Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-11
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
Tho Free Bridge Btll.

Tho Free Bridge Btll.
THE SENATE APPOINTS A CONFERENCE CON.
MITTEE-
In the Senate this afternoon, when the free
bridge bill as amended In the House sub
nitted, Mr.. Riddleberger moved 10 non-concur
In the House amendments aud refer to a con-
fere nee committee, which was agreed to.
The chair appointed Messrs Rid eeerger,
Spooner and Vance as the conferees.
WHAT SENATOR RIDDLEBERGER SAYS.
|. THE House amendments mean" Mr.. Rid
dieberger said to a STAR reporter to-day,
'that We shall build q bridge and lose the
piers" He maintains that good title cannot
oe procured TO the aqueduet bridge because Of
the complications In the ownership OF the prop
cry; that the interests of states cannot be COLI
demned, and there viii be CONFUSION Ia proeur-
Ing title which will leave o cloud upon it,
CHAIRMAN BARBOUR,
offhe House com mittee, visited the Senate to-
day and had a talk with Chairman ingalls,, of the
Senate committee, on the subject. Mr.. Barbour
does not apprehend any great difficulty Ia get
ting q com pletetitle, and he maintains that the
aqueduct site is the proper place tor a bridge;
that the Three Sisters site Is too far up the river
bW sSa In ms opinion ne
members OF the Senate committee are inclined
to agree with him.
THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES TO VISIT
THE SITES.
It is contemplated within the ne xt few days
visit the two sites and carefully examine both.
Ii is contended that an examination Of the two
Localities will demonstrate the superior avail
abliity OF the aqueduct site. IL Is likely that
tion during the latter part OF this week or early
next week. Competent persons will be present
70 explain the location OF roads on the Virginia
side and give other Information as 10 the bridge.
RESIDENTS OF WEST WASHINGTON
and of Virginia, who are interested In the early
construction OF a free bridge have sgpified their
acceptance Of the House amendments. and
asked that the bill be passed as 1t came from
the House.
There are indications that the Senate COM
mittee will not resist the House amend
ments. In moving q conference, Mr. Rid
insert "piers' instead OF "aqueduct" ia the
House amendment He said that misuse
ct terms might lead to complications.
In favor OF the aqueduct site, but the action OF
the House In chargtn. one-haif the cost TO the
.Iiei Is a not That Will Ge
proportion TO the orr ginai figures OF one-fourth
will probably be made.
The District fra Congress.
DECORATION DAY.
The president pro tempore of the Senate to-
day submitted a formal invitation from the ex-
ecutive committee on memorial services To the
with the comrades of the Grand Army of the
Republic in the decoration ceremonies at
Arlington on the Slst Instant.
Congressional Topics.
THE PAN-ELEcTRIC INQUIRY.
Mr.. E. y. Hill was before the telephone in
vestgating COMMITTEES this afternoon. and CON-
menced bis testimony by saying that he was
an attorney-at-law and a journalist. He was
examined rs to the articles on the telephone
contest he furnished tor publication.
THE WORK OF CONGRESS so FAR
A statement prepared from the clerk of the
House shows that up to this date s. 40 bills
and III Joint resolutions have been introduced
into the House this session. OF the bills that
originated In the House $50 private and "a
public have passed the House, and 40 private
and 40 public have passed both Houses OF Con-
gress. OF those originated in the Senate the
House has passed SO public and 50 private.
The Senate has passed and sent to the House
129 public and 2o2 private bills during the
session.
PENSIONS AND BoUNTIEs
The Senate committee on pensions to-day
adopted resolution calling on the commits
sioner OF pensions for an estimate of the outlay
required under the Ingaifs bill for the removal
OF the Limitation to the arrears OF pensions act
The Senate committee on military and militia
to-day ordered a favorable report on the Logan
bill for the equalization of bountles
LAND FORFEITURE.
The House committee on public lands, to-day
instructed Representative Payson to draft q
bill declaring forfeiture OF all lands granted TO
the Selma, Rome and Dalton railroad company
coterminous with the uncompleted portion OF
the railroad from Jacksonville, Florida, to
Gadsden, Alabama.
PATENT CLAIMS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES.
Representative Collins was instructed by the
House committee on the judiciary, to-day, TO
report favorably a bill providing that the urs-
diction Of the Court Of Claims shall extend TO
all claims for the use of patents or patented
inventions by the United states government
which arose before the Court of Claims as
sumed jurisdiction OF such cases.
NOTES.
Representative King of La. did not oppose
the free bridge bill printed yesterday, but fav-
ored its passage with the amendment assessing
one-half the cost on the District OF Columbia.
The ways and means committee to-day re-
ceived the report Of the subcommittee adverse
to the Mexican reciprocity treaty.