Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-26
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
Confinement or Inebrsstes.

Confinement OF ImebriateS.
BILL To PROVIDE FOR PLACING HABrTUAL
pRUNkARDs IN THE GOVERNMENT INSANE
ASYLUM.
In the Senate to-day Mr.. Edmunds introduced
bill to provide for the confinement of inebri-
ates Of the District Of Columbia In the govern
ment Insane asylum.
The bill provides that whenever by petition,
unoer oath, any person In the District OF Column
ola snail DC alleged TO be an habitual drunkard.
incapable OF taking care OF himself or herself, or
ms or her property, the supreme Court OF the
District In special term shall have the power, in
or Inquiry as is may deem proper 10 make
ex parte, TO issue a warrant 70 the marshal
10 arrest and Bring the person SO charged before
Inc court; the court shall cause jury of good
and lawful men TO be summoned, TO be empan-
eied forthwith and shall charge the jury under
oath, In the presence OF The person srraigned.
70 inquire whether he or she is an ha-
bituai drunkard incapable OF taking care
or himself or herself, and the proceedings shall
Insane and the rules OF law and proceeding APP
plicaoie To the property OF insane persons shall
alleged to be habitual drunkards may dispense
Win the legal proceedings, and may,
with the approval Of the court appoint
his or her guardian, and may voluntarily enter
the lum for limited time. IL the person be
found TO be an habitual drunkard the court shall
appoint a guardian, who shall, with the written
assent and appreciation OF the court, have power
to confine such person in the asylum for such
length OF time rs the court may In
with the approval Of the court release the per-
son before the expiration OF the time, or may
have the period of confinement extended, rs
may be necessary for his OF her complete rcior-
nation. The court may discharge guar
dian and appoint another, or discharge alto
gether, when satisfied that the guardianship
Is no longer necessary. The expense of the
proceedings shall be governed Toy the same
provisions AS are In force relative 10 insane
persons.
Mr.. Edmunds said that under the law OF the
District there Is no power 70 appoint a guardian
for an habitual drunk ard; that the person must
be insane in order to invoke such proceedings,
aud he hoped the District committee, 10 which
the bill was referred, would give ii early atten-
ton.
The District I'm Congress.
PURIFICATIoN OF POTOMAC WATER.
The President pro tempore submitted to the
Senate a response from the Secretary OF War to
the Senate resolution Offered by Mr.. Butler) OF
March Sth last. directing him to ascertain the
ACCESSIBILITY and practicability OF providing tue
filters and other appliances tor cleaning and
purifying the water. Tire latter enclosed the
report ftom Capt. Symons, who had given the
Major Lydecker writes that, the result of
long study and extensive inquiry, Capt. sy-
mons reports that the water supply will pe
greatly improved by filtration and aeration,
and that 1t Is advisable and Practicable 10 do
SO. Inc estimated cost OF the plans submitted
Is $6OO,OOO, but IL Is 10 be understood that
these plans are presented only the basis for
more elaborate study.
Congressional Topics.
THE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL.
The Senate committee on commerce are over
hauling the river and harbor bill with the pur-
pose of making an equitable distribution OF it's
appropriations and OF applying the money, SO
far as appropriated. in accordance with the re-
Communications of the engineer department
The committee have ascertained that the bill,
as II passed the HouSe Is exceedingly liberal TO
some states and very niggardIy towards Others
and that many Of the items do moi accord with
lions. For instance. New York gets over a mil
lion dollars, Texas about a million, Michigan
upwards OF . million, and California hundreds
OF thousands. Other states represented upon
the committee are literally dealt with, while
states not SO represented have not been allowed
what Is regarded as just and proper. 1t is the
reconstruct the bill AS TO wipe out this favorite-
ism. As one Senator remarked: "A few men,
bers of the House fixed the biz. and we intend
TO unfix It," The total amount OF the bill will
not, probably, be very greatly increased, but its
items will be fairly apportioned In accordance
with engineers reports and estimates.
THE TARIFF BILL COMING UP SOON.
In the course Of q speech In opposition to the
oleomargarine bill this afternoon Mr.. Morrison
intimated that the tarif bill would be called
up shortly.
THE NEW CRUISERS.
The Secretary OF the Navy sent TO the Senate
yesterday q mass OF Official documents in rela-
ton to the cruisers Chicago, Boston, Atlanta
received by the department under the terms
embodied In the agreement of November 3,
1885, the question remaining unsettled being
what amount IL to be paid for her. Many Of
her defects have been rsmedied by the con-
tractor.
THE SILVER PROFIT FUND.
The House committee on coinage. weights
and measures to-day decided to report favora-
bly, the Adams resolution calling upon the Sec
Rotary OF the Treasury for . statement showing
the sums expended by the various assay offices
and minis out Of the silver profit fund. The
idea Is to ascertain how much profit If any, the
government makes from the coinage over and
above expenses
IMPROVEMENT OF MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
Senator Van Wyck to-day made q favorable
report from the committee on the improvement
OF the Mississippi river, of which be is chair
man, upon the bill ito make the Lake Borgne
outlet; to improve the low water navigation OF
the Mississippi river from New Orleans, La, TO
Cairo, Ill.,, and incidentally To reclaim and pro
tect the valley lands OF the Mississippi river
and tributaries from overflow"
PERsoNAL.-Mr. Thomas ]. White. clerk OF
the Senate District committee, has gone to
Kansas on business TO be absent about week.
II. Brigham Bishop. Of New York. W. b.
Buchan, OF Philadelphia, h. >. Bowen, OF San
Francisco, and Rev. Drs. Williams levin,
kirkus and Lee, of Maryland, are at the Eb-
bitt.-Mr. Walter Paris left for New York to-
day, to sail for England next Thursday.
NJ. English, W. A. de Blois, john +. Searles, jr.,
J. A Wood, Ii. IL. Hall and Z. +. Vessels, of
New York, Mr.. and Mrs. Wiismore, OF Mel
bourne, q. b. BagIey, OF San Francisco, j.
BXby, OF Los Angeles, b. W. West and Abel
Crook, OF Brooklyn. and Frank NJ. Cody, of
kins of San Francisco John r. Henry and Geo.
T. Jester Of Texas, ii. h. Collins OF Pitisburg,