Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-17

II prONluts tuht eults lot Cldltus NAV De COM
menced in the Court of Claims within three
years after the passage OF the bill and that the
statute of limitation shall not be interposed:
that any number of claimants may join the
same suit, and that either party to a suit shall
have the right to appeal to the Supreme Court
OF the United States.
A voluminous report accompanies the bill.
fAvoRrSa AN INCOME TAX.
The ways and means committee held q brief
meeting this morning for the purpose Of hear
ing Representative wike OF Illinois in advo-
cacC of an income tax. Mr.. Wike argued that
the fear of reducing the revenues below the
annual expenses Of the government should not
deter the committee in the battle for tariff re-
form. An income tax. which he considers far
more equitable than the present tariff system,
should be invoked by legislation to supply any
deficiencies which tariff reduction might effect
in the necessary revenues of tie government
The chairman communicated to the commit
tee the request Of Mr.. l.. RLone of Pennsylva-
mia. q member of the legislative committee of
the National Grange of the Patrons of Hus-
bandry, to be accorded bearing upon the
subjects Of legislation of which that organiza-
tion has expressed it's approval
THE TRANSFER OF THE NAVAL OBSERVATORY.
The committee on naval affairs yesterday
held session lasting several hours, at which
arguments were made in favor of bill to
transfer the naval observatory from naval to
civilian control Prof Lewis Boss Of Dudley
University, Albany, n. Y; Prof. Brown Of the
naval observatory and others spoke. The gen.
eral tenor of their remarks Was TO the effect
that for naval purposes the observatory was all
that could be desired, but that when il took
charge OF astronomical affairs il was not worth
much as at present organized. The speakers
said that there was a lack of system and that q
reorganization was needed
THE MAIL SUBSIDY ACT
The House comniffee nv, rosf oNseas a,,d ,,osx
roads yesterday adopted, with an amendment,
Representative Enloe's resolution calling on the
Postmaster General for information showing
the distances from the terminal points of each
OF the hfty-three routes referred TO in the mail
subsidy act, with statement showing the possi-
bic maximum and minimum and the aggregate
possible maximum and minimum cost vf service
for each class of vessels on each route; for in
formation 10 whether the contracts already
entered into under the act were made with
owners OF vessels now engaged in the carrying
trade on those routes or with owners Ct vessels
not heretofore engaged, and for other ,nforma-
tion on the subject. Mr.. Enloe desires the in
formation asked for in his resolution for use in
connection with the preparation Of his report
on the bill to repeal the mail subsidy act
THE HOUSE IN A TASaLE-
The House got all tangled up yesterday be-
cause the anti-silver men were suddenly struck
with the notion that a motion to take the Rus
sian relief resolution from the table had behind
it a scheme to get at the free coinage bill. All
the afternoon was wasted and then the attempt
| to get the Russian resolution from the table
was voted down just before adjournment
TO REVISE THE NATURALIzATIoS LAWS
1t is probable that the House committee on
the Judiciary will at its next meeting, tomor-
row, order favorably reported the Oates bill
making a radical revision Of the naturalization
| laws OF the United States The nrnift
terday completed consideration of all except
one section OF the bill and this section will be
passed upon at the next meeting. The salient
features OF the new law are provisions doing
| away with the declaration Of intention at pres
ent required and it makes the determination of
| the question as to whether or not a man should
be naturaiized a judicial question to be decided
by United States courts after legal proceedings
the government to be represented through its
| district attorneys. Naturalization questions
are taken entirely out of politics There has
been q great deal Of comment made upon the
rapidity with which naturalizatious are some
times hurried through, and there has been
suggestion made at various times that q limit
he placed upon the number of persons any
court might naturalize IN one day. There is no
such direct limitation found in the bill, but
practical Limitation is made by the proceedings
which, under the bill, will be necessary before
| naturalization certificate can be issued.
form is set out in accordance with which ap-
These petitions must set out that the applicant
has been i've years a resident of the United
States and possesses certain other Qualifca-
tions. These statements must then be proven
in court
The bill furthermore names certain persons
who shall not be naturaized. The prescribed
list embraces persons who come to the United
States in violation Of our immigration laws,
anarchists, polygamists and persons convicted
of felonies. The bill is substantially the one
reported last year from the Judiciary commit
tee BY Mr.. Oates with the unanimous consent
OF the committee and in the preceding Con-
gress with only two dissenting votes.
WILL GET THIRTY DAYS.
The House committee on labor has decided
to report favorably bill granting the employees
OF the bureau Of engraving and printing
thirty days leave Of absence each year.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
The Senate committee on interstate commerce
listened this morning to an argument by Mr..
Richard Olney Of the Chicago, Burlington and
Quincy road on a measure before the commit
tee known the procedure bill, which con-
tenn plates the definition of q method Of pro-
cedure in hearing railroad cases before the in
terstate commerce commission. He held that
the measure was unconstitutional and that IL
should not be enacted into Law.
Geo. Crocker of Boston spoke in favor Of the
car coupler bill, now before the committee.