bill making appropriations for the payment of invalid and other pensions of the United States for the year ending June 30, 1870; and H. R. 1570. A bill making appropriations for the consular and diplomatic expenses of the government for the year ending June 30, 1870, and for other purposes, had directed him to report the former with an amendment, and that the committee had come to no resolution on the latter bill.

The House having proceeded to the consideration of the former bill, H. R. 1564, (pension bill,)

The amendment reported to the said bill was agreed to, and the bill ordered to be engrossed and read a third time.

Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time and passed. Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne 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.

On motion of Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne,

Ordered, That all general debate on the bill of the House No. 1570 (consular and diplomatic bill) be closed in five minutes after its consideration shall be resumed in Committee of the Whole, and that all debate on the pending amendment be closed in five minutes after its consideration is resumed.

On motion of Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne, the House again resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House upon 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 as a special order the bill of the House (H. R. 1570) making appropriations for the consular and diplomatic expenses of the govern ment for the year ending June 30, 1870, and for other purposes, had directed him to report the same back to the House with sundry amendments.

Pending the question on said amendments,

On motion of Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne, the further consideration of the said bill and amendments was postponed until Monday next, after the morning hour.

Mr. Julian, by unanimous consent, submitted the following preamble and resolution; which were read, considered, and agreed to, viz:

Whereas private act No. 262, granting an increased pension to Emily B. Bidwell and to Sarah Hackleman, approved July 27, 1868, is so framed that in the judgment of the Commissioner of Pensions it cannot be executed: Therefore,

Resolved, That the Committee on Invalid Pensions be instructed to inquire into the justice and expediency of reporting a bill which shall grant the relief contemplated by the said act.

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

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, requested to furnish to this house a statement showing the aggregate amount of gold coin sold by the government since January 1, 1863, in each year, with the date and amount of each sale, the rate and amount of premium realized, the commissions and expenses attending the same, and to whom paid, and stating particularly to what account such expenses and commissions were charged, and to what account the premiums were credited.

And then,

On motion of Mr. Spalding, at 4 o'clock and 25 minutes p. m., the House adjourned.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 1869.

Another member appeared, viz:

From the State of Illinois, Abner C. Harding.

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

By Mr. Bingham: The memorial of Ferdinand Woltz, of Virginia, praying for the removal of disabilities;

Also, the memorial of Earle Van Dorn, of Mississippi, of a similar import;

Also, the papers in the case of McWilliams and Townsend, of Carroll County, Mississippi.

By Mr. Golladay: The petition of Ed. J. Golladay, of the State of Tennessee, praying for the removal of disabilities;

Also, the petition of Joseph H. Lewis, of the State of Kentucky, of a similar import.

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

By Mr. Stewart: The petition of Mrs. Samuel Hart-heretofore referred January 22, 1866; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

By Mr. Cobb: The petition of A. J. High and others, citizens of the State of Wisconsin, praying for the passage of the civil service bill; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

By Mr. Robertson: The petition of Alpheus C. Gallahue, praying for the extension of a patent; which was referred to the Committee on Patents.

By Mr. Ingersoll: The petition of Josephine-S. Griffing and others, of the District of Columbia, relative to suffrage; which was referred to the Committee for the District of Columbia.

By Mr. Kelley: The petition of G. D. Gravely, praying for the removal of disabilities; which was referred to the Committee on Reconstruction. By Mr. Farnsworth: The petition of citizens of the State of Illinois, praying that pensions may be allowed to the surviving soldiers of the war of 1812.

By Mr. Van Aernam: The petition of Tenta Hollenbeck, praying for bounty land.

Ordered, That the said petition be referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions and the War of 1812.

By Mr. Perham: The petition of Rachel W. Huston, praying for a pension; which was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Buckland: The petition of E. J. Kellogg and others, citizens of the State of Ohio, praying for a post route;

Also, the petition of W. F. Day and others, of a similar import.

By Mr. Bingham: The petition of W. H, Frazier and others, citizens of the State of Ohio, praying for a post route.

By Mr. The petition of Alexander Sutherland, of South Carolina, praying compensation for services rendered in carrying the

mail in 1859 and 1860.

Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

By Mr. Julian: The petition of Frederick Hall, of the State of Michigan, praying confirmation of title to certain lands in said State; which was referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

By Mr. Covode: The petition of A. McLane and James Whaley, sol

diers of the war of 1812, praying for relief; which was referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions and the War of 1812.

By Mr. George V. Lawrence: The petition of Charles Arnois, a citizen of the State of Pennsylvania, praying for relief; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

By the Speaker: The memorial of M. B. Hackett and others, citizens of the State of New York, praying for a modification of the naturalization laws; which was referred to the Committee on the Revision of the Laws.

By Mr. Garfield: The petition of citizens of the State of Ohio, praying for an appropriation to improve the harbor of Ashtabula, in said State.

By Mr. Stone: The petition of H. G. S. Key and others, citizens of the State of Maryland, praying for an appropriation to remove obstructions in Brittains bay.

By Mr. Cary: The resolutions of the city council of Cincinnati, State of Ohio, praying for the erection of a new custom-house in said city. Ordered, That the said petitions and resolutions be referred to the Committee on Commerce.

By Mr. Van Wyck: The remonstrance of Thomas J. Bradley and others, citizens of the State of New York, against increase of duty on imported steel.

By Mr. Schenck The memorial of James White, with the draught of a

bill.

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

Mr. Koontz, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1594) granting a pension to Rachel W. Huston; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Mr. Miller, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1595) to perfect the title of Franklin Oliver, a soldier in the war of 1812, to certain lands which he claims to have covered by military warrants; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

Mr. Ela, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz:

Resolved, That the Committee on Printing be directed to investigate the stationery contract of the Interior Department, and what articles have been purchased as stationery, and the manner in which stationery supplies have been furnished; and whether any articles have been procured in violation of law, and if so to what amount and by whose order; and whether any have been paid for and not furnished; and that the Secretary be directed to suspend all further payments for stationery until further action of the House.

The House then proceeded, as the regular order of business, to the consideration of the bill of the House (H. R. 1497) to reorganize and increase the efficiency of the medical department of the navy, reported yesterday from the Committee on Naval Affairs.

The pending question being on the amendment, in the nature of a substitute, reported by the said committee.

After debate,

Mr. Stevens moved the previous question.

Pending which,

Mr. Spalding moved that the bill and pending amendment be laid on the table.

And the question being put,

Yeas..

It was decided in the affirmative,

Nays..
Not voting.

93

53

75

The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are

So the bill and the pending amendment were laid on the table. Mr. Spalding 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.

Mr. Stephen F. Wilson, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined and found duly enrolled a bill of the following title, viz:

S. 738. An act to relieve from disabilities John G. Stokes, a citizen of Alabama;

When

The Speaker signed the same.

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

I. From the Secretary of the Interior, in answer to a resolution of the House of December 16, 1868, stating that no reduction can be made in the force or salary of employés in that department, except by a general reorganization; which was referred to the Committee on Appropria

tions.

II. From the Attorney General, in answer to a resolution of the House of the 11th ultimo, stating that no reduction can be made in the number of employés in his department, nor any reduction in their salaries; which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

On motion of Mr. Golladay, by unanimous consent, leave was granted for the withdrawal from the files of the House of the papers in the case of Golladay & Bowling, and also in the case of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, at Bowling Green.

The House having resumed the regular order of business, being the call of committees for reports,

Mr. Banks, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, presented a letter from the Secretary of State concerning the establishment of free ports at Matamoras and other points on the Rio Grande, together with certain information relating thereto; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Banks also presented letters from the Secretary of State; which were severally referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed, as follows, viz:

I. Concerning the differential duties established by the Spanish government in regard to the commerce of the United States with the Spanish West India islands.

II. Recommending the payment of the sum of $1,500 to Mr. J. Somers Smith, commercial agent of the United States at the city of San Domingo, for services in concluding a treaty with the Dominican Republic.

III. Enclosing a communication from the United States consul at Nassau, N. P., in reference to the claim of Captain Matthew Lowe.

IV. Concerning the claim of Jules Aldigé, a French subject, and asking that proper measures may be taken to carry into effect the decree of the Supreme Court.

Mr. Banks, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, reported the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz:

Resolved, That the papers heretofore communicated in answer to calls for information by the House of Representatives relating to the Chinese indemnity fund be printed for the use of the House.

Mr. Banks, from the same committee, to which was referred the bill of the Senate (S. 174) for the relief of Mrs. Emma Wilson, of the State of Indiana, reported the same back without amendment.

Ordered, That it be read a third time.

It was accordingly read the third time and passed.

Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate with the passage of the said bill.

Mr. Banks moved that the vote taken on the passage of the bill be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Mr. Cullom, from the same committee, to which was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 967) to provide for the removal of the remains of Hon. W. T. Coggeshall, late minister of the United States at Ecuador, to the United States, reported the same back without amendment.