Mr. Griswold, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee of Claims be instructed to inquire into the claim of Oliver Bascomb, assignee of Edward Lusher, for services in taking care of a dredge-boat for the United States, at Whitehall, in the State of New York, and report by bill or otherwise.

Mr. Chanler moved that the several votes for recommitment and reference, and on agreeing to the last named resolution, be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Mr. Kelley, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1756) to establish an assay office at Helena, in the Territory of Montana;

Also, a bill (H. R. 1757) to convert the branch mint of the United States, at Denver, Colorado, into an assay office;

Also, a bill (H. R. 1758) relative to the refining of gold and silver bullion at the mint of the United States and branches;

which were severally read the first and second time, referred to the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Measures, and ordered to be printed. Mr. E. B. Washburne moved that the several votes by which the said bills were referred be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Mr. S. F. Wilson, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee did, on the 22d instant, present to the President of the United States enrolled bills of the House as follows, viz:

H. R. 1261. An act amendatory of an act entitled "An act relating to habeas corpus, and regulating judicial proceedings in certain cases;" and

H. R. 1598. An act to relieve from disabilities R. W. Best and Samuel F. Phillips, of North Carolina.

Mr. Koontz, from the Committee for the District of Columbia, to which was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 418) to amend the charter of the corporation of Georgetown, District of Columbia, reported the same without amendment.

Pending the question on the engrossment of the said bill,

Mr. Koontz moved the previous question; which was not seconded; When

Mr. Eliot moved to refer the said bill to the Committee on Commerce. Pending which,

Mr. Ross moved that the bill be laid on the table; which motion was agreed to.

Mr. Eliot moved that the vote by which the bill was laid on the table be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Mr. Ingersoll, from the Committee for the District of Columbia, to which was referred the joint resolution of the House (H. Res. 253) to change the name of Four-and-a-half street, in the city of Washington, to Lincoln avenue, reported the same without amendment.

Ordered, That the said joint resolution be engrossed and read a third time.

Being engrossed,

It was accordingly read the third time and passed.

Mr. Ingersoll moved that the vote by which the joint resolution was passed be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in the said joint resolution.

Mr. Wood, from the Committee for the District of Columbia, reported a bill (H. R. 1758) to incorporate the Masonic Mutual Relief Association of the District of Columbia; which was read a first and second time. Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed and read a third time. Being engrossed,

It was accordingly read the third time and passed.

Mr. Wood moved that the vote by which the bill was passed be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in the said bill.

Mr. Welker, from the Committee for the District of Columbia, to which was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 1627) to establish a police court for the District of Columbia, reported the same with sundry amendments thereto.

Pending the question on agreeing to said amendments,

Mr. Hopkins moved a further amendment to the said bill;

When,

On motion of Mr. Welker, by unanimous consent,

Ordered, That the said bill, with the pending amendments, be printed. The morning hour expired;

When,

On motion of Mr. Garfield, by unanimous consent,

Ordered, That the letter from the Secretary of War, recommending the passage of a law repealing the 61st Article of War, which recommendation is concurred in by the General of the army, be printed.

On motion of Mr. J. M. Ashley, by unanimous consent,

Ordered, That the bill of the House (H. R. 1625) to extend the bounda ries of the States of Nevada, Minnesota, and Nebraska, and the Territories of Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming, with the pending amendments thereto, postponed to the 28th instant and made a special order for that day after the morning hour and from day to day until disposed of, be printed.

The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, transmitting communication from Commodore Glisson, commanding League island, asking authority to repair a bridge connecting the island with the main land and an appropriation of $10,000 therefor; which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

On motion of Mr. Miller, by unanimous consent,

Ordered, That leave be granted to withdraw from the files of the House the papers of Captain James Thompson, of Juniata county, Pennsyl vania, on leaving copies thereof.

Mr. Dawes, from the committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two houses on the bill of the House (H. R. 1558) to amend an act entitled "An act to prescribe the mode of obtaining evidence in cases of contested elections," approved February 19, 1851, made the following report, viz:

"The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the amendments to bill (H. R. 1558) entitled 'An act to amend an act entitled "An act to prescribe the mode of obtaining evidence in cases of contested elections," approved February 19, 1851, having met, after full and free conference have agreed to recommend, and do recommend, to their respective houses as follows:

"That the House recede from their disagreement to the amendments of the Senate, and agree to the same with an amendment as follows:

strike out all of said Senate amendments, and all after the word 'that' in line one of the original bill down to and including the word 'district' in line two, and insert in lieu thereof as follows: any register in bankruptcy or notary public resident in a congressional district; and that the Senate agree to the same.

"Managers on the part of the House

"H. L. DAWES.
"SAMUEL MCKEE.
"JOHN CHANLER.

"Managers on the part of the Senate

The same having been read,

"ROSCOE CONKLING.
"F. T. FRELINGHUYSEN.
"GEORGE VICKERS."

And the question recurring, Will the House agree to the report?
It was put and decided in the affirmative.

So the report was agreed to.

Mr. Dawes moved that the vote by which the report was agreed to be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate with the concurrence of the House in said report.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Hamlin, one of their clerks.

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed, with an amendment, the bill of the House (H. R. 1451) for the relief of John H. Osler, of Guernsey county, Ohio;

Also, with an amendment, the joint resolution of the House (H. Res. 404) providing for the disposition of certain papers relating to military claims accruing in the department of the west;

in which amendments I am directed to ask the concurrence of the House of Representatives.

