Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-07
CAPITOL GLEANrN0s.

CAPITOL GLEANrN0s.
Matters Considered In Both Houses and In
Conmitfees.
The post Office appropriation bill, which was
reported to the House by Chairman Bingham
Of the post ONCE committee yesterday After
noon, carries, in round numbers, an sppro-
priation Of e77, ss4 ,000 a. compared with esti-
mates Of 477, 545, 900 and an appropriation last
year Of ca, 296, 900. The amount which the
Postmaster General estimated would be
provided by the department toward
the appropriation for the year from its own
revenues was e7S, 955, 0S1. There are no items
Of new legislation in the bill.
OF the increases in appropriation made
100000 falls under the head Of COM
pensation to postmasters; $50, oco for com
detection Of mail depredations; approximately
81 900 for free delivery service; $50 900 for
star route transportation; 100000 for mail
messenger service; S221 900 for railway post
office car service; approximately q. 44o, GOO for
transportation over railroad routes; S443,000
for compensation to railway post Office clerks,
and $4,000 for transportation Of foreign
mails.
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
A call has been issued for caucus this evening
of the democratic members of the House. The
request for the caucus was signed by about
twenty democrats, headed by Messrs. Bland
and Enloe. The call does not state the object
for which the caucus is called, but it is under
stood that the silver question will be the prin-
cipal matter discussed, and that there will be q
general interchange of views as to the course
Of procedure for the remainder Of the session.
Judge Holman, the caucus chairman, said the
democrats were so nearly united against the
hat In btrE that tfar
would figure in the caucus, and that there was
no disposition on the part of the democrats
to delay the appropriation bills.
MARINE DoARD.
Representative Dingley, from the committee
on merchant marine and fisheries, yesterday re-
ported favorably. with an amendment relative
to the mileage pay Of the board. the bill to es-
tablish a marine board for the advancement of
the interests of the merchant marine. This bill
was drafted by the Treasury Department Off
Gals to carry out the recommendations of the
late Secretary of the Treasury and of the Ameri-
can delegates to the international marine con-
ference The bill is approved by the various
marine officials under the Treasury Depart
ment and has been Endorsed by the marine as
sociations in different parts of the country. 1t
proposes to secure greater uniformity in adj
mi nistering the laws relating to the merchant
marine and will furnish the country with
board charged with the consideration of ship
calculated to promote its welfare. The COM
mittee recommends the passage of the bill.
STAFF APPOINTMENTS. .s
The bill introduced Yesterday by Senator
Chandler to regulate the appointment of the
heads of departments of the army changes the
existing law 80 as to make it identical with that
governing the navy, which provides that such
heads of departments shall hold Office for terms
OF four years only: As the law now stands all
departmental heads of tue army are appointed
to serve until retirement, with the rank and
pay Of brigadier general Senator Chambers
idea Is that in many cases the staff officers be-
come incompetent by advanced age. and he be-
lieves that the good of the service would be
better subserved by rotation in office.
NEW TESTING MACHINE.
Senator Cullom yesterday introduced a bill
appropriating $500, 900 to enable the Secretary
of War to purchase testing machine for ten
sions and compression, for use at the Rock
Island arsenal ILL., The machine is to be of the
most approved style and fully as good as the
one in use at the Watertown arsenal
PAY FOR INDIANS.
Senator Casey yesterday proposed an amend
meut to the Indian appropriation bill making
an appropriation Of $50, 600 to pay the Sisseton
and wahpeton bands of Sioux Indians for lands
to which they we're justly entitled under GER
tain treaty stipulations.
SUBSISTENCE DEFICIENCIES.
Mr.. Nettleton the acting secretary of the
treasury, has transmitted to Congress estimates
prepared by Gen. DuBarry, commissary gen.
eral Of subsistence asking An appropriation Of
500 600 to supply deficiencies in the appro-
priation for subsistence of the army. Gen.
DuBarry says the money is needed because of
the addition under act of Congress of fresh
vegetables to the army ration and because O:
the issue by the subsistence department of m
tons to the Indian prisoners of war held in
custody during the recent Sioux disturbances.
He also transmitted an estimate of appropria-
tions aggregating 5000 to supply deficiencies
In the appropriations for pay and special COM
pensation OF United States attorneys and assist
ant attorneys.
FOURTH ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL.
Representative Bingham, from the commit
tee on post offices, yesterday reported favor
ably the bill creating the office of fourth assist
ant postmaster general, with salary of "a. 500.
IMMIGRATION MATTERS.
Acting Secretary Nettleton yesterday sent to
the House of Representatives a letter in re-
Spouse to q resolution of that body calling for
information relative to the immigration fund.
to instructions given by the Secretary of the
Treasury for the care OF immigrants &c. 1t
says that the total amount of capitntion tax re-
ceived at all ports of the United States from
January /, 1890, to December 81, 1890, was
S259, 525, and the amount expended during the
same period was 1926 1913. The acting secre-
tary refers to the termination of the contract
with the commissioners of immigration at New
York last April and to the appointment of a
superintendent to take charge Of immigration
matters there. Under his administration, he
says, the business has been conducted with in
creased efficiency and economy.