Omaha daily bee., 1885-02-27
WASHINGTON NOTES.

i
WASHINGTON NOTES.
WASHINGTON, February 26.-The senate
committee of appropriations increased the
naval appropriation bill as follows: Two
millions for continuing the work IN double
turreted monitors, $500, 900 for the armament
of the new cruisers and gunboats, 81, 100, 900
for the construction of steel cruisers and gun
of the bureau, yards and docks.
Negotiations have been in progress between
the United States and Spain for an extension
until May Is, 1856, of the time within which
the Spanish reciprocity treaty will be ratified
by the United States senate and put into
effect by congressional legislation. The pres
ent limitation is six months from November
Is, 1884. 1t is understood that the negotia-
tions have been practically concluded, with
the effect above indicated.
H PACIFIC RAILROAD FUNDING BILL
| introduced in the senate by Hoar, differs from
the bill of the same subject reported from the
senate committee on judiciary, rs amended IN
the house bill, in several important particu-
lars. These differences are substantially as
follows: 1t fixes the date for the ascertain
ment oftthe indebtedness of the companies on
April 1886 instead of 1887, and provides that
in computing the Indebtedness and deducting
therefrom the amounts in the sinking fund,
the value of any bonds in such sinking funds
| shall be computed at their market values, and
it provides bonds of redemption to be delivered
to thesecretary of thettreasury by the companies
shall mature at the expiration of each SIX
months, beginning with October l, 1856.
The committees bill provides that the bonds
of redemption shall bear interest at the rate of
three per cent per annum for the time each
bond has to run (interest on eacht to be payable
s~emi.annually), and that each bond shall be
for an equal one hundred and twentieth part
of the balance of the debt, and interest COM
puted thereon-computed as due the United
States at the time the bond was issued.
Hoar's bill provides that each of the bonds
shall be for the same sum-, which sum shall be
ascertained by adding to the balance tho in
debtedress, computed to the time the bonds
are issued, interest at three per cent per an
mum from that date to the average date of The
maturity of the bonds, and dividing such ag-
gregate amount by 100. 1t contains also, in
addition to the provisions of the judiciary
committees bill, a clause providing that
every disposition of any stocks or bonds, or
other securities of other corporations, now
owned by the companies, whether by sale,
pledge or otherwise, shall be reported
to the secretary of the interior within thirty
days, and the clause authorizing each COM
pany to expend in each year whatever sums
necessary to maintain its railroad, rolling
stock, equipments and operating property of
every description, in as good condition as the
same now are, and in all respects in o proper
condition to do the business of such company.
Also a provision authorizing and directing the
secretary of the treasury TO require the COM
panies to pay out any balances of net income
left in any year, after the requirements of this
act have been complied with, and after the
payment of such sums as are required for the
maintenance and improvements of their ra l.
roads, equipments and reppurtenauces, anc
dividends not to exceed 6 per cent per annun
I -, Al@s. ,-l.,,I,-l -A-.A,l aAA-tr' r,noh n,,,
not to exceed 10 per centum of such balance
as he may think proper. The money so paiC
to be invested by him in the sinking fund tt
be held by him as additional security for the
bonds of redemption.
NOMINATION..
Post chaplain, Rev. B. G Hammond, Ia.
RIVERS n HARBoRs.
WASHINGTON, February 26,-Representa
tive Willis submitted q proposition to the
! members of the committee on rivers and har
bors, individually, to abandon the river ant
harbor bill now before the house, and to re-
port a measure recommending an approprla
ton of So, 900, 600 to be expended under thu
direction of the secretary of war in completing
or preserving the unfinished works OF i'm
provement. No conclusion was reached.
If the proposition is favorably received
Willis will endeavor to pass the proposed bill
under suspension of the rules.
. Representative King intends to introduce
Joint resolution providing an appropriation o
: $1,000, 600 to be expended under the direction
t OF the president In the prosecution OF sucl
r works of Improvement on rivers and harbor
as are now in progress.
oennIor uipson inClouuceu a os 60 COO n nri
r prottLu ~ y n % SH.?oG,ou
Ior tne lhproyement OF the NiisslssiPpi tiv .h
t 70 ~ eApenue unuer ehe uiIetttL,I.hh H. - ~
specification, estimates and recommending
, OF ehe MISSISSIPPI river anu harpof connhif
sion'
. THE HOUSE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
was in session four hours to-day, consider
!, ing the participation of this government il
g the Congo conference. A conclusion wa
o Jared by Representative Phillips would han
The resolution provides that no prospec
of commercial advantage warrants a depart