Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-09
CAPITOL TOPICS.
To Buy Property in Japan.

To Buy Property in Japan.
Secretary Olney requests Of Congress an
| immediate appropriation of $4,000 for the
purchase of the premises occupied by the
American legation at Toxic. Japan. The
lease from the japanese government, under
| which the present building and site occu-
pied by the legation are held, will expire
May Is next, and up to May 10 the United
States has an option to purchase the prop
erty.
House Bills Introduced.
Among the bills introduced in the House
yesterday were the following:
Mr.. Barham (CaL)-To enable the Post
master General to contract with the Pa
cific Cable Company of New Jersey for the
maintenance and operation Of a cable be-
| tween San FIR incisco and Hawaii.
Mr.. Tracey (Mo.)-Appropriating 1854 GOO
to improve Jefferson barracks, St. Louis.
Mr.. Daniels On. Y)-To provide for spe-
cial terms Of courts of United States dis
trct court district Of Buffalo.
Mr.. Heiner Pa.)-To amend the pension
laws so as to allow pensions to all persons
| who served ninety days or less in the mill
tary or naval service of the United States
disability of either a permanent or partial
character, incapacitating them from man
ual labor.
To Increase the Naval Force.
Senator Hale has reported from the
committee on naval affairs on original bill
| authorizing the enlistment of additional
men. The bill was prepared at the Navy
Department. and vas sent to the naval
committee with letter from Secretary
Herbert giving the departments reason for
desiring the legislation.
The committee en- education organized
today and appointed subcommittee.
The Pension RiI
The subcommittee Of the House appro-
rriations committee having charge of the
pension bill has decided to increase the
amount for the next fiscal year from $685.
100000 to $14O.OO0OOO The last sum was
that asked for by Commissioner Lochren
in his estimates but in its first draft Of the
bill 1t was reduced by S2,0OO,OOO. Some Of
the most influential republicans, both COM
mitteemen and other members thought
that Congress should not put itself on rec
ord as allowing less money for pensions
than the commissioner thought was needed
so the bill was raised to the original esti-
mates
Nicaragua Canal Question.
Chairman Hepburn of the committee on
interstate and foreign commerce will ap-
point special subcommittee to take
charge Of the Nicaragua canal question
The committee will wait however until
the President sends to Congress the report
of the special canal commission before it
reaches any decision upon a bill.
Clerks and Messengers.
Chairman Cannon Of the appropriations
committee has reappointed Mr.. j. c.
Courts as clerk of the committee, Mr.. j. D.
Cremer, assistant clerk and K. F. Rea as
messenger. With this Congress Mr.
Courts will have served twenty years with
the committe, Mr.. Cremer ten years and
Mr.. Rea six years.
Committee on Commerce.
The House committee on commerce has
organized ]. H. Kelford Of Iowa was
appointed clerk. The committee on claims
also organized and appointed w. d.
Williams Of Pennsylvania clerk.
Contested Elections Cases.
Elections committee No. set next FRI
day as the date for hearing in the case of
Moarman agt. Latimer from the third dis
trict of South Carolina.
Papers in the case of Robinson agt. Har-
r!son from the third Alabama district were
filed yesterday. The hearing of the Good
wyn,Cobb contest from the fifth Alabama
district was set for the 21st instant.
Distribution of Seeds.
The action of Secretary Morton in sus-
pending the purchase and distribution of
seeds was taken up by the Senate COM
mittee on agriculture today, on Senator
Hansbrough's resolution directing the Sec
rotary to comply with the law requiring
the distribution of agricultural Seeds The
committee concluded to give Secretary Nor
ton an opportunity to be heard before pass
ing finally upon the resolution. Senators
Warren, Gear and George were appointed
a subcommittee to consider bills bearing
upon the inspection of meats and animals.
A Portrait of Judge Thurman.
A resolution has been introduced in the
Senate by Mr.. Voorhees, authorizing the
purchase Of a portrait of the late Allen G.
Thurman, painted by J. H. Witt, and now
the judiciary of the Senate. and to pay
therefor to VIM L. Woods it's present
owrer, $3.50 for the same. The painter of
this portrait is John Henry Witt member
OF the Academy of Fine Arts of New York,
who is now residing in that city. He has
painted portraits of Senators Sumner,
Thurman, of James G. Blaine Senator
Elkins and family and others.
The Antitrust Law.
The House committee on judiciary has
agreed to report resolution calling upon
the Attorney General for information as to
why proceedings had not been taken to en-
force the antitrust law.
Cherokee improvements Award.
Secretary Smith has sent to the House
the report of the board of appraisers ap-
pointed under the act of March g.
1898, to apprase the improvements made
by intruders in the Chez okee nation. The
board made awards in III cases, aggre-
eating $74.00O. This amount was modified
by the Indian office, which recommended
a total award of $6S,645 in eighty-nine
cases. The modification was approved by
the Secretary of the Interior.