Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-30
LIVE CAPITOL TOPICS.
Mckinley Bill on the Pacific Coast
House Republican Caucus.

Mckinley Bill on the Pacific Coast
House Republican Caucus.
Ex-Representative Charley" FELTON, of Cali
fornia, looking 20 per cent better than when he
served the fifth district in the Forty-ninth and
Fiftieth Congresses, was over at the northern
end of the Capitol this morning
Il don't think the interests of the Pacific
coast are advanced by the Mckinley tariff BILL ~
said he 10 a STAR reporter, land as n conse-
quence the measure does not meet with much
favor among our people. The sugar and tin
plate propositions against us and must.
naturally. meet with good deal of opposition
from our Senators and Representatives"
THE DUTY on PEARL BUTTONS.
A delegation of pearl button manufacturers
from Philadelphia Pa, and Newark, NJ,
were before the ways and means committee
this morning to advocate change in the tariff
rate ON pearl buttons. which is fixed in the Nc
Kinley bill at so per cent ad valorem, to cents
per line.
THREE MILLIONS FOR HIGH POWER GUNS.
An amendment to the fertilization appropria-
ton bill, proposed by Senator Teller today,
directs the Secretary of War to contract with
A. H. Emery of Stamford, Conn, for 1O-inch,
12-Inch, 14-lnch l6-inch and 20-inch breech-
loading rifed steel guns. An appropriation of
$4,000 900 Is made, 10 be available at the rate
Of $780, a year.
AUTOMATIC SAFETY APPLIANCES ON RAILROADS
The Senate committee on interstate COM
merce today gave a hearing to several persons
interested i'll the bills pending before it to re-
quire railroads companies to provide automatic
safety appliances for their freight cars L. s.
Coffin, ex-railroad commissioner of Iowa, was
the first speaker, and followed by A.
ID. Shaw, deputy third auditor of the
Treasury Department. and for twenty
five years brakeman and yardman on
Indiana railroads, who corroborated
Mr.. Collins statements to the dangers to
which brakemen are at present subjected Mr.
McKeever. trainmaster of the Baltimore and
Potomac Railroad. told the committee that au-
tomato couplers were far safer for life and
limb than the old style link and pin coupler.
The committee adjourned without taking
any action on the bill.
SENATOR SHERMAN FAvoRs TIRE REED RULE AS
TO COUNTING oUoRUMs.
Democratic Senators are much stirred up
over the declaration made Yesterday by Sena-
tor Sherman that he would insist on a rule that
Senators present, but not voting. should be
counted to make quorum. The question
came up on the land forfeiture bill wheu
although quorum was present. less than
a quorum voted. Mr.. Shermans proposition
met with considerable opposition. and a warm
debate was at hand when it closed on point of
order. Senator Calls amendments to the bill
were all defeated,and the bill was passed, 80 to
Is being the vote against each of the amend
ments.
THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.
The House republican caucus last night dis
cussed the McComas gerrymander bill and the
bill to grant a service pension to veterans after
the age Of sixty-two. The latter measure was
amended SO as to fix the age at sixty instead Of
sixty-tWo. There was some opposition to the
McCon g. bill and the discussion was not con
cluded.
THE BIG, BIO d IN THE HOUSE.
1t sometimes occurs that members on the
floor OF the House make use of profanity casu-
ally in conversation. Occasionally severe dis
appointment causes an outburst in an under
tone. The word damn" and sometimes
stronger words find thei- way into speeches
While the chaplain is blind his ears are sharp
and he has sometimes heard language that has
shocked him. In his prayer this morning he
~took occasion in an indirect way to lecture the
House on the subject Of taking the Lords
name III vain.
HOPS IL THE TARIFF BILL
A delegation of hop men from New York
state waited on the ways and means committee
today to ask for an increase of duty from fifteen
cents. as proposed in the Mckinley bill, to
twenty-five cents. The present rate is eight
cents.
BIG TUNSE-s TO CANADA.
BY request, Senator McAlillin today intro
duced a bill TO authorize the Detroit Railroad
and Tunnel Company to construct a tunnel
under the Detroit river, between the city
of Detroit and Canada. for the passage OF
railway trains. Reasonable rates OF toll may
be charged, and disputes with regard to rates
OF toll shall be settled by the Secretary of War
The tunnel shall be so constructed as not to be
an obstacle TO navigation.
TO INVESTIGATE VIOLATIONS OF THE INTERSTATE
COMMERCE LAW.
Senator Cullom today reported favorably the
bill introduced by him to authorize the Inter-
state Commerce Commission to prosecute in
quiries into alleged violations OF the law by
means OF special agents, who shall have au-
fhority TO take testimony, administer oaths and
send for persons and papers.
CIVIL SERVICE ISvEsrIGATIoS
The House special committee on the reform
In the civil service, investigating the charges
against the present civil service commission,
has decided TO close the Investigation Satur-
day. Each side will be given two hours of
that day to make the closing arguments after
which the full committee Will consider the tes-
timony taken and report to the House US soon
rs possible.
OPPOSED TO BANK N THE CAPITOL BUILDING.
The House committee on the District of
Columbia has made an adverse report on a bill
providing for the establishment of a branch
Office of the Columbia National Bank of Wash
lngtOu the CaDltOl buil1iuO