Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-03-01
AFFAIRS AT THE CAPITOL.
House Of Representatives.

MI oates (Ala), from the committee on public
lands. reported resolution calling on the Secreta
~ OF the Interior for information relative to the n
authorized fencing In OF public lands by individuals
! or corporations in the several states and terri
| tories. Adopted.
DISTRICT DAYS.
| Mr. Randall PAY, from the committee on rules
reported resolution, setting apart the second an6
1ourth Mondays OF each month, after the morning
iour, Tor the consideration of District business
Adopted.
MI. Reed (Mainel, from the same committee re-
ported resolution requiring the committee or
printing, when propositions to print additional
COPIES OF bills ETC. are reported by it, to report an
estimate OF the cost OF the same. Adopted.
Ihe Speaker laid before the House message
rom the President, transmitting the report OF the
clVh service commissions referred Also, meSSag ge
lrom the President transmitting a report OF the
secretary OF State, accompanied by the report OF a
collmisSion appointed to investigate the asserted
uh.eaitliileaS OF the swine products Of the United
States; referred.
BILLS REPORTED.
Under the call Of committees, the following bills
were reported:
by Nr. Wilkins tohio)-From the committee 'on
circulating notes to national banking associations
Committee OF the whole.
Mr.. Bucker CIo.) submitted minority report.
by Mr.. Reagan (IeX.l, from the committee on
commerce-To establish q board Of interstate COM
merce m rec and to regulate such commerce Committee
By Mr.. McAdoo On J), from the committee on
naval affairs-For the payment OF bounties due to
Officers and sailors OF vessels under the command OF
BY Mr.. Hobrtzell (Md), from the committee on
ton OF the Maryland and Delaware free shin canal
Committee OF the whole.
BY MIR. James N. ", from the same committee,
10 ald In the construction OF ship canal between
Lake Union and Puget Sound. Committee Of the
BY Mr.. Matson Qnd.), from the committee on in
nalu pensions, to increase the pension of widows.
minor children and dependent relatives OF deceased
soidlerS ana sailors Committee OF the whole
THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL
The House then, at Ito, went into committee OF
the whole (Nr. Converse Ohio, in the chain on the
naval appropriation bill
The District in Congress.
TIE MECHANICS LIEN BILL
The sub-1udiclary committee of the House Dis
trict committee to-day heard arguments in favor Of
the mechanics lien bill. The hearing on the con-
tractors bll was postponed until next Tuesday,
When IL Will take place before the full committee.
THE REVISED CODE.
STAR reporter to-day asked Senator Harris,
chairman OF the subcommittee on statutes and
municiple code Of the Senate District committee,
what the present status OF the District code was
"lt was, he replied, "Teintroduced Just as 1t was
reported In the last Congress. But we received a
leiter from the Commissioners calling attention
the fact that recent legislation had modified or
changed very many OF the subjects embraced in
the code. Since that cOdlication was prepared we
nave passed various acts relating to the subjects
and the Commissioners think there ought to be a
new revision and codification. They recommend
That we pass a law authorizing them to employ
some competent person to do the wofk. Since the
receipt OF the Commissioners letter we have done
nothing with the matter. but myself am in favor
OF passing such a bill as they recommend. and am
inclined TO think the subcommittee VIII agree to
this. The fact Is, that no member OF either house
Will ever have time to examine that whole subject
as 1t ought to be examined, and prepare code
No member can take the time necessary to do It,
Therefore believe the best plan is authorize the
employment Of some competent person, and let the
report be submitted, well. perhaps at the next
sooner"
Wore Charges Against Z. s. Marslals.
TESTIMONY OF Ex-DELEGATE BURLEIGH BEFORE MR.
SPRINGER'S COMMITTEE.
Hon. W. A. Burleigh, ex-Delegate In Congress
from Dakota, was witness before the Springer
committee to-day. He testified that there was
general laXity and remIssness on the part of mar
shals and deputy marshals In the discharge of their
duties in Dakota and Montana. He said marshals
and deputies have made practice OF arrestng per-
sons on frivolous charges, and taking them long,
distances for trial, to make large fees Mr. Bur
leigh testified that Judge COnger, Of Montana was
suspended for nearly year upon serious charges,
then reinstated just before the expiration OF his
term. and was then succeeded by new appointee.
He said that during all that time there was no
cOurtno administration OF justice; that prisoners
Ing trial. Not q civil case tried for nearly q
year, though important ones were on the docket.
The official report OF Judge Conger'S misconduct
was submitted to the department last July, and
after waiting some months tConger then under sus-
pension) the department reinStated him. Congers
successor has not yet qualified The witness could
not explain why the department delayed SO long,
but he said the depOrabe condition OF affairs had
almost broken up the practice of law in the terri
tory.
THE CHARGES AGAINST JUDGE CoNGER
Judge Shannon took the stand after Mr.. Burleigh,
and gave the details of his inquiry into the charges
against Judge Conger.
Capitol Topics.
THE MODIFIED MORRISON BILL
The Morrison tariff bill as modified by limiting
the free list to salt, coal and lumber will find
greater strength on the democratic side OF the
House, and it was to gain this support that the
notifications were made. In the form now pro-
posed number OF democrats Will remain neutral.
to say the least. and the chances OF antagoniZing
the bill successfully by appropriation bills and
other measures are cOrreSnondlngly IeSSened. The
changes were made after consultation with
Speaker Carlisle and the democratic members of
the ways and means committee. The main con-
ceSson is to the free ores men. Morrison, himself
and some other members objected TO retreat in this
particular, but consented TO a compromise to
strengthen the bill. The low tariff men do not,
however, regard the amended bill as a virtual sur
render. The horizontal principle is adhered to,
and the larger interests outside of the ores boldly
attacked The republicans certainly do not regard
the action as back-down, for they will oppose the
bill in its present shape and it is expected that Mr.
Randall and his immediate following will do their
ing the Senate. The bill as thus modified Will pos
sibly pass the committee and be submitted to the
House next Wednesday.
THE STEEL CRUISERS BILL PASSES THE SENATE.
The Senate yesterday passed the bill for the con-
structon OF seven steel cruisers by vote Of 3S to 13
The negative vote, with a single exception, Van
Wyck), was cast by democrats
NOMINATIONS.
The President sent the following nominations to
the Senate yesterday afternoon: Rodney D. Wells,
to be postmaster at st. Louis, vice Samuel Hays,
whose term expired Wednesday; julius Stahel to
vice Denny, resigned; also number OF army pro-
motions
TILT BETWEEN GEN. R0SECRANS AND Mr.. WHITE,
OF KENTUCKY.
The bill for the appointment and retirement OF
Gen. Alfred PleaSantOn as major general OF the
army was the subject Of long debate In the House
afternoon The measure was advocated
by Gen. RosecranS, MeSSrS Bayne, Maginnis and
BelfOrd and opposed by MeSSrS Steele, SUockSlager
Brown and Mcmillan. During the debate little
excitement was occasioned by tilt between Gen.
Rosecrans and Mr.. White, of KY, In which Mr.
White insinuated that Gen. Rosecrans was too
much interested in the case, and Gen. ROSecranS
made some remark rejecting upon Mr.. Whites
intelligence. That gentleman then escaped further
the House. MI. Cutcheon offered an amendment
providing that Gen. PleaSantOn should be retired
with the rank OF colonel; which was adopted, and
the matter was laid aside for further consideration
THE POST OFFICE BILL,
approved by the House appropriation committee
yesterday appropriates an aggregate OF $45 800
instead OF O62, ,1s9, asked for. 1t appropr1ates
for the compensation OF postmasters So OOOO
and provides that no salary OF any postmaster shalt