Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-09
LIVE CAPITOL TOPICS.
House Committee Vacancies-Various
Matters of Current Interest.

The Speaker is not yet ready to announce his
appointments to fill the committee vacancies,
but the delay is not caused by any doubt
about the assignments to committee on rules
and committee on appropriations The thing
yet to be settled is who is to go on the COM
mittee on merchant marine and fisheries. Mr.
Blunt OF Georgia is to go on the committee on
rules and Mr.. Mutchler on the appropriations
committee.
ALABAMA CONTEST.
The report Of the committee on elections in
the contested election case Of John V. McDuffie
against Louis W. Turpin, from the fourth con-
gressional district of Alabama, was submitted
to the House yesterday by Mr.. Rowell The
report favors the seating Of the contestant.
McDufie. A minority report will be submitted
by the democratic members Of the committee.
THE MARYLAND WAR CLAIMS.
The House committee on war claims has re-
versed its action in reporting adversely the bill
introduced in the House by Mr.. McComas ap-
propriating 1921, 500 to reimburse the towns Of
Hagerstown, Frederick and Mddietown. Md,
for refund Of ransoms levied and exacted by
Gen. Early in July, 1864.
LIABILITY FOR INJURIES OF RAILROAD EMPLOYEES.
Senator Hoar has introduced bill making
portation between the states liable to all
their employees for any injury sustained by rea-
| son of negligence in the construction, equip
men. or management OF freight or passenger
cars, unless the negligence of the person in
jured shall have contributed to such injury.
MR.. RowELL's ELECTION BILL.
According to instructions Of the republican
caucus Representative Rowell yesterday intro
duced in the House bill providing for an ex-
tension OF the functions OF national supervisors
of elections.
THE woRsTED BILL PASSED.
The Senate yesterday afternoon passed the
Dingley bill for the classification of worsteds
by vote Of so to 20. Mr.. Payne voted with
the republicans. The bill now goes to the
President for his signature.
DEsrIrUrIoN IN CALIFORNIA.
Copies of An appeal containing the sigma
lures Of 1654 citizens of San Francisco, praying
for federal aid, have been received by MEN,
bers Of the Senate and House. The appeal is
addressed to the President Of the United
States, and to the Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatives. 1t states that "owing to unprece-
denied bad weather. the evils Of competition,
and, most Of all, vicious financial system"
the petitioners find themselves and their fami-
lies, with thousands of their fellow citizens, in
condition of helpless restitution. 1--WE have
| appealed to our local authorities and fellow
! citizens, in vain" says the petition. Com
| paratively nothing has been done. A few
thousand dollars have been subscribed giving
| work to some thousand Of the more fortunate
| of the many thousand sufferers among US. This
assistance having apparently exhausted the
| means or Willingness OF those who could assist
| US, we turn with anxious hearts to the federal
government, trusting, hoping. that the govern
ment and will aid us in our dire distress.
| The petitioners suggest that $5000000 be
| loaned to the city and county Of San Francisco
| until the California legislature can meet and
pass an enabling act for the city and county to
| issue bonds covering the amount at 2 per cent
| per annum TO be made payable to the United
| States government
PROPOSED INTERSTATE COMMERCE ACT AMEND
MESr.
Mr.. German introduced in the Senate yester-
day bill to amend the interstate commerce
| act by adding provision requiring roads in
adjacent foreign countries to obtain license
| from the interstate commerce commission be-
! fore they will be allowed to exchange business
with railroads in this country. The license il
| to be obtained by filing an agreement to abide
| by the terms OF the interstate commerce act as
| though 1t was the law Of their country. If the
! commission, Oh investigation, shall find at any
| time that the provisions OF the act are being
violated, it is to have power to suspend the
license for not exceeding three months, and if,
at the end OF that time, a second violation shall
be proved, to suspend it for another term not
exceeding six months. When the license is
| suspended the customs officers are to be mott
fed and they are to prevent any traffic from
that road passing into or out Of the United
States.