Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-17

Secretary OF the Navy for information as to the
present condition of the Chicago. Boston and
Atlanta, what progress has been made i'm their
construction, what obstacles exist to their
early completion, and when they will be ready
TO be placed in commission; also what steps
have been taken toward the construction OF the
two cruisers and the two gunboats authorized
by act of March 3, 1855, whether work on them
has been commenced, and what time will be
required to complete them.
THE TELEGRAPH INVESTIGATION.
The House post office committee to-day
sumed its inquiry into the alleged monopoly of
the Geographic facilities ofthe Pacific railroads.
}. D.. Dickey. superintendent of the Union
racine Telegraph system, and also a Western
Union district superintendent, made a state
ment explaining the contracts existing between
Inc western Union company and the Union
Pacific company. He said the Union Pacific
company was ready to take any business offered
graph company, but that none had been offered.
Dr. Green read a recapitulaton of the points of
his testimony given yesterday.
IN TIME OF PEACE PREPARE FOR WAR.
The bill introduced in the House "to provide
an inland waterway from New York to Florida
as means ofmiitary defense and for CONNER
cial purposes, free from the dangers OF the
ocean," proposes the appropriation of $1,000
600 to- carry into effect the provisions OF the
b'il. The preamble sets forth that 1.-THE inland
waterway from New York to Pimlico sound, \.
e., is completed and sit would be of great pub
lie benefit if extended to Florida thereby afford
ing a safe channel of navigation for torpedo and
gunboats, transportation of troops and military
stores In time of war. and a safe and conven-
lent channel Tor our domestic commerce"
INVALID PENSIONS.
The House committee on invalid pensions
held long session last night, ut which the Ellis
berry bill to pension all honorably discharged
soldiers incapacitated from performing manual
labor was amended so as to provide that honor
aoly discharged soldiers who served ninety
days during the war and who or may
become disabled from performing manual labor
unless such disability was occasioned by their
own gross careeSSnesS or vicious habits, shall
be entitled to a pension, and in that form was
ordered to be reported to the House. The bill
to increase the rate of pension for the loss an
eye was also ordered to be reported favcrably.
THE REPORT OF MIR. HoLMANS INDIAN COM
MISSION
advises that the In dams be educated in indus
trial neutrality-suspicious. in the Indian Territory,
the most successful to be sent afterwards to
schools of higher grade. The number of agen-
Indians should be occupied with the work of
the reservation. The minority of the commits
SION, Messrs. cannon and Ryan, recommend
that all tribal relations be broken up.
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL WITHOUT PRoTEC-
TON.
Mr. Wilson, of Maryland, to-day presented in
the Senate joint resolution of the Maryland
legislature reciting that the armored ships and
heavy ordnance in use by the navies of the
world require for land defenseS the best fOrtifi-
cations and heaviest guns that human inge-
nuity can devise; that the Chesapeake bay and
tributaries, giving access to the finest portion
OF Maryland and to the national capital, are
without protection and urging the Maryland
Senators and Representatives to every
legitimate means in their power to procure inn
mediate action to put the coasts OF this
country in the best possible condition for sue
cessful defense against a foreign foe.
THE PRESIDENTS PERSONAL SELECTIONS.
The President said yesterday that Messrs,
Trenholm, Lyman and Oberly. named for con.
Of 4,
missiOners, were selected without recommends
tlons, and solely on his own personal know
ledge OF their character and capacity. All Of
them are now in the public service. and all have
by their performance of duty attracted his
attention and furnished him personal evil
dence OF their eminent fitness for the duties of
the Offices for which they are named.
HOUSE OFFICERS DENY CHARGES AGAINST
THEM.
The resolution introduced by Mr.. Browne
and passed by the House yesterday, asking for
ar investigation by the civil service commits
siOners, as to whether officers of the House had
received money tor promoting legislation, was
based upon charges made by Mayor John NJ.
Glass, of Jacksonville, Ind, that certain citi-
zens of that place had paid 81 $50 to Assistant
DoOrk keeper Warden, upon the claim that he
could secure an appropriation OF $4,000 for
the improvement OF the levees at Jacksonville.
It is alleged that 81 900 went to Warden and
$3.50 TO o. o. Stealey. Both OF these gentle
men deny the charges emphatically, and say it
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
Mrs. Livermore, Mrs. Lucy Stone, Rev. d. P.
Livermore and II. D. Blackwell, representing
the American Women's suffrage association,
will appear before the House committee ter
ritOrieS on Friday next to urge the passage OF
an act granting the right of suffrage to women
in territories.
A resolution was adopted in the House yes
terday making the bill for the free coinage of
silver the special order for Saturday, March
Goth and 9th and April Sd and 9th, and
providing that the previous question on the bill
shall be ordered not later than April Sth.
A bill was introduced i'm the House yesterday
to have Commodore William T. TruXtun, who
was retired from the Norfolk navy yard last
week as a commodore, placed on the retired
list with the rank and pay of a rear admiral.
A favorable report will be made to the House
on the bill to authorize the construction of an
iron pier at Fort Monroe, Va, at a cost not to
exceed 81 5000
The House committee on public lands has
agreed to report favorably upon the bill to re-
peal the presumption, timber culture, and
desert land laws.
The House yesterday passed a bill to provide
for closing up the business and paying the ex-
The speaker yesterday announced the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Rowell on the committee on
elections, and of Mr.. Hudd on the committee on
levees and improvement of the Mississippi
river, to fill vacancies.