Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-29
CONGRESSIONAL TOPICS
What the Committees Are Busyin1
Themselves About, Etc,

The Senate committee on interstate com.
merce this morning instructed Senator Cullom
TO report fsvorably, with slight amendment
intended 10 define more clearly the powers OF
the commission, the bill introduced bv Sena-
tor spooner TO confer upon the Interstate com-
mission authority 70 regulate telegraphic con-
merce between the several states The bill i'm
effect applies the Law relating 80 railroad 60
telegraph companies. IL 10 substantially the
bill passed by the Senate last session.
THE NAVAL POLICY REPORT
The Secretary OF the Navy. in response 70 q
resolution recently adopted. transmitted 20 the
Senate today the report Of the policy board on
the proposed increase OF the naval establish-
ment On this report was based Senator
Halels bill. made by the committee on
naval affairs recently. The report saws that
never in the history OF the country have va
been so unprepared now 20 maintain our
rights upon the seas or 10 defend our own
shores. The only fear that the United States
has Is from attack by sea. because the
Atlantic and Pacific furnish an insur-
mountabie barrier 20 invading army.
The United States should maintain a navy
equal TO any other in the world but for tho
fact that our greatest interests lie in the wes-
tern hemisphere, near our basis Of supply and
far removed from the base Of supply Of most
European nations. The United States
however. should be able 10 destroy at its out
preak every base OF supplies in proximity 20
our country which belongs 10 the enemy.
thus forcing the enemy back and excluding
from the contest all vessels Of limited endu-
rance. This and the protection of the con-
'erglng highways of our commerce. foreign
and coast-wise. would represent the principal
demand 10 be made upon our navy for purposes
OF defense.
RIVERS AND HsRBuRs.
A delegation composed of Geo. II. Ely Of
Cleveland, II. W. Seymour OF saun Ste Marie,
ana I. ID. Graves of Duluth appeared before
.he House committee on rivers and hsrbors to-
day IN advocacy of the Stephenson bin making
appropriations OF %, 49,. s64 for improving the
~ Marys river and Sl.6s4 lis for Hay lake
channel Mich. The delegation expatiated
npon the Importance of the improvements.
Ihe indications are that the committee will
report ia the House river ana harbor bill
CARVING total appropriation OF about s2s-
oo.eo0 TO remedy in part the failure OF the bill
IN the last Congress. Such an appropriation
Would be little larger than that made by tho
last act of 1855.
ELEVATOR FOR THE CAPITOL
The House committee on public buildings
and grounds at Its meeting today authorized a
favorable report on the resolution introduced
in the House by Mr.. BouteIle appropriating
$4,000 for the establishment of an elevator i'm
the capitol TO run from the west front of tho
building 10 the different landings at some GEN.
trail point in the building.
PENNSYLVANIA WAR CLAIMS
A large delegation of Pennsylvanians were
before the House committee on war claims to-
day In support Of a bill that has for its object
the reimbursement TO the state of PENN
ryivanla of about S3,0O0.O0O for property
destroyed during the war and popularity
known as the Pennsylvania border claims.
Inc delegation was composed OF Gov. Beaver,
Attorney General kirkpatrick. Auditor Thomas
Nc, ourant, Speaker of the House Boye r
state SENATORS Penrose, Williamson and Mar
TN, Representatives Henry Holl and Thomas
eapp and Messrs. Benz. NJ Need and +. NJ.
Marson.
NOTES.
Representatives of typographical unions will
appear before the Judiciary committee of the
House tomorrow and argue in favor of the
passage OF the international copyright bill
The Speaker laid before the House TODAY
letters from the Secretary of the Treasury sub
uniting an estimate for the appropriation OF
S66' 4lO for the military post at Fort Myer,
Virginia.
A dispatch from Charlotte v c. saws a GOLD
nugget weighing fifty pounds has been found
in the lete saunders mine in Montgomery
county, NC, owned by Senators Spooaer and
Hearst
caucus of democratic Senators will be hela
this afternoon