Mr. Francis Thomas Row'd E. Trowbridge Mr. Burt Van Horn So the bill was passed. Mr. Hamilton Ward Mr. Thomas Williams Mr. Kelley moved that the vote last taken 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. The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House executive communications as follows, viz: I. From the Postmaster General, in answer to a resolution of the House of the 16th ultimo, stating that no reduction can be made in the number of employés in that department, and that the increase of business will soon require the employment of an additional force; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. II. From the Comptroller of the Currency, transmitting, in answer to a resolution of the House of May 25, 1868, a statement of the amount of dividends declared by the national banking associations since their organization; which was referred to the Committee on Banking and Currency and ordered to be printed. A message from the Senate, by Mr. McDonald, their chief clerk. Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill of the following title, viz: S. 738. An act to relieve from disabilities John G. Stokes, a citizen of Alabama; in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this house. The Senate have also passed a bill of the House of the following title, viz: H. R. 1428. An act authorizing the admission in evidence of copies of certain papers, documents, and entries; with amendments, in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this house. The morning hour having expired, On motion of Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union; and after some time spent therein the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Cullom reported that the Committee having, according to order, had the state of the Union generally under consideration, and particularly the annual message of the President of the United States, for the year 1867, had come to no resolution thereon. On motion of Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne, by unanimous consent, the House proceeded to the consideration of the Senate amendments to the bill of the House (H. R. 1428) authorizing the admission in evidence of copies of certain papers, documents, and entries. The said amendments having been read they were severally agreed to. Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith. Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne moved that the several votes of reference taken this day be reconsidered, and that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. And then, On motion of Mr. Cullom, at 4 o'clock and 50 minutes p. m., the House adjourned. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1869. Two other members appeared, viz: From the State of Ohio, Samuel Shellabarger. From the State of Iowa, A. W. Hubbard. The following memorials, petitions, and other papers were laid upon the Clerk's table, under the rules: By Mr. James M. Ashley: The petition of citizens of the United States, praying for the passage of an act to send a commissioner to Europe for metallurgical inquiry; which was referred to the Committee on Mines and Mining. Also, the memorial of citizens of the State of New York, praying for the passage of an act for the conveyance of mails and emigrant passengers between New York and Europe; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. Scofield: The petition of Robert Howard, of Virginia, praying for the removal of disabilities. By the Speaker: The petition of Wallace Wilson, of Mississippi, of a similar import. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on Reconstruction. By Mr. Van Trump: The petition of Robert S. Brock and others, citizens of the State of Ohio, praying for the establishment of a mail route, and the discontinuance of mail route 9227, in said State; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. Perham: The petition of Dolly Brown-heretofore referred, April 17, 1858; which was referred to the Committee on Revolutinary Pensions and the war of 1812. By Mr. Scofield: The petition of Francis Abells, praying for a pension. By Mr. Poland: The petition of Sophia Clark, praying for a pension. By Mr. Schenck: The petition of Joseph Fiedler, praying for a pension. By Mr. Ingersoll: The petition of Thaddeus Wetmore, praying for a pension. By Mr. Welker: The petition of Isabella Smith, praying for a pension; Also, the petition of Thomas P. Graves, praying for arrears of pension; Also, the petition of John P. D. Commerdinger, praying for a pension. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Burr: The memorial of Samuel Birch, of the State of Illinois, praying for relief. By Mr. Stewart: The memorial of Gustavus C. Stuhr, of the State of New York, praying for relief. Ordered, That the said memorials be referred to the Committee of Claims. By Mr. Kelley: The petition of citizens of the State of Pennsylvania, praying for an amendment to the Constitution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. Flanders: The petition of citizens of Washington Territory, praying for the repeal of an act passed by the legislature of said Territory; which was referred to the Committee on the Territories. By Mr. Hotchkiss: The remonstrance of James E. English and others, of the State of Connecticut, against increase of duty on steel. By Mr. Shellabarger: The petition of citizens of the State of Ohio, relative to the tax on tobacco. By Mr. Chilcott: The petition of citizens of Colorado, of a similar import. Ordered, That the said remonstrance and petitions be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. By Mr. Morrell: The memorial and evidence of Francis A. Gibbons, relating to agricultural building reservation in the District of Columbia; which was referred to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds. By Mr. Chester D. Hubbard: The petition of Charles I. Faulkner and others, of the State of West Virginia, praying for the removal of the circuit court of the United States from Parkersburg to Wheeling in said State; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. O'Neill: The memorial of Simon Levine, of Pennsylvania, praying that a pension be granted to Anna F. Hart; which was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Thomas: Three petitions of citizens of the State of Maryland, praying for a republican form of government; which were referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Cobb, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1588) for the relief of Solomon Oliver; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims. Mr. Paine, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed to inform this house how many enlisted men of the army now on duty in Texas, Mississippi, and Virginia were citizens or residents of the late rebel States during the rebellion, and how many were soldiers of the late rebel army. Mr. Paine moved to reconsider the vote last taken, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. Mr. Poland, by unanimous consent, presented joint resolutions of the legislature of the State of Vermont; which were severally ordered to be printed and referred, as follows, viz: 1. Relating to reciprocity of trade with the Dominion of Canada; to the Committee on Commerce. 2. Concerning grants of the public lands of the United States; to the Committee on the Public Lands. 3. Relating to navigation between the United States and Canada; to the Committee on Commerce. On motion of Mr. Boutwell, by unanimous consent, the bill of the Senate (S. 738) to relieve from disabilities John G. Stokes, a citizen of Alabama, was taken from the Speaker's table, read three times, and passed, (two-thirds of the members voting in favor thereof.) Mr. Boutwell moved to reconsider the vote last taken, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. Mr. Eliot, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1589) to provide for cases of vacancy in the office of collector of customs, and for other purposes; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed. Mr. Schenck, by unanimous consent, submitted the following preamble and resolution; which were read, and, by unanimous consent, considered and agreed to, viz: Whereas, on the 15th day of September, 1868, the Secretary of the Treasury, upon the recommendation of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, made an order discontinuing the offices of superintendents of exports and drawbacks at the ports of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, after September 30, 1868; and whereas it is alleged that by subsequent order he has extended the terms of said offices and officers to the 4th day of March, 1869: Therefore, Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby directed to communicate to this house the reasons which have led him to postpone the time for discontinuing such offices, the amount and character of the work done by the superintendents severally since the 30th day of September, 1868, the amount and character of work to be done during the time the offices are yet to continue, and the expense incurred or to be incurred for salaries, clerk hire, office rent, and other purposes, for keeping up said offices respectively in each of said cities after the 30th day of September last. Mr. James M. Ashley, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, and, by unanimous consent, considered and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed to communicate to this house a copy of the report of General T. J. Cram, of the engineer department, upon the examination and survey for a ship canal on the prolongation of the lower reach of the Maumee river through the shoal water of Maumee bay, Ohio, directly to deep water in Lake Erie, with plans and estimates of the cost of constructing the same. The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House executive communications, as follows, viz: I. From the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting a communication from the Solicitor of the Treasury, proposing a section to the general appropriation bill relative to expenses in collecting debts against the United States; which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations. II. From the Secretary of the Interior, transmitting a letter from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs with an estimate for the pay of one clerk for the superintendent of the central superintendency; which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations. By unanimous consent, leave of absence was granted to Mr. Adams for one month. The Speaker announced that he had appointed Mr. Logan H. Roots to fill the vacancy on the Committee on Education and Labor. Mr. Beck, from the Committee on Reconstruction, reported the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Reconstruction be authorized to cause the report of General Gillem, and appendices B and C attached thereto, relative to the election held in Mississippi, and also such testimony and statements in writing as they may take or receive relative to affairs in Mississippi, Georgia, Virginia, and Texas, under the references heretofore made to them, to be printed for the use of the House. The Speaker, as the regular order of business, having proceeded to call the committees for reports, Mr. Stevens, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 1497) to reorganize and increase the efficiency of the medical department of the navy, reported the same back with an amendment in the nature of a substitute therefor. Pending the question on agreeing to the substitute, After debate, The morning hour expired. Mr. Stephen F. Wilson, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined and found truly enrolled a bill of the following title, viz: H. R. 1428. An act authorizing the admission in evidence of copies of certain papers, documents, and entries; When The Speaker signed the same. The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House a communication from the Secretary of the Interior, in compliance with the resolution of the House of the 5th instant, transmitting copies of reports of special commissioners upon the Union Pacific railway, eastern division, and the Sioux City and Pacific railroad; which was referred to the Committee on the Pacific Railroad and ordered to be printed. By unanimous consent leave of absence for one week was granted to Mr. Robinson. By unanimous consent it was Ordered, That the testimony taken by the Select Committee on Alleged Election Frauds in the State of New York be printed for the use of the committee. Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne, from the Committee on Appropriations, reported a bill (H. R. 1590) making appropriations for the naval service for the year ending June 30, 1870; which was read a first and second time, ordered to be printed, and recommitted to the said committee. Mr. Flanders, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1591) repealing an act, passed by the legislature of Washington Territory, relating to pilots and pilot regulations; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on the Territories. Mr. Haughey, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1592) to change the time for carrying the mail on route No. 7177, between Fulton, Mississippi, and Frankfort, Alabama; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. On motion of Mr. Newcomb, by unanimous consent, the Committee on Military Affairs were discharged from the further consideration of the letter of the Secretary of War transmitting the report of Brevet Major Suter relative to the bridge over the Missouri river at Kansas City, and the same was referred to the Committee on Commerce and ordered to be printed. Mr. Beck, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1593) to modify portions of section 20 of the act approved July 20, 1868, entitled "An act imposing taxes on distilled spirits and tobacco, and for other purposes;" which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne moved that the House resolve itself into the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, and pending that motion moved that all debate upon the bill of the House (H. R. 1564) making appropriations for the payment of invalid and other pensions of the United States for the year ending June 30, 1870, pending as a special order in committee, be closed in one half hour after its consideration is commenced in the committee. The motion to close debate was agreed to. The motion to go into committee was then agreed to, and the House accordingly resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union; and after some time spent therein the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Allison reported that the committee having had under consideration special orders as follows, viz: H. R. 1564. A |