Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-11
DfSTRICTIN CON GRESS,
A Historic Estate Recalled by Means of
Big War Claim.
Mr.. COOmbs Wants to Know About the
Depa rtme nts-Senate and Capitol
Centennial Celebration.

A claim relating to an historic estate near
Washington and to well known people has
come up in Congress. Representative Mere
dith has introduced a bill to pay to the
heirs Of Anna NJ. Fitzhugh s2i7,236. The
facts in the case as reported by the Court
of Claims are as follows:
Mrs. Anna Maria Fftzhugh was the tenant
for life of large estate in Fairfax county
Virginia, near Alexandria, known as
''Ravensworth," containing more than S.0O(
acres. She became tenant for life by vir-
tue of devise from her husband, William
H. Fitzhugh.
During the years 1852. 1853. 1864 and 1Se;
there was cut and taken away from the
Ravensworth estate by Col. Elias N. Greene
chief Quartermaster of the department OF
Washington. and Col NJ. ]. Ludington
subsequently chief Quartermaster of the de-
partment of Washington, 10S,6lS cords OF
wood for the use Of the army and hospitals
In the vicinity of Washington. In addition
to the foregoing large quantity of wood
was likewise cut during the same years by
other quartermasters of the army, but the
quantity rests on the conjectures of the wit
nesses and has not been established by COM
petent evidence
While the cutting was going on under
Col Greene 1t was stopped by an order Of
the Secretary of War, upon the ground tha'
Mrs. Fitzhugh was an extremely loyal per-
son; but upon the assurance of Col. Greene
that 1t was military necessity to cut
wood from that place by reason OF its prox-
unity to the railroad and the safety of the
persons engaged from the attacks OIL
"Mosby's men," the Secretary authorized
him to proceed. Col. Greene then promised
Mrs. Fitzhugh to pay her If the fact OF her
loyalty was satisfactorily established to
the government 50 per cord for the wood
taken. The quantity Of wood to which this
assurance would apply was 5000 cords.
The court finds that, irrespective OF the
20 oil Cot md ran.-
enable value of the wood at the time and
place Of taking was 80 per cord, amount
ing to. for the whole quantity shown to
have been taken. 1OS61S cords. ,236. This
gress.
investigating the Departments.
Mr.. Coombs Of New York would like to
know what has been accomplished by the
committee appointed in the last session oil
Congress to investigate the departments
In the House this morning Mr.. Coomb s
asked the Speaker If the House has the
power to require q report OF that com
mittee. The Speaker replied in the mega
tive, stating that the committee has func'
ton to perform under the law and the pre-
sumption is that it is doing its duty.
Capitol Centennial.
The Senate today passed resolution
introduced by Senator Sherman, from the
Joint committee on the Capitol centennia
celebration. providing for recess on the
18th to enable the attendance Of the Senate
at the ceremonies in body. Inc vice
President handed to the clerk for reading
a letter he had received from Mr.. Lawrence
Gardner, chairman of the citizens com
mittee, announcing that loo seats VIII De
reserved for the Senate and House OF KEEP
resentatives, and suggesting That they
attend as organized bodies.
Local Bills.
Representative Meredith Of Virginia intro
duced a number of bills of local interest In
the House today, as follows:
Providing for the appointment OF three
bailiffs for the Police Court. at a salary OF
s. per day each.
A bill authorizing the Falls Church and
Potomac railway to extend its lines into the
District Of Columbia and into the city OF
Washington as far as nth and II streets
Any motive power which the Commissioners
may approve can be used.
A bill appropriating $4,000 to macadamizt
the present public road from the Chair
bridge to the Aqueduct bridge and thence
through Arlington to the Long bridge
Also the three bills offered at the las,
session giving the Washington, Alexan
dria and Mount Vernon railway access tc
this city. One provides for the right OF
way through Arlington. the other permits
the erection of a bridge across the Poto
mac at Observatory hill and the third gives
the road right Of way through the city
streets to 18th street and Pennsylvania
avenue.