Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-01-18

is not only wrong but II invites crime. for there
might De men who would commit murder to re-
tnn political party Empower: and under the
sary 10 make way with'a President and Vice
fres1dent-elect To accomplish that. IL is true
snch contingency may never arise, but IL is
our duty 10 provide against every possibility,
and my bin proposes i'm The event OF the death
or inability OF both the President-elect and the
Vice president-elect, that the House OF Repre-
sentative shall elect u President" Gen. War
ner says the House committee on the election
OF President and Vice President concede the
Hoar bin, and have promised to give it early
attention,
District I'm Congress.
HOW THE TWO FREE BRIDGE BILLS DIFFER
The bill for a free bridge across the Potomac,
introduced I'm the House by Mr. Barbour, differs
from the Riddieberger bill inasmuch as il makes
no reference to the aqueduct, providing directly
Tor bridge at the Three Sisters, and requires
that half the cost of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 600
shall be charged against the District of Column
bia. The Riddeberger bill provides for the
construction OF a bridge at the Three Sisters
only upon the failure OF the government 10 Sc
bridge within ninety days. and requires that
only one-fourth the cost shall be charged
against the District.
THE CoRCoRAN ART GALLERY AND LOUISE
HOME.
In the Ssnate to-day. Mr.. Harris introduced a
bill to exempt from taxation all property Of the
Louise Home, and all property held for the pur-
pose of raising revenue for the maintainance OF
that institution. He also introduced a bill TO
exempt from taxation all property held for the
benefit OF the Corcoran Art Gallery, and to
remit all taxes assessed against that property
since 1869. Referred to the District committee
PROPOSED NEW FORM OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE.
Mr.. Hammond, Of Georgia. introduced q bill I'm
the House this morning TO simplify the plead
ing and proceedings in criminal cases I'm the
courts of the United States and the District of
Columbia The bill makes IL sufficient that in
dictment and information charge the crime in
SUBSTANTIALLY the language of the law, so that
the nature of the offense may be clearly under
stood. In indictments for murder it is not ne
cessary 70 describe the manner and means of
death. In every indictment of stealing IL is
made lawful TO add count for receiving stolen
property, and the jury may return a verdict on
on either charge; and where the Indictment is
against more shan one person the jury may
nnd all or any of the indicted persons guilty.
The bill! has sixteen sections TO simplify the
proceedings in the court, by overriding mere
technicalities according to the recommended
tons in Attorney General Brewster's last an
nual report.
Capitol Topics.
CONSUL FEES.
Mr.. Belmont, of New York, has prepared a
bill prohibiting United States consuls from col
lecting fees for oaths &C., papers in connection
with merchandise shipped to the United States
from foreign ports, and other fees, except the
two dollars and q half provided for certifica-
ton.
THE OKLAHOMA BILLS.
Representatives Townshend and Weaver dis
cussed their Oklahoma Territory bills before the
territory committee this morning. Mr.. Town
shend's bill provides for giving the Indians
lands in Severalty. The committee took no
action, but it is believed that the Townshend
bill will be favoraby reported. II establishes a
territorial form of government for the Okla
Territory, and places the Indians on about the
same footing with citizens of other territories.
The Dakota question will be taken up by the
committee on Wednesday, when Representa-
tives Clifford and Frederick will be heard.
THE oBLITERATED NORFOLK DRY DOCK IN
sCRIPTIoN.
Representative Wise, of Va, saws that the
inscription removed from the Norfolk navy
yard, mentioned in Representative Boutelle's
resolution of inquiry, about which the naval
meeting, was one erected without arthority by
one Livingston, a foreman of the yard stating
that he Livingstonl had reconstructed the
THE sENATE's REQUEST FOR REASONS FOR RE
MovALs NOT COMPLIED WITH.
The Secretary of the Treasury sent a commu-
nication to Senator Morrill,, chairman of the
committee on finance, acknowledging the re-
ceipt of his letter requesting the reasons" for
the suspension of a certain collector OF internal
revenue and the appointment of another per-
son in his place, and saying: :" would reply
that as yet have received no directions from
papers and Information called for.' About
fifty applications from the same committee for
similar Information were answered in the same
way.
PACIFIC SLOPE INTERESTS.
A meeting of the Pacific slope congressional
delegations had been arranged for Saturday
night to agree upon uniform policy in the
treatment Of matters affecting that section
likely to come up before Congress during the
present session, but, there were several alb
sentees, the meeting was postponed until this
week. The members present informally dis
cussed the Chinese question and the probability
of legislative action upon the silver question,
but in the absence of the full delegation no for
NAL expression of opinion was had.
CONTEsTING REPRESENTATIVES, wEAvER's SEAT
Ex-Gov. Campbell. of Iowa, is in the city to
conduct his contest for Gen. Weaver's seat in
the House. Hon. Frank Hurd is here, Also in
with his contest. The House cleo
lions committee has organized and ordered all
the evidence in the various, cases TO be printed,
and it will take some time to have this done.
The House shipping committee and the COM
mittee on manufactures met to-day and
organized.
The House committee on education held its
first meeting to-day. The chairman MIR. Aiken,
being ill, Mr.. Gambler acted as chairman. The
con- mittee merely organized and appointed Mr..
III. II. j. Ham as clerk.
A circular, signed "Junius," denouncing civil
service reform as a sham, was distributed
through the House this morning.