Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-10
CAPITOL TOPICS.
Duty ON GILL-NErrING.

DUTY ON GlLL-NETTlNt.
Secretary Fairchild to-day sent to the Sen
ate a reply to the resolution of inquiry as to
the classification of giil-nets made by machine
in Scotland and imported into this country for
use principally in the salmon fisheries on the
Pacific coast. The Secretary says that no de-
cision on gill-nets has been rendered during
the past year, but he encloses a ruling of the
department declaring gill-netting in the piece
dutiable a manufacture of flax.
THE INDIAN DEPRECIATION BILL.
The Senate committee on Indian affairs to-
day secured a quorum and took up the bill to
organize court or commission for the ascer-
tainment and settlement of claims on account
of Indian depredations for consideration. They
are not able to complete, it, however, and it
is probable that no further progress will be
made until after the tariff bill is disposed of.
MISS CARRoLL's CLAIM.
A bill, introduced to-day by Senator Mander-
son, proposes to pay $4,000 in full settlement
of the claim of Miss Annie Ella Carroll against
the United States for services in furnishing
valuable information to the War department
during the rebellion and preparing certain
publications in aid of the Union cause during
the same period, under an understanding with
the War department. Miss Carroll is the
daughter of Gov. Carroll, of Maryland, and il
is said in her behalf that number of literary
articles prepared by her under agreement
with the War department had great influence
in holding the people of Maryland true to the
Union. 1t is also asserted that she prepared
the plan under which feet Of gunboats sailed
up the Tennessee river, for the purpose Of
dividing the confederacy in two.
sEAMEN's SAVINGS.
Senator Hale, yesterday, from the committee
on naval affairs, reported favorablya bill which
provides that any enlisted man or petty officer
of the navy may deposit his savings, in sums of
not less than S. with any naval paymaster. y
case OF desertiOn the savings are to be forfeited
but if the sailor continues in the service until
he is discharged he will be paid the amount Of
his deposits, with the addition of interest at the
rate of 4 per cent per snnum.
TESTIMONIALS OF MERIT FROM ABROAD.
Senator Dolph, from the committee on
foreign relations, reported, without amend
ment, the Senate joint resolution authorizing
DIR. w. J.. Hoffman. from the bureau of
ethnology. to accept decoration Of the s'Order
of st. james" conferred upon him by the king
of Portugal and also that of the ssOrder of the
Bust of the Liberator," conferred upon him by
the president of Venezuela, as q testimonial of
distinguished scientific and artistic merit
THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY.
Claus Spreckles, the sugar king Of the Pacific
slope, made statement before the Senate
committee on finance yesterday concerning
his experiments in the manufacture Of beet su-
gar in California from American material, in
tended as an argument against the proposed
reduction Of the duty ON sugar and the substi-
tuition therefor Of bounty of cent pound
He gave an elaborate history Of his investiga-
and explained how the industry was likely to
grow and afford employment to farmers and
many classes Of American mechanics.
SAMOAN ATYAIRs.
4 Senator Frye's sub committee ON foreign re-
Nations will meet tomorrow morning to hear
what Consul-General Sewall has to say about
be no longer than h actually necessary because
his.presence in Samoa is regarded - being inn
portant at this particular period. II il proba-
bio that the committee meeting win be public.
6eAstor Rye favors open doors1