Being engrossed, It was accordingly read the third time and passed. Mr. Paine moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed, 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 passage of the said bill. Mr. B. F. Butler, by unanimous consent, introduced a joint resolution (H. Res. 387) to authorize the removal of the revenue steamer "S. P. Chase" from Lake Ontario to the seaboard; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Commerce. Mr. Paine moved that the vote referring the said bill be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. Mr. Schenck, by unanimous consent, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported a bill (H. R. 1555) to amend an act entitled “An act imposing taxes on distilled spirits and tobacco, and for other purposes," approved July 20, 1868; 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. Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in the passage of the said bill. Mr. W. Lawrence, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to: Resolved, That the Secretary of State, of the Treasury, of the Department of War, of the Interior, of the Navy, the Attorney General, and the Postmaster General, each be and are directed to report to this house, as soon as practicable, what reduction can be made, compatible with the public interests, in the number of officers and employés, salaries and expenses, in their respective departments or in the service connected therewith. Mr. E. B. Washburne, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to: Resolved, That the President be requested to transmit to this house the report of the special commissioners to examine into the character of the work on the Union Pacific railroad, and to inform the House what attempts, if any, have been made on the part of said railroad company to obtain money from the government for building said road without having constructed the same in conformity to existing law; and also to further inform the House the amount of bonds issued to said railroad company, and if a sufficient amount has been retained in the hands of the government to guarantee its completion as a first-class road, in further accordance with the existing law. Mr. Ross submitted the following resolution : Resolved, That the Clerk of this house shall, at one o'clock p. m. on Wednesday, the 16th day of December, A. D. 1868, place in a box the name of each member and delegate of the House of Representatives written on a piece of paper; that he then proceed in the presence of the House to draw from said box, one at a time, the said slips of paper, and as each is drawn he shall announce the name of the member or delegate upon it, who shall choose his seat for the present session: Provided, That before said drawing shall commence the Speaker shall cause each seat to be vacated, and shall see that every seat continues vacant until it is selected under this order; and that every seat, after having been selected, shall be deemed vacant if left unoccupied before the calling of the roll is finished. The resolution having been read, Mr. Van Trump moved that it be laid on the table; and the question being put, Yeas... It was decided in the affirmative, Nays.. The yeas 88 84 49 Not voting.. and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are— Mr. Kelsey, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1557) for the relief of Constance Bateman, Augustus De Caindry, and Julia L. Wamaling; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. Dawes, by unanimous consent, from the Committee of Elections, reported a bill (H. R. 1558) to amend "An act to prescribe the mode of obtaining evidence in case of contested elections," approved February 19, 1851; which was read a first and second time. Ordered, That it be engrossed and read a third time. Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time, and, under the operation of the previous question, passed. Mr. Dawes moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. Mr. Price, by unanimous consent, introduced the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to: Resolved, That the Committee on Banking and Currency be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reporting to this house at as early a day as practicable a bill prohibiting, under severe penalty, any national bank from certifying any check unless the maker of such check has on deposit and subject to draft in said bank at the time of such certifying the funds necessary to meeting the same. Mr. Donnelly, by unanimous consent, introduced a joint resolution (H. Res. 388) explanatory of the act to create an additional land office in the State of Minnesota, approved July 25, 1868; which was read a first and second time. Ordered, That the said joint resolution be engrossed and read a third time. Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time and passed. Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in the passage of the said joint resolution. Mr. O'Neill, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1559) giving the consent of the United States to the erection of a bridge across the Delaware river between Philadelphia and Camden; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Commerce. Mr. Sypher, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1560) to relieve from disabilities James T. Ward and John L. Lewis, citizens of Louisiana; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Reconstruction. Mr. Van Wyck, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1561) subjecting compounders of liquors to the same provisions as rectifiers, and prohibiting compounding establishments within six hundred feet of a distillery the same as rectifying establishments; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. Mr. Pile, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and referred to the Committee on Accounts: Resolved, That the Committee on Accounts be instructed to examine the claim of the legal representatives of Matt. Szegady, deceased, late a folder under the Doorkeeper, and to allow thereon such sum, not exceeding two months' pay, as may be just and proper. Mr. Mungen, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolu tion; which was read, considered, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs: Resolved, That the Secretary of State of the United States be requested to furnish to this house such information as he has in his possession relative to the arrest of American citizens in Paraguay, and especially touching the arrest of persons attached to the American legation and the conduct of our minister resident at Paraguay therewith. Mr. Driggs, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1562) to more effectually provide relief to claimants under the late convention between the United States and the republic of Venezuela; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Mr. T. L. Jones, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution: Resolved, That all females in the employment of the government be allowed equal pay where they perform like service with males. The resolution having been read, Mr. T. L. Jones moved the previous question on agreeing thereto; which was seconded; And the question recurring, Shall the main question be now put? The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are Mr. George M. Adams William B. Allison George W. Anderson John D. Baldwin John F. Benjamin Simeon Corley John T. Deweese Ignatius Donnelly Mr. John F. Driggs W. P. Edwards Mr. William Lawrence Mr. William H. Robertson William E. Robinson John Trimble Lawrence S. Trimble Mr. Rufus P. Spalding Mr. Charles W. Pierce James F. Wilson Fred'k E. Woodbridge. The question then recurring, Will the House agree to the resolution? Mr. Ferris moved that the resolution be laid on the table. And the question being put, It was decided in the negative, Yeas. 34 128 59 The yeas and nays being desired by one fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are— Mr. George M. Adams William B. Allison Jehu Baker John D. Baldwin William H. Barnum Mr. Oliver J. Dickey Ignatius Donnelly Mr. Michael C. Kerr John H. Ketcham Samuel S. Marshall Mr. William H. Kelsey Hiram Mecullough Mr. Lewis Selye Mr. Green B. Raum William H. Robertson Robert C. Schenck Mr. Logan H. Roots Samuel Shellabarger So the House refused to lay the resolution on the table. The question again recurring, Will the House agree to the resolution? It was put, Yeas.. Not voting.. And decided in the affirmative, Nays.. 124 27 70 The yeas and nays being desired by one fifth of the members present, |