accordance with the report of special commissioners appointed for the purpose of examining said road; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and ordered to be printed. Mr. Shanks 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. Robertson, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Navy be directed to communicate to this house the correspondence of Rear-Admiral Charles H. Davis, commanding the South Atlantic squadron, concerning the difficulties with Paraguay, with accompanying papers, together with any information on the files of the Navy Department relating thereto. Mr. Eliot 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. Richard D. Hubbard, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and is hereby, directed to furnish this house a statement of the various amounts paid for works of art to decorate the Capitol, such as statues, paintings in oil, frescoes, (including the picture on the dome,) and bronzes, since the 1st day of January, 1855, up to the present time. Also the names of the different artists, whether they were foreign or native, the sum received by each for their work, and by what authority they were employed. Mr. Hawkins, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1854) for the relief of Lodge No. 22, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Gibson county, Tennessee; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee of Claims. On motion of Mr. Orth, by unanimous consent, the Committee on Private Land Claims were discharged from the further consideration of the petitions of White and Bauer and John Stratman, and the same were referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. William B. Washburn, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1855) to pay widow Sackett for a horse lost by her husband in the late war; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. Upson moved that the several votes on reference this day 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, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That 500 copies of House bill No. 1060 (to reduce into one act and to amend the laws relating to internal taxes) be printed for the use of the House and of the Committee of Ways and Means, with the amendments thereto (thus far adopted) in Committee of the Whole. Mr. Holman, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined and found truly enrolled a joint resolution of the following title, viz: H. Res. 219. Joint resolution for the relief of George W. Lane, superintendent of the branch mint at Denver, Colorado, and assistant treasurer of the United States; When The Speaker signed the same. Mr. Paine, from the Committee on Reconstruction, reported the follow ing resolution; which was read, considered, and under the operation of the previous question, agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed to inform this house whether any district commander has turned over for trial or punishment to the civil authorities of any reconstructed State any persons who had been tried, convicted, and sentenced for offences by military tribunals, while such State was under military government, and who were undergoing punishment pursuant to sentences so rendered; and if any such cases have occurred, to inform this house of the facts in each case. Mr. Miller, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That there be a meeting of this house on Thursday evening next week, for consideration of reports from the Committee on Invalid Pensions. The House then proceeded, as the regular order of business, to the consideration of the bill of the House (H. R. 1682) relating to the operations of the pension laws, and for other purposes; the pending question being on the motion of Mr. Niblack to recommit the same to the Com mittee on Invalid Pensions with instructions. Mr. Niblack having withdrawn the said motion, By unanimous consent, amendments were submitted by Messrs. Benjamin, Garfield, James F. Wilson, Arnell, Allison, Raum, Myers, Stover, Covode, and Stevens. When, On motion of Mr. Benjamin, the said bill and pending amendments were recommitted to the Committee on Invalid Pensions and ordered to be printed Mr. Benjamin 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. Cook, from the Committee on Roads and Canals, to which was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 1804) to establish a bridge across the East river between the cities of Brooklyn and New York, in the State of New York, a post road, reported the same without amend Mr. Delano moved to amend the same; which motion was agreed to. Ordered, That the bill be engrossed and read a third time. Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time and passed. Mr. Cook 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. Three messages in writing were received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Moore, his private secretary, which were handed in at the Speaker's table; also, a message notifying the House that he did on the 30th ultimo approve and sign bills of the following titles, viz: H. R. 1751. An act in relation to the appointment of midshipmen from the lately reconstructed States. H. R. 394. An act confirming title to "Little Rock Island," in the Mississippi river. H. R. 833. An act for the relief of Rufus M. Hollister, of Janesville, Wisconsin. And on the 2d instant, bills of the following titles, viz: H. R. 1596. An act making appropriations for the support of the Military Academy