Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-07-14
RIVER AND HARBOR BILL.
Horizontal Reduction in the Senate.
THE TREASURY SURPLUS.
House Debate on Mr.. Morrison's Resolution.
The Senate.

NIGHT SESSIONS DISCUSSED.
MIR. Hale called attention to the fact that the
Congressional Record this morning only con-
tanned report of the Senate proceedings up to
about 10 o'clock. This was unusual. It was
only when all night sessions were held that
such a thing happened before. He did not
Know Where the iault was,whether with the
not occur again.
Mr.. Platt said there was a limit to human en-
durance, and as the reporters had to transcribe
all OF last nights proceedings, he had no doubt
they carried them AS far for the Record as pos
sibe. He did not believe in night sessions any
how.
Mr.. Cockrel said he did not believe night ses-
SlOns FASTENED work.
BILLS PASSED.
The Senate then took up the calendar and the
following bills were passed: A Senate bill for
the further protection of property from fire,
ana Tor the safety of lives in the District of Co
lumbia House bill to present medal OF honor
to Thomas Sampson, of New York, for bravery
In saving lives from drowning by shipwreck;
Senate bill in relation to Indian traders; House
bill authorizing the establishment of additional
light house Districts. Also Ia pension bills, IL
OF them being House bills.
BILLS OBJECTED TO.
Among the bills that were objected to and
went over were the following: To repeal the act
Of June, 1873, for appointment of second lieu.
tenants in the signal corps; to limit the print
Ing and engraving for the geological survey,
coast survey, etc; to grant leave of absence to
navy yard employees: in regard to transmission
OF lottery and gift enterprise circulars through
the mails; to Increase temporarily the number
OF assistant engineers in the navy.
HORIZONTAL REDUCTION OF THE RIVER AND
HARBOR BILL.
At 1890 o'clock the Senate took up the river
and harbOr bill and Mr.. Mcmillan (whO has
charge ofit, moved an order that the bill be re-
| committed to the committee on commerce with
instructions to amend it as voted by the Senate
in committee of the whole, except that in each
item of the bill and in the aggregate there pe q
reduction of 80 per cent; that the committee
amend the bill accordingly (and not OthcrWiSe)
and report the same complete forthwith.
Mr.. Push and Mr.. Call argued that the vote
on the amendments should first be taken in the
Senate, as there were some items disprOpOr-
tionately increased and some diSproporton-
ately reduced, and the Senate should have an
opportunity of passing on them before the
order proposed was made.
Mr.. Sewell moved TO reduce the proposed re-
afterwards withdrew that motion.
Mr.. Logan declared himself opposed to the
manner OF cutting down the bill by horizontal
slice.
Mr.. Vest "a member of the committee on COM
merce) opposed the order, although he antici-
pated, he said, that 1t would prevail:
and Gibson, Mr. Riddleberger arose and char
| acterzed the discussion as an attempt to build
up Capt. Eads' reputation with view to aid
The debate was Continued % by y Messrs. Harris,
Kenna. Butler and Mcmillan.
Mr.. Edmunds said that the bill was teaching
the people to be looking to Congress and the
National treasury for everything instead of
depending on themselves.
House Of Representatives.
On motion of Mr.. Grain (Texas), bill was
passed increasing to $25O,OOO the limit of the
public building at Galveston, Texas.
On motion of Mr.. Guenther (Wis) a Senate
bill was passed appropriating S1OO, 900 tor the
erection OF public building at Oshkosh, Wis.
MR.. MoRRISON'S SURPLUS RESOLUTION.
The House then went into committee of the
! whole (Mr. Crisp, of Georgia, in the chair for
the consideration of the surplus resolution, an
eral debate will close at o'clock.
MIR. Morrison Ull.) offered the following
amendments; "The surplus or balance herein
talned according to the form of the statement
OF the United States Treasurer of the assets
and liabilities of the Treasury of the United
States employed June 80, 1886"
Mr.. Hewitt IN. " took the floor in opposition
to the resolution.
view OF the financial situation and the policy of
the administration thereon. He said il the reso-
luton should be adopted, he would regard it AS
"a vote OF want OF confidence in the policy OF the
administration which under other forms of gov
ernment would lead to the resignation of the
ministry and under our form Of government
would necessarily lead to a change in the prac-
tce OF the administration.
The District in Congress-.
PROTECTION FROM FIRE, &C.
The Senate proceeded to the calendar to-day
and passed the bill introduced by Mr. Wilson.
OF Maryland, and reported by Mr.. Vance), for
the further protection of property from fire and
safety of lives in the District of Columbia The
bill has been printed in The STAR. 1t requires
that every building used for such purposes as
hotels, SeminarieS, places OF amusement. hos
pitals ETC., shall be provided with fire escapes
and stand pipes; that lights shall be kept at
night in each hallway and stair landings and
II the owners lessees. trustees, ETC., neglect to
SO provide their buildings the building inspec-
| tor and chief of the fire department (who are to
pliances for escape from fire, etc., shall pro-
vide such at the expense of the owner. For
is imposed, and in case of loss of life injury
| from fire III Il building not provided the law
directs, the owners shall be liable for such loss
| or injury.
THE CAPITOL TERRACES.
Senator Morrill, was on the floor OF the Senate
| to-day for the first time since his illness. He
came out somewhat earlier than he intended,
because of the proposition of the apprOpria-
t1ons committee to stop the work and change
the plan OF improvement OF the Capitol terraces.
Mr.. Morrill, is very much interested in that I'M
| provement and is anxious to see it carried out
| in accordance with the original plan.
| 1t was Messrs. Plumb, Hale and Cockrell, of
the Senate committee on appropriations, who
procured the amendment to the sundry civil
Dill tc stop work on the Capitol terraces until
| the plan shall be changed so as TO place win
doWs in the west front OF the new committee
| rooms These Senators contended that the
committee rooms should have windows on that
side, ana would not consent to anything else on
| this question.
MRS. TAYLoR'S PETITION.
| petition was presented in the Senate yes
terday from Anna E. Taylor, who, asks on be-
| halt of the heirs of the late Vincent l. Taylor
| compensation for damage done by the board
| of public works to No. 237 Bridge street,
| Georgetown, ID. Z. She estimates the damage
at $4,000.
| Capitol Topics.
ADVISING RETALIATION AGAINST CANADA.
Representative BOutelle has written in reply
to Secretary Bayard's letter stating that he is
pleased to hear OF the prompt action of the
State department., but that the continuous an
| noyance OF the American fishers shows tlat
they are by no means yet assured OF their rights.
he thinks the condition of affairs humiliating
| to the people OF the United states and suggests
| the prOpriety of some retaliatOry action, stat
ing That II the President is not clothed with suf
| ncient authority to take such action there is NO
| doubt That Congress will strengthen his hands.
THE EIGHT-HoUR CLAIMS.
In reply to the chairman Of the House labor
| committee; First Controller Durham has sent
the following opinion concerning the govern.
ments liabilities under the eight-hour law:
| Under section 1853 OF the Revised Statutes,
eight hours constitutes days work for labOrers,
workmen and mechanics who may be en-
ployed by or on behalf OF the government Of the
United States. 1t only applies TO those three
| classes or persons, but 1t is competent for who
| ever may have them in charge 10 contract with
| than that specified in the statute, and my de-
cision was only intended to apply 10 future ser
vices. II any of the Workmen referred TO desire
to present their claims they should hrst apply