Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-20
DIRECT TAX BILL CONTEST.
Filibustering in the House Goes On.
THE SUNDRY CIVIL BILL.
1t is Taken Up in the Senate.
The Senate.

the several states.
Among the memorials presented and re-
ferred was one from the California legisla-
ture as to Chinese immigration.
Mr.. Plumb, from the committee on public
lands, reported the Senate bill for the relief of
settlers in Hettinger county, Dak., which was
passed.
Mr.. Berry. from the same committee, re-
ported the Senate bill (Which was passed)
granting to the Hot Springs (Arkansas) benev-
olent association the right to occupy, improve
and control certain pieces of land in Hot
Springs for the purpose of erecting thereon
an hospital for the use and benefit of the indi-
gent poor visiting that place.
PACIFIC RAILROADS INDEBTEDNESS.
Mr.. Stewart offereda resolution (Which was
referred to the committee ON contingent ex-
penses), continuing the select committee on
the Pacific railroad until the indebtedness of
all the companies to the Government shall be
adjusted, and instructing the committee to ex-
anime personally during the recess of Congress
the roads of the companies and the country
through which they pass, for the purpose of
ascertaining the abilities of the companies to
pay such Indebtedness and how it can be SO
adjusted as TO advance the development of the
country through which the roads pass and af-
ford to the inhabitants reasonable fares and
freight
The resolution offered yesterday by Mr..
Hoar as to John s. McElee, in charge OF the
New York custom-house, was agreed to.
THE PARIS EXPOSITION.
Mr.. Call introduced a concurrent resolution
(Which was referred to the committee on for
eign relations) for the appointment of a COM
missioner of each state (to be appointed by
the governor and commissioned by the Presi-
dent) to represent the United States at the
Paris exhibition in 1889, to be paid their actual
travelling expenses and S5 per day for sixty
DAYS.
Mr.. Hoar modified the resolution reported
by him yesterday as to southern elections $50
as not to require itsreference to the committee
on contingent expenses), and, as so modified,
1t went over till tomorrow.
THE sUNDRY CIVIL BILL.
The Senate then resumed consideration of
the sundry civil appropriation bill. Among
the amendments reported from the committee
on appropriations and agreed to by the Senate
were the following
OF LOCAL INTEREST,":
Inserting item of $4,000 for expenses of the
inaugural ceremonies.
Inserting an item of $4,000 for the purchase
of works of art under the direction of the Joint
committee on the library.
Inserting proviso that no state shall be paid
than one-haf the cost of maintenance of the
soldiers.
Inserting item of 1000 for engraving the
geological maps of the United States.
CITY PosT-oFFICE SITE.
Inserting two sections for the acquisition of
real estate for additional accommodations for
the Post-Office Department and the city post
office, in the square bounded by F and Z streets
and Sth and 9th streets, and for additional
ACCOMMODATION FOR THE GOV EMINENT PRINTING
OFFICE.
A short discussion took place in regard to the
item to purchasing additional ground for the
government printing office.
Mr.. Vest criticised it because it had not come
from the committee on public buildings and
grounds.
Mr.. German described the dangerous condi-
tlon of the present building and Mr.. Vest re-
marked if that were correct description it
was a scandal and shame. and disgrace to the
government. He said that if bill for a new
building for the Government printing office
were introduced it would be promptly reported
back by the committee On public buildings and
grounds and would be Che had no doubt,
passed by the Senate.
The action of the committee on appropria-
tions was defended by Mr. Allison. .iwho said
that the item had been recommended by the
committee on printing. which was the commit
tee having jurisdiction of the subject
The necessity for the item was insisted upon
by Mr.. Hawley, who said that the present con-
dition of the rooms occupied by compositors
and binders was discreditable to the govern
ment and that it was high time that filter and
more wholesome building were put up.
The suggestion was made by MIR. Blair that
the discussion conveyed the impression that
THE ''oLD TRAP
was like the Hartford hotel and might collapse
at any time. He asked Mr.. German the direct
question whether the building was safe, and
received the reply that it was as safe as it
could be made.
Does the architect report, said Mr.. Blair,
that the building is safe at the present time?
He does not, was Mr.. GOrman's reply
Then, said Mr.. Blair provision should be
made for a new building SO that we may not
be accessory to the murder of the people work.
ing there, If they go up ill an explosion.
AREsoLUTIoN OF INQUIRY
After the amendment was agreed to. Mr..
Blair offered a resolution (Which was referred
to the committee on printing! directing that
committee to inquire as to the condition of the
government printing Office and report what
immediate repairs and improvements are nee
essary IN order to insure the safety and health
OF the employees and the preservation of the
public property.
All the amendments reported from I he COM
mlttee ON appropriations having been acted
upon,
THE BILL WAS OPEN TO GEN ERAL AMENpmENrs
Mr.. Sherman offered an amendment (already
adopted in another bill, but which might fail
to become law authorizing the horse railroad
companies OF Washington to substitute for
horses electrical power by storage or indepen-
dent electric batteries, or UNDERGROUND wire
or by underground cable moved by steam
power.
ELECTRICAL POWER ON STREET RAILROADS
The amendment he said, merely gave the
railroad companies the legal authority to i'm
prove their service. If they did not avail
themselves of it he would be in favor. next
Congress, OF adopting pretty severe measures
to compel them to do SO. gentleman at the
head OF one OF those companies had told him
recently that if the company had
authority IT would Immediately make
cable road the whole length of 7th street. and
would. as soon as the best electrical system was
ascertained, adopt it for the road from George
town to the Navy-Yard
After further discussion a point OF order was
made against the amendment by Mr.. Gorman
and was sustained. So the amendment was not
received.
House of Representatives.
THE CONTEST OVER THE DIRECT TAX BILL. GOES
ON TO-DAY.
Imme ediately after the reading of the journal
the contest over the direct tax bill was re-
sumed, Mr.. Caswen, of Iowa, calling up the
conference report as a matter Of privilege. He
declined to yield to enable the Speaker to clear
his table of Senate bills although he was
warned by Mr.. Hooker, Of Miss, that he had
better do 30.