Evening star., 1896-02-13
CAPITOL TOPICS.
To Pension Ex-senator Spencer's
Widow.

CAPITOL TOPICS.
To Pension Ex-senator spcncer's
Widow.
Mr.. Gallinger, from the committee on
| per sions, yesterday reported favorably to |
| the Senate a bill to pension Mrs. William |
Lorin Spencer, widow OF Geo. Z. Spencer,
| late colonel first regiment Alabama cav |
| airy, at the rate Of $50 per month. Col. |
| Spencer was elected to the United States |
Senate after the war; In the Senate at the |
same time there were two other members |
| of his regiment Senator Abbott of North |
| Carolina and Senator Upton of Nebraska.
| the latter having served q chaplain II
| the regiment. Ex-senator Spencers widow |
pc ssesses the unusual name of WILLIAM,
| by which she was christened, though she
| has generally been known as Mrs. w.
| Loring Spencer.
| Andrew JacksOn's Birthday.
| Senator Hill Of New York today introduc-
ed bill in the Senate to make Andrew
| Jacksons birthday legal holiday.
To Admit New Mexico.
| Delegate Catron of New Mexico today
made an argument before the Senate COM
mittee on territories for the passage of
the bill providing for the admission of
| New Mexico to statehood. He contended
| that New Mexico was entitled to this rec
| ognition on account of its wealth and pop
ulation and also the superior educational
| facilities of the territory. The committee
did not indicate in any way when the bill
would be taken up for action.
Against the Free Ship BILL.
Tie Senate committee commerce to-
day agreed upon an adverse report upon
the free ship bill prepared by the commits
sioner of navigation. The bill authorized
an American registry for foreign-bu1lt
ships owned by American citizens. The
committee authorized favorable reports on
the bill requiring officers of sea-going ships
lNa Of fl,a ri Tod "a nc y a
upon a general bill prepared by the COM
missioner Of navigation revising and
amending many of the existing shipping
| laws
Pensions for Navy Yard Men.
A bill has been introduced in the Senate
Ly Mr.. Perkins of Colorado providing for
pensions to employees of government navy
: yards who might be injured in the service
Of the government, and providing for PEN
sioEs for their families in case of their
death.
To investigate Political Assessments.
Mr.. PETER has introduced in the Senate
a resolution instructng the Senate commit
tee on post offices and post roads to inquire
into charges that employees in the Post
[ Office Department have been subjected 10
political assessments.
f No Inefficient Employees.
In response to a resolution of the House,
communications have been received from
, the Secretary of the Navy. the Secretary
} of the Interior and the public printer stat
ing that there are no employees in their re-
= spective departments below a fair standard
: OF efficiency.
To Abolish the Fee System.
2 A bill has been introduced in the House
t abolishing the fee system for United States
marshals and district attorneys, and pro-
: viding for compensation by salary. The
y | bill fixes the salary of the marshal and
-,;f tofa ott for thn -.at .,f
Columbia at 5000 year in each case.
, Opposed to Statehood Bills.
$ The House committee on territories held
:. warm session yesterday over the bills TO
edmit Arizona and New Mexico into the
Union. For several weeks it has been ap-
parent that there was a disposition among
some of the opponents of free silver on the
| committee to prevent favorable reports on
. those bills at least for the present, to pre-
v vent the increase of the free silver strength
" in the Senate, it is said. The fight cumi-
mated yesterday, when, the bill to admit
!, | Arizona being under discussion, the COM
,, mittee voted 6 to to adjourn. Although,
. . as stated, the opponents of free silver were
u | responsible for the postponement of action
: on the bill, all the opponents of free COIN
y age on the committee were not in favor of
l. deferring action. Mr. Scranton pa, the
chairman; Mr.. Perkins Qowa) and Mr.. Tur-
ner (Va.), who voted against the motion to
adjourn are also opposed to free coinage.
/. Those who voted to adjourn were Hadley
r | (lll.), Knox (MaSS.), Ia1t (Ohlo), Lowe IN.
# ", Harrison (Ala-) and Owens Ky).
+ Messrs. Avery CMich.) and Cooper (Texas)
h voted against adjournment in addition to
:. those named.
- Messrs. Harris (Ohio) and Lefever On.
" were absent Both the latter are anti
silver men. 1t is, therefore, apparent that
the test of strength indicates that the COM
$ mittee are opposed. at least for the present,
y to reporting these statehood bills. 1t is
n claimed that both the absentees are also in
'e favor of deferring action, but Mr.. Murphy,
II the Arizona delegate, denies this. AS the
1t bill itself has not been defeat ted in COM
mittee the vote can be taken whenever the
advocates of the bill are able to muster a
majority.
~ Against Betting.
v In the House yesterday Representative
If Gillett of Massachusetts introduced bill
te providing that any person who is party
ID to the transmission by telegraph, telephone
y mail, express or otherwise from one state
~ u or territory to another of any gambling bet
:; | or report of such bet, on any race, prize
III fight or other event. shall be deemed guilty
!, of misdemeanor, punishable for the frs
Z, offense by fine or Imprisonment, and fol
ia subsequent offenses by Imprisonment only
al
"a The Christian EndeavOr Society.