Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-23

District I'm Congress.

THE PRICE OF GAS IN THE DISTRICT.
In the Senate to-day Mr.. Van wyck sub
public buildings and grounds to report . bill
providing that the price OF gas furnished by the
Washington Gas Light company shall not be
more than one dollar per thousand cubic feet
mittee OF the Senate sufficiently provided with
Information on the subject to say what the cost
OF the production Of gas is, and at what figures
Mr.. Van Wyck replied that the resolution
might GO over until tomorrow, when he would
on the cost of gas.
THE CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY BUILDING BILL.
The bill for the purchase OF q site for and the
erection OF new Congressional Library build
ing In Washington was taken up on the ques-
ton OF its passage In the House this afternoon.
IL went over until tomorrow.
THE ADVERSE REPORT ON MATTHEW NOM
NATION.
The nomination of Mr.. ]. c. Matthews for re-
corder OF deeds of the District was, in accord
ance with the action of the District committee
yesterday, reported adversely to the Senate.
THE ESTATE OF GEORGE LOWRY.
The House judiciary committee decided to
day to report favorably the joint resolution
authorizing the surrender by the United States
of all claims to the estate Of George Lowry In
the District of Columbia.
MR. NICHOLAS WHITES CLAIM.
In the Senate to-day Mr.. Riddleberger intro
duced bill to pay TO Nicholas White, Of Wash
ington, $4,000 for property taken from him
and used by the government at Newport News,
Va, during the late war. Referred TO commit
tee Oh claims
"A Bill to Destroy American Ship.
ping"
VIEWS OF REPRESENTATIVE DINGLEY ON THE
FREE SHIP BILL.
Representative Dingley says the free ship bill
just approved by the majority Of the House
nsy foe 1y tn
entitled bill TO destroy American ship
ping. The effect of the bill, he says, would be
to close all American ship yards and put every
thing into the yards on the Clyde. 1t is terri
BILE blow at American ship building. He fears
the bill will pass the House, but hopes 1t will be
killed in the Senate. "Right here" he says, lis
a curious state of affairs-a terrible situation
one branch of Congress has to be relied upon To
defend the country against bad legislation. 1t
Is a common thing for members OF the majority
ci the house To give as AN excuse for voting Tor
bad bill. that no harm is done, the Senate will
kill It," He thinks the Senate bill allowing the
International Transportation Company, OF
Philadelphia, to purchase ten ships abroad for
American registry, which Is supported by Sem
ator Cameron, as an individual case, cannot be
defended by any one, not even from tree ship
pany to buy foreign ships, it would be right as
a general proposition.
Promising to Make 1t Warm for MI.
Villas.
A LIVELY DEBATE EXPECTED ON THE POST
OFFICE APPROPRIATION BILL.
Avery lively debate is anticipated upon the
Post Office appropriation bill when it comes up
in the House. A number Of republican men,
bers have bundles of switches in soak for the
Postmaster General on account of his
action with relation to the 100000
for steamer mail transportation. Several
members are busy studying Mr.. Villas
point; charging him with trying to break up
American shipping industries. He will be at
tackled also on the score OF his offensive parti-
sanship charges against postmasters, and in
this he is not likely to get much support from
the democrats, who have been some OF the
lOudest proteStants against this system. The
appropriation bill gives less compensation for
carrying the mails to South America than was
given last year exclusive of the 100000 not
used, and provides tor the re-enactment OF the
law requiring American steamers to carry the
mails at such rates as may be prescribed by
the Postmaster General.
The Tariff Question.
COMPLICATIONS IN THE HOUSE.
The tariff question is getting into a still worse
tangle in the House, and the chances now are
that If the Morrison bill is passed. it will be by
its enemies. The reformers, being pledged to
some sort of tariff legislation, are determined
to pass bill. even if it doesn't do anything.
There is much talk Of trading, by which the
bill is being whitfield down SO as to satisfy GER
tain interests. It is claimed that the only thing
OF importance the committee has thus far Sc
cured on the tree list is manufactured lumber.
certain democrats whose state interests
might stand in the way of their
voting for the bill have agreed 70 vote for it If
velop that this is the case, republicans who are
rrUtec, ionists say they will vote with the DEM
ucrats who are free-traders at heart, and pass
the Dill proposed by Mr.. Morrison. II there
u an attempt made to discriminate they will
insist upon consistency, and will make all suffer
alike.
Mr. Randall has replied to the invitation of
the ways and means committee that he has no
they did not consult with him at first, he will
not come in at this late day. They may bring
in their bill and he will act as he sees tit
Congressional Topics.
TO PURCHASE PRICES PAINTING OF GEN
THOMAS.
In the Senate to-day Mr.. Sewell, from the
library committee, reported favorably bill to
appropriate $4,000 for the purchase of Gen.
Prices painting of Gen. George II. Thomas.
The bill Will at the proper time be moved as an
amendment to one OF the regular appropriation
bills. A written report accompanied the bill,
which contained numerous petitions from the
Grand Army Of the Republic, asking Congress
city In 1869, by Gen. s. w. Price, Of Louisville,
KY, who has since become totally blind from
effects of a wound received during the war.
Among the letters recommending the purchase
are one from ex-President Hayes and one froni
Gen. Sherman.
THE ALLEGED TELEGRAPH MONOPOLY.
The House committee on post Offices and post
roads conducting the telegraph Investigation
to-day began its inquiry concerning alleged at
tempts of the Western Union telegraph COM
pany to cOerce newspapers in the western states
into making exclusive contracts" ETC. Mr.. f.
NJ. Ayres appeared in behalf of the Kansas City
Times and submitted statements to the effect
that the Western Union company had forced
the newspapers of Kansas City to sign contracts
binding the papers TO use only Western Union
wires
SENATOR MILLER'S SUCCESSOR.
The latest Information received in Washing
ton by congressman and others from California,
is that Mr.. George Hearst, proprietor of the San
Francisco Examiner, will be appointed Senator
to succeed the late Senator Miller.
100000 FOR THE MILITIA:
Representative Forney (Ala.) reported in the
House to-day, from the committee ON militia