Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-14
price is fixed at not less than cal 900 per acre
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.

price is fixed at not less than cal 900 per acre
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
The foreign affairs, committee of the Senate
today had under consideration the Nicaragua
canal bill, but took no action upon it. SEN
ator Morgan Of the committee appeared before
the House committee and spoke in advocacy Of
the measure.
THEY FAVOR THE POOLING BILL.
number of prominent railroad men, includ-
ing Chauncey NJ. Depew and President Roberts
of the Pennsylvania system, were before the
Senate committee on interstate commerce this
morning to advocate the passage of the anne nd
ment to the interstate commerce law, introduced
by request by Mr. Cullom, to modify the
existing law so as to authorize railroad compa-
mics to form pools under the supervision of the
interstate commerce commission to wipe out
the penal clause of the punishment prescribed,
+ DC. The full committee present and
speeches we're made by Mr.. Depew, Mr..
Roberts, Mr. Walker and Mr.. Ingalls,, these
gentlemen urging that the great ma ority OF
the railroads Of the country were in favor Of
the proposed amendment.
oHICKAMAuaA NATIONAL PARK.
Gen. H. V. Boynton appeared before the
sundry civil subcommittee of the House COM
mittee on appropriations yesterday and asked
that $3.50, 900 be appropriated for continually On
of work on the Chickamaugs National Park.
ANrIETAM BATTLE LINES.
There Yesterday laid before the House a
letter from the Secretary of War containing an
estimate of appropriation aggregating $23, $50
required for marking battle lines and sites for
tablets at the Antietam battlefield.
MR.. VESTS ELECTRIC ROAD BILL.
Senator Vest and Representative Forman
have introduced in their respective houses
bill to encourage the construction of electric
roads, to facilitate the transportation Of mails
and for other purposes. The bill allows any
electric railroad which constructs within two
years 100 miles of road and operates the same
to import free of duty all kinds Of electrical
apparatus and machinery TO be used in the con-
struction of the road necessary or appropriate
for the purpose. Upon the application OF the
Chicago and st. Louis electric road The Post
master General is authorized TO contract with
the company for carrying the mails at existing
rates for ten years between Chicago and st,
Louis representation that they shall be trans
ported at not less than 100 miles per hour. The
company is to obligate itself to furnish TO farm
ers and others along the line Of the road, when
ever requested to do 80, electrical power for
agricultural purposes and electricity for light
and motive power at reasonable rates.
RANK Of RETIRED OFFICERS.
The Secretary of War has transmitted to the
House the draft Of bill to fix the rank of Off
GERS of the army retiring after long and faithful
service. The bill provides that oil officers Of
the army below the grade Of maj general who
shall have served in the late and who shall
have rendered thirty years or more of faithful
service shall, upon their own application, be
retired from active service and placed 1pon the
unlimited retired list, with one additional grade
above the actual rank held b. them at the date
Of the Passage Of the act The application for
retirement must be made within three years.
The bill was forwarded by Col. Heyl, inspector
general [. A, who commended it. In sub
hitting the draft of the bill the major general
commanding the army SAYS he is not prepared
to recommend 1t, as II might result, in some
cases. In great inequality of promotion. For
instance, he says, officer who has Just been
promoted from lieutenant colonel to colonel
might Immediately retire with the rank of
brigadier general, while another colonel who
had served in that grade many years could re-
ceive no higher reward than tho former.
THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE LAW.
Senator Culom, by request, has proposed
an amendment to the interstate commerce law,
which is designed in measure to meet the re-
cent Counseiman. decision. The amend
ment proposes to permit traffic con-
tracts between railroad companies
under certain restrictions reserving the right
to the interstate commerce commission, how
ever. to cancel them if they produce unreason-
tons subject to prosecution under the law: to
do away with the Imprisonment penalty and to
give witnesses immunity from the results of
their testimony and thus meet the effect Of the
Counselman decision.