The House then, in pursuance of the order adopted, proceeded to the drawing of seats in the manner therein provided; And the drawing having been concluded, Mr. Cake, from the Committee on Printing, reported a resolution, which was, by unanimous consent, amended and agreed to, as follows: Resolved, That five hundred extra copies of the House bill No. 1349 be printed for the use of the House; the same to be printed on bill paper, with the numbering of the lines to correspond with those of the last print. The Speaker, by unanimous consent, was authorized to designate a member to act as Speaker pro tempore for the session of Monday next, in case of his absence. On motion of Mr. E. B. Washburne, by unanimous consent, Ordered, That when the House adjourn on Friday next it adjourn to Monday, 21st instant, and that on the last mentioned day there be no session for business. On motion of Mr. Jenckes, by unanimous consent, Ordered, That House bill No. 948, to regulate the civil service of the United States, be reprinted. And then, on motion of Mr. Pile, the House, at 4 o'clock and 15 minutes p. m., adjourned. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1868. The following memorials and petitions were laid upon the Clerk's table, under the rules: By Mr. Bingham: The memorial of E. Kenney, praying compensation for the use of his real property by the United States military authorities; which was referred to the Committee of Claims. Also, the memorial of Joseph Allen, Michael Burke, William Mulhall, William Cairns, William Kelley, Owen Kelly, Jacob Madert, Peter Harvey, John T. McAnally, and Henry Ives, clerks, messengers, and watchmen in the War Department, praying for relief; which was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Starkweather: The petition of Nancy Parkhurst, praying for a pension; By Mr. Schenck: The petition of Joseph Fiedler, praying for a pension. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Garfield: The petition of William Hart and W. J. Redstrake, relative to the management of the Howard University; which was referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia. By Mr. Scofield: The petition of discharged soldiers of Pennsylvania, praying for the passage of the act granting them public lands for homesteads; which was referred to the Committee on the Public Lands. By Mr. Welker: The petition of Lafayette Ward, praying compensation for "Ward's Mail Bag Catcher," now used by the government; By Mr. Julian: The petition of citizens of the State of Iowa, praying for the establishment of a mail route from Milroy to Rushville. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. Dawes: Two petitions of citizens of Springfield, Massachusetts, employed in the United States armory, relative to the eight-hour law; which were referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. Burt Van Horn: The petition of citizens of the State of New York, praying for the revision of the naturalization laws; which was referred to the Committee on the Revision of the Laws. By Mr. Eliot: The petition of Thomas Cole Anderson, of Louisiana, praying for relief of political disability; Also, a petition of similar import from William H. Haskell, of Louisi ana. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on Reconstruction. By Mr. Allison: Three petitions from citizens of the State of Iowa, praying for a modification of the tax on whiskey and tobacco; By Mr. James M. Ashley: A petition of similar import from citizens of the State of Ohio: By Mr. Judd: A petition of similar import from citizens of the State of Illinois. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. By Mr. Francis Thomas: The petition of a number of citizens of Maryland, praying for a republican form of government; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Stephen F. Wilson, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined and found truly enrolled a joint reso lution of the following title, viz: H. Res. 375. Joint resolution donating condemned cannon for the erection of a monument to Major General Kearney; When The Speaker signed the same. Mr. Dickey rose and announced the death of Thaddeus Stevens, a member of the House from the State of Pennsylvania. After remarks upon the life and public services of the deceased, Mr. Dickey submitted the following resolutions, which were read, considered and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That this house has heard with deep regret of the death of the honorable Thaddeus Stevens, a member of this house from the State of Pennsylvania. Resolved, That as a testimony of respect to the memory of this distinguished statesman, the officers and members of this house will wear the usual badge of mourning for the space of thirty days. Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted to the family of the deceased by the Clerk. Resolved, That this house, as a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased, do now adjourn. And thereupon, The House adjourned. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1868. The following petitions, memorials, and other papers, were laid upon the Clerk's table, under the rules: By Mr. Garfield: The petition of C. Phelps, for pension to the minor heirs of Dewitt C. Morton, 41st Ohio volunteers; By Mr. Flanders: The petition of Margaret Archibald, praying for a pension; By Mr. - The petitions of John E. Schmidt, 12th New York cavalry, Theophilus Jones, father of George Jones, 86th New York volunteers, and Margaret Fox, widow of Matthias Fox, 147th Pennsylvania volunteers, praying for pensions; By Mr. Baldwin: The petition of Mrs. Susan E. Alger, of Worcester, Massachusetts, praying for a pension; By Mr. Spalding: The petition of Mary B. Fowler, of Cleveland, Ohio, praying for additional pension; By Mr. Cullom: The petition of Dr. Berthold Hahn, of Springfield, Illinois, praying for a pension; Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Garfield: The memorial of Norman Wiard, relative to amendments of the steamboat law; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce. By Mr. Pettis: The petition of citizens of Clarion county, Pennsyl vania, praying for the establishment of mail routes from Parker Station to Carlsville; also from Shaws Sand to Custards; which were referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. Beck: The petition of citizens of the State of Kentucky, praying for a change in the duty on cigars and tobacco; By Mr. Niblack: A petition of similar import from citizens of the State of Indiana; By Mr. Ferriss: The petition of the citizens of the State of New York, praying for an increase of the duty on flax; By Mr. Bailey: The petition of B. H. Wright, praying for the restitution of a succession tax illegally assessed upon him. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. By Mr. Eliot: The petition of Andrew Jones and other citizens of North Carolina, praying for the continuance of the Freedmen's Bureau; which was referred to the Committee on Freedmen's Affairs. By Mr. Maynard: The petition of James P. Strother, heretofore referred May 28, 1866; By Mr. Whittemore: The petition of Jesse H. Griffin, assistant assessor 2d collection district of Georgia, praying for relief; By Mr. Callis: A memorial from the judge of probate, county commissioners, and other citizens of Marshall county, Alabama, praying for an appropriation to rebuild the court-house at Greensville, Alabama, destroyed by the army. Ordered, That the said petitions and memorial be referred to the Committee of Claims. By Mr. Pettis: A proposition from Thornton Smith to pave Pennsyl vania avenue with "Smith's Concrete Patent Pavement;" which was referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia. By Mr. Kelley: Two petitions from citizens of the State of Pennsylvania, praying for universal suffrage; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. Boutwell: The petition of David Smith and James McGarrish, praying for an alteration of the bounty laws; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House resolutions of the legislature of the State of Oregon, which were referred as follows, viz: 1. Asking aid in the construction of the Columbia River and Hillsboro' railroad, to the Committee on the Public Lands. 2. Asking aid for the Oregon and Washington Navigation Improvement Company, to the Committee on Roads and Canals. 3. Asking aid in the construction of a railroad from the Willamette valley to the mouth of the Columbia river, to the Committee on the Pacific Railroad. Also, a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury relative to increased compensetion to certain collectors of internal revenue, and recommending the same; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. Also, papers in behalf of J. W. Menard, claiming to have been elected a representative to the 40th Congress from the 2d congressional district of Louisiana, to fill the unexpired term of James Mann, deceased; which were referred to the Committee of Elections. Mr. Peters, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That there be printed for the use of this house thirty thousand copies of the eulogies delivered in the House on Hon. Thaddeus Stevens, deceased, ten thousand to be bound in cloth. Mr. Tift, by unanimous consent, submitted the following preamble and resolution; which were read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Whereas many worthy citizens have not been able, on account of poverty, the large fees required, and other causes, to avail themselves of the benefit of the general bankrupt law: Resolved, That the Committee on Revision of the Laws of the United States consider, and report by bill or otherwise, the justice and propriety of extending the time in which bankrupts may avail themselves of the benefit of the present provisions of the said law, and of reducing the fees. Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne, from the Committee on Appropriations, reported a bill (H. R. 1464) making appropriations for the payment of invalid and other pensions of the United States for the year ending June 30, 1870; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Hamlin, one of their clerks: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed bills and a joint resolution of the House of the following titles, viz: H. R. 1537. An act to repeal certain provisions of section six of an act entitled "An act making appropriations for the support of the army for the year ending June 30, 1868, and for other purposes," approved March 2, 1867; H. R. 1555. An act to amend an act entitled "An act imposing taxes on distilled spirits and tobacco, and for other purposes," approved July 20, 1868; and H. Res. 388. A joint resolution explanatory of the act to create an additional land office in the State of Minnesota, approved July 25, 1868: severally without amendment; and H. R. 1556. An act to relieve certain persons of all political disabili ties imposed by the 14th article of the Constitution of the United States; with amendments, in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of the House. The Senate have also passed a bill of the following title, viz: in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of the House. Mr. Farnsworth, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1565) granting a pension to Catharine T. Alexander; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. Mr. Morrell, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Commissioner of Agriculture be requested to transmit to the House of Representatives a report showing the deficiency in appropriation, if any, for erecting the new agricultural building, with cost of constructing the same, together with any papers and evidence he may have relating thereto since his last annual report. Mr. Roderick R. Butler, by unanimous consent, introduced bills of the following titles, viz: H. R. 1566. A bill to establish an additional agency for paying pensions in the State of Tennessee; H. R. 1567. A bill to provide for drawback in certain cases; which were severally read a first and second time and referred as follows, viz: H. R. 1566, to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. H. R. 1567, to the Committee of Ways and Means. Mr. Scofield, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1568) giving to officers in the military and naval service of the United States, who were commissioned but not mustered, pay according to the rank of commission; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Sypher presented the credentials of J. Willis Menard as a member of this house from the State of Louisiana, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of James Mann; which were referred to the Committee of Elections. On motion of Mr. Schenck, by unanimous consent, the bill of the Senate (S. 700) for the relief of Joseph Moorehead, was taken from the Speaker's table, read three times and passed. Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith. On motion of Mr. Baker, by unanimous consent, Resolved, That the report of the Commissioner of Education, with the accompanying documents, be referred to the Committee on Education and Labor. On motion of Mr. Norris, by unanimous consent, Resolved, That the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of further legislation to secure greater efficiency in the mail service in the States lately in rebellion against the United States, and report by bill or otherwise. On motion of Mr. Boutwell, by unanimous consent, the bill of the House (H. R. 1556) to relieve certain persons of all political disabilities imposed by the fourteenth article of the Constitution of the United States, with the amendments of the Senate thereto, was taken up and referred to the Committee on Reconstruction. Subsequently, Mr. Boutwell, by unanimous consent, from the said committee reported the said bill, recommending concurrence in the said amendments. The House having proceeded to their consideration, The said amendments were severally concurred in-two-thirds voting in favor thereof. Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith. Mr. Haughey, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1569) for the establishment of a pension agency in the town of Decatur, in the State of Alabama; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By unanimous consent, resolutions were submitted and severally read, considered and agreed to as follows, viz: By Mr. Prince : Resolved, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, instructed to communicate to this house the amount of claims against the government for services rendered in taking the United States census in 1860, and the amount, if any, necessary to be appropriated to pay such claims. |