The Speaker announced as the business next in order the consideration, as the unfinished business after the morning hour, of the bill of the Senate (S. 570) for a grant of land granting the right of way over the public lands to the Denver Pacific Railway and Telegraph Company, and for other purposes; the pending question being on the amendment of Mr. Price to the said bill;

When

Debate was had thereon.

Pending the question on agreeing to the amendment of Mr. Price, Mr. Logan modified his substitute as submitted on Wednesday, the 20th instant; and on his motion, by unanimous consent, the substitute as modified was ordered to be printed.

Mr. Elliott announced the death of James Hinds, late a member of this house from the State of Arkansas, which took place in Monroe county in that State on the 22d day of October last.

After remarks upon the life and public services of the deceased, Mr. Elliott submitted the following resolutions, which were read, considered, and agreed to:

Resolved, That the House has received with deep sensibility the announcement of the death of Hon. James Hinds, a member from the State of Arkansas.

Resolved, That this house tenders to the family of the deceased the expression of its sympathy in this afflicting event; and as a testimony of respect for his memory the members and officers of this house will wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days.

Resolved, That the Clerk of this house be directed to communicate a copy of these proceedings to the family of the deceased, and also to the Senate.

Resolved, That as a further testimonial of respect for the deceased the House do now adjourn.

And thereupon, at 4 o'clock and 20 minutes p. m.,
The House adjourned.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 1869.

The following memorials, petitions, and other papers, were laid upon the Clerk's table under the rules:

By Mr. Perham: The petition of Sarah Ellen Rock, praying for a pension;

Also, the petition of Margaret Parks, praying for a pension;

Also, the petition of Sarah T. E. Williamson, praying for a pension. By Mr. Flanders: The petition of Ernest Retburg, praying for a pension.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. Banks: The petition of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, of New York, praying for the right of appeal from the judgment of the consular court at Yokohama, Japan, in the case of the steamer Hermann; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

By Mr. Maynard: The petition of Stephen Matthews, praying for the removal of disabilities; which was referred to the Committee on Reconstruction.

By Mr. Haughey: The memorial of the general assembly of Alabama, praying for a grant of lands to aid in the construction of a railroad; which was referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

By Mr. Cook: The petition of professors and faculty of medical colleges, praying for the reorganization of the medical department of the

navy.

By Mr. Ward: The petition of citizens of the State of New York, praying for the restoration of Commander R. L. May to the navy.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

By Mr. Robinson: The petition of Osborn and Cammack and others; citizens of New York, praying-for the removal of obstructions at Hell

Gate.

By Mr. Eggleston: The resolutions of the city council of Cincinnati, State of Ohio, praying for an appropriation to purchase a site for a custom-house and post office.

By Mr. Haughey: The memorial of the general assembly of Alabama, praying for an appropriation for the improvement of the Warrior river. By Mr. Eliot: The petition of John S. Burnell and others, citizens of the State of Massachusetts, praying for protection from illegal exactions. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on Commerce.

By Mr. Eggleston: The remonstrance of saw manufacturers of Cincinnati, State of Ohio, against an increase of duty on steel; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

By Mr. Julian: Two petitions of citizens of the State of Ohio, praying for an amendment to the Constitution; which were referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Mr. Cobb: The petition of William H. Downs, a citizen of the State of Wisconsin, relative to the naturalization laws.

By Mr.Orth: The petition of citizens of the State of Indiana, praying for the passage of a law preventing frauds in elections.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By unanimous consent, leave of absence was granted to Mr. Morse for three days.

The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of War, transmitting a letter from the Commissary General of Subsistence, asking an appropriation of $9,000 for the Contingent expenses of his office; which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

On motion of Mr. J. F. Wilson, by unanimous consent,

Ordered, That the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from the further consideration of the bill of the House (H. R. 1548) to regulate the refunding of taxes paid into the treasury of the United States; and that the same be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

Also, that the said committee be discharged from the further consid eration of the bill of the House, (H. R. 1467,) repealing so much of the third section of the general bankrupt law, approved March 2, 1867, as directs the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States to nominate and recommend registers in bankruptcy and to vest that appointing power in the President of the United States; and that the same be referred to the Committee on the Revision of the Laws.

On motion of Mr. Blaine, by unanimous consent,

Ordered, That the Committee on Appropriations be discharged from the further consideration of the letter from the Secretary of the Interior, transmitting, in compliance with a resolution of the House of the 18th ultimo, a statement showing the total amount due and necessary to pay certain United States marshals for services in connection with the eighth census, in 1860; and that the same be referred to the Committee of Claims.

Also, that the said committee be discharged from the further consideration of the bill of the House (H. R. 1520) concerning the Mississippi and Mexican Gulf Ship Canal Company, asking an appropriation of $300,000; and that the same be referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals.

Also, that the said committee be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of citizens of Philadelphia, asking for appropriations for the improvement of St. Mary's river and the St. Mary's Falls ship canal; and that the same be referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals.

Mr. Ketcham, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1759) to encourage and protect inventors of new kinds of fruit; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Patents. Mr. Farnsworth, by unanimous consent, submitted a resolution, which was read, considered, and agreed to, as follows, viz:

Resolved, That the Secretary of State, Secretary of War, Secretary of the Navy, Secretary of the Treasury, and Secretary of the Interior be requested to furnish the House with a statement of the buildings and premises held and occupied by their departments, respectively, in the city of Washington under lease or rent; for what purposes so held; the owners of the respective buildings; how long said buildings or premises have been so held; what time the leases severally have to run; the