Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-19
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
The District IN Congress.

The Dissricf IN Congress.
TO REFUND TIE pxUyMERS' TAX
In the senate to-day Mr.. German introduced the
House, TO direct the secretary OF the Treasury TO
refund TO persons or firms or citizens OF the several
states ana territories the license tax collected py
the district OF Columbia from commercial repre-
cided unconstitutional by the supreme Court.
Ciaims must be flfed not later than sixty days
ase1 the approval OF the act and the secretary OF
District authorities OF all such licenses collected
Referred to the District committee.
DISTRICT MILITIA BILL n THE SENATE.
In the Senate to-day Mr.. Hawley Introduced
Oil concerning the militia OF the District, and had
IL referred TO the committee on military affairs IL
provides that the District militia shall be desig
naIed as the National Guard. and then the other
details OF the bill follow almost literally the
breckinbridge bill now before the House. In the
Hawey bill the long list OF reasons for the honor
able discharge OF enlisted men is stricken out
section Is inserted 10 the effect that the quarter
rooms as the commanding general may deem nee
essary for drill ana instruction. also such closets
shS appartenanees as are deemed necessary for
the care and keeping OF arms, equipments, and
uniforms Another new section provides that the
National Guard shall perform camp duty for not
i IMAM SIX consecutive days In each year, and
the commanding general may prescribe such drills
ana parades rs he deems necessary and order out
the men.
FOR THE RELIEF OF HENRIETTA V. NINSIx.
In the Senate to-day Mr.. German introduced
Dill 10 remit all taxes accrued interest and penal
ties on lot No. IL and the improvements thereon in
square No. ST., this city, the homestead OF Henri
elta V. Minnix- 1t directs the Commissioners 10
expunge all records OF taxes and penalties or other
inuepteuhess against that property. Referred 10
District committee. To accompany the bill MI.
Gorinan submitted a statement OF the change OF
grace on ana contiguous streets TO show that
tne MINK property had been greatly damaged;
tn;it the Improvement charges were more than the
value OF the property.
How Did the Storm Affect the Wiresl
AND IS THERE ANY REASON WHY The WIRES
SHOULD NOT BE PCT UNDERGROUND?
Mr.. Thompson, OF Ohio, introduced a resolution
In the House to-day calling upon the District Com
misslonerS for information to the eject OF the
recent storm on the overhead telegraph and tele-
phone wires OF the District government service,
and upon those underground, for the purposes OF
comparison, and asking them TO state also what
reason there Is, II any, why all the wires should
not be put underground.
The DISQUALIFICATION Inquiry.
MR.. HATCH SHARPLY REBUKEs COUNSEL FOR THE
COMPOUND LARD INTEREST.
Prof Wiley, chemist OF the Department Of Ag-
ricuture. was before the House committee on
agriculture this morning in connection with the
lard hearing and in reply to inquiries gave sub
stantially the same information as given to the
Senate committee on saturday. Prof. Sharpless
chemist, OF Massachusetts,, was recalled. Counsel
for the compound lard interests asked how long
witness had been employed by Squire Co. to
some asperity, said witness need not answer the
question unless he desired TO do He told counsel
that it was disrespectful to the committee to as
sumo that this measure was being pressed In the
interest OF any man or set Of men and cautioned
them that these personal matters must cease.
aspS Nave
asked II the professor, under the ruling OF the
chair, wished to answer the question. Witness
replied that he did not think the matter OF any
consequence. Witness was not prepared TO state
that anything Injurious to health was contained
In cotton-seed oil. lie would not state that dead
hog grease was contained In ref1ned lard, because
IL was impossible to discover IL when combined
with c0ttOn-Seed Oil: w. l. Hill, OF the firm OF
squier Co., testified that the firm manufactured
dead hog grease, put that none or 1t was used In
lard. II he had testified before the senate COM
mittee that Squier Co. put CUTS into their lard IL
was mistake. Adjourned.
The Blair Education bill.
NOT LIKELY TO BE REPORTED DURING THE PRESENT
SESSION.
The chances are that the Blair education bill
will not get consideration in the House at all this
session. 1t is generally understood that the Presi-
dent would veto the bill IL passed. and it is party
policy with the democrats to relieve him from this
necessity. The popularity OF the measure In the
South might secure its passage II a vote were
reached in the House, and for that reason 1t will
probably be killed in committee AS yet the bill
has not been acted upon by even the subcom-
IL.
will still remain for the whole committee to act
The subcommittee were to have met on SATURDAY
TO take up the bill. TWO members only appeared,
and the indications are that there will not be a
quorum present at any time during the session:
or, If at all, not until 1t is too late TO hope for
action.
Capitol Topics.
SEEDS IN THE NAILS
The Senate committee on post-ofices and post
roads this morning ordered a favorable report on
the Senate bill to reduce the postage on seeds
cuttings, bulbs, scions &C., to cent foIevery four
ounces. The present rate Is 10 cents a pound
while that OF Canada is only 4 cents
The purpose Of the bill is to place American
seedmen on an equality with the Canadians so far
as the use OF the United States mails are con-
cerned.
THE PROPOSED STATUE TO ROBERT DALE OWEN.
Mr.. Hoyey introduced In the House to-day a
joint resolution providing an appropriation OF
$4,000 for the erection OF statue OF 'sRObert Dale
owen, distinguished citizen and statesman, and
one OF the principal promoters and architects OF
the building OF the Smithsonian Institution" the
statue 10 be placed In the Smithsonian grounds or
building.
THE FRACTIONAL CURRENCY BILL
Under suspension OF the rules the House this
afternoon took up the fractional currency bill,
authorizing the Treasury to issue silver certificates
of fractional denominations. The bill was taken
up by vote Of l35 TO 81, which appears to insure
It's passage.
A CHILD KNOCKED Down AND INJuRKD.-This
morning, about 1890 O'Clock, twO-year-old child
OF jerome Dggs, colOred, living on Monroe street,
Anacostta. was knocked down In front OF It's
fathers house by wagon, and had its right arm
broken. DIR. Pyles attended the injured child. As
no blame was attached TO the driver he was not
arrested.
Two Pilot BOals Still Missing.
NEW YORK. March l9-The pilot boats Enchant-
reSS and Phantom are still TO be heard from. Pilot
Nelson, part owner OF the former boat, expresses
the opinion that both craft were blown to sea- and
probably disabled by the late storm.
In the Face OF Death.
EMPEROR FREDERICK BRAvELY STICKS TO HIS WORK
IN SPITE OF The DOCTORS ADVICE.