Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-30
CAPITOL TOPICS.

CAPITOL TOPICS.
Pacific Railroad Indebtedness.
The House committee on Pacific railroads
again considered the funding bill today
without reaching any result. Next Satur-
day hearing will be given, at the request
Of Representa- tive Blair Of New Hampshire.
to representatives of the Sioux City and
Pacific road, which has a debt 20 the gov
eminent of about 5000, 600 Its bonds for
N.6o0,OOO are guaranteed by the govern
ment. 1t having been built as a part CT the
Pacific system, and the government has
paid the interest on II. Its debt Is in the
same condition as those Of the Central and
Union Pacific. maturing at the same time.
There Is a first mortgage for 81, 800, 90, SO
that the government claim, as in the case
of the other roads. is but a second hen.
while the first lien nearly equals the value
of the property separate bill will be
recommended by the committee to settle
this roads Indebtedness.
Rivers and Harbors.
Senators Perkins and White and Repre-
sentative English were before the Senate
committee on commerce today to advocate
increases in the river and hsrbor improve
ment appropriations and succeeded to the
extent Of getting the appropriation for the
Sacramento and Feather rivers increased
from $4,000 to s125, 900: for Oakland harbor,
from $4,000 to 100000; for San Diego har-
Dor. from $4,000 to $4,000, and for San
Luis Obispo harbor, from $4,000 to $4,000.
The appropriations for Sinslaw river. Ore
gon was increased from $20.UO0 to $4,000;
that for Tillarnook bay Oregon, from SIS $40
to $4,000. and that for the ship canal of
Galveston harbor. Texas. from s4O.UO0 to
$4,000.
Black Declared Elected.
The House, yesterday afternoon. settled
the contested election case Of Watson VS..
Black Of the tenth Georgia district by de-
claring Black elected. The populist men,
bers. under Representative Pence. made
determined ilibuster against the case.
which consumed the entire day before II
could be ended.
More Money for Life Savers.
Senator Dixon has given notice Of an
amendment to the sundry civil appropria.
ton BILL which provides for the employment
of crews OF surfmen employed at the ufe
saving and lifeboat stations on the Atlantic
and gulf coasts from August / to May 81,
and increases the appropriation for this ser.
vice from sl.0S9.00O to 81 Pas. 600
Commerce Bills to BE Considered.
The House committee on interstate and
foreign commerce has decided that when
morn
ing hour these measures will be called up
In their order: Representative Mallory's bill
to promote the efficiency of the revenue
cutter service by retirement Of aged officers
Representative Cogswells bill to organise
the life saving service; Representative Tai
bots bill for the appointment Of salarted
inspectors of hulls and Of boilers In several
districts. and Representative Caruth's bill
to extend to the life saving crews the bene-
hts of marine hospitals.
The pooling bill Is too important q meas
ure to be taken up in the morning hour and
will be given one or more special days.
To Improve Tribal Lands.
Representative McRae Of Arkansas has in
tIoduced a bill to confirm leases or con.
tracts for the Improvement OF agricultural
lands between Choctaw and Chickasaw
Indians and citizens Of the United States,
with the provision that no contracts shall
passage OF the act
Revolutionary Archives.
Senator Mills has reported favorably
from the committee on library the amend
ment to the sundry civil appropriation bill
a;ing S25.UU for the publication OF the revo-
lutionary archives.
Naval Appropriation Bill.
the Senate naval committee on amend.
ments to the naval appropriation bill, pro-
vidirg for an assistant paymaster general
in the navy; appropriating $4,000 for the
purchase Of the Ourdan & Kolb letter en-
craving machine and placing the execution
Of civil engine arng works under the super
vision Of the corps of civil engineers Of the
navy.
River and Harb0r Increases.
The Senate committee on commerce has
agreed to an increase Of the appropriations
for this year for the improvement Of Bay
Ridge channel, New York bay, from $50, 600
to 100000. and to limit the total cost Of
the improvements to ASSOC. and also to
authorize surveys of Red Hook and Cow
anus creek channel. The committee also
Increased the appropriation for Delaware
river from $4,000 to $2O5OOO; that for
Great Lodus river, n. Y. from 5000 to
$4,000, and inserted a new item making an
appropriation of $4,000 for the improve
ment of Indian river, Florida and also Of
5000 for Frankfort creek, Pennsylvania
The bill will also be amended so as to
authorize survey Of the Great Salt pond
on Black Island r. l., with a view to MAX
ing of it 4 harbor of refuge. and to provide
for surveys Of movable dams 3, 4 and on
the Ohio river.
Postal Clerks Salaries
The House committee on post offices has
decided to substitute Senator McMillan's
bill to increase the salaries Of railway pos
tai clerks for the bill Of Representative
Hopkins of Illinois. which was favorably
reported to the House.
Mr.. Cummings Has q Ribbon Resolu-
riOn.
A resolution has been introduced by Rep
resentative Cummings of New York provid-
ing that persons who have been awarded
the medal of honor may wear q bow knot
of ribbon prescribed by the President 1t
is intended to have the medal only worn
on ceremonial occasions, and the resolu-
ton makes 1t a misdemeanor punishable
by a fine of 500, for persons not entitled to
the ribbon to wear II.