft bill providing for a system OF contract be-
tween the government and telegraph companies to
ham and Wakefield They will not provide for
contract with any one company, but leave it open
for competition.
MINOR NOTES.
The House naval affairs committee to-day ap-
pointed SUBJ O-committee-MeSsrs. Talbot, Hammer
and Ballentine-to arrange bills to be considered
In the time allotted to naval matters in the House
The House foreign affairs committee at their meet
ing to-day authorized Mr.. Stewart OF Texas. to re-
port bill similar to the COckre (Senate) BILL au-
thorfzing the appointment OF board of commits
soners to visit Mexico and the principal countries OF
Centraland South America, to collect Information
looking to the extension OF our trade and commerce
In those countries.
The House appropriations committee agreed to-
day to recommend the loan OF million dollars for
the worlds exposition at New Orleans.
Mr.. G. b. Perkins was before the Springer COM
mittee again to-day, the examination referring
particularly to the hearings before L. S. commis-
SionerS and their fees
The celebrated Myra Clark Gaines claim was
under discussion In the House to-day.
The Fight ON the Naval Appropriation
bill.
SHARP DEBATE IN THE HoCsE-MR. HEwITT'S
CHARGE AGAINST SECRETARY CHANDLER-ALL THE
SENATE AMENDMENTS NON-CONCURRED IN EXCEPT
THE ITEM OF 100000 FOR NEW STEEL CRUISERS.
The House had the Senate amendments to the
naval appropriation bill under consideration yes
terday afternoon, and non-concurred in all except
that providing 100000 for the armament OF the