Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-24

temperance sentiment OF the country was rapidly
crystalizing into the opinion that the sooner the
tax on whisky was repealed the better and quicker
the principles Of temperance would be subserved.
He could see, however, one or two objections to
its repeal, and one OF them was that so much
revenue could not be spared. As to the duty on
sugar. he declared himself in favor OF taking 1t on
but he would not kill the sugar industry OF this
country, feeble as 1t was. He would give bounty
equivalent to the present duty on sugar.
Favoring Ship Canals.
JOINT RESOLUTION INTRODUCED ON THE sUBJRCT
BY SENATOR HOAR.
Mr.. Hoar introduced q joint resolution in the
Senate yesterday declaring that In order to encOur-
age ocean ship building and promote commerce
with foreign nations, 1t Is necessary to relieve the
merchant marine, as far as possible. from all op-
pressive tolls, customs and duties. With a view to
forwarding this desirable object the President is
requested TO open negotiations with the govern
ment OF Great Britain and the Dominion OF Canada
for the purpose OF having the Welland Canal made
free to the merchant ships OF the United States,
and, Also for the construction and opening OF a
free ship canal from the Bay Of Fundy to the Gulf
OF st. Lawrence, at the joint expense OF both ma
tions The President Is also requested, in view Of
the probable competition in the manufacture OF
the proposed canal and ship railway to unite the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, TO enter upon negO-
t1atOnS with the proper authorities to secure the
freedom OF the canal in perpetuity to the American
merchant marine. Also, to take similar steps to
lean mercantile service. The sum OF - Is appro-
propriated to defray the expenses OF the proposed
negotiations.
District in Congress.
IMPORTANT ACTION OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE TODAY.
The House District committee held meeting
to-day. The subcommittee on corporations said
they would be ready TO report to the whole COM
mlttee on Friday upon some Of the railroad bills
before them. The reports prepared by Mr.. Hemp
hill upon the bill to punish rape and the bill to
make the record Of a bill presumptive evidence
were approved, and ne was authorized to present
them to the House. These bills were acted upon
favorably at the last meeting Of the committee,
and were then published In The STAR The report
on the bill relating to the record OF wills says that
supplies needed rule OF evidence and win facil
ltate practice In these cases. On the bill TO punish
the crime OF rape the report says that the laws
the subject In the District are in an unsettled
OF Uncertain force. Mr.. Hemphiu was authorized
to report also, as substitute for lottery bill be-
fore the committee, a bill providing punishment
OF not more than $500 fine or Imprisonment for six
months or both for any one convicted or advertis-
Ing any lottery scheme or game OF chance In the
District OF Columbia, or OF selling lottery tickets.
REPORTS IN THE HOUSE.
Mr.. Miliken to-day presented to the House the
report mentioned In The STAR yesterday favoring
the purchase Of the Ferguson building for the use
Mr.. Hemphill presented to the House the reports
authorized by the District committee this morning.
A BILL PROVIDING FOR A GOVERNMENT BY FIVE
COMMISSIONERS.
House yesterday providing that the law making a
permanent form of government for the District OF
Columbia be so amended as to authorize the Presi-
dent TO appoint five persons, one OF whom shall be
resident OF the District, and four others citizens
OF the United States, two from the states east Of
the Allegheny mountains and two west or the
Alleghen1eS, but no two from the same state, who
shall exercise all the powers and authority now
vested In the District Commissioners. The ap-
pOintments shall be respectively for terms Of one
Two, three, four and nve years.
q similar bill was introduced In the Senate to-
day BY Mr.. Chandler, and was referred to the Dis
tr1ct committee.
THE WASHINGTON Posr-oFFICR.
Mr.. Blount introduced a bill for the lease of q
suitable building for the washington city post
office.
PROPOSED STATUES TO GEMS. SHIELDS AND LOGAN.
Mr.. Lawler, Of Illinois, introduced a bill in the
House yesterday apprOpriating $1OO, 700 for the
erection in Washington OF statues TO Gems. Shields
and Logan.
INFORMATION AS TO CONTRACTS WANTED
In the Senate yesterday Mr.. Dawes submitted
q resolution calling upon the District Commits
siOners TO furnish the Senate with detailed state
ment of the amount OF money paid by the Dis
they commenced work for the District, with the
date or each payment, kind OF work done, and
designating the building in which 1t was done;
whether any proposals were invited for the work
before making the contract, and 10 furnish specific
Information as 10 all details. On the objection OF
Mr.. Mcpherson the resolution went over.
ALLEYS IN SQUARE 132.
In the Senate to-day Mr.. Daniel introduced bill
to authorize the Commissioners on the petition of
owners OF property abutting on those parls OF the
two ten-fOOt wide alleys passing east and west
through square 132, beginning at and running
east from the east side OF 19th street. to declare
these parts OF the alleys closed provided the prop
erty owners Will dedicate to puUiic use an equal
area OF ground to connect these alleys with and
make an outlet 10 I and streets Referred to the
Dlstrtct committee.
Capitol Topics.
THE ALABAMA CONTEST.
The concluding arguments in the McDunle- -Da-
wilson Alabama contested election case were made
before the House committee on elections to-day.
WAYS AND MEANS.
The ways and means committee was in session
but few minutes to-day and did nothing of con-
sequence 1t was the intention OF the committee
to consider Chairman Mills bill authorizing the
Secretary OF the Treasury to purchase bonds with
the surplus, but the purpose was defeated by the
fact that the bill is not yet printed.
LIQUOR LAWS AND UNDERvALuATIoN.
The Senate committee on finance listened to an
argument by Senator Frye to-day on his bill CIV
ing the consent OF Congress that the laws OF the
several states relating to the sale OF distilled and
bermented liquors, within the limits of each state
may apply to such liquors wnen they have been
imported In the same manner as when they have
been manufactured in the United states The
senator represents CnaC tne exemption OF Imported
liquors from the operation or state laws Is inter-
fering with the temperance movement in Maine.
The COMMITTEES also considered briefly the under
valuation bill and determined TO bring it rp for
discussion In the Senate at an early.
THE FISHERIES QUESTION.
Mr.. Butterworth introduced a resolution In the
House yesterday declaring 1t to be the sense Of
this body that the United states should, in the
interest Of peace and amity between the nations,
and in response to the demands OF manufacturers,
merchants and producers for the extension OF the
trade and commerce OF the country, use all proper
means to secure an honorable, speedy and perma-
nent adjustment OF all differences and cOntrOver-
sizes in regard to the fisheries; provided that in
such settlement the claim that vessels OF the
United States shall have and enjoy the same
rights In Canadian ports as are accorded TO Cana
dian vessels in the ports Of the United States shall
be maintained.
AFTER THE PACIFIC RAMR0ADS
The resolution introduced In the House yester-
day by Representative Anderson OF Iowa, to au-
thorize the institution of judicial proceedings
against the various Pacific railroad companies.
contains in q preamble the charge of mismanage-
ment and fraudulent manipulation OF the affairs
OF the companies embodied In the Henley resOlu-
ton OF last year. and directs the Attorney General
to bring suit against the companies 10 ENFORCE the
forfeitures prescribed In the Thurman act. He is
directed to include as parties defendant in the
Leland Stanford and Charles Crocker, and In the
case OF the Union Pacific John b. Alley, Elijah
Atkins, Ezra H. Bacon, sidney Dillon, Jay Gould,
Frederick l. Ames, and Russell Sage. The AttOr-
ney-General Is also directed TO make application
TO the United States courts for the appointment OF
receivers to manage the trusts
INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION.
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