Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-18
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
MEXICAN TREATY IN THE SENATE.
FITZ JOHN PORTER'S CASE BEFORE
THE HOUSE.
MR.. BRUMM WANTS MINISTER
WEST INVESTIGATED.
The Senate.

WEST INVESTIGATED.
The Senate.
The Chair laid before the Senate q message from
the President transmitting for the consideration Of
congress communications from the Secretaries OF
War and the Navy on the subject OF relief expe-
dition for Lieut.. Greely and his party and recon-
mendlng immediate action, as the situation OF the
party must now be most perilous. Also, the cor
Iespondence relating to the execution OF the Chi
nese exclusion act as asked for by the Senate in
resolution OF the 9TH inst.
AT 12:35 the Senate went into executive session.
House Of Representatives.
MI. Slocum (N. W asked unanimous consent
tnat to-morrOW'S session be set apart for debate
only on the Fitz John Porter bill
Mr.. Reed (Me.) objected
Mr. Bayne Pa.) introduced bill for the erection
OF public building at Allegheny City, Pa Refer
red
MR.. BRUMM'S RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY
Mr.. Brumm (Pa.) offered q resolution which was
referred to the committee on foreign affairs in
structing that committee to make inquiry rs to
Whether any foreign minister accredited to the
United states has endeavored TO nullify the effects
OF unanimous resolution Of this House by repre-
sentatlons rejecting on the honor and integrity OF
its members.
Mr.. slocum (N. " moved to dispense with the
morning hour. and though there was general Oppo-
sitlon on the republican side the motion secured
the requisite Jwo-thlrds' vote-l5S to 1S
THE FITz JOHN PORTER BILL
The House then. at l245, went into committee OF
the whole on the private calendar (Mr Springer Of
llinos, in the chair the first bill being that for
the relief OF FItZ John Porter.
The report Of the majority and the views OF the
minority were read During the reading Of the
latter, Mr. Steele und.l complained that the order
OF tne House requiring both reports to be printed
together had not been carried out. and that the
minority report could not be obtained at the docu-
Mr.. Slocum called attention to the fact that the
majority report had been printed long before the
views OF the minority were presented Nobody
was 10 blame because they were not printed to-
gether
The chair declared that debate was out Of order.
anu the reading was continued.
GEN. sLoCUM SUPPORTS THE BILL.
At its conclusion Mr. SIOcum proceeded to speak
in support Of the bill.
The District in Congress.
SUB-COMIITTEES OF THE SENATE DISTRICT COMMIT
TEE.
At the regular meeting Of the Senate District COM
mittee yesterday the following subcommittee
were appointed: On public debt-Messrs. Palmer,
Alurlch. and Brown On statutes anu municipal
csode-Earrs, code PIKE and ingalls, On streets and al
leyS-BrOWn. Riddleberger, and Vance. On cnari-
ties-Rlddleberger, Palmer, and German. on
claims and damages-Pike Vance. and Palmer. On
taxation and aSSeSSmentS-Aldrich. Brown, and
Pike. On corporations and franchises-Inga!ls,
Harris and AlGl1ch. on railroads and street rail
Ways-Gorinan. ingalls,. and Rddleberger. On mis-
cellaneous matters-NaDce. German. and HafriS.
The bills pending were referred to appropriate sub
committees. The license bill Went to the subcoln-
Eittee or taxation and assessments. and they de-
cli.ed not to hear oral arguments that subject,
but will receive and consider any written or printed
briefs or arguments. either Tor or against the bill,
that parties interested may care 20 submit.
Capitol Topics.
THE SHIPPING BILL
The shipping bill was again under consideration
by the Senate commerce committee this morning
The Sub-committeeS amendment providing for
ocean mali service between the United States and
foreign ports occupied their attention. but no action
upon 1t was reached.
PATENT BALLOT BOXES
senators Lapham and Pugn, u subcommittee OF
the Senate committee on privileges and elections,
gave hearing this morning TO patentees of ballot
boxes. Only one patentee appeared. Another
nearing Will he given at an early day, at which
oaiiot box inventors Who wish to do may eX-
plain their devices.
CONTEST CASES TO BE HEARD.
The committee on elections met to-day, and de-
cided TO Set Monday aside for the hearing OF the
case OF Garrison agt Mayo, and Wednesday for the
Pool Skinner case.
THE RETIREMENT OF ENLISTED MEN
In the committee on military affairs this morn
ing Mr. Lyman reported back to the committee the
bill to place orderly Sergeant Robert Hunt upon
the retired list. The bill was held over and MIR.
Lyman was authorized b: the committee to con-
slider the question OF preparing bill to provide for
1850, 12u5 and 141s We're reported to the House to
be referred TO the committee on pensions anG back
pay.
suB-CoMMIrTEEs OF THE HOUSE NAVAL COMMITTEE
The House committee on naval affairs to-day ap-
pointed the following sub-colnmittees Marine
schools and observation-disclosures. Morse. Talbot and
Thomas; on building vessels-MessrS Cox, Bu-
cnanan and Goff; on rank and pay-MeSsrs. Tai
Dott, Eaton and Thomas On marine corps-Messrs
Buchanan. McAdoo and Boutel!e; on navy yards
M rhftr from
NessEs. BOutele, Gon and Ballentine: Oh prize
nsoney-Messrs- McAoo, Ballentine and Haimer
The proposition to sell the naval hospital at Chel-
sea. Mass. was briefly discussed, ana it was deci-
ded to consider favOrably the Recommendations Of
lyn and Philadelphia hospitals and establish a gen
eral hospital at Norfolk, Va. y subcommittee,
composed OF Messrs Thomas and Morse. was ap-
pointed 10 draft general bill covering the entire
subject, according to the recommendations ap-
proved by the Secretary Of the Navy.
GEN. PORTER IN THE GALLERY
Gen FftZ John Porter was In the members gal
lery Of the House to-day during the consideration
OF his case
X. POTTRRS TWO PER CENT BILL
Mr.. Potter appeared before the House committee
on banking and currency and made an argument in
favor OF his two per cent bill The general opinion
is that the bill will not meet with the approval of
the committee.
THE COMMITTEE CLERKS
The statement has been published that the num-
ber Of committee clerks provided for in the assigI
| ment of the House committee ON accounts is much
larger than any previous Congress is a mistake.
The number Is considerably less than that OF the
last House. and is precisely the number provided
for in the executive legislative and judicial appro-
pration bill-32.
APPOINTMENTS.
L. o. Meeks, OF Pennsylvania, vas to-day ap-
pointed assistant clerk of the House committee on
appropriations, and George V. Hebb OF Georgia,
messenger to that committee.
W. L. Eaton was to-day appointed clerk to the
committee on law. respecting the election Of preSt-
dent and vice president.
LAND GRANT FORFEITCRES.
The subcommittee OF the House committee on
the judiciary, appointed to report on transferring
the consideration OF land grant fOrfetures before
that committee to the committee on public lands,
submitted report this morning. The report was
In favor Of putting the question before the House,
and having that body 4ecide whether or not the
subject should be transferred.
Diseased Cattle i'm the District.
CHAIRMAN HATCH EXPLAINS AWAY SOME NHAPPRR-
TENSIONS.
Col Hatch, chairman OF the House committee on
agriculture, in conversation with STAR reporter
to-day, said that erroneous Information had gone
out as to the manner In which the diseased lungs
| OF cattle exhibited at the Capitol q few days ago