Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-16
NATIONAL CAPITAL.
More Bills introduced i'm the
Senate.
Senator CullOm's Automatic
Car-Coupling Scheme.
A Proposition to Purchase Slice of
Mexican Soil.
China VIII Not Take Part in the worlds
Fair-speaker Crisp Suffering
From Grippe-Wash-
ington Notes.
Associated Press Dispatches.


Aseociated Press Dispatches.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-In the senate
today the vice-president announced the
appointment of Morrill, as regent of
the Smithsonian institute, to fill a va
cancy.
Among the bills introduced and re-
ferred were the following: For the pur-
chase of site for building for the su-
preme court OF the United States; for
bronze statue OF christopher Column
bus in Washington to promote and en-
courage the display of flags of the
United States; to reorganize the infan-
try of the army and increase its effi-
cheney; to repeal the law for the exam
ination of certain officers of the army;
to regulate promotions therein and to
extend liberal promotions to first lieu
tenants; to fix the pay and allowances
of veterans of the army; to
amend the interstate commerce act
providing for the adoption and use
of uniform, standard automatic car coup
lers and regulating the operation and
control OF freight trains used in inter-
state commerce.
The Joint resolution was passed to fill
vacancies in the board of regents OF the
Smithsonian institution with persons
other than members OF congress.
resolution which was referred to
the committee on foreign relations, was
offered, instructipg that committee to
inquire whether the acquisition OF those
portions of the Mexican states OF Sonora,
chihuahua and Coahuila that lie north
of the 10Th parallel, was practicable,
and for the interest OF the United
States.
The senate then adjourned until to-
morrow.
CULLOM'S CAR-COUPLER BILL.
Senator Cullom introduced today
bill for the adoption and use of uniform
standard car coupler. and regulating the
operation and control of freight trains
used in interstate commerce, and for the
greater safety of railroad employees. 1t
provides that all employees of common
carriers whose duties include the coup
ling of cars, and who are members OF
established organizations OF railway en-
ployees, may within six months after
the passage of this act vote upon the
choice of an automatic car coupler.
Such coupler may be OF the vertical
type; must be SO devised as to couple
by impact and dispense with any person
going between the cars to couple or un-
couple. Every common carrier is to be
entitled to one vote for every freight car
owned, leased or controlled, and the en-
ployees entitled, in the aggregate, to
one-t third as many votes as may be cast
by all the common carriers; the inter
state commerce commission to have the
power to decide the validity OF the votes
cast. If not less than 100000 votes are
cast, and the entire vote for any par
ticular coupler is not less than 100000,
the commission shall certify these facts
to the president, who shall issue a pro-
clamation declaring the coupler chosen
to be the standard safety car coupler for
use in inter tate CONNIE &c. In ca no
cholce is made, the president shall ap-
point a commission OF five competent
persons to determine the coupler best
to be used. All carriers must equip at
least 10 per cent each year of the num-
ber OF freight cars used, and also equip
every engine with driving wheel brake.
The commission shall invite bids from
inventors OF couplers, stating what they
they will accept from the United States
for their patents, and upon the purchase
of patent by the government the
coupler may be used or manufactured
by ybody, free. The salary of the
commissioners is fixed at $4,000 a year.
ANOTHER INTERSTATE BILL.
Cullom clso introduced bill amenda-
tory OF the interstate commerce act, pro-
viding a schedule OF tariffs and agree
ments between railroads, filed with the
commission, shall be prima facie evil
dence in investigations by the commits
sior and all judicial proceedings; that
the production of testimony shall be ac
cording to the established rules of evil
dence obtaining on the chancery side OF
the circuit courts. with the exception
that the answers of defendants to
answers OF complainants, shall have no
weight as evidence. On appeal to the
circuit court, the hearing shall be con-
fined to the record presented from the
commission, except where the party has
right TO trial by jury under the con- /
stitution.
Villas INTRODUCES ALAND BILL.
Senator Villas of Wisconsin introduced |
bill amendatory of the act repeating
eho oihuooi ouiculo iA"o' 'iio II oU ahi0nu
ment striking out the requirement that
person must be an actual resident to
be allowed to make final proof; the sec
ond striking out the provision that no
person shall be entitled to make entry
of desert land, except he be resident
of the state or territory in which the
land is located.
MONTANA BILLS.
Senator Sanders. today, introduced
bill constituting two land districts in
Montana, one to be called the southern,
with the Office at Dillon, the other, the
northern, with the Office at Fort Benton.
He also introduced a bill appropriating
$400,0 for the erection of a public
building at Butte; also the same amount
for building at Helena.