Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-07
CAPITOL GLEANINGS.
Proposed Transfer Of the Weather
BureauEOther Commute Notes.

The Senate committee on military affairs has
ordered favorable report Of a substitute for the
bill introduced by Mr.. Bate for the transfer Of
| the weather bureau to the Agricultural depart
ment The bill provides for division Of the
signal corps into two bureaus, one to be known
as the weather bureau, which. on and after
July /, 1891, shall be transferred to the Depart
ment of Agriculture, and the other to be known
as the signal corps, to remain under the juris-
diction of the War department. The bill re-
duces the force Of officers of the signal corps
from twenty to ten and the enlisted force to
fifty sergeants.
Mr.. PAsCos JURY BILL
Mr.. Pasco's bill introduced in the Senate YES
terday for the punishment of persons who
choose jurors on account of political or rc-
ligious belief provides that any officer who
has anything 10 do with selecting nam es for
the jury list who shall be guilty of the offense
named In the title shall be liable to fine not
exceeding 81, goo or Imprisonment. not exceed
ing six months, or both, and any officer or other
this ofense shall be liable to fine not exceed
ing $4,000 or imprisonment not exceeding two
years, or both.
PROHIBITION AND THE BEER TRADE.
+. j. Lefens Of Chicago and H. B. Scharmann
OF Brooklyn, president and vice president re-
spectvely Of the Brewers association of the
United States, appeared before the ways and
means committee yesterday and made argu-
ments against any increase N the present duty
on hops. MIR. Lefens stated that the present rate
Was entirely satisfactory to the brewers and
there was no necessity for further protection to
the American hop growers. In answer to a
question from one Of the committeeman Mr..
Lefens said that the reports concerning the
contemplated purchases OF American breweries
were usually 10 per cent wind and 10 per cent
Facts. Mr. Scharmann said that the American
hops were equal, if not superior, to foreign
hops. The American brewers used but
small amount of forign hops. Last
year he had not purchased pound
OF the imported article. The American brew
ers desired. however to be always sure Of hav-
ing the foreign hops at their command in the
event of q failure of the hop crop in this
country. Foreign hops were principally used
to flavor beer. MIR. Scharmann created some
amusement by the statement that in the pro-
hlbitlon states more beer was consumed than
in the licensed states, because there was no
license to be paid in such states and beer was
consequently cheaper. Adolph Winpfheimer
Of New York, an importer OF hat feathers and
hat skivers, asked the committee not to favor
these articles.
FOR POSTAL TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.
Mr.. Taylor of Illinois yesterday introduced
a. sAiS AAOuoO q OAAi PIONiuc lOf VIC
ment OF government telegraphs to be operated
as part of the postal system. 1t provides that
board consisting of the Secretary of State,
Secretary of War and the Postmaster General
shall cause to be built, or shall buy, lines of
telegraph where such are needful; that these
government telegraphs shall yield no earnings
beyond the cost OF operating the same. The
Postmaster General shall so fix the rates at
which messages may be sent as to keep the
total earnings and expenses as nearly equal as
may be, or make the lines self-sustaining. Until
1t shall be known what rates must be charged
in order to carry out the above requirement
the rates shall be as follows: All government
kilograms or private kilograms sent over a
single circuit or unbroken line of telegraph,
without relay, and requiring but one operator
at either end, without regard to distance, one
cent for each word, counting the address and
signature, but not the date. But no telegram
80 sent shall cost less than fifteen cents. For
each additional circuit or relay. requiring an
additional dispatcher and an addstional re-
receiver, an additional charge equal to the
Charge for sending the same message over one
circuit, without relay, shall be made.
THE POST OFFICE BILL PASSED.
As foretold IN yesterdays STAR the House
passed the Washington city post Office bill,
locating the proposed building at 9Th street
and Pennsylvania avenue.