Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-04
DISTRICT INTER ESTS IN CONGRESS.
Important Matters Which Will BE
Brought to the Front.

/ The District committee of the House will get to-
gether as soon after Congress assemblies as posi-
BILE. An effort will be made to get more time fol
District business. Several important District mat
tiers are on the calendar and others are still In
committee, but in a condition that promises
prompt action. Further efforts will be made, IL
the first place. to pass the "traction railway bill
and the school board bill Mr.. Rowell, who worked
hard for the free bridge across the river at Yves,
Washington, says he is going now to do his best
to get the bridge across the Eastern branch which
has been petitiOned for. 1t is very necessary, he
says, and will not cost much-only 100000. An
o6deT tang ne ne Is anxious should be done IS the
disgrace that the laws here should be in the condi
tion they area lot OF old Maryland laws buried
inapplicable. The District needs code of its own
1t would be impossible, he says for committee OF
Congress to make the compilation and study the
question as requires to be studied. 1t would
take six months'-at least six mOnths-Steady
hard work, and competent men should be employed
TO do 1t.
THE CITY POST OFFICE.
1t is understood that the House committee on
public buildings and grounds is coming together
again on the question OF constructing city post
Office at Washington over which they were so split
up last session. The tendency is towards settle.
ment In favor OF the City Hall site, and it is prob
able that they Will agree upon that and bill will
be passed this winter. The urgent need OF the
building Is recognized by all the members.
United States Prisoners.
THEY NUMBER NEARLY 1,3O0-THE CRIMES OF WHICH
THEY WERE CONVICTED.
In view OF the widespread desire for accurate in.
formation regarding United States prisoners con.
fined in different parts OF the country, tabulated
statement has been prepared at the Department OF
Justice, giving detailed information about such
prisoners except their individual names and rec.
ords, which is to be embodied in the Attorney
Generals report.
There are IS prisons, penitentiaries and reform.
The number received during the year was 1927
the number discharged ITO, and the number
in custody June 3Oth, ,ee1. 246 were committed
violating the postal laws, and 639 for other
offenses OF the ,26l prisoners 1035 were born in
the United States and 226 foreign born. Nine hun.
males Qncluding 4S Indians and one Chinaman)
six white females and nine colored females. One
hundred and twenty-five We're under 20 years Of
and 40 years, POT between 10 and SO years and lis
over fifty. years. Six hundred and twelve
at the end OF the year, and OF this number II were
insane. One thousand and sixty-seven were work.
ing, and 131 were idle. There were IA inmates at
the government insane hospital These were pr1S-
oners sent from different penitentiartes, having
become insane. Congress has now appropriated
suf1icient money for suitable building for theil
custody, with rooms for their employment. OF
this number there were eight white males, i've
colored males, and one colored female.
Important State Papers.
MESSAGES OF THE EARLY PRESIDENTS, ETC, 10 BI
STORED IN THE BASEMENT OF THE CAPITOL.
The papers and records in the file room OF the
House, which are to be removed to q room pre-
pared for the purpose in the basement, constitute
the originals OF important messages and docu
ments. The messages of President washington, III
the original manuscript, and of Jefferson, Jht
AdamSeS, the reports, recommendations cOmmu
nicationS. etc., OF the early cabinet ministers anC
| other documents Of historical value are among
these files. II has been suggested that all the
documents possessing historical value or Interest
should be transferred to the Congressional library
and so arranged, when the new library building
shall be completed, as to afford easy access t(
them; but as It Will be some years before thai
building can be completed, therefore, In order Il
preserve these documents, meantime, its is pro
posed to provide hfe-prOOf room for them in ths
basement. The apprOpria ton for the change vii
be inserted In the Sundry civil bill.
Capitol Notes.
Senator Sherman was at the Capitol until about
one p. IN. to-day. He was busily engaged In ths
Vice Presidents room.
Capt. johnson, chief clerk OF the Senate ha,
taken rooms for himself and family at the Temple
hotel.
Senator Hampton win arrive In washington mex,
Tuesday or wednesday. letter Just received from
him by friend In this city shows that the injury