Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-05
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
WHAT CONGRESS IS DOING
COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND OTHER MATTERS.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND OTHER MATTERS.
The Senate.
MILITIA FORCES OF THE COUNTRY
The Chair laid before the Senate communica-
ton from the Secretary OF War, transmitting an
abstract showing the condition Of the militia forces
organized and unorganized OF the United States
FITz JOHN PORTER BILL REFERRED.
The FiL John Porter relief bill received yester-
day from the House OF Representatives was to-day
referred to the Senate committee on military
affairs
BRANCH SOLDIERS HOME.
Mr.. Allison introduced a bill providing for a
branch soldiers home in of the states Of Arkan-
sas, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri
or Nebraska 1t was referred to the committee on
military affairs.
Mr.. Sherman called up the bill recently intro
duced by him to suspend the operation OF the Sec
ton OF the revised statutes relating to guano
islands.
Debate followed, participated in by Messrs. Sher-
man and Ransom In favor, and Salisbury, McPher-
son and Conger against the bill The opponents
Ing the farmers Of the United States the advantages
OF cheap guano-those in favor contending that
these guanos, by themselves, were not adapted for
After debate the Senate passed the bill further
SHspe9ang p tor nve years section b4 OF the Re-
VlSed statutes relating to the guano Islands.
The House.
MI. Dockery (Mo) offered resolution declaring
vacant the positions OF stenographers OF commit
tees OF the House and providing that hereafter,
the request OF committee, the Speaker shall en-
ploy stenographer or stenographers at compen-
sasion % be fixed by the committee on accounts.
Mr.. Calktns Und.) objected to its present consId-
Grafton, and it was referred to the committee on
Nj. Belmont (N W offered a resolution request
ing the President to communicate to the House the
the government In reference to the existing treaty
discrimination against the works OF foreign artists
together with such other information may be on
record IN the State department. Adopted.
Mr.. Bisbee Fla) offered resolution calling for
certain Florida claims, and It was referred to the
committee on foreign affairs.
THR HOT SPRINGS INVESTIGATION.
Mr. Young cTenn), chairman OF the committee On
expenditures in the Interior department, reported
resolution authorizing that committee, In its in
vestigation Of the conduct OF the work on Hot
Springs creek, to send sub-committee OF five MEM
Ders 10 HOT springs to pursue the investigation and
approprating 81 500 for that purpose.
Mr. White lkyo opposed the resolution on the
tion-a statement Which was emphat1cally denied
by Mr.. Young.
The resolution was reJected-yeas, 1os; nays, 1sa
MIR. ONeill (Pa.) presented petition OF the Phla-
delphla Maritime exchange asking for the abolition
OF compulsory pilotage fees. Referred.
MT. BurneS mo }, from the committee On apprO-
prations reported back the House bill for the r.S-
ment OF rebate on tobacco with Senate amend
ments thereto, and the amendments were concurred
amendment.
Capitol Topics.
sUB-coMMITTEEs FOR THE MISSISSIPPI AND vIR-
GINA INVESTIGATIONS.
Al the meeting OF the Senate committee on pr1vi-
legcs and elections this morning the following sub
tod Ton
under the Sherman resolutions:
For the Mississippi branch OF the Investigation
Senators Hoar, Camerono Of Wisconsin, Frye, Sauls-
bury and Jonas
For the Virginia branch-Senators Sherman, Lap
ham and Vance.
The time Of beginning the Investigation will be
liked by the SUBJ committees.
RESTORING DISCHARGED ARMY OFFICERS
Representative Laird, OF the House committee on
military AFFAIRS was authorized to-day to report
bill restoring Capt. Byrne to his grade in the regll-
lar army. He was discharged under an act OF 1870,
providing for the reduction Of the army His restor
alton Will anect about thirty officers, who were
discharged at the same time and who may be restored
by similar bills Representative Steele was also
1Se 1 tea 70 seP1re a an to b rea
amendment includes those officers that were pre-
vented from performing their duties, under their
commissions, by reason Of wounds sickness in hos
pitalS, or by being prisoners OF war.
bENATR COMMITTEE ON FINANCE.
At the meeting Of the Senate committee on
finance, this morning: Senator Morr1ls coinage bill
was discussed, but no conclusion was reached.
Senator Beck called up the bill toextend the bonded
period for whisky, and upon his motion 1t was re-
ferred to the Secretary OF the Treasury for infor-
ton as to the probable effect OF its passage
PUBLIC RESERVATION FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES.
the House committee on public lands to-day
ordered o favorable report OF bill donating the
at N5o0O, > Fort Smith, Arkansas, for school pur-
poses
A BILL no EXTEND TERMS OF OFFICE OF GOVERN
MENT EMPLOYEES.
MI. Willis introduced bill in the House vester-
day, which was prepared by the New York Civil
Service Reform Association to repeal the statutes
limiting the terms OF certain officers It provides
that OFFICES at present limited to term of four
years shall be held at the will OF the appointing
power, or during good behavior and competency.
The OFFICES Affected by the bill are those OF tile
United States district attorneys chief justices and
associate justices Of territories; presidential post
masters, registrars Of land ofices receivers of pub
lie moneys, surveyors general OF territories and
collectors OF custom.
THE SENATE CoMArrTRE ON PUBLIC LANDS
was in session until after one o'clock this
morning hearing arguments by representatives
OF the Ontonagon and Brule river and the On
tonagon Houghton and Marquette railroad COM
panies, OF Michigan, in defense of the land grant
to those companies Arguments were also made
on the other side in behalf Of the homestead and
presumption settlers Of the region.
COMPUTATIONS BY THE SENATE
The following nominations were confirmed In the
Senate yesterday: j. A Leonard, to be consul gen.
eral OF the United States at Calcutta Oscar Malm-
ros OF Minnesota to be consul OF the United States
az Le1th; Everett T. Freeman, OF Minnesota, to be
register OF the land ONCE at Redwood Falls MINI.
Robert NJ. Kelly, to be pension agent at Louisyile
KY; Joseph II. Durkee, as marshal OF the United
States for the northern district OF Florida: Richard
S. Tuthill, to be United states attorney Tor the
northern district Of Illinois. A number of postmas
ters were also confirmed
500 OOO RRWARD FOR RESCUE OF THE GRIZZLY PARTY
MI. Weller introduced bill in the House yester
day authorizing the President to offer q reward OF
$10OOOO Tor the rescue OF the Greely exploring
party at any time during the present year.
BILL PROVIDING FOR RLRCTION OF THREE VICE
PRESIDENTS.
Represer tattve Hammond's bill, introduced Yea.
terday, to amend the Constitution as to the oices
and duties OF the President and Vice President of
the United States, provides for the election Of a
PRESIDENT and three Vice Presidents, each chosen
ior the same number OF years The first Vice Prest-
dent shall be President OF the Senate. and the
second or third Vice President shall occupy that
position In case OF tho removal from Ofico OF the
President OF the United States In case OF the
removal OF the President the office is to be held nv
the nrst, second or third Vice President In order
PENALTY FOR sANCTTONIN0 POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS.
During the call OF states In the House yesterday
Mr.. Eaton introduced bill to punish government
officials for collecting or sanctionng the collection
OF political assessments from their subordinates
in Office. 1t provides that any officer who shall
knowingly permit any OF his SubOrdlnates TO be
assessed or called upon to contribute money for
elections shall be guilty OF felony, and on convic-
ton shall be imprisoned two or i've years Any