Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-20
WORK IN THE COMMITTEE ROOMS.
The Senate.

| Of forests on the public domain Also, joint
under CONTROL Of the 1hs Of asTcu
| ture. The bill and resolution were placed on
| the calendar.
Mr.. Mitchell gave notice that on Monday he
would ask the Senate to take up private PEN
| SION bf.' on the calendar that have been passed
ny 1ne .s,5rse, including the proposed pension
MI. Hoar introduced bill for the relief of
seamen: 1t was referred to the committee on
Mr.. German offered resolution, which was
| agreed TO- calling on the Secretary of the Inte-
rtor for Information as to whether the subsi-
| d12ed Pacthc railroads have constructed and
| are maintaining and operating their own lines
OF telegraph, and whether telegraphic messages
and corporations without discrimination as to
price and other conditions, as provided by the
act OF July 1st, 1862.
THE PROGRAM TOMORROW.
Mr.. Hoar inquired whether the Senate expec-
ted to proceed with legislative business to-mor-
| row after the ceremonies of dedication of the
Washington monument. He, for one, hoped the
| Senate would do so, as there were but 10 or 12
| working days of the session left, and the time
was precious to the country beyond computa-
| tton. He inquired of Mr.. Sherman when the
ceremonies would probably be completed.
Mr.. Sherman replied, :" Probably about s
| o'clock, or between and s."
Calls for the regular order" shut off the col
!o9uy, and the Des Moines river settlers title
bill was laid before the Senate and Mr.. Lapham
resumed his remarks in support of his proposed
| amendment requiring parties in whose inter-
| ests suits may be instituted by the Attorney
| General to file bonds giving security for costs.
The amendment was voted down-yeaS %,
| nays 20.
Mr.. Lapham occupied the time till 1 o'clock
At that hour, Mr.. Lapham still having the floor,
| the matter went over.
| THE SILVER BILL
| Mr.. Morrill, called up the anti-silver coinage
bill, saying Mr.. Sherman was ready to speak
on it.
Mr. Hoor Soid bo d;d MT +bI,t- q sl1-or doboto
| of any Importance to the country at this time.
| "A vote on the silver question, however, would
| extra session. He for one would be willing to
| nave both houses assemble on the 9Th March.
| THE AGRICULTURAL BILL.
After discussion, MIR. Hale asked unanimous
| consent to take up the agricultural appropria-
| bill.
| Mr.. Morrill, objected, and pressed his motion
yeas q, nays %. Mr.. Morrill, then asked
unanimous consent TO lay that bill Informally
aside to permit consideration of the agricultural
Mr. Cameron CWis.) objected.
Mr.. Hale moved to take up that bill.
vote. The agricultural appropriation bill was
| taken up and its consideration proceeded with.
House of Representatives.
The House met at 10 o'clock in continuance
| of Thursdays session, and Immediately went
| into committee of the whole (NIr. Hammond, of
| bill.
| One hour was consumed in slowly and unde-
| terminately voting upon amendments to the
paragraph making appropriation for improve
| ment OF the Mississippi river. Finally, in order
| to expedite matters, the friends of the bill
| yielded to motion to strike out the entire
| Mississippi river clause. This withdrew the
| bone of contention FROM the committee, and the
| clause will be restored in the House.
The clause relative to the Hennepin canal be-
delivered q q
| decision on the points of order that were raised
againstit He held that the subiect-matter was
| germane, and that 1t was not in the nature of
| new legislation, and, therefore, overrued the
| points which were based on those grounds: but
| sustained the point that the committee on
| rivers and harbors had not original Jurisdiction
Of the subject, and that it should properly have
been considered by the committee on railways
and canals; and upon this ground he ruled that
the clause was not in order, and must be stricken
from the bill.
| Mr.. Henderson Gowa) appealed from the de-
House adjourned, and, at II O'Clock, the session
| OF Friday began.
ordered that when the House adjourn today it it
be to meet tomorrow at the call of the Speaker.
THE CONSULAR AND DIPLOMATIC BILL.
Mr.. Burnes (N1o) submitted the conference re-
| port on the consular and diplomatic appropri-
| alton bill, and it was agreed to.
Mr.. Wolford (Ky.) called up the motion to re-
| consider the vote by which the Houee, some
days ago. refused to pass the bill granting pen
sion Of $50 a month to the widow of Major
agreed to, and the bill was passed. was
Mr.. Bingham (Pa.l, from the committee on
post offices and post roads, reported resolution
| tion relative to the supplying of inferior en-
aeiopes to IT the Post Office and the
Springfield, Mass.
The District i'm Congress.
THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS TO EXPLAIN.
In the Senate to-day Mr.. Morgan's resolution
calling upon the District Commissioners to ex-
plain why they failed to transmit reply to his
| resolution OF last June, directing detailed
| statement Of taxes assessed, collected, etc. las
published in yesterdays STAR was adopted.
DISTRICT DAY IN THE HOUSE NEXT MONDAY.
Monday is the last District day in the House,
| and the District committee have not yet de-
| cided upon the order of business to be pressed.
| Members Of the committee will ask the chair
man to call a meeting this evening or to-mor-
row. 1t is the desire to pass the free bridge bill
and other important measures, but there is a
fear that the appropriations committee will an
| day altogether. Some of the members are
ready n & to y yield without a struggle and give up
al hope OF further District legislation, but Mr.
McComas and others say they are determined
| to get the day if possible.
THE LIBRARY AND CITY POST OFFICE BILLS.
The chances are not good for the passage of
either the library bill the bill for the erection
| Of city post Office building this session. The
fr1endS OF the library bill have about given up
the idea Of getting their bill through. The pub
| lie buildings and grounds committee Of the
House has been trying all this week to get a
meeting to consider the city post office question,
but have failed to do SO, and have not been able
even to get the bill passed by the Senate referred
to the committee.
Capitol Topics.
THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL
was taken up IN the House late yesterday after
noon and the consideration of the first section
completed, Governor Curtin's amendment ap-
propriating $3.50 for testing steel armor
being agreed to without opposition. Mr.. Thomas,
Of Illinois, made point Of order against Mr..
KandalIs proposition concerning the rebuilding
of the navy, and debate on this went over until
to-day. General debate on the bill was limited
TO four hours. Quite q lively debate grew out Of
the proposition to appropriate $500, 900 for the
completion Of the cruiser New York, political
speeches being made on both sides, and q little
tilt occurring between Messrs. Hewitt and Ran
dali.
THE ARLINGTON ESTATE.
Senator Miller, of New York, to-day reported
favorably from the committee on agriculture q
resolution to place all that portion of the Arlng
ton estate owned by the United States, and not
needed for the national cemetery, the signal
service station and FORTS under the direction of
the commissioner of agriculture to be used for
| AGRICULTURAL purDOaea