Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-14
CAPITOL TOPICS
A GOOD SELECTION.

l GOOD SELECTION.
Senator Squire, who has succeeded Senator
Dolph ss chairman Of the Senate committee OF
Notifications, is said to be peculiarly well fitted
for this important position. During the re.
beiiion he made an excellent record as an officer
in the Union army. Since then Le has been
identined with the manufacture Of firearms.
and during his extended travels abroad has
taken great interest in the modern fortifica-
lions OF the old world. Few, if any, of his col
the defenses Of the Pacific coast and he has ac-
CURED by study and travel a wide range of in
iormatlon as to the needs of the Atlantic sea-
board In this particular. In the event Of hos
lllues the craftsmanship of this committee
would be one of the most important in the Sem
ate; 1t is not unimportant in times of peace.
APPROPRIATIONS FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS
inere was an interesting little disturbance in
the Senate yesterday, the parties most imme-
oia'eiy interested therein being Senators Nc
Pherson and Cockrell. Senator Mcpherson
wanted the sum of sl10, 900 with which to COM
plete the public building at Hoboken, N. j.,
anu, as the committee had only recommended
an appropriation of 500 900, Senator Cockrell
put up q strenuous objection to the Sl0 200 in
crease Inc debate became . trifie warm, much
70 the amusement of the republicans, and it
ended by Senator McPherson's declaring that
ane people OF Hoboken would take the S10,0 900
Out ol tneir own pockets. with the under
s.anding. however, made known to all the
%orid, that the government is unable or I'M
at Hoboken."
Al, senator Vest was the one who poured oil on
.ne troubled waters. He, as a member of
ne committee on public buildings and
5.ounas, explained the whole matter, and
IN connection with that explanation said
some things that no one would ever think
o or ascriolng to Mr.. Holman. He said:
roI one nave always favored liberal appro-
Piauons Tor public buildings, and l shall
a,Mays 40 so: Ibelieve it is money always well
napdad often extravagantly, but better ex-
penoed In some shape than not at ALL 1t is
t,srioused among the people; it places in
toWhs ana cities of the United States before
o9r people the insignia of our nationality and
vi our countrys greatness. There are many
n1PproPriations that cannot be defended, Mr..
ieeoent, out those for public buildings are
more defensible, as q class, than any others
'iia' pass through the hands of Congress-"
NO JURISDICTION.
The Senate agriculture committee ia of opin-
ION That 1t has no jurisdiction over the pro-
posed legislation embodied in the bill intro
ouccd by Senator PETER (by reauest) author
izing the Secretary of the Treasury to
Issue to the farmers of Indiana 800, 600, 900
upon nrst mortgage security. Accordingly
the committee has authorized Senator Pad
dock to report it back to the Senate, when it is
on finance.
FoURTH-cLAss PosTMAsrERs.
senator Brice yesterday introduced a bill
'end'ng to increase the salary of fourth-class
postmasters and to give them more ample Office
accommodations The bill provides that the
In, CONDENSATION OF these postmasters be fixed
age stamps. envelopes, &C., Cancelled on
matter mailed and on railway postal
cards mailed, and credited to their
omces. The commissions are prescribed.
anu IN no case shall the amount allowed to any
postmaster be greater than $3.50 in any quarter
OF the year, and the total compensation shall
In no case be less than S25 year.
a oasis ls liked on which clerk hire NAV be
aiiowed, and provision is made for full and
proper accommodations for offices.
NO ANTICIPATION OF INTEREST.
senator Kyle has introduced a bill to re-
peal section 1861 Of the Revised Statutes. en-
powering the Secretary Of the Treasury to
anticipate the interest on the public debt.
MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE.
Senator Kyle has proposed an amendment
to the Constitution giving Congress power to
regulate marriage and divorce in the United
States.
MILITARY TELEGRAPH.
Senator Carlisle has introduced a bill
authorizing the Spaulding Telegraph Com
pany TO construct lines Of underground and
submarine electric conductors from Washing
ton through Baltimore and PHILADELPHIA to
New YORK, and to arsenals and other military
posts. The object Of the bill il
TO provide more perfect telegraph facilities for
repeiiing invasion and suppressing insurrec-
nominal rental. for the use of the War De-
partment whenever called upon to do SO and in
time OF war the wires are to be at the dis
posai OF the department free Of charge.
ALL MONEY UNLIMITED LEGAL TENDER.
Senator Kyle has introduced bill making
certain issues OF money full legal tender in
payment ofall debts The bill is as follows: IAN
past and present issues of gold. silver and paper
money made. and all money Of coinages author
lied to be made shall be legal tender in pay
ment OF all debts, public and private of future
co com an stipulations or specifications of
coin, colnageE or money to the contrary not
withstandlng, tender of subsidiary silver coin
to be limited to $40 and Of minor coin to So"
IMPROVEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
Senator Vest today introduced bill making
an appropriation of s11, OOO, 900 to complete
the improvement Of the Mississippi river from
the mouth of the Illinois river to the mouth of
the Ohio, to be expended under the direction
OF the Secretary Of War.
MILITARY AFFAIRS.
The first formal meeting of the Senate COM
mittee on military affairs was held this MORN
ing. Action was taken on a number of bills of
private nature, but nothing Of general inter-
est was considered.
AN APPROPRIATION RECOMMENDED.
At the meeting of the House committee on
Indian affairs today Delegate Harvey was au.
thorlzed to report q joint resolution appro-
prlating $4,000 for com pleting the !, 564 aIlot
ments OF land to the Cheyenne and Aarapahoc
Indians Of Oklahoma, which is necessary to
make effective the agreement with the Indians
by which 3.C00, 900 acres Of valuable land will
be opened to settlement
IDAHO SENATORIAL CONTEST
Mr.. Claggett spoke in his own behalf this
morning before tho Senate committee On priv.
leges and elections and concluded the areu-
ment In his contest with Mr. Dubois for a seat
in the Senate as a representative of Idaho.
His argument was devoted chiefly to
the question of the legality of
the organization Of the legislature
and the election of its officers, which acts. he
claimed, were not according to law and prece-
dent. Upon concluding his legal argu-
ment Mr.. Claggett made brief hta.e
ment defending himself from certain
reflections made upon his fidelity to his party
principles and denied insinuations that DEM
ocratic votes had been potent in electing him.
The committee then laid the case aside for con.
sideration.
Senator Cullom today introduced A bill To RI.
store Commander Henry Glass of the navy tn