Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-16
CAPITOL TOPICS.
CONGRESSIONAL BIOGRAPHIES.


Mr.. W. H. Michael, clerk of the printing rec
ords, is hard at work on the biographical
sketches of the new Senators and Repre-
sentatives who will adorn the next
session of Congress. The task is
not a small one, for there are 123 new members
in the next House. Six new Senators also re-
quire some attention, SO there are 1873 bio
graphies to be condensed and made ready for
the printer. II an extra session should be
called Immediately after Inauguration the new
congressional directory will be ready.
REPORT IN FAVOR OF STEAM PRESSES.
The subcommittee of the Senate committee
on finance, charged with the duty of investi-
eating the respective merits of the steam and
hand-press work in the printing of certificates,
internal revenue stamps. postal cards and
stamps, completed its report yesterday and
submitted it to the full committee. The re-
port states that on the whole the work of the
steam presses is satisfactory, and it brings up
the late Secretary Folger, Secretary Fairchild
Treasurer Hyatt and number of other officials
as witnesses ON that side of the case. The
steam presses are also commended because
they are economical; a return to the hand
presses would cost S350,000 additional annually
without being in any way beneficial The sub
committee reports the House bill with recon-
mendation that it do not pass.
MR.. RANDALL's REPORT on THE TOBACCO BILL.
Mr.. Randall got his report on the tobacco
bill in the House to-day on the call of commit
tees for reports. He says that the bill will re-
duce the income of the government BY
$50. ZOO. 900. The estimated surplus for next
year is $50, 000, 000 He SAYS that by the repeal
of this tax is the simplest way to make a neces-
sary reduction of the revenue, and the only
practic able way at this late hour of the session.
IN THE SENATE LAST EVENING,
after The Stars report of yesterdays Senate
proceedings closed, the bill was passed, after
amendment, authorizing the President to REIN
state William English as a lieutenant in the
army. After the passage of number of pen
sion bills Mr.. Coke took the floor to talk of
Texas election outrages. and with the assist
ance of the chief clerk, who read great deal
of the testimony taken by the Senate investi-
eating committee, he concluded his speech.
THE DIRECT TAX BILL.
The conferees on the direct tax bill have
reached an agreement. The Senate conferees
accept the House amendments appropriating
$500, 200 to pay the citizens of Beaufort. s. c.,
for real estate seized and sold by the United
States government with further amendments
reducing the appropriation to S450, 900. cutting
down one-half the valuation of the land, pro-
viding for the payment of IS per acre for
arabic land and 81 per acre for other lands.
Another and general amendment was adopted
providing for the payment to all states of the
from the sale of real estate for taxes. In the
case of the Beaufort appropriation the con-
ferees attach an amendment deducting from
the amount to be paid to the state any money
turned into the school fund by the general
government.
THE FoRTIFICATIoNs BILL.
On motion Of Mr.. Sayers, of Texas, the SEN
ate amendments to the fertilization appro-
priation bill were non-concurred in by the
House yesterday and a conference ordered, and
Messrs. Sayers, Randall, and Butterworth ap-
pointed conferees
THE DAMAGE TO THE CRUISER BALTIMORE.
Secretary Whitney to-day sent to the Senate,
in response to resolution of inquiry, a state
ment describing the damage to the cruiser
Baltimore. from which it appears that last Oc-
tober, shortly after she was launched and while
lying at one of the wharves of Cramp 4 Sons,
her constructors, .'her rudder was fouled by a
loaded coal barge, the effect of which was to
force the rudder around to an angle with the
line of the keel and to carry away one of the
projections cast on the stern-post to serve as a
rudder-stop, slightly cracking the post" The
damage, Secretary Whitney says, was repaired
by the contractors at their cost upon a plan
prepared by the bureau of naval construction.
NOTES.
The House committee on commerce yesterday
ordered favorable report the Senate bill
iucTedsluR TIE salary Vi tue surSeOn-general OF
the marine hospital service from $4,000 to
$4,000.
Senator Henderson will leave tonight at
TAO for Nebraska, and will return to this city
on Saturday or Sunday of next week.
Secretary Endicott has asked Congress for
$4,000 additional to the amount estimated by
the Secretary of the Treasury for surveys and
reconnaissance in military divisions for the year
ending June 80, 1890.
The Senate last night passed forty-one pri-
vate pension bills in twelve minutes.
Chas. j. Happier, of this city, has been ap-
pointed clerk of the new committee on irriga-
ton, &C., Of which Senator Stewart is chair
man.