for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1870; H. R. 1564. An act making appropriations for the payment of invalid and other pensions of the United States for the year ending June 30, 1870; and H. R. 1158. An act for the relief of Commander John L. Davis. Ordered, That an amendment in the nature of a substitute for the bill of the House No. 847, together with a report, proposed to be submitted by the Committee on Roads and Canals, be printed. Mr. Cook, from the Committee on Roads and Canals, reported a bill (H. R. 1856) to establish a certain postroad in the State of Connecticut; which was read a first and second time. Pending the question on its engrossment, Mr. Richard D. Hubbard submitted an amendment to the said bill. Pending which, The morning hour expired. On motion of Mr. Robinson, the House proceeded to the consideration of the business on the Speaker's table; When, The Speaker laid before the House the following message, this day received from the President of the United States, viz: To the House of Representatives of the United States : I transmit to the House of Representatives, in answer to a resolution of the House of Representatives without date, received at the executive mansion on the 10th of December, calling for correspondence in relation to the cases of Messrs. Costello and Warren, naturalized citizens of the United States, imprisoned in Great Britain, a report from the Secretary of State, and the papers to which it refers. ANDREW JOHNSON. On motion of Mr. Robinson, under the operation of the previous question, Ordered, That the said message be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and printed, and, by unanimous consent, with leave to report at any time after the morning hour. 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: S. 693. An act for the temporary relief of the poor and destitute people in the District of Columbia; When The Speaker signed the same. The Speaker laid before the House the following message, this day received from the President of the United States; which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed, viz: To the House of Representatives: I transmit to the House of Representatives, in answer to their resolution of the 23d instant, the accompanying report from the Secretary of State. WASHINGTON, January 27, 1869. ANDREW JOHNSON. The Speaker also laid before the House executive communications as follows, viz: I. A letter from the Secretary of War reporting against the expediency of passing the joint resolution furnishing clothing to inmates of homes for disabled soldiers &c.; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and ordered to be printed. II. A letter from the Secretary of the Interior submitting an estimate to pay the annuity provided by the 10th article treaty of 1866, with the Choctaws and Chickasaws; which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations. Mr. Benton, by unanimous consent, introduced a joint resolution (H. Res. 437) appropriating money to defray the expense of the Joint Select Committee on Retrenchment; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Appropriations. On motion of Mr. Farnsworth, by unanimous consent, the joint resolution of the Senate (S. R. 173) respecting the provisional governments of Virginia and Texas, with the amendments of the Senate to the amendment of the House to the same, was taken up, and the said amendments were concurred in. Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith. A message from the Senate by Mr. Hamlin, one of their clerks: Mr. Speaker: The President of the United States has notified the Senate that he did on this day approve and sign a bill of the following title, viz: S. 730. An act supplementary to an act entitled "An act to confirm the titles to certain lands in the State of Nebraska." On motion of Mr. Benjamin F. Butler, 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. James F. Wilson reported that the committee having had under consideration the bill of the House No. 1738, (Indian appropriations,) had come to no resolution thereon. By unanimous consent, leave of absence for one week was granted to Mr. Garfield, and for this evening's session to Mr. Cary, Mr. Pruyn and Mr. Knott. By unanimous consent, bills were introduced, read a first and second time and referred as follows, viz: By Mr. Logan: A bill (H. R. 1857) to repeal section 2 of an act entitled an act making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the government for the year ending June 30, 1868, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds. By Mr. Mungen: A bill (H. R. 1858) granting a pension to Captain David N. Pugh, company B, 27th regiment United States colored troops; to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Churchill: A bill (II. R. 1859) to regulate the fees to be allowed to clerks and attorneys in the circuit and district courts of the United States; to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Holman moved that the said votes on reference be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. The hour of 4 o'clock p. m. having arrived, the House took a recess until 7 o'clock p. m. After the recess, The House, in pursuance of its order of yesterday, 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. Scofield reported that the committee having, according to order, had under consideration the bill of the House No. 1060, (internal tax bill,) had come to no resolution thereon. And then, On motion of Mr. Schenck, at 9 o