The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1890-03-06
WASHINGTON NEWS.

The public debt decreased S6,159,4S6 last
month.
The house has passed bill providing for
an assistant secretary of war.
The Senate wants to know how their Sc
crets become common property.
Congressman Morse has secured life-sav-
ing station for Marshiield, Mass. This fills
the only gap in that part of the coast.
The House has passed bill permitting
the director of the mint to make changes III
the designs on the current coins of our
country, and, inasmuch as the Senate has
during previous sessions passed similar
measures, the chances are that the bill will
soon become law
Senator Pasco by request has introduced
a bill to incorporate the Atlantic Mexican
Gulf and Mississippi Barge Canal Company,
and to grant to it the right of way through
the lands of the United States. The route
of the proposed canal shall be from a point
leans through Lakes Borgne and Ponchar-
train and over the inland coast waters to a
point near st. Marks, Fla, and thence
across that state by the NEST feasible route
to the Atlantic Ocean. A board of commits
sioners is constituted to be vested with the
power of constructing the canal and the
capital stock is fixed at 100000 shares of
800 each.
Contracts for the construction of gunboats
Nos. 5 and 6 have been awarded to the Bath
Iron Works at their bid of $637, 900 for both
vessels.
Senator Cali has introduced bill provid-
ing that duty of IL shall be collected on
every box containing 200 or more oranges
imported into the United States, and that a
corresponding duty shall " imposed on all
packages of oranges imported into the United
States A drawback is to be allowed on all
decayed or unsound fruit, to be examined
on arrival by the custom house officers.
The House committee on Territories has
decided to report favorably to the House
the bill for the admission of the territory of
Idaho as a state. The action of the COM
mittee was not unanimous, there being a
vote or two in the negative and another
member of the committee being absent.
Two reports will therefore in all probability
be submitted.
Senator Evarts has reported favorably a
bill appropriating $50 900 for the erection on
the battlefield of Trenton of monument
commemorative that battle.
A North Carolina admirer of President
Harrison has presented to him a rather
unique petition for appointment. 1t con-
| tains the signatures of sixty-nine of the APP
/ picants relatives, who claim recognition on
| the ground that they have'always supported
Harrison and never before asked favor OF
] him.
| An amendment has been proposed by
| Senator Mcpherson to the Hale bill to in.
| crease the naval establishment, and provides
| that instead of eight immense lne-of- battle
| ships being built there shall be constructed
1 eight Low free-board coast and harbor de
feLce vessels of the monitor type, having
1 not more than eighteen feet draught, with
! twin screws and sea speed of not less thar
seventeen knots. these vessels shall b,
armed with four guns of not less thar
/ twelve-inch caibre mounted within turrets
or en- barbette, together within rapid-tirins
guns, and at least one iifteen-inch dynamite
gun. The vessels shall have either steel o.
compound armor, and the cost of vessel
and armament shalt not exceed S2,E00,0O0
Representative Wade from the COMMITTEES
on Labor has report ed to the House favor
ably the Gest bill requiring United State
laborers, workmen and mechanics employed
since June %, 1865, to be paid ON the basi
of eight hours for each days work. Tb,
bill directs the Court of Claims to adjust i
claims of this kind, and provides that n,
statute or limitations or payment made, o
contract, or receipt given for less sum pc
day than the full price of days work shall
affect the right of recovery.