Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-17

the. nomination of Mr. Dorsey Clagett to be
register OF wills of the DISTRICT favorable re-
port was also ordered upon the bill to authorize
the Commissioners to permit temporary track
cock lake. The bill TO release all title and claim
OF the government TO lot 1a In square 69l, OF the
S,ay, G IN favor q the heirs Of the late james $
reported.
District I'm Congress.
THE PRICE OF GAS IN WEST WASHINGTON.
chairman ingalls, has extended an invitation to
citizens of West washington Who wish to be heard
on the question OF the price OF gas to appear before
the Senate committee investigating the matter
az thelr meeting tomorrow morning. II is under
stood that Col John A. Joyce viii appear before
1ne mat sa az one Of the aggeyed
question.
THE POTOMAC IMPROVEMENT ITEM.
The Potomac fats item in the river and harbor
appropriation bill was reached by the committee
OF the House having tie bill In charge yesterday,
m s ns sscs Of I'M
the suits to perfect the title.
= DISTRICT APPROPRIATIONS
The District subcommittee ON appropriations
held no meeting to-day. The son OF Mr. Wilson,
the chairman of the subcommittee, Is very Ill,
Wnlcn mas prevented Mr. Wilson'S attendance.
Capitol Topics.
THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL
The House military committee has completed
the army appropriation bill. 1t makes total ap-
preparation OF $o3. ,o3S. The estimates for the
service aggregated so5, 524, ,5S7, and the appropri
atlon for the current year was 81. 794, ,0O1. The
new legislation included In the bill is intended to
limit mileage to cents per mile; to keep the num-
per OF horses for cavalry and artillery use below the
number OF enlisted men and scouts In the mounted
service; to secure purchases only through compe-
tit1On and advertisement; to the reduction to
1000 OF the number OF draught animals in use,
made without the approval OF the Secretary OF
war upon any building or military post. The bill
also provides that not more than 300 900 OF the
total appropriation shall be paid for the service OF
CIVILIAN employees in the quartermaster's depart
ment, and that no emplOye paid from the appro-
pr1ation for supplies, transportation. and inciden
tai expenses shall receive a salary OF more than
$40 per month unless specifically fixed by law. 1t
Is also provided that OF the 81 900 appropriated
pended at the Fort Leavenworth military prison q
sum IN excess OF $125, ,OOO
IS. COMMISSIONERS FEES.
Amendments to the sundry civil bill were adopt
ed in the House yesterday eXempting United states
commissioners in cities having 100 OOOOinhabitants
from the provision limiting fees to $500 per annum,
and also to prohibit the payment OF any OF the
money appropriated to United States commission
ers, marshals and clerks for any warrant issued
or arrest made under the internal revenue laws,
unless the prosecution has been approved by the
United States District Attorney and the collector
OF internal revenue for the district in which the
CAUCUS OF REPUBLICAN, SENATORS.
The republican Senators will meet in cuacus at
half past three this afternoon to I'LL existing
vacancies in committees and consider the order or
business to be fOllowed-to decide which OF the
pending measures are entitled to precedence.
THE URGENT DEFICIENCY BILL.
The Senate committee On appropriations held a
meeting this morning to consider the urgent def
cheney bill providing for the Government Printing
Office. The chief clerk Of the Printing Office was
present, but the committee wished to see Public
Printer Benedict, who Is in New York. and post
poned action In consequence until Monday. The
CHIEF clerk intimaed tnat The force of the Printing
office would have to be furoughed II provision for
It's payment was not soon made.
INCREASED CLERICAL FORCE WANTED.
supplemental estimates were transmitted to
Congress to-day by the Secretary Of the Treasury,
requesting that for the better administration OF
the business OF the land Office provision be made
In the Sundry civil bill Tor enc additional chief OF
division Of the board OF review, at salary OF
81, 600, and that Il new DIVISION to be known as
the contest division, be created, TO he composed OF
one chief, at salary OF s, s0Q and six naenbeIs
at a salary OF 81 600 each letter bf the commis-
soner OF the land Office is transmitted with the
estimates, in which he shows the necessity Of both
or these divisions. He says that at the fiscal year
12,77O contests remained unacted upon by the
office because OF inadequate clerical force.
REDUCTION OF INTEREST ON BONDED DEBT.
Senator Aldrtch to-day intrOduNe ed bill to pro-
vide for the reduction OF the interest on the bonded
debt OF the United States. 1t is with Slight ex-
ceptions, identical with bi! to authorize the re-
funding or the national debt introduced by the
same Senator in the Forty eighth Congress.
PENSION BILLS.
The House committee on invalid pensions to-day
amalgamated the substitute for the Blair pension
bill, prepared at the last session. with RepreSen-
tat1ve Weber'S bill relating to the pension OF de-
pendent parents, and instructed Chairman MatsOn
to report the measure to the House and endeavOr
to secure its passage under a suspension OF the
rules.
The bill passed by the House yesterday author
Zing the Secretary Of the Interior to alOt reServa
ton lands In severalty to Indians exceptS from its
provisions the Indians or the Indian Territory, and
It also provides that the consent OF majority Of
adult Indians in any tribe must be obtained before
the allotment system shall come into practice.
The Senate in executive session yesterday con-
flrmed the nomination OF Arthur L. Thomas OF
Pennsylvania, TO be a member OF the Utah CON-
mission.
The bill to repeal the tenure-of-off1ce act was
debated In the Senate yesterday by MeSsrS. Ed.
munds, George and Evarts, but no vote was
reached.