Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-03
LIVE WASHINGTON WAITS.

! WASHINGTON, D. G., Feb. 2.-W. w.
Kerr, late Assistant Attorney General Of the
United States, to-day presented at the De-
| partment of State a claim tor indemnity
| from the Chilean Government for the muir
der of Riggin one of the Baitimore's sailors
| at Valparaiso. The petition is signed by the
brother and sisters OF Rggin, and repre-
! sents that Riggin was murdered in the
| streets OF Valparaiso on October 10, for the
reason that he was dressed in the uniform of
sailor OF the navy of the United states,
and because of the malice and hatred borne
| by the citizens of Chile toward the Govern
ment, the navy. and the citizens OF the
| United States. They claim that they are en-
Titled to demand and receive from the ne
/ public OF Chile reasonable compensation,
aud invoke the aid OF the Government OF the
| United States to secure 1t.
THE President to-day issued proclama-
tion in regard to reciprocal trade relations
with Germany, and making public the modi-
fcations of the tariff laws of the German
Empire as to certain products of the United
States. The schedule of articles to be ad-
| mItted into Germany at modified rates has
been published.
The House Committee on the Judiciary
to-day authorized Mr.. Cuberson to report
| the bill which provides substantially that a
corporation shall be deemed and held
citizen for all judicial purposes OF the State
| in which it may carry on its business.
The President and Mrs Harrison gave a
dinner this evening in honor of the diplo-
matte corps. The full Marine Band was in
| attendance, and the parlors were profusely
| decorated with flowers, ferns and tropical
| plants. The table decorations were ex-
| clusively of pink orchids of different varie-
ties, nearly all of them being the product of
| the White HOusa conservative The ladies'
| places at the table were marked by Vatican
| bows and mauve satin, with the guests
names painted on them in artistic style.
TIE guests were Secretary and Mrs. Blaine,
most of the foreign Ministers now in WASH
ington, Senator and Mrs. Sherman, Repre-
sentative and Mrs. Blount Representative
and Mrs. Holman, Senator and Mrs. Frye
and Senator and Mrs. Henderson. Sir
Julian and Lady Pauncefote sent their re-
grets, owing to their mourning for the Duke
of Clarence, and the Swedish Minister be-
cause of illness.
The House Committee on Postofices and
Postroads to-day authorized, by strict
party vote, a favorable report on Repre-
sentative Enloe's bill repeating the mail
subsidy act of the last Congress. Mr.. Enloe
was authorized to prepare report embody-
ing the views of the majority on the sub
ject. whicn he will lay before the committee
on Tuesday next.
THE Watson resolution calling for an IN
vestigation of the Pinkerton system, which
has caused considerable agitation, especial
ly in Farmers Alliance circles, has, at the
request of Mr.. Oates, Chairman of the sub
committee which reported the resolution
adversely to the Judiciary Committee of the
House, been recommitted to the sub-com-
mittee for further consideration. This ac-
tion was taken by the committee to-day.
Mr.. Oates says he has been going slow in the
matter for the reason that he wishes to as
certain whether or not Congress has .juris-
diction. If from the nature OF the
corporation it should be found that Congress
can legislate with respect to the Pinkerton
system, and that it is not a matter with
which the States and municipalities alone
can deal, he says there may be reason to
recommend an investigation, but that un-
less Congress has power to legislate and
remedy abuses it may find to exist, 1t was
not its business to make an investigation.
Mr.. Oates asked Mr.. Watson to produce
charter of the Pinkerton corporation, but
Oates has since obtained copy of the char
ter, and it is now before the committee for
examination.
The Springer free wool bill was under
consideration to-day by the Democratic ma
jority of the Ways and Means Committee.
No conclusion was reached, the discussion
was entirely harmonious and conducted in
good spirit. There was some difference Of
opinion as to the features Of the measure,
and the arguments in support of these differ
ences took up most of the time. There isa
good deal of sentiment among members on
the Democratic side of the committee in
favor of larger reductions in the duties on
woolen manufactures than is proposed in
Mr.. Springer's bill That bill made wool
free and as to manufacturers OF
wool took off what is known as the compen-
satory or per pound duties (that is, the du-
ties given the manufacturers in considera-
ton of the fact that they had to pay duty on
imported woo). 1t Is as yet undetermined
whether or not the wool bill will be the first
tariff bill reported from the committee.
Should other bills which are of a less COM
plicated nature, such as those relating to
binding twine and free lumber, be ready for
action by the committee it may be decided
to report first some bill of q simpler nature
than the wool bill and give additional time
to the preparation Of tins measure. The
whole question is still open.