Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-04-11


"Are we still In session. Queried q new conner
OF Mr.. Burrows (Mich)
YES; you see Us now in the very act Of legts-
latlng TOR the whole people,
FIRST BUSINESS OF TIE DAT.
AT 10 O'Clock the first business OF the day was
undertaken. 1t was q motion by Mr.. Dockery. Of
Missouri, that the doorkeeper be authorized to
open the doors and ventilate the chamber. Some
belated nifpusterer objected from force of habit
and matters relapsed again.
AT quarter past 10 Mr.. Belmont was brought to
the bar under arrest and formaliy cnarged with
absence without leave He said he was paired
yesterday ana was necessarily absent In New
York. motion TO excuse him was lost upon
viva voce, but was carried by o. to- upon division
THE DISTRICT COMMITTEE ASKED TO BI EXCUSED no
ATTEND THE BRIDGE CELEBRATION.
At O'Clock leave was asked that the members
OF the committee on the District OF Columbia be
excused until O'Clock to enable them to attend
the opening OF the free bridge over the Potomac
River in West Washington.
Mr.. Reed, however. interposed an objection
THE BULLETIN ABOUT MR.. coNKINes CONDITION
READ.
Unanimous consent was given to Representative
White (N. ~ to have read the O'Clock official
bulletin issued by Dr. Barker, which noted an I'M
provement In ex-senator Conkling's condition.
The reading was listened to with Close attention,
and at It's close round OF prolonged applause
arose from both democrats and republicans
About II O'Clock Mr.. Combes, OF North carolina,
ayes and noes on the motion.
Mr.. aAsoS's PRESENCE OF MIND.
A suf1cent number OF republicans aroused them
selves and voted to have the ayes and noes, and
the roll-call was about TO begin when Mr.. Mason,
OF Illinois, made the point Of order that the motion
TO adjourn was not In order because no business
had intervened since the last vote on similar
motion.
The speaker sustained the point, and Mr.. Mason,
who Is new member, wa Immediately surrounded
rl.a ihaP mo m F<
congratulated him Oh his presence OF mind and
acumen ia Selling upon the proper parliamentary
approached the many memLerS appeared on the
1oOr who had been absent, and Mr.. weaver, OF
Iowa, moved that further proceedings under the
pensed with. The ayes and noes were ordered on
this proposition and the roll-cau
CAUGHT MAPPING
several members who, relying upon q contin.
uance OF the unbroken monotony OF the last six
hours, had temporarily absented themselves for
sleep or other refreshments. Mr.. Anderson {kan.)
man was invigorating himself by shave and
shanpoon. But he was equal to the emergency,
and caused mucn merriment among the observers
by suddenly emerging in the hall with his face
covered with latter and a towel neatly drawn
around his neck TO answer TO his name.
Tue extraordinary number OF rOll-calls, and the
length OF the session, has badly demoralzed the
reading clerks, and various employees OF the House
have been tried as substitutes with Indifferent
success. As one clerk with insufficient vocal abi-
1ty WAS struggling along with The roil-call on the
weaver moiiOn, MI. Dockery (Mo.) generously
stepped forward amid the applause VI the House
anu took up the call In sonoIous voice.
RELEASED INTO APATHY.
The vote resulted in the defeat Of the motion to
dispense with the call by q vote OF yeas "a nays
l3S; and the House relapsed into apasny.
TEe utter sta snatCn OF the business OF the House
remains unrufi py even as much as the breeze OF
q parliamentary motion. Both parties 10 the con.
l.V a MfcaWberlSl
WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO TURN uP
which will put an end to the present condition Of
affairs, but at this hour Gals p.m) there are no
ind cations that the deadlock will be broken dur
ing the day. There are rumors afioat that it has
been decided that nothing but democratic
caucus Can have the effect OF terminating the
session which began one week from to-day,
but the democratic advocates OF and opponents TO
the direct-taX bill are os; ruStful or each others
strength, anu IT IS difficult to secure the large
number OF signatures 10 the Call which the
opposition party demands before II will accede TO
te proposition TO 60 into caucus, whose decision
will be binding.
The District in Congress.
ANXIOUS TO PASS THE PooL-sELLING BILL
Senator Blackburn Is very anxious TO pass the
House bill TO prohibit pool selling and book-mak.
ing before the spring races begta here. He had a
talk with Senator Spooner TO day with regard to
the amendment Contemplated by the latter. Mr..
Spooner said he only wants to make the penalty
w.
atof Blackburn has no objection 10 such an amend.
ment and It is believed II ca after the passage or
the Oii Sy tne Senate be really ARRANGED " con,
the time the Ivy City races begin.
Capitol Topics.
THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE BILL
The Senate committee on interstate commerce
further considered to-day the proposed amend
ments to the interstate commerce BILL but reached
no CONCLUSION except upon proposition requiring
that three day s. notice snail be given or intended
reduction In freight rates, which was passed upon
favOrably.
RETIRED ARMY, NAVY, AND JUDICIAL OFFICERS.
In the Senate to-day resolution submitted by
Mr.. Reagan was adopted, which directs the Secre-
tary OF War to furnish the senate with full and
retired their rank, pay &C.; that the secretary OF
the Navy shall furnish U complete list OF Gil naval
Officers retired, their pay, &c. and the Secretary
or the Treasury shall furnish similar list OF all
judicial officers retired.
coNsrL GENERAL RATHBoNE's NOMINATION.
The senate has confirmed the following post
masters: VIM. A. Sterling, Shamokin, Pa; J. W.
Shrite, MountJoy, Pa. The nomination OF Consul
General Rathbone was discussed In secret session
action was reached. test vote showed an over.
whelming majority In favor OF confirmation, but
there was not q quorum present, and 30 the case
day.
CONSUL GENERAL RATHB0NI CONFIRMED.
The Senate In secret session to-day confirmed
the nomination of Jared I. Rathbone to be consul
general at Paris by a vote OF "A to 8. The doors
were reopened at 1885
NOTES.
The senate committee on foreign relations
further considered the fisheries treaty this morn.
ing, but did not conclude the matter and will have
another meeting next saturday.
In the Senate to-day Mr. Mitchell submitted a
resolution to appoint select committee OF seven
Senators TO take jurisdiction OF and inquire into
all claims Tor Indian depredations. Lald over
To Expedite the Public Business.
TRYING 10 SIMPLIFY RED TAPE METHODS N TIE
GOVERNMENT DHPAKTNKNTa
The Secretary Of War has issued circular to the
clerks In his Department announcing tne appoint
ment Of . board (as stated In TIE srAR some weeks
ago) to consider andreport practical plan for the
more simple and efficient transaction OF the bust-
ness Of the Department, and inviting suggestions
as to the means OF expediting the public business
This action Is the same as that taken Dy the Sec
retary OF the Treasury when about month ago,
similar board was formed in that Department.
on Business Methods," and IL composed Of Chief
Clerk Tweedale, L w. Tolman and Jacob Frech.
These ofncers are now hard At work Investigating
the methods BY which the work OF the Department
is conducted, and are systematically taking up
and considering the value OF each step or the
routine OF receiving nlin2, letter Writing, record
fnrYa and pfVxrp fo h0f <1n1l