Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-20
fore he IT,

Resolred, That the committee on appropriations
Q, sne house OF representatives be Instructed to
present 10 this House some suitable plan for our
Coast defenSes, With such SUFFICIENT appropria-
tionS, nn not less than s3O,0OO,OOO, to safeguard
.Ie an immense interests which are involved in such
! an emergency To further this end that a CON-
MISSION s be appointed to consist Of three persons
| Oiii,,l one rom the army one from the navy and
| the United States, who shall have charge OF the
! matters herein set forth, and with view to
make such prompt and comprehensive prepara-
| tions as win satisfy the demands OF the people
| ana The interests OF our exposed territory"
FINANCIAL BILLS.
by MI. Williams, {OhiO) to reduce the amount
OF United States bonds to be required OF national
oanks and to restore to the channels of trade the
excessive accumulations OF lawful money In the
tire aSury
BY Mr: Warner ohiol-To provide for the in
TesIment OF the lawful money deposited in the
Treasury by national banks for the redemption OF
their circulation notes.
| HOLIDAY RECESS
| Mr. Morrison introduced resolution for holiday
| recess from December 22d to January 4th.
| DUTIES ON TOBACCO.
| Mr. Htscock called up his motion to suspend the
rules and pass the bill relating to duties on to-
baccO.
| Mr. Morrison opposed the bill, and by a vote OF
yeas 9O, nays 16o, the House voted down Mr..
| Hiscook's motion to suspend the rules and pass
| the bill.
The Interstate Commerce Bill.
LIVELY skIRMIsH EXPECTED IN THE SENATE
TOMORROW.
The fate OF the interstate commerce bill was
leading topic Of speculation in the Senate end Of
the Capitol to-day. Senator CullOm adheres to his
purpose to call it up tomorrow, and lively sk1r-
| mish Is anticipated. The railroad corporations
are Weil represented here by their attorneys and
oHlcaiS, and Will exert every influence to defeat
the Oil. 1t Is understood that the first move of
10 postpone consideration until after the holidays.
Inen the appropriation bills and other important
measures me- VIII begin to press for consideration in
the senate, and thus diminish the chances OF
considering the interstate commerce bill. Senator
Euo and OF other friends OF the bill appreciate the
hence VIII endeavor to get 1t up tomorrow.
PrisOn.Made Boots for Soldiers.
REPORT OF THE HOUSE MILITARY COMMITTEE
Representative Bragg, chairman of the COM
mlttee on military affairs, has submitted report
10 the House to accompany the army BILL which
contains the following criticisms upon the boot
and shoe department Of the Leavenworth military
prison:
for the last fiscal year there was drawn from the
lothlng Iund, by the management Of the military
prison at Leavenworth, sl6o,s15, and that the
boots and shoes OF the army have been and are
Delng, manufactured at such prison by military
convlcts The committee are satisfied that the
boots and shoes manufactured at the prison cost
necessarily more than if they were made and fur
n1Sned upon contract by manufacturers of boots
and shoes. There is OF necessity that lack of skill
In the professional workman. In fact, the tables
OF the cost of shoes in the army for series
OF years proves that prison labor enhances
1ne cost -, OF boots and shoes for the army.
It Is also asserted by officers OF the army
that the convict shoe is not substantially made,
ana that The Workmanship Is defective, so that
the shoe Is OF little value But in fairness it must
be said that this is st0utly denied, and the COM
mittee do not feel willing TO express an opinion at
this time upon this mOOted question, upon which
they may be called to act in the future upon full
presentation OF all the facts bearing upon the
too hntvQ
pear from expressing their conviction that the
omCed States government should not build up u
nanuIactOry 10 be run by convict labor in cOmpe-
tft1on with the honest artisan who supports his
family by the product OF his labor. 1t is also the
9eiel OF the committee that sentence to the
Leavenw1th prison for desert1on followed by an
education as shoemaker. harness maker, a
chalr maker or broom maker, good quarters,
good living, suit OF clothes at the expiration OF
the term OF sentence, transportation to his home
and s. TO refresh himself with, has no such terror
IN IL as TO tend to suppress the crime. In hui
manltarlan point OF view much can be said in
1aVOr OF IL, but as an aid TO military discipline the
committee think 1t too weak. The committee, as
limit of 1925 900 upon the amount that can be ex
pended out OF the clothing FUND ut the military
prison n S ror the current year, and express hope
tnat In the near future the business OF ShOemak-
Ing as penalty 1or desertiOn will be abandoned.
Capitoi Topics.
PENSIONS
1t Is not expected that any Of the vetoed pension
bills will be taken up in the House this session
The committee expect to be able, however, to pass
their substitute for the Blair bill, which they be-
neve Will be readily accepted by the Senate.
CHEROKEE INTERESTS IN CONGRESS-
The council OF the Cherokee nation has elected
Col. c. J. Harris and II. 7. Landown as delegates
to Washington to represent the Cherokees during
the present session of Congress. They are in
Structed TO urge upon Congress the passage of a
bill giving the nation right to tax The railroads
running through their country the same as they
do in The states, and compel these roads to cease
determinations in freight and passenger rates
against the citizens of the Indian Territory as
they are now doing. The delegation is also in
structed TO get an act OF Congress- ii possible to
test before the proper courts whether or not the
eminent Domain act cannot be applied TO the
lands OF the Indian Territory or In other words
whether Indian lands can be taken by Congress
and given to private corporations.
THE EMERGENCY DEFICIENCY BILL.
the Senate committee on appropriations this
morning heard Public Printer Benedict In connec.
ton with the House bill making deficiency ap-
preparation for public printing. Mr. Benedict ex-
planned, as he did to the House committee the i'm
mediate need of money for the printing Office and
ordan !ne o wss w De Iepored tea Treasurer
information desired about appropriations.
NOTES.
me House OF Representatives has passed the
Senate bill to increase the pension of Major Gen.
b. r. Kelley, OF West Va, to 800 per month.
Fine and Costs Rem1tted.
THE PRESIDENTS ACTION AND ENDORSEMENT ON A PEN.
SION LAW.
The President to-day remitted the fine OF s1 900
and costs amounting to 500 more in the case of
Elihu B. Case, who was convicted in the district
court OF the northern district Of Illinois July 18th
1885, of obtaining pension by fraud and perjury,
and sentenced to two years Imprisonment at hard
labor at the Joliet penitent1ary and the above
iine In the application for his pardon it is stated
that pension was granted him In 1868, at the
rate OF 81 per month for RUPTURE and In 1883 he
applied for an increase OF pension. Upon invest-
cation 1T was believed that his hernia antedated
the war, and he was indicted and convicted His
divorced wife was one OF the principal witnesses
against him. subsequently the wife and his
mother made affidavits to the effect that he was
disabled during the war as originally claimed He
IS about Is years Old and y is said has been In
| feeble health for twenty years. He has served
one year and four months OF his term of imprison-
Onment.
The President in remitting the fine wrote him.
self the following 1ndorsement upon the appl1ca-
tiOn for pardon: 81 believe this man is guilty. he
dishonesty drew money from the government and
diScrcdited the cause OF honest salaries for fifteen