, 1889-01-29
WASHINGTON WAITS.
NeWsy Notes Of General Inter-
est from the Capital.
Woman Suffragists Before the
Committee on Judiciary.
A Rumor that Secretary Bay
ard May Resign.
WASHINGTON Notes.

III AaiAAOhhs
was given a private hearing to-day by the
senate committee on Pacific roads, which
has the Mitchell bill now pending before
it.
The house committee on judiciary held
Especial meeting to-day to hear addresses
from members of the Womau's Suffrage
Association, in support of an amendment
TO the constitution of the United States,
granting elective franchise to women.
Among the speakers were Susan b.
Anthony, Elizabeth Beecher Hooker,
Rev. Olympia Brown, Mrs. Colby, editress
of the WondH'S Journal, Mrs. Dunaway
OF Oregongand others.
Senator Hale gave a breakfast this
morning In the room of the senate com
mittee on naval affairs, IN honor of Mr..
ano Mrs. Blaine, at which n number of
senators were present.
In the house to-day Morrow of CAL
ltornia presented a memorial from the
San Francisco Chamber of Commerce,
recommending an appropriation for the
publication OF a monthly pilot chart of
the Pacific ocean.
The electoral messengers from all the
states except Florida nave arrived aud
deposited their certificates. 1t is Thought
the missing messenger will arrive before
midnight.
A memorial was presented to the senate
to-day protesting against the admission of
New MeXico as a state of the Union.
representing that it is not to the business
interests of the residents of the territory,
nor is 1t the desire of the majority of New
Mexico's citizens really engaged in COM
mprpIal nIrrznIfa that Nnuu MnvEao gbn,1l
at the present time be admitted into the
union of states.
The postmaster general has sent to the
chairman OF the house committee on post
offices and post roads a proposed plan for
the classification Of clerks in all first and
second class post offices. The general
effect OF this classification of the present
force, 1t is said, would be to increase the
aggregate of salaries about $500, 900.
In the house today the pending amend
ment appropriating $3.50 900 for inyesti-
eating b best methods Of irrigating the
ARID region was agreed to.
Representative Springer to-day intro
duced his omnibus bill providing Tor an
enabling act for the admission of the ter
ritories of Arizona, Idaho and Wyoming.
Senator Vance to-day had one of his
eyes removed. He has been suffering
severely for some time and his physicians
have not been able to ascertain the direct
cause of his trouble. which took the form
of a separation of the retina from the ball
OF the eye. The operation was success
fully performed and the senator is now
resting comfortably.
Secretary Whitncy's mail this morning
contained a long report from Capt. Mul
len, commanding the United States
steamer Nipsic, dated Ayria, Dec. 26,
giving a detailed account OF the occur
rcnces on those islands since Dec. 3 to the
date of his last report to the department
and covering a period of engagements be-
tween the natives and Germans, and OF
alleged insults to the American flag. A
copy OF the report will be furnished to
the secretary of state, and will probably
be transmitted to congress the latter part
of this week together with the correspon-
dence received Saturday from Acting
Consul Gen, Blackjack on the same sub
iect. 1t is reported as likely that the
president will have something more to
say on the subject when he sends to con.
gress the correspondence which has taken
place since his last message.
The postmaster general has sent in re.
ply to the request of the house commit
tee on post CfhceS and post roads his OpIn-
ion of house bill 1909, which requires
railroad companies to carry mails at rates
of compensation fixed by law. In his
answ the postmaster general points out
the present condition of the law under
which any railroad company may refuse
to take mails, and by which the depart
ment can secure their carriage by contract
only. lie suggests that the present CON
dition of the law under which the service
may be stopped at the caprice OF a carrier
constitutes a rcproach to a government
established to promote the pub
lie welfare. The committee has
unanimously voted to report the bill.
1t provides that if any railroad company
shall refuse or neglect to convey any mails
upon any train upon which the post
master general may require such service
or wiliully refuse to obey any law respect
ing the transportation. of the mails. it
shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding
81 GOO for each day in which such refusal
or neglect shall be persisted in.
The postmaster general will TO morrow
communicate to the committee his views
upon the proposed horizontal reduction of
compensation to railways for carrying
mails. He will advise against the pro
posed measure as being inexpedieut at
this time and to some extent unfair.