amount of the annual rent of said premises as so leased, respectively, and whether any such buildings can be dispensed with.

Mr. Kelsey, by unanimous consent, submitted a resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to as follows, viz:

Resolved, That the Secretary of State be, and he is hereby, directed to inform this house whether any, and if any, what, measures have been taken by the United States government to recover from the government of Brazil the property of William T. Harris, an American citizen, who died at Bahia, in the year 1852, and whose property it is alleged was seized by officers of the Brazilian government after his death, notwithstanding the protest of the United States consul; and the Secretary of State is directed to send to this house copies of all correspondence with the government of Brazil, and papers relating to the estate of William T. Harris, deceased, that are on file in his department.

On motion of Mr. Spalding, by unanimous consent, the joint resolu tion of the House (H. Res. 404) providing for the disposition of certain papers relating to military claims accruing in the department of the west, with the amendment of the Senate thereto, was taken from the Speaker's table.

And the question recurring, Will the House agree to the said amendment of the Senate,

It was put and decided in the negative.

So the amendment of the Senate was disagreed to.

On motion of Mr. Spalding,

Ordered, That a conference be requested with the Senate on the disa greeing votes of the two houses on the said joint resolution.

The Speaker appointed as managers on the part of the House, in the aid conference, Mr. Spalding, Mr. Beaman, and Mr. Holman.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Hamlin, one of their clerks: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a joint resolution (S. R. 200) reappointing Louis Agassiz a regent of the Smithsonian Institution, in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of the House of Representatives.

The Senate have agreed to the report of 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 the case, of contested elections," approved February 19, 1851.

Mr. Shanks, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1760) to secure a certain number of the Miami tribe of Indians who reside in Allen and Huntington counties, Indiana, the lands to which they are entitled; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Mr. E. B. Washburne moved to reconsider the several votes of reference had to day, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Mr. W. Williams, by unanimous consent, submitted a resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, as follows, viz:

Resolved, That the Committee for the District of Columbia be instructed to inquire whether the depot of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad in Washington ought not to be removed from its present site, north of and near the Capitol, to some point more remote from the public grounds, and where it will less interfere with and injure city property and obstruct the course of city improvements; and that the said committee report at the earliest practicable day by bill or otherwise.

Mr. Higby, by unanimous consent, submitted a resolution, which was read, considered, and agreed to as follows, viz:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to send to this house all information in his possession in relation to a contract made with Frank C. Kenyon, to print certain statutes passed and journals kept by the legislature of the Territory of Idaho; whether the books have been delivered in accordance with the terms of the contract; whether the money has been paid for the books; what amount was paid, when paid, and to whom; and also to send with the other information a copy of the report made by special commissioners, H. C. Street and W. R. Defrees, filed October 18, 1868, in relation to this matter among others; and, also, all information in relation to the defalcation of Horace C. Gillson, former secretary of Idaho Territory, how the money delivered to him was to be disbursed, and what amount of money was lost by the government through his defalcation.

Mr. Arnell, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1761) for the better protection of the rights of women in the District of Columbia; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee for the District of Columbia, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Flanders, by unanimous consent, introduced a joint resolution (H. Res. 414) ceding the buildings at Fort Steilacoom to Washington Territory, for an insane asylum; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on the Territories, and ordered to be printed with the accompanying papers.

Mr. S. F. Wilson, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined and found truly enrolled, the bill of the House (H. R. 1558) to amend an act to prescribe the mode of obtaining evidence in cases of contested elections;

When,

The Speaker signed the same.

Mr. Boutwell called up the motion made by him on Monday, 11th instant, to reconsider the vote by which the bill of the House (H. R. 1667) to secure equal privileges and immunities to citizens of the United States, and to enforce the provisions of article 14 of the amendments to the Constitution, was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary;

And the question recurring, Will the House reconsider the said vote, Debate was had thereon;

When,

The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Interior, transmitting a letter from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, submitting estimate of appropriation required to supply deficiency in appropriation for Indian service in New Mexico; which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations. On motion of Mr. W. B. Washburn, by unanimous consent, Ordered, That leave be granted to withdraw from the files of the House, the papers referred with the bill of the House (H. R. 912) to authorize the payment of the claim of William H. Newman & Company and L. A. Van Hoffman & Company, of New York city, now before the Committee of Claims, copies of the same to be left on the files.

By unanimous consent,

Ordered, That the amendments proposed to be offered severally by Mr. Brooks, Mr. Robinson, and Mr. Bingham, to the bill under consideration, be printed.

By unanimous consent, leave of absence was granted to Mr. Pruyn for four days.

On motion of Mr. Lynch, by unanimous consent,

Ordered, That the bill of the House (H. R. 1364) to provide for the gradual resumption of specie payments be recommitted to the Committee on Banks and Currency.

Mr. Lynch moved that the vote by which the said bill was recommitted be reconsidered; which motion was passed over for the present. Mr. Anderson, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1672) to amend an act granting lands to the State of Oregon to aid in the construction of a military road from Eugene City to the eastern boundary of the said State; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

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

Mr. Barnes, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1753) for the relief of James P. Earl; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Mr. S. F. Wilson, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had this day presented to the President of the United States the enrolled 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.

Pending the question on the motion of Mr. Boutwell to reconsider the vote recommitting the bill of the House (H. R. 1667) to secure equal privileges and immunities to citizens of the United States, and to enforce the provisions of article 14 of the amendments to the Constitution, to the Committee on the Judiciary,

On motion of Mr. Shanks,

The House, at 3 o'clock and 45 minutes p. m., adjourned.

MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 1869.

Another member appeared to-day, viz:

From the State of Louisiana, W. Jasper Blackburn.

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

By Mr. Ingersoll: The petition of citizens of Washington, District of Columbia, praying for a better supply of water; which was referred to the Committee for the District of Columbia.

By Mr. Schenck: The memorial of Adam Jewett and others, citizens of the State of Ohio, praying for the abolition of the franking privilege; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. Samuel Hooper: The petition of William Thwing, a citizen of the State of Massachusetts, praying for a register to the ship Alhambra. By Mr. Boutwell: The petition of J. M. Phillips, a citizen of the State of Massachusetts, relative to tonnage duties.

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

By Mr. Samuel Hooper: The petition of John Moriarty, of Boston, Massachusetts, private company K, 3d United States artillery, praying for bounty.

By Mr. Mullins: The petition of Newton Dickens, private company A, 4th Tennessee infantry, praying that his name be placed on company rolls.

By Mr. Julian: The petition of R. G. Ward, praying for relief. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

By the Speaker: The petition of R. Cromelien, of Washington, District of Columbia, praying for a grant of the right of way for a railroad to Annapolis, Maryland; which was referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals.

By Mr. Benjamin F. Butler: The memorial of citizens of the State of Illinois, relative to finance;

Also, the memorial of citizens of Buffalo, New York, of similar import; Also, the petition of citizens of Buffalo, New York, of similar import.

By Mr. O'Neill: The petition of importers of the city of Philadelphia, praying for the reduction of the duty on foreign salt.

By Mr. Baldwin: The petition of Dr. Bigelow and others, for sundry purposes;

Also, the petition of M. E. Shattuck and others, concerning the tax on cigars.

By Mr. Schenck: The memorial of E. M. Davis, of Philadelphia, relative to the law making gold a legal tender;

Also, the memorial of grocers of St. Louis, Missouri, praying for a change in the tariff on sugar.

By Mr. Brooks: The petition of physicians, relative to the tax on drugs and medicines.

Ordered, That the said petitions and memorials be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

By Mr. Benjamin F. Butler: The petition of Alfred S. Reid, of Campbell county, Virginia, praying for the removal of his disabilities; which was referred to the Committee on Reconstruction.

By Mr. Hunter: The petition of S. W. Skinner, praying for relief; which was referred to the Committee of Claims.

By Mr. Bingham: The petition of Hiram Correll, praying for a pension; which was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. Thomas: The petition of citizens of the State of Maryland, praying for a republican form of government.

By Mr. Brooks: The resolutions of the Chamber of Commerce of New York, relative to the bankrupt law.

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

By Mr. Stewart: The petition of John La Marsh, praying for pay and bounty; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

By Mr. Farnsworth: The petition of Hugh B. Boston, praying for the removal of disabilities; which was referred to the Committee on Reconstruction.

By Mr. Brooks: The petition of David Klein, praying for relief; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

By Mr. Niblack: The petition of Ragan, Dickey & Carson, citizens of the State of Indiana, relative to the tax on sugar.

By Mr. Eggleston: The petition of wholesale grocers of Cincinnati, State of Ohio, of a similar import.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

By Mr. Covode: The petition of distillers of Westmoreland and Fayette counties, State of Pennsylvania, relative to the tax on distilled spirits; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. The morning hour commenced; and

The Speaker having announced, as the business first in order, the call of States and Territories for bills and resolutions for reference, the fol

lowing bills and joint resolutions were severally introduced, read a first and second times, and referred, as stated, viz:

By Mr. Kelsey: A bill (H. R. 1764) to provide for the funding and paying the national debt, and for taxing the interest-bearing bonds hereafter issued by the United States, and for other purposes, to the Committee of Ways and Means and ordered to be printed.

By Mr. Morrell: A bill (H. R. 1765) for the relief of paymasters, to the Committee on Military Affairs.

By Mr. Thomas: A bill (H. R. 1766) to amend the act of February 25, 1867, entitled "An act to change certain collection districts in Maryland and Virginia," to the Committee on Commerce.

By Mr. Heaton: A bill (H. R. 1767) to repeal the fourteenth section of an act entitled "An act to protect the revenue, and for other purposes," approved July 28, 1866, to the Committee of Ways and Means.

By Mr. Whittemore: A joint resolution (H. Res. 415) for a select committee of seven to investigate the irregularities in the recent election in the State of South Carolina, especially the third and fourth congressional districts of said State, to the Committee on Reconstruction. By Mr. Clift: A bill (H. R. 1768) to relieve from legal and political disabilities certain citizens of Georgia, to the Committee on Reconstruction;

Also, a bill (H. R. 1769) making an appropriation to improve the navigation of the Savannah river, to the Committee on Commerce and ordered to be printed.

By Mr. Callis: A bill (H. R. 1770) to relieve from all political disabilities imposed on and now resting upon Charles C. Crowe, a citizen of the State of Alabama, to the Committee on Reconstruction.

By Mr. Haughey: A bill (H. R. 1771) for the construction of a canal around the Big Muscle shoals, on the Tennessee river, to the Committee on Appropriations;

Also, a bill (H. R. 1772) to relieve Samuel M. Morrow, of Alabama, from legal and political disabilities, to the Committee on Reconstruction. By Mr. Kellogg: A joint resolution (H. Res. 416) directing the Postmaster General to open negotiations with the several European governments with whom we have postal treaties, for a further reduction in the rates of international postage, to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads and ordered to be printed;

Also, a joint resolution (H. Res. 417) to relieve certain citizens of Alabama from disabilities, to the Committee on Reconstruction.

By Mr. Buckley: A bill (H. R. 1773) to revive and renew a certain grant of public lands to the State of Alabama, to the Committee on the Public Lands and ordered to be printed.

By Mr. Pierce: A bill (H. R. 1774) making provision for the representation of the two-fifths of such persons as heretofore have been held in slavery, to the Committee on Reconstruction and ordered to be printed. By Mr. Garfield: A joint resolution (H. Res. 418) for the relief of John E. Reeside and his sub-contractors, to the Committee on Military Affairs, and to be printed together with a report proposed to be made thereon by the Committee on Military Affairs.

By Mr. L. S. Trimble: A bill (H. R. 1775) to amend the act of July, 1867, for the removal of causes from State to federal courts, to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Mr. R. R. Butler: A bill (H. R. 1776) for the relief of John L. Kirk, of Tennessee, to the Committee of Claims.

By Mr. Hawkins: A bill (H. R. 1777) to establish a post-route in Tennessee, to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.