Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-31
AT THE CAPITOL TODAY.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
MATTERS OF DISTRICT INTEREST.
COMMITTEE WORK, POLITICAL GOSSIP, ETC

COMMITTEE WORK. POLITICAL GOSSIP, ETC.
The Senate.
In the Senate this morning flood OF petitions
were presented from dozen or more states, pray
Ing for prohibitory liquor laws in the District of
columbia and the territories The petitions were
reAerrtu 10 the committee on education and labor.
House of Representative.
MI. Anderson {kan.l, from the committee on
puonc lands, reported back resolution recting
that lands We're granted to the state Of Kansas for
the purpose OF aiding in the construction OF a
railroad from Leavenworth to the southern line OF
the state, with a branch from Lawrence to point
on the Atchlson. Topeka & Sante Fe railroad; and
from AtchiSon to the western line OF the state,
with branch down the Neosho valley: that the
ROADS We're not completed within the ten years re-
Qured py law and that it is alleged that the Sec
retary OF the INTERIOR about october g. 1885, certi-
ned TO the state OF Kansas list OF 3Si acres for
the benefit OF the Atchison, Topeka & Sante Fe
road and calling on the Secretary OF the Interior
Tor information as to whether the roads were COM
pleted within the ten years, and If under what
autnorlty q llSt or lands was certified to Kansas.
Adopted.
DESTITUTE INDIANS IN MONTANA.
Mr. Ellis (La) from the committee on appropria-
tions, reported back the joint resolution appropri-
ating $4,000 for the support OF certain destitute
Indians in Montana with Senate amendment there
TO increasing the appropriation to 100000. The
amendment.
not be taken, and pointed out the necessity OF the
immediate relief OF the starving Indians. The
senate amendment was non-concurred In.
MI Reagan (Texas>, chairman Of the committee
on commerce, reported back resolution calling on
the SECRETARY Of the Treasury for Information in
regard to the trade between the United states and
MexicoI and to the traffic over the railroads con-
Meeting the two countries.
RANK OF NAVAL ACADEMY GRADUATES.
Mr.. Thomas 1ll), from the committee on naval
AFFAIRS reported back the bill to equalze the rank
OF graduates OF the naval academy their assign
ment to the various corps. House calendar. [It
provides that all graduates OF the academy no are
assigned to the line OF the navy shall be commits
stoned ensigns and abonshes the grade OF junior
enSgnl
An effort was made to dispense with the morning
hour but the requisite twothirdS vote was not Sc
cured.
AT the conclusion Of the morning hour the House
proceeded to the consideration OF business on the
House calendar, precedence being given to bills
ported from the committee on public lands
FORFEITED RAILROAD LAND GRANTS.
The first bill taken up was that declaring for
eited certain grants OF land made certain states
to aid In the construction OF railroads.
District in Congress.
OUTSIDE PETITIONS AGAINST LIQUOR TRAFFIC IN THE
DISTRICT.
The Senate was fairly flooded with petitions to
Every Senator had roll neatly done up and tied,
containing names obtained In his state, and one
after another they presented them 1t was petit
tiOn5 by the buShel.
MEETING OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE TO-DAY.
The Senate District committee. at their regular
meeting this morning, directed that the bill to
amend the law relating to the bonds OF executors
In the District be favOrably reported. 1t provides
that whenever tesator SHALL by last will or test
ment. request that bond be net required OF his
ad Of Ct,.H ay ytar
Shall be In such penalty as the court or register of
wills shall consider sufficient to secure payment Of
the debts due by the testator; but 1t is provided
that II 1t Shall be shown that the executor is vast
Ing the assets Of the estate, then the court may
quire additional bonds. Mr.. Harris reported the
bill to the Senate and 1t placed on the calen-
dar. The committee authorized Mr. RiddleDerger
to report the bill for the protection OF children In
the District fayorably, with amendments. which he
did. Other bills before the committee were re-
ferred TO appropriate subcommittee.
THE PROPOSED PESIrENT1ARY FOR THE DISTRICT.
Senator R1ddleberger, Of the District committee
informed STAR reporter to-day that the subject Of
erecting penitentiary here is being inquired into
with the view OF introducing bill for that purpose
II it shall be shown that there is economy In 1t.
He said there is reason to believe that more money
is being paid out for the confinement OF prisoners
and the expenses attending transportation, &C.
than it would cost in the long run to erect penl-
tenttary and fmpriSOn convictS here. Besides this
there is another consideration, the Senator added
Convlcts, perhaps from the south, are sent from
severe than they accustomed to, and it appears
that In same cases this change OF climate breaks
down tne,F health and prevents them from
lated 10 throw light upon this question.
THE AQuEDUcr BRIDGE TOLL
The petition asking Congress to reduce the rates
of toll on the Aqueduct bridge, OF which synopsis
was publishedin THE STAR some time ago. has been
placed In the hands OF the chairman OF the House
committee on the District. The rates proposed by
the DPJitfOlerS liberal and annie
For each foot passenger, cent each way; for each
horse, mule or jack with rider, cents, or cents
both ways; for each horse. mule or jack without
rider, or an OK or other cattle 2 cents; for each
vehicle drawn by one animal, cents, or 10 cents
both ways; for each vehicle drawn by two animals,
10 cents, or Is cents both ways; for each vehicle
drawn by four animals, ii cents or 20 cents both
ways, and no extra charge shall be made for the
driver passengers contents OF said vehicles: and
providing that said company, its successors, or
agents shall furnish toll tickets to any one desiring
to purchase them, In quantities of lot less than So
at twO-thirdS OF the said reduced rates.
Capitol Topics.
TIE QUESTION OF PROVIDING REPRESENTATIVES
WITH CLERKS.
In the discussions among members of the House
upon the question Of voting themselves clerks the
argument that southern members, as rule, do not
need secretaries Is frequently advanced. Much Of
the correspondence that imposes SO much labor
upon congressman relates TO pensions, a subject In
which the constituents OF southern members are
not interested II is apparent, however, that no
proposition to provide clerks for members at public
expense can go through the House, as many repub-
licans and perhaps more than three-fOurths the
democrats would vote against 1t.
REVENUE OFFICERS AND THE CIVIL SERVICE RULES.
In compliance with the request OF the House
committee on civil service the Secretary OF the
Treasury has sent to the House full list OF the
various revenue officers The desire Is that they
should be brought within the operations OF the
civil service rules.
OHIO DEMOCRATS AND THE DUTY ON WOOL
MI. Converse, OF Ohio, presented pack OF Pc
titions to the House to-day from the farmers and
wool growers OF different parts OF Ohio, asking for
the restoration OF the duty on wool. Mr. Converse
says that this restoration must be made II the
democrats hope for success in Ohio. The best In