By Mr. Buckland: Two petitions of F. B. Care and others, citizens of Norwalk and Tiffin, Ohio, praying for certain amendments of the law taxing tobacco.

By Mr. Eldridge: Two petitions of citizens of Wiconsin, praying for repeal of tax on whiskey and tobacco.

By Mr. Schenck: The petition of the Western Union Telegraph Company, praying Congress to authorize the delivery to them, free of duty, the submarine cable, now in the custom-house at the port of New York; Also, the petition of the New Haven Chemical Works, praying for a small increase of duty on soda ash;

Also, the memorial of John S. Newberry, president, and E. B. Ward, chairman of committee National Manufacturers' Association, relative to legislation generally.

By Mr. Delano: The petition of Robert S. French and other citizens of Ohio, praying for a modification of the law imposing a tax on distilled spirits and tobacco.

By Mr. William Williams: Two petitions of manufacturers and dealers in tobacco and cigars, of Indiana, praying for an amendment or repeal of the law imposing a tax on tobacco and cigars.

By Mr. Lawrence S. Trimble: The petition of A. Shipmyer and others, praying for a modification of the revenue laws in relation to inspection and stamps on cigars and tobacco.

By Mr. Loughridge: Memorial of citizens of the United States, relative to the passage of the civil service bill of Hon. T. A. Jenckes, &c. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

By Mr. William Williams: The petition of C. C. Humphreys, a citizen of Indiana, praying for relief.

By Mr. Whittemore: The petition of S. E. McMillan, of Marion county, South Carolina, praying for the payment of balance due him for taking census in the aforesaid county.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee of Claims.

By Mr. Cullom: The petition of A. M. Lee, praying for pension. By Mr. Koontz: The petition of Jacob Baughman, praying for a pension.

By Mr. Maynard: The petition, which has been previously referred, of Rev. William H. Rogers, praying for a pension.

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

By Mr. Benjamin F. Butler: The memorial of citizens of the United States, relative to the abolition of the presidency.

By Mr. Eckley: The petition of Andrew Stewart, of Ohio, praying Congress to annul an act of the legislature of New Mexico suspending the writ of execution in certain cases.

By Mr. Benjamin: The petition of citizens of Maberly, Missouri, praying for a change in the naturalization laws.

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

By Mr. Francis W. Kellogg: The petition of Rev. L. Bissey and others, citizens of the State of Alabama, praying for an appropriation for the exploration survey of the harbor of Portersville.

By Mr. E. B. Washburne: The petition of W. Guthrie and W. L. Humes, local inspectors of steamboats, Chicago, Illinois, relative to their duties.

By Mr. Eliot: The memorial of George B. Upton and others, ship

owners, merchants, and insurance companies, of Boston, praying for government inspection of chain cables for vessels of the United States. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on Commerce.

By Mr. Ingersoll: The petition of two hundred employés at Rock Island arsenal, praying for further legislation upon the eight-hour law. By Mr. Schenck: The petition of R. Y. Lannis, of Eaton, Ohio, praying for reimbursement for moneys expended in recruiting during the war of the rebellion.

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

By Mr. Benjamin F. Butler: The petition of colored citizens of Norfolk, Virginia, praying that Michael Lowvest, a gentleman of French birth, may be naturalized as an American citizen;

Also, the petition of W. H. Carry, praying for the removal of political disabilities;

Also, the petition of Thomas C. Anderson, praying for the removal of political disabilities;

Also, the petition of John A. King, praying for the removal of political disabilities;

Also, the petition of W. T. Scott, praying for the removal of political disabilities;

Also, the petition of B. A. Martel, praying for the removal of political disabilities;

Also, the petition of Mrs. Emma Horton, praying for relief.

By Mr. Maynard: The petition of Alfred Slaughter, of Virginia, praying for the removal of political disabilities;

Also, the petition of M. W. Bradford, of Tennessee, praying for the removal of political disabilities;

Also, the petition of Stewart Nelson, of Tennessee, praying for the removal of political disabilities.

By Mr.- -: The petition of Samuel P. Moore, praying for the removal of political disabilities.

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

By Mr. E. B. Washburne: Eight petitions of citizens of the State of Minnesota, praying that the same subsidy be granted in bonds or money to the Northern Pacific Railroad Company as has heretofore been granted to the Central Union Pacific Railroad.

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

By Mr. Pettis: The petition of citizens of Pennsylvania, remonstrating against the proposition to open the markets of the United States to the productions of the British American provinces.

Ordered, That said petition be referred to the Committee on Commerce. By Mr. Lynch: The petition of Susan Park, praying for a pension. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. Benjamin F. Butler: The petition of Frederick M. Norcross, praying for renewal of letters patent on planing machine.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee on

Patents.

By Mr. Schenck: The memorial of line officers of the United States navy, protesting against the passage of the bill "to reorganize and increase the efficiency of the medical department of the navy," now pending before Congress.

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

By Mr. Benjamin F. Butler: The petition of Leonard Pierce, jr., praying to be reimbursed certain money expended by him while United States consul at Matamoras, Mexico, in 1862, in feeding and clothing Union soldiers and refugees from Texas.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

By Mr. Archer: The petition of Henry C. Shirrell, praying for relief. Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee on Claims.

By Mr. The proceedings of a mass meeting of the citizens of Fremont county, Iowa, memorializing Congress against granting aid in the construction of a railroad on the State line between Iowa and Missouri.

Ordered, That the said memorial be referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

By Mr. Ketcham: The petition of A. J. Caywood and others, citizens of the State of New York, praying for the protection of inventors of new fruits; which was referred to the Committee on Patents.

By Mr. Whittemore: The petition of George J. Eland, of Texas, praying for relief; which was referred to the Committee on Expenditures in the Treasury Department.

By Mr. Benjamin F. Butler: The petition of Mary E. Rooney and others, of the District of Columbia, praying for an appropriation for the completion of a charitable institution therein; which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

By Mr. Schenck: The memorial of certain senators and representatives of the Georgia legislature, praying protection to their property and safety for their persons; which was referred to the Committee on Reconstruction.

By Mr. Eliot: The memorial of the American Missionary Association, praying for legislative relief to the freedmen; which was referred to the Committee on Freedmen's Affairs.

Mr. Mullins moved that there be a call of the House; which motion was disagreed to.

Mr.. Eliot, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1571) to extend the laws relating to the registry of vessels; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne, by unanimous consent, introduced the following resolution; which was read, and, by unanimous consent, considered and agreed to, viz:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to inform this house if any consular officers of the United States have demanded and received, or are demanding and receiving, for the verification of invoices and other papers which they are required by law to verify, fees greater in amount than are provided by law; and if so, what consular officers have done so, how long such practice has continued, and what is the amount so illegally received by such consular officers, respectively; and also, that he further inform this house what consular officers now in office have failed or neglected to make return of the business of their offices, according to law, and, if any have so neglected to make returns, for how long a time; and that the Secretary of the Treasury further inform this house of the probable amount of money due to the United States now in the hands of such consular officers.

Mr. Miller, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1574) in relation to a site for an executive mansion; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Cullom, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1572) to incorporate the Lincoln Art Association of Washington city, District of Columbia; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee for the District of Columbia.

Mr. Cullom, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1573) for the relief of Arthur M. Lee; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Mr. Beck, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1575) to repeal so much of former laws as imposes duties on animals imported from foreign countries for breeding purposes; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

Mr. Koontz, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1576) granting a pension to Jacob Baughman; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Mr. Koontz, by unanimous consent, introduced a joint resolution (H. Res. 390) giving additional bounty under act of July 28, 1866, and the several acts amendatory thereof, to persons who served three years and were honorably discharged, notwithstanding they may have been borne upon the rolls as slaves; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Callis, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1577) to provide for the establishment of a mail route from Scottsboro', in Jackson county, in the State of Alabama, to Cottonville, in Marshall county, in Alabama, and for the establishment of certain post offices therein named; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. Callis, by unanimous consent, introduced a joint resolution (H. Res. 391) for the relief of loyal citizens of Alabama who acted as United States scouts during the late war; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Boutwell moved to reconsider the votes taken on the reference of the several bills introduced this day, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Mr. Callis, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined and found truly enrolled a joint resolution and bill of the following titles, viz:

H. Res. 388. Joint resolution explanatory of the act to create an additional land office in the State of Minnesota, approved July 25, 1868;

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;

When

The Speaker signed the same.

The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House a communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting the report of the Special Commissioner of Internal Revenue for the year 1868; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Schenck submitted the following resolution; which was read and referred to the Committee on Printing, viz:

Resolved, That there be printed for the use of the House twenty

thousand copies of the report of the Special Commissioner of the Revenue, with the appendices, complete, and for the use of the Treasury Department one thousand bound copies of said report, with the appendices.

The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House a message from the President of the United States; which was read, referred to the Committee on the Pacific Railroad, and ordered to be printed, and is as follows:

To the House of Representatives:

I herewith communicate a report of the Secretary of the Interior, in answer to a resolution adopted by the House of Representatives on the 16th instant, making inquiries in reference to the Union Pacific railroad and requesting the transmission of the report of the special commissioners appointed to examine the construction and equipment of the road. ANDREW JOHNSON.

WASHINGTON, December 18, 1868.

The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House executive communications as follows, viz:

1. From the Secretary of War, transmitting, in compliance with the resolution of the House of the 15th ultimo, a copy of a report from Brevet Major General James H. Wilson, relative to the improvement of the Des Moines rapids, and stating that no special report concerning the Rock Island rapids has been lately received; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce and ordered to be printed.

II. From the Secretary of the Navy, transmitting report of a commission appointed to examine Boston harbor, relative to the construction of a bridge between Boston and East Boston, in the State of Massachusetts; which was referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals and ordered to be printed.

III. From the Secretary of War, in answer to a resolution of the House of the 16th ultimo, stating that no reduction of the number of officers and employés can now be made in his department or any reduction of their salaries; which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

IV. From the Secretary of the Interior, enclosing estimates for the compensation of the surveyor general of Louisiana and Florida, and the clerks required in their respective offices for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1870; which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed.

V. From the Secretary of War, transmitting, with his approval, a communication from the Adjutant General of the army, recommending the passage of a joint resolution to drop from the rolls of the army Lieutenants Daniel Hitchcock, 5th cavalry, and William J. Mackay, 29th infantry, for desertion; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. VI. From the Secretary of War, transmitting, in compliance with the House resolution of the 16th ultimo, the report of Brevet Major Suter, on the bridge over the Missouri river at Kansas City; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and ordered to be printed.

VII. From the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, requesting for the use of his office 1,000 copies of the report of the Committee on Retrenchment, made to Congress December 21, 1868; which was referred to the Committee on Printing.

VIII. From the Secretary of the Navy, transmitting papers relative to League island; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs and ordered to be printed.