Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-17

"SecuOn 1883. Inc provisions of the seven
preceding sections relating to the limitation OF
the liability of owners of vessels shall apply to
all sea-going vessels, as well as all steam YES.
sells used in river or inland navigation, but
shall not apply to any canal boat, barge or
lighter"
THE LAND GRANT FORFEITURE BILLS.
Strong pressure is being brought to bear in
the Senate for consideration of some of the
land grant forfeiture bills A delegation OF
Iowa citizens, representing the settlers on the
unearned lands Of the Souix City and st. Paul
railroad has been here for some days pressing
the claims of that measure. They represent 500
lands they have entered and the improvements
they have made upon them. The forfeiture bill
passed the House and has been, with some
The members of the delegation, in talking to a
STAR reporter to-day, declared that-h their bill
Is h9t saKen up such neglect will cost the re-
publ1cans thousands of votes in Iowa and may
lose that party the state. They say the set
tiers located upon the lands in pursuance of an
that these lands belonged to the United States.
Should the republicans of the Senate neglect to
bring up the bin within the next several days
termined to appeal to the democrats and to
convince them that such aid on their part will
help their party in Iowa
The Texas Pacific land grant forfeiture bill is
one Whlcn, some OF the republican Senators say,
their their party cannot afford to neglect. These
national platform declared unequivocafiy in
favor OF these land grant forfeitures; that the
,,t1a democratic House has passed some forfeiture
bllis, among them the Texas Pacific, and 1t will
not 90 1or the republican Senate to let them go
over.
THE PACIFIC MAIL SUBSIDY.
The advocates Of the 100000 appropriation
for steamers of American registry for carrying
U. S. mail, commonly known as the "Paciflc
mail subsidy" do not give up the fight because
OF their defeat in the House. The provision
was Yesterday reported from the post office
committee Of the Senate, with the recommen-
62f1On no tod INT ha
proprlatlon BILL the idea being that II it passes
the senate the appropriation may be got
through III the conference committee.
ADJUSTING PosTMAsTERs ACCOUNTS.
Acting Postmaster General Crosby, in a letter
to the Senate to-day, stated that eight clerks
have been employed at the work Of adjusting
the salaries Of postmaters Of the third, fourth
and fifth classes, under the act of March 3D.
aSsS, during the present fiscal year; that these
clerks were detailed from various bureaus, and
subject to recall at any time; therefore, he would
urge the Recommendation OF the Postmaster
General that temporary force of ten clerks be
authorized for this service. The total amount
found due to pOstmasters by adjustments COM
pleted to date is S17s4s1.23. The probable ap-
the adjustments made within the present fiscal
year year with 1T aa the present clerical force may be
amount that will be found due during the next
fiscal year, with the increased clerical force
asked for 40 temporary clerks) may be stated,
In round number, at $685.
THE NOMINATION. OF EMORY SPEER OPPOSED
In the executive session of the Senate yester-
day afternoon the nomination Of Mr.. Emory
Speer, Of Georgia, to be United States district
Judge, which had been reported favorably
1rom the judiciary committee, was taken up.
Mr. Brown made a long speech in favor of con-
nrmation as one suitable in oil respects. Mr..
Col9uitt, in a speech, opposed the confirmation
0I MI. Speer, as one not fit to be made for the
United States bench. The case went over un-
til the next executive session. The impression
senate. AmOnp w
MI. Speer, is that he will be confirmed.
THE INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL.
The Senate yesterday afternoon passed the
Indian appropriation bill substantially as it
was reported from the appropriations commit
tee, with all the House legislation stricken ont
The provision for the establishment of an In
dian school ut Santa Fe was retained in spite OF
the committees recommendation to strike 1t
out.
MIR. RANDALL's PLAN TO BUILD UP THE NAVY
At meeting Of the House committee on ap-
preparations last night, for the consideration OF
the navy appropriation bill, Mr.. Randall's
proposition to increase the navy was adopted
with amendments. The amendments provide
of three civilians one line officer above the rank
OF captain, a naval constructor, naval engin.
eer az and the Secretary Of the Navy; that The
awards for designs of the vessels shall be limited
to $4,000 and $4,000; that there shall be but
four different kinds of vessels, and that the re-
port of the board shall be submitted to the pres.
1dent before the frs. Monday in December. and
he in turn shall transmit it to Congress.
The statement by navy officer in THE STAR
last night, in which he spoke of Randall having
a job in the proposition, was severely censured
by the members of the committee, who say
there Is not suspicion or a possibility of such
thing.
THE PENSION BUREAU INVESTIGATION.
The committee investigating abuses in the
Pension bureau heard further evidence yester
day. Commissioner Clark testified that Chief OF
special Examiners Rathbone gave but little at
tention to the duties Of his Office and was not
the last campaign many of the special exam
liners were detached for political service in Ohio
ana elsewhere, and reported to Mr.. Dudley and
not TO the Acting Commissioner Of Pensions
THE INVENTORS CONVENTION IN LONDON.
Mr.. Pierrepont Edward, the British consul
general at New York, who is in the city, is urg.
ing that Congress authorize the President to ap-
point commissioner to represent the United
states at q convention of inventors to be held in
LONDON during the coming summer.
NOTES.
Senators Garland, Morgan, George, Hoar Pike.
Lapham and Pendleton were the only membe
Of that body present when the prayer was deliv-
The bills to quiet the title of Des Moines land
settlers In Iowa and the bill to prohibit the i'm
portation OF contract labor, promise to hold the
attention of the Senate for some days, unless set
aside for other measures.
Senator Bayard will not return to Washing
ton until tomorrow. He spent to-day in Dover.
where he went in relation to some measure OF
Importance to his state pending in the legisla-
ture.
The Senate is now pushing forward and dis
posing Of as fast as practicable pension bills
which have passed the House.
Senator Pendleton has written no letter to
the President-elect favoring Judge Thurman
for the cabinet
A meeting Of the committee on coinage.
weights and measures has been called to con.
slider the DorSheimer silver bill tomorrow
morning.
Rights of American Citizens in Ger.
many.
REPORT OF THE HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE.
At the meeting of the House foreign affairs
committee yesterday, Mr.. Deuster, chairman
of the subcommittee, submitted an adverse re-
port upon Mr. S. s. Cox's joint resolution, re-
nuesfinp the President To oiuo notioo To Cor