Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-22
CAPITOL TOPICS.

UNsECTARIAN FREE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The Senate committee on education andlabor
to-day heard further arguments on the resolu-
ton proposing an amendment to the Constitu-
ton providing that each state shall establish
and maintain a system of free public schools
and forbidding money belonging to any NUM-
clpal organization. state or United States, be-
ing appropriated for any school in which in
struction is to be given in the doctrines pecu-
liar to any sect. The following gentlemen
from Boston, representing the committee of
one hundred Of that city, addressed the COM
mittee in support of the amendment: Rev. Jas.
b. Dunn, DID,; Rev. p. s. Moxan. d D.: Rev
James w. Gray, and Hon. Ellbridge G. Torrey.
MIR. j. 0. Calls, in behalf of the Seventh day
adventists, made an argument in opposition to
the amendment.
THE PENSION ARREARS BILL.
1t is the intention of Mr.. Matson, of Indiana,
chairman of the committee on invalid pensions,
to offer an amendment to the Randall resolu-
ton about the Cowles bill providing that the day
following that set apart for the Cowles bill
shall be set apart for the consideration of the
bill repeating the pension arrears limitation
under the same terms and conditions in all re-
spects as to discussion, ordering the pension
question and taking yea-and-nay-vote on the
passage thereof. Mr.. Matson says that this is
the first opportunity he has had to make such
motion owing to the refusal of the committee
amendment would be germane.
PENSION FOR MRS. SHERIDAN.
The House this afternoon passed the Senate
bill granting pension to Mrs. Sheridan, with
an amendment fixing the rate of pension at
81, 500 per annum.
THE SENATE DISTRICT COMMITTEE
met this morning at II o'clock. Those present
were Messrs. Ingalls,, Farwell, Riddleberger,
Harris, Daniel and Faulkner. The first bill
considered was the one for the relief of the
mutual loan and building associations,
and on this measure the committee
gave five-minute hearing to Mr. J. J.
Darlington, who represented the associations
Mr.. Darlington showed that under the present
law, or rather under a strained construction of
1t, tax was levied on the shares of each share
holder, another tax was laid on the
mortgages of the association (the mort
cages being the aggregated shares). and
the real estate beside. 1t was triple taxa
ton, and the shareholders ought not to have
any such unjust legislation hanging over
them, liable to be enforced by an official in
imical to the interests Of the associations.
The House bill to regulate and license pawn
brokers in the District of Columbia was con-
sidered and amended so as to make the rates
Of interest SO and "a per cent, respectively, on
loans over and under S25 Mr.. Daniel was au-
thorized to make favorable report thereon.
The bill relating to the deposit of securities
by insurance companies was ordered to be ia
vorably reported after being amended so as to
make the deposit with the treasurer Of the
United States a trustfund for the protection of
policy holders.
An adverse report was ordered upon the bill
vesting in the vestry of Christ church the right
title and interest Of the United States in the
square south of square 1892 in this city,
An adverse report was also ordered upon the
bill to amend section $50 of the Revised Stat
utes, increasing the number of trustees in cor
porations from nine to fifteen