New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-11
IN AND OUT OF CONGRESS-
THE COAST DEFENCE QUESTION AGAIN
CONSIDERED.
ANOTHER UNSATISFACTORY ARMOR TEsT-THE
PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL BANK-MCoRDs
CLAIM AGAINST PERU-wORK OF
House COMMITTEES.

HOUSE COMMITTEES.
Wasbinrton Ian 1O-Genera Craghill, Chief Of
Engineers this morning laid before the Senate COM
ritee on Coast Defenccs detailed estimates OF the
money which profitably be expended by the
Bureau of Engineers during the present and the next
fiscal wear Mt the ports of NewYork San Francisco.
Boston, the lake ports. Hampton Roads. New-Or-
leans. Philadelphia. Washington. Baltimore Port
land MG NarTasanssdi nay a NeS GALVESTON
Portland, Ore; Pensacola, wilmington ~, e.. 3aii
RiveT New-Bedford Penobscot River. New Haven
and Puget Sound. He also submitted dctaiieu Cs-
ably expended until June So 1897. in case of a war
emergency. He gave statement OF the cShdiuo ,
named from which it appeared that at few OF them
had any work been done owing to the iack OF APP
Hons was then taken up by the committee. 1t was
said that at least NOUVv Is required a' once io'
the purchase Of sites for fortiflcatlohs
A second test of the plate representing group OF
armor for the Iowa and the Brooklyn. which failed
on "Wednesday, made at the Indian Head PROV
ing ground yesterday In the first test most OF the
nla,e was shattered but one end remained I'M
harmed and six inch protecte was fired at TINS
in Yesterdays trial. The velocity was increased ~
$40 feet a second and the shell entered the pate
a6ont two inches cracking it through. This marked
another failure and the plate was relec'e; to
plate representing the group is being seieCtcu LOT
listing by the Government Inspector at the Carhe-
gle Works. in Homestead, Penn
The question TO whether ofnccfs on 'he i''''""N
Marine service should have the privilege granted 10
officers Of the Navy Of receiving retiring pension
which has been holly debated between the TWO
houses Of Congress for several sessions Is re'NT"
h. BIZ n5r0d o ,b , ing on Commerce en-
tilted "A bll to promote the efficiency OF me feye
nue. cutter service The last SlnirF 'N' I'm - a.,
vded for the retirement on half pay OF 2mcers iir
the service who We're nca2acitated oy lni1,,; r
tired list at three-quarters pay for neapacy. thW
years service reaching the age unit oL M
tirements Ii also provides for a longevity pay on
10 per cent of the current yearly pay ., cao c,,
Of five years, not TO exceed ho"e'''' !" f ~
The proposition looking to the establishment Of an
international bank which was one of the recon-
mendations Of the lac Pan-American Congress VIII
receive the attention Of the House Committee on
Banking and Currency on Monday charles X, r dn
of New ork, who was one Oh the AinoIlcdn u''
sbo hi Anothcr member of the Congress. nho.
MendOnca. Of Brazil. now the diplomatic ieprese"tta
yed TO e1 20 cantroller Eckels Chairman
Walker says that any other men VINO may u"St' 1"
attend will be cordially welcomed
The Department Of State IS In receipt OF dis
patch from the American Minister In China. trans
hitting memorial addressed 10 the Emperor 10y 'he
Princes who joint presidents Of the Board o'
Foreign Affairs. In which attention is called 70 IN,
inferior quality Of the foreign ordnance purchasea
by the Chinese Government during the recent VAT
with Japan and suggesting plans iQr iinpro''"s ''
eminent arsenals and gun foundries
Interest in the OF Victor II. McCord. OF Penn
svIvania who seeks damages in the sum OF S2V"~J
from the Government OF Peru. sustained by rea'oh
Of his illegal imprisonment in 1855. while a United
States Consular Agent at Arequipa was revived TINS
morning by a message from the President on the
subject In response to "A Senate resolution All the
correspondence in the case was aid n.ioie tmc TO-
ate on December g. lssi ana mn a. o, s +, coss
with letter under date Of Apr q. 1879 from NctiS
Secretary Adee TO Mr MccoId's counsel N wm,Gh
r.. on Foreign Relations reported TO the Senate nan
been Considered by the stat Department Mr.. Adee
H.r rber diniomatic action In the case until 1t had
been finally adopted 10y congress
To-day's session Of the House Committee on Com
roerce was devoted mainly to a discussion Of the
Doolittle bill to establish Bureau OF Commerce,
with commissioner and other officials, whose func-
,ions II shall be to gather data in connection with
domestic manufactures and markets generally, the
ultimate purpose being an extension oil American
exnort trade The inquiries made by members OF
tLa committee Indicated a favorable sentiment on
the subject The committee decided 10 near aIsu-
mcnts January u on me Pachc sHD'ii, I'm !r o"
IN hcar the friends and opponents OF the b1Is 70
bridge the Niagara River at Buffalo on January 81
The House Judiciary Committee to-day considered
tho bill introduced by Mr. Curtis OF New-Nork scV-
oral weeks ago. on the subject OF captai punishment
Tho nurpose OF the measure is 10 permit Juilcs IN
murder cases 10 return verdict Of guilty. bu' win
the suggestion that the penalty is not 10 De cap'a 81
punishment. one OF the arguments ~ H Spl "'
Inc hIll Is that rres frequently acqut prisoners DC
causc NJ their disnclination to have the extreme
penalty Of the law enforced. The bin Therefore en-
ables the Judge punish such criminals WIN Il ons
term of Imprisonment In lieu or death