Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-31
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
FOODS AND DRUGS.
The Subject Discussed in the House.
Communication from the Attorney General

Communication from the Attorney General.
WHAT TIE COMMITTEES ARE DOING.
The Senate.
WHY THB ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS NOT FURNISHED
CERTAIN STAR ROUTE PAPERS.
The chair laid before the Senate communication
nom the Attorney General in reply to recent
reSOlutaop0f the Senate, which inquired OF him
why there had been neglect or refusal to transmit
to the Senate certain Information relating to star
route attorneys, for which the Senate had pre-
viously called. The communication of the At
torney General states that there had been neither
neglect nor refusal to furnish the information but
that he had on more than one occasion informed
ooth houses OF Congress that the clerical force OF
ms department was insufficient to supply promptly
the copies OF volumnouS papers called for by them:
that the present force was overwhelmed with
WORK: Inc Attorney General repeats his former
request Ior an increase OF the clerical force.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The following bills were reported favorably
from committees and placed on the calendar:
By Mr.. Malone, from the committee on public
buildings and groundS-the bills providing for the
erection OF public buildings at Chattanooga, Tenn;
OpelOuSaS, La; Troy \. y, and Portland. oregon.
By Mr.. Miller (N. ~, from the committee on ag-
ricuture and forestry-The bill to provide for the
establishment OF forest reservation at the head
waters OF the Missouri river and at the headwaters
and Clarks fork of the Columbia river.
Petitions and memorials were presented and ap-
pFOprlately referred, as follows:
by the cnalr-A resolution OF the legislature OF
Kansas urging compensation to citizens OF that
state ior property destroyed in the Cheyenne raid
By Mr.. Butler-Memorials from the chamber Of
commerce OF charleston, s. c., relating to silver
coinage, revenue marine service and light ships
The House.
Mr.. Hardeman, of Georgia from the committee
on expenditures in the State department, reported
back resolution calling the Secretary Of State
Tor information and copies OF correspondence rela-
tive to the occupancy Of consular premises at
Shanghai, China. Adopted.
ADULTERATIoN OF FOOD AND DRUGS.
MI Beach, OF New York, from the committee on
public health, reported back resolution directing
that committee to investigate the question OF the
aduteration OF food and drugs
MI Browne lnd.) did not think that this investi-
galioh was within the province OF Congress- but
Thought that the aduleratiOn of food and drink
should be regulated by the states.
Mr. wait tConn.l contended that action by Con-
gIess would oe much more effective than dscon-
nected legislation by the various states: and Mr
Parker, OF New York, advocated the resolution as
tending to prevent the manufacture and sale of
oieomargarine as substitute for butter.
Mr. kasSOn tIOwa) hoped that an Investigation
would be made. but suggested that the expense
should be limited to 81 900.
MIR. Reagan (Texas) said that 1t was notorious
iact that butter was adulterated. but the only
iegisation which Congress could frame on the sub
Ject was 10 prevent the transportation OF the
adulterated article from state to state
MT. Cox On. " called attention to the fact that
Whlle before the war but 500 bills would be pre-
ssmeeu SEM 70 congress In year. at this session 1900
gstung onn1verSdS; 1t was taking in everything.
There would be a committee pretty soon to inves-
and how in s mS Ra' In hs facf sugar Se
pending reSOuta4l would reach that question
congress had nD ght to be perpetually interfering
with local matters. and he objected to these mi
croscop1c billabrought In for the purpose OF get
ting the surplus out OF the Treasury. He moved to
lay the RESOLUTION on the table.
The Free Bridge Question.
THE BILL MR.. JACKSON INTRODUCED BY REQUEST"
Mr. jackson introduced in the Senate to-day (by
requesD bill to amend the act for the construc-
ton OF free bridge. 1t proposes to amend the act
OF February 23d, 1881. follows First. Amend
section 2 OF that act by inserting the essees OF
Canal company, the said to be applied to the
dlscharge and satisfaction OF certain judgments
against said canal company, which are lens upon
Its property The second proposition is to strike
out The second section.
A STAR reporter asked Senator Jackson about the
bill, saying as it was an amendment to a former act
IL would not be understood He replied 81 don't
know a thing In the world about it. Twas asked to
introduce 1t and did so by request The party who
would take charge of the bill. While cannot give
the details, gathered In general way that the bill
Is 10 provide Tor the transfer OF the aqueduct piers
to the government, and the construction of
bridge over them l have no interest whatever
In the matter, and did not take the trouble to in
Gulre INTO It. | was informed that the parties
interested desired to get this proposition to put
bridge on the acqueduct piers before Congress
ana they represented 10 me that as the govern
Site"
WHAT REPRESENTATIVE BARBOUR SAYS.
Mr.. Barbour said that there had been some sort
OF an agreement between the lessees Of the
aqueduct piers and the c;.nal company, by which
hn tnrC 1n,,l1 hox
to be used for the proposed free BRIDGE but he did
not know what the nature OF the agreement was
he proposes. however to offer new bill to-day
based upon this agreement
The District in Congress-.
HERDIC TICKETS ON THE STREET CARS
The sub b-cOmmittee on corporations of the House
committee on the District Of Columbia heard arg,l-
mens, this morning, by representatives of the her
die company and the Washington and Georgetown
railroad company and the other street railroads of
the District upon the bill recently introduced into
the House by Mr.. Barbour compelling the street
railroad companies to receive In exchange, the
pany was represented by Messrs E. B. Hay and s
C. Neale. and the street railroads by Messrs Henry
Hurt and White. The committee reached no con-
cluSiOn, but will make report at an early day
IN THE INTEREST OF PASSENGERS AND CONDUCTORS
Gen. Rosecrans has prepared bill to offer In the
House to-day providing for universal transfer of
street railroad tickets and transfers In the District
OF Columbia, and making the rate OF nav for con-
anu drivers nOb less than 70 Der hOur
and the time OF their employment not more than IS
hours each day.
Capitol Topics.
VENEZUELA REFUSES INDEMNITY.
Secretary Frelinghuysen has notified the House
foreign affairs committee that the Venezuelan
government has refused to indemnify J. C, Whee
lock for Outrages to which he wassubjected by the
Venezuelan officials w. E. Robinson, OF New York
who has been paying special attention to this case
says that the foreign affairs committee will bring
In report recommending some very decided action
In the matter.
MINOR NOTES.
1t Is thought that there is no chance OF the pas-
sage OF bankruptcy bill by Congress this session
member OF the Senate appropriations commit
tee thinks that the Blair educational BILL II NOT
disposed OF to-day, will be antagonized with the
naval appropriation bill.
Most OF the House committees have come to the
conclusion that 1t would be useless to report any
more bills, however important, as there would be
no chance OF their being reached in the House this
session.
The Proposed National Library Build.
ing.
OPPOSITION TO THE SITE FAVORED BY THE SENATE
THE BOTANICAL GARDEN FAVORED FOR ITS LoCA-
TION.
The Senate bill for the construction OF a national
library building In this city is the special order for
Thursday. The bill will meet with considerable
opposition, but the friends.of the bill say they are
confident that 1t Will pass the House. A large ma
1Or1ty of the House unite in declaring the necessttv