Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-17
THE HOUSE DISTRICT COMMITTEE.


The House District committee held a meeting
this morning. All the members except Mr.. Heard,
who was occupied on the elections committee,
were present. The judiciary subcommittee was
the only one ready to make a report, and they re-
ported favorably on two bills, which the whole
committee thereupon adopted. The first provides
that the record OF any will codicil heretofore or
hereafter recorded in the Office Of the register Of
wills OF the District OF Columbia which shall have
been admitted to probate by the supreme Court
OF the District OF Columbia, or the record OF the
transcript o! the record and probate OF any Will or
coiicil elsewhere, OF any certifed copy thereof
heretofore or hereafter filed in the Office OF said
register OF Wills shall be prima face evidence OF
cOdicilS.
The other is a substitute for that introduced in
the House by Mr. Dingley for the protection Of
girls and the punishment OF rape In the District
Columbia. The substitute adopted by the COM
mitJee provides a penalty OF not more than five
years Imprisonment for the first offense and not
more than ten for the second, for any person con-
victed or carnally knowing girl under the age OF
fourteen years. For rape the punishment pro-
years Imprisonment at hard labor for the first
onense, and for the second Offense Imprisonment
for life at hard labor.
The District In Congress.
TO AMEND THE CHARTER.
In the Senate to-day Mr.. Chace presented a
memorial IN favor of the bill to amend the charter
or the National Safe Deposit Company.
THE FREEDMANs BANK DKPosIroRs.
Mr.. Sherman. from the finance committee. to-
day reported favOrably the bill to appropriate
money to pay the claims OF depostors In the
Freedmans Bank.
PROHIBITION PETITIONS
Another batch OF petitions from different states
In favor OF prohibition in the District was pre-
sented In the Senate to-day.
TO SELL STREET RAILROAD FRANCHISES.
Mr.. Henderson, OF North Carolina (by reauest),
introduced bill in the House yesterday TO repeal
the acts Incorporating the Washington and George
town and Metropolitan Railroad Companies OF the
District, to sell at public auction the routes OF
such companies, and grant new charters for corpo-
rations TO operate such roads, thereby securing a
revenue to the District OF Columbia from the street
railroads. A statement going with the bill is to
the effect that by the growth OF the District OF
creased greatly In value and Importance; that by
putting up the routes or such roads for public
competition, large annual revenues may be secured
to the Government. Congress has full right TO do
this, II Is stated, as the acts OF incorporation
embody the right to amend, alter or repeal the
charters.
THE PROHIBITION BILL.
Mr.. Taulbee (Ky) introduced bill in the House
yesterday like the one offered in the Senate by
Mr.. Patt, to prohibit the manufacture and sale OF
spirtuous and intoxicating liquors In the District
OF Columbia. The bill provides that after the ex-
licenses shall be issued for the sale OF liquor In the
District except for medicinal and mechanical pur-
poses; that no splrituOus or intoxicating liquors
shall be sold or given away by druggists, except
on the prescription OF regular physician practic-
ing medicine In the District OF Columbia; that all
liquors for mechanical purposes shall make appli-
cation for the same In writing, verified by their
amaavit before notary pubic OF the District.
Staung Tor what special purpose II Is to be used.
REGULATING INSURANCE.
Mr.. McComas reintroduced In the House yester-
day his bill to regulate the business OF insurance in
the District OF Columbia providing that each CON-
pany must have capital stock OF at least $780, 900
paid up IN goo good faith that ma majority OF ITS direc
must transmit to the commissioners OF the Dis
trict ST tatement OF its condition and business,
He reintroduced also his bill relating TO fOreclos-
ures OF mortgages and deeds OF trust In the Dis
trict Aud also bill to provide criminal code
Tor the District OF Columbia
THE COMMISSIONERS AUTHORITY
Mr.. Holman introduced q bill In the House yes
terday extending the authority OF the Commis-
sioners Of the District of Columbia on the matter
OF making contracts.
Capitol Topics.
THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEES.
The House ways and means committee did
nothing ut their meeting to-day beyond the
adoption OF o resolution for the printing OF ad-
dtional copies OF the tariff OF 1888 for the use
OF the committee. This Is the only step they have
taken as Q committee toward considering the
COMMITTEE CLERK APPorNrIp
Eugene Black, OF Georgia, has been appointed
clerk OF the House committee on reform In the
ctvtl-seFvice.
fH YRNsI0N Bill.
The appropriations subcommittee Of the House
on the pension bill met this morning and finished
their bill, which viii be reported TO the whole
committee tomorrow.
A. AssIsTANT Do0RKHRPHR.
In the Senate, to-day, Ar. eabin offered reso.
luton to appoint Major John g. Merritt an assist
ant doorkeeper. Referred 70 committee on con.
s1uRapt aXpena0R