Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-12
CAPITOL TOPICS.
The Nicaragua Canal.

The subcommittee of the House commit
tee on commerce is considering the report
of the Nicaragua canal commission. The
general impression among the members of
the subcommittee is that the estimate of
the commission for the completion of the
work G136,h0o.00O is entirely too high
Mr.. Doolittle OF Washington SAYS that
there are gentlemen in the United States
who can give the best of security for carry
ing out their contract who will agree to
complete the work for S70,O00,000. Next
Tuesday the subcommittee will meet for
the purpose of drawing up a rough draft of
bill for submission to the full committee
1t is probable that the Morgan bill, which
was before the Senate in the last Congress,
will form the basis of the bill to be pre-
pared. The guarantee OF the bonds of the
company to an extent not exceeding $780,
100000 will be the main proposition. The
government Will secure majority of the
stock, and be insured perpetual majority
of the directorate The bin Will also pro-
vide for the prosecution of the work under
the inspection of government engineers
and will provide for complete supervision
auditing, etc. of all accounts by the Treas
ury Department
Washington Memorial Bridge.
The committee on commerce yesterday
considered the Washington memorial bridge
project ard the Niagara bridge BILL but no
conclusion reached in either case
The conflicting interests at Niagara Falls
and Buffalo and the prospect of a canal
about the falls seem to initiate against a
favorable report Of the latter bill Bills
making Erie. Pa, and Biscane bay Fla
ports of entry, were favorably reported.
For New Torpedo Boats.
The Senate committee on naval affairs
yesterday heard arguments by John P Ho-
land of the torpedo boat company and ex-
Senator Butler Of South Carolina in favor of
| in he
priation bill for the addition to the navy of
submarine torpedo boats of the pattern
which thus company proposes to build.
They claimed that submarine boats would
be especially valuable in protecting the
coast and said the company could de-
liver as many boats as would be required
for the protection of our sea and lake ports
within four months time.
Echo of the Chicago Strike.
The committee on military affairs has
ordered a favorable report on a bill ap-
propriating $15,SG0 for the payment of
damages resulting to property from the
explosion of caisson at Chicago during
| the riots. July IS, 1894. Favorable reports
were also ordered on the bills authorizing
the President to confer on all officers in
the army, acting or retired, the highest
brevet conferred on them while in the vol.
unteer service and authorizing the Secre-
| tary of War to use the Chickamauga and
l
OF the regular army and national guard.
a To Classify Granted Lands.
The House committee on public lands to-
| day directed Mr.. Bowers of California to
| report bill for the examination and clas-
| sification of all granted lands of the Pacific
railroads in California into mineral and
non-mineral lands. The bill is modelled
after the Montana and Idaho mineral land
laws passed by The last Congress.
Senate COMBINATIONS.
| The Senate in executive session late yes.
| terday afternoon confirmed the followina
nominations:
| w. w. Rockhill, to be first assistant sec
| rotary of state; Frank c. Richardson, to be
collector of customs for the district OF
| Gloucester, Mass; James S. MeCabe, to b.
| marshal of the United States for the dis
| trict of Rhode Island William Galloway. te
be receiver of public moneys at Oregon
| City, Oregon.
| Also the following navy officers:
| Lieutenant Commander William r. Swim
burne, to be commander; Lieut.. Arthur B
Speysrs, % be lieutenant commander Lieut.
| Gunior grade) John Gibson, to be lieuten.
| ant; Ensign Humes H. Whittlesey, to be q
| lieutenant dunior grade); Lieut.. Command
| er William II. Emory; to be commander
| Lieut.. Ebenezer s. Prime, to be lieutenan,
| commander; Lieut.. Junior grade) John A
/ Bell, to be lieutenant; Ensign Albert C
| Dieffenbach, to be lieutenant Gunior grader