The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-11


WAsHISGroE. July IL Especial -
At this stage Of the session dozen com
mittees are struggling for precedence in
their respective days In the house. and II
the statements Of each committee were &C
cepted as to she Importance of its work
discussion would probably stretch out till
October. Ways and means of course. con.
siders its work done when it shall have
disposed or the tariff bill for a flnalityi and
although Chairman Wilson is still spare
from the effects of his recent illness he il
as active as ever.
Naval affairs has had IN extraordinary
experience this year in the line of investi-
cation and still has to deal with the long
promised measure for recognizing the
personnel of the navy. Secretary Herbert
has already begun the work of transferring
and consolidation having given new ad'
nirals TO all the fleets except that on tn
south Atlantic station. where Admiral
Kirkland is expected to remain for several
years Commodore Lester A. Beardslee
IS to take the Pacific squadron, while Ad-
miral Walker Will come east, probably tc
be superintendent of the Naval academy
Commodore Beardslee Will proceed t.
Honolulu early in August.
Changes In Naval Commanders
Admiral Shzerrett, now commanding the
Asiatic squadron, his ship being the Bal
tirnore, which Is in the Korean waters, Il
IN Dd4 utdlln az PLCSCLlS eA1a IL - "a ICCecO
that he will soon retire under the 40 yeaL
service law. Next In rank to him in that
command is Commodore Joseph Fyffe,
who is to be made rear admiral and retired
under the same law of service, which will
leave room for the promotion of Commo-
dore Stanton, now commanding the north
Atlantic station If he also goes on the
tired list, as he is entitled to do, Commo-
dore Erben will be made rear admiral
There arc many minor changes conten-
plated, and Incidentally few more inves-
LEGATIONS as to naval armament are limited
at The committee on foreign affairs ad-
mits that IL Dragged a little too soon about
closing its career for the session in the
midst of universal pee s for there has
been actual fighting in h-.ea, and there
Is promise Of a good deal more
Chairman Bankhead thinks the COM
has got rather the worst treatment of the
lot. Mr.. Holman received the most abuse,
of course, but he carried his Indian bill
through, while Mr. Bankhead has been
defeated on almost every leading measure,
not for any fault in the measure or the
committee, but because the house has been
in an exasperated state of mind generally
about the proposed government printing
office, the hall of records and other public
buildings
The judiciary left more important bills
to the last than any other committee in
the house and has been overcrowded IN
consequence Among its important meas
ures are bills providing for additional
Judges, more clearly defining the jurisdic-
ton of tho circuit courts, providing for the
inspection Of immigrants by United States
cOnsuls, providing that the United States
railway commissioners shall for purposes
of jurisdiction be deemed citizens of the
respective states their lines of railway may
traverse, and bills more explicitly PR
scribing the fees and defining the duties
other minor officers. Out of the vast mass
of bills before it the committee selected
nine as the most important, and most Of
these VIII become laws unless the senate
discovers flaws in some of them In like
manner the commerce committee has Sc
1ected a few bills Of special Importance
which it intends TO urge at every oppOr-
runity- One of these extends the benefits
Of the marine hospital. and another pro
vides for the greater efficiency of the life
saving service. Still another provides for
retiring all officers Of the revenue cutter
service who have become in any degree IL
capacitated by age or physical disabilities,
the vacancies thus created to be filed by
promotion.
War Claims Long Overdue.
The committee on war claims has had
referred to it this session l, 960 bills and
227 petitions A single bill often contains
several hundred claims so there have al
over 40, 600 claims. The great bulk con-
sisr of claims Of soldiers wanting back pay
and bounty, and officers wanting pay for
the interval between commission and
muster in, and contractors who have not
been paid for supplies. In a clear majority
of these cases, says the committee, the
claimants are clearly entitled to payment
by law but the treasury does not feel
authorized to pay them.
There are several thousand claims for
money which the discussing officer re-
ceived. but never paid to the soldier, and
in cases Of colored soldiers hundreds of re-
ceipts were given by somebody when the
soldier did not receive the money and
could neither read nor write There are
several hundred cases Of unnaturalizcd
foreigners and others who were illegally
drafted and paid the $500 of communication
under threat of imprisonment and in ig-
nORance of their rights. In several cases
men were drafted while actually serving
IN the army, and their families paid the
money in Ignorance The committee de-
clares that the government still owes sew
eral million dollars to soldiers but thus
far no one has been able to devise a gen.
eral law under which all could sue, and
50 year after year these claims come up,
and at each congress q few hundred filter
through
Minor Matters
The district committee has at last got
an expression from the responsible people
of Washington, and it is probable that the
grand improvements scheme will be adopt
ed The first proposition is to issue bonds
to the amount OF 81. 500, 600 and complete
the sewerage and street extension system.
This done, say the city physicians, Wash
ington malaria will cease to be. and the
city viii be fixed for an additional popu-
1ation of 100, OOO The great boulevard
gardens and other mere adornments are
to follow in time. The immediate press
g.. -.
territories, Oklahoma must wait for a
more convenient season, and statehood for