Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-21
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
DISTRICT AFFAIRS IN THE HOUSE
MATTERS OF INTEREST IN THE SENATE

MATTERS OF INTEREST IN THE SENATE.
The Senate.
Messages from the President with reports from
the secretary Of state relative to the invitation of
the imperial German government to the United
states Government to become party to the In
ternattOnal Geodetic Association and relative TO
the invitation OF the Relgtan government TO par.
tcipate In the International Exposition or Science
and Industry at Brussels In May next, were pre-
sented and referred to the committee on foreign
relations.
THE TEXAS INVESTIGATION.
Mr.. HOar, from the committee on privileges and
elections, reported a resolution authorizing that
committee and any subcommittee thereof to con-
tinue the investigation (ordered last SESSION. into
the events alleged to have taken place in the state
OF Texas and set forth in the petition Of stephen
Huckwerth and others. Referred to the commit
tee on contingent expenses.
PROPOSED EXPERIMENTAL GRASS FARM.
Among the bills introduced and referred were
the following:
BY Mr.. Platt-To provide for the establishment
OF an experimental grass and forage plant farm.
and for the conducting OF experiments relating to
grass and forage plants. The bill provided, he
said for the purchase OF a farm In the vicinity OF
the hundredth meridian, where extended expert
ments could be carried on; and 1t also authorized
the commissioner OF Agriculture to carry on such
experiments (without the purchase OF land) near
the city OF Washington, and required him TO com.
municate the results to the different agricultural
colleges and TO agrculturist throughout the coun-
try.
The bill was referred to the committee on agrl-
culture.
THE FISH COMMISSION.
Mr. Chandler offered two resolutions (Which
were agreed toy calling for Information as to the
expenditures, employees, &C., Of the Fish Com
mission.
DISTRIBUTION OF DOCUMENTS.
Mr. Vest offered resolution (Which
was referred to the committee on print
the Interior OF all the public documents now in
the committee rooms, document rooms, and
library OF the Senate that are not required, and
LOT their distribution by the secretary OF the
Interior to universities, colleges and school
libraries, or for sale.
One Nomination To-Day.
The President to-day sent the following nomina-
tion to the Senate: Jas Fl nley Keeney, Of Illinois,
10 De an assistant surgeon In the Navy.
House Of Representatives.
THE LIBRARY INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE.
The Speaker announced the appointment OF
Messrs. Holman, Stahlnecker, Rayner, Stewart
(Vt.), and Caswel as members Of the select COM
mttee to inquire into the cause Of the delay in the
work on the new Library building.
THE POTOMAC FLATS.
The Speaker laid before the House communica-
tion from the Secretary OF War pointing out the
tOmac fats. Referred.
STEAM POWER PRESSES IN THE PRINTING AND IN
CRAVING BUREAU.
Mr.. wilkins, OF Ohio from the committee on
banking and currency, reported q resolution call
ing on the Secretary OF the Treasury for infOrma-
ton as to the number OF steam power presses used
In plate-printing In the Bureau OF Engraving and
Printing, whether they are owned by the Govern
ment, II not from whom they are leased, and the
amount Of royalty paid and the reason why the
number OF hand-plate presses used, and whether
the work performed by the steam presses Is equal
done BY the hand presses. Adopted. " ~
THE DIRECT TAX.
E. B. Taylor {Ohio>, from the committee on the
judiciary reported back Senate bill to credit and
pay to the several states and territories and the
District Of Columbia all monies collected under
the direct tax. Committee or the whole.
AGAINST PoLYGAMY.
Mr.. CulbersOn (TexaS), from same committee, re-
ported Joint resolution proposing the following
amendments to the Constitution:
"First. Polygamy shall not exist or be lawful
withing the United states or In any place subject
to their Jurisdiction.
sSecond. Polygamy shall consist in marrige re-
latiOn by contract or In fact existing at the
time between one person OF either sex and more
than one person OF the other sex.
Third. Congress shall have power, concurrent
with the several states, TO enforce this act"
House calendar.
The District i'm Congress-.
NOT ENOUGH VOTES TO CHANGE INAUGURATION DAY.
In the House yesterday afternoon motion was
made on behalf of the judiciary committee and
carried to suspend the rules and place upon its
passage the Hoar joint resolution proposing con-
stitutional amendment changing the date OF In
auguration day to April 30 The debate was con-
tnued at some length and
from members who thought that the passage OF
the resolution would act as barrier TO future
ming OF Congress TO the 1st OF January. The reso-
luton failed TO get the necessary two-third VOTE
the vote being 10 for and l2S against.
THE CABLE ELECTRIC RAILWAY COMPANY BILL
The bill to incorporate the Washington Cable
Electric Railway Company was debated until
about O'Clock in the senate yesterday, and then
it went over All the amendments proposed by
the District committee were adopted. senator
German proposed TO require the road, at the cor
ner OF Pennsylvania avenue and 18th street, to 20
down New York avenue, and thence by l4th to G,
instead OF down 18th TO q, but that amendment
was not adopted. vote was taken on an amend
used by the road shall be OF Steel and Of American
manufacture On the roll call the republicans all
voted for the amendment and the democrats
against 1t, with the exception OF German and
Brown, who voted for It.
THE FERGUSON PROPERTY BILL
In the Senate to-day Mr.. stanford reported
favorably the bill to appropriate $15O,OOO to pur-
chase and flt up the Ferguson property for the
Signal Service Bureau. The action Of the public
buildings and grounds committee, ordering q
favorable report, was published In THE STAR.
BILLS EEPoRrsD TO THE HOUSE.
Mr.. Hemphill reported to the House to-day the
bill to permit foreign legations to own residences
in Washington; and the bill authorizing the Com
missoners to perfect the sale OF certain property
to Job Barnard.
THE HOUSE DISTRICT COMMITTEE
decided to-day to report favorably Mr.. Holman's
bill to authorize the District Commissioners when
in their opinion saving may be made by contract
ing for period longer than one year, they may
enter into contracts for not longer than three
years The bill would effect the lighting and street.
cleaning contracts more particularly, and would
enable the Commissioners to make contracts for
electric lighting for period long enough to pay
for the placing of the electric plant.
They acted favorably upon the bill to incor.
pOrate the Georgetown and Tennallyt0wn Rail-
way CO. In the District, with the amendments
they have adopted u all such bills providing for
tax on their earnings and q reduction In fare
whenever their earnings exceed 10 per cent.
The bill to permit the Richmond and Danville
Railroad Co. to run and operate steam locomotives
and trains OF cars for the transportation OF
gers and freight within the District OF Columbia
and over the Long bridge was taken up and dis
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