Evening star., 1895-02-11
CAPITOL TOPICS.

Judicial Determination of Elections.
Representatives Beckner, LOCKWOOD
Brown and Jones, members of the elections
committee, have united in minority re-
pert against the till reported by the ma.
jority giving to the United States district
Judges the Jurisdiction to determine the
prma facie right of a member-elect to his
seat pending a final decision by the House
itself The argument of the majority, the
minority assert, is really directed against
the wisdom of that provision OF the Con-
stitution which makes each house of Con-
gress the judge Of the elections returns
and qualifications Of its members.
COMBINATIONS.
The Senate has confirmed the following
nominations: Daniel F. Buckley of Mas
sachusetts, to be surveyor of customs, dis
trict of Boston and Charlestown, Mass;
VIM. A. Hyde of Massachusetts. to be as
sstant appraiser of merchandise, dlStrc'
of Boston and Chariestown; Abraham Us
borne of Massachusetts to be collector Oh
customs, district of Edgartown, Mass
Observation-Disclosures. VIM. {. Fon-
taine. at Princess Anne; MassachuSe,Lis' S!is
Charles J. Swain, at Nunda; Adeihert ..
Payne. at Bainbridge. n. Y. Also Herbert
Walcott Bowen of Connecticut to be consui
general at Barcelona, Spain.
To Examine Naval Officers.
bill providing for the investigation of the
mental, moral and professional condition
cf officers of the navy and marine corps
by board to be designated by the Secre-
tary of the Navy, whenever 1t shall appear
that such officers are disqualified to per-
form their duties. The beard is to be
guided by the rules which control the
boards which examine officers of the serv-
ice for promotion. Its finding is to be
reported to the President.
A Private Secretary Abolished.
The House today abolished the office of
private secretary to the Secretary of the
Interior. which position, paying 5000 a
year, is now held by Mr.. Claude n. Ben
nett of Atlanta. When the item for this
appropriation in the legislative bill was
reached Mr. Flynn Of Oklahoma made
point of order against it, stating that there
is no authority of law for this appropria-
ton. Mr.. Dockery said that such was the
fact, the position being supported by the
appropriation bill from year to year. Mr.
Bailey, who was in the chair, held that II
this was the ease the point of order was
we'll taken and the appropriation for MIR.
Benefits position was ruled out OF the
bill.
An UnfavOrnble Report.
The Senate committee on judiciary today
decided to report to reject the nomination
of William NJ. Campbell, appointed United
States marshal of Minnesota to succeed j.
Adam Bede of Duluth. 1t will be remem-
bered that Bede resigned during the cam
paign because, as a federal official, some
objection was made to his taking part In
the campaign in violation of the Presidents
order Campbell was opposed by faction
of the democracy headed by National Com
mitteeman NJ. Doran. The charges made
against Campbell related to personal trans
actions rather than to public matters. He
was formerly United States marshal. and
for the past two years has been chairman
of the Chippewa Indian commission.
Land Entry Anidavits.
The House committee on public lands
voted today favorably to report bill to
permit applicants Initiating claims to make
their preliminary affidavits . before the
register receiver or other officer having
seal and authorized to administer oaths in
the land district in which the land is locat-
ed, and to allow the documents to be trans
mitted to the register and receiver, with
the required fees.
Investigating the Architects Office.
The special committee engaged in in
vestigating the ventilation of the Capitol
and the work of the architects office re-
sumed it's session today. The day was con-
sumed in questioning George H. Tichenor,
a contractor, who voluntarily came before
the committee to offer his opinion upon the
quality of cement around the Marshall
statue at the west front of the Capitol
defective and that if he had BEEN granted
the contract he would have done it for
81 A per yard, while the person who did
the work was paid S20'.
Pacific Railroad Hearing.
The House committee on Pacific railroads
gave a hsaring today to representatives of
the companies. Mr.. E. Ellery Anderson,
receiver and government director Of the
Union Pacific; Mr.. A. A. H. Boissevain.
who represents large foreign holdings of
the same company, and Mr.. c. H. Tweed
of the Central Pacific presented the propo-
sition of the corporations to settle their
government debts by the payment of the
principal thereof an arrangement by which
the Union Pacific would pay the United
States about S33, 5O0cOO, and the Central
Pacific about S27.5O0.oN. Representatives
of large interests in New York city have
communicated with Chairman Reilly,
among them President Fitzgerald of the
Mercantile Trust Company and J. P.~Mor-
gan, member of the reorganization COM
mittee, whose dispatches were read today.
asserting that a bill authorizing the Secre-
taly of the Treasury to accept cash pay
ment of the principal of the Union Pacific
debt in full satisfaction of all claims upon
It would be accepted and carried out by
the company. The proposition was for
mally made by Mr.. Boissevain for the
Union Pacific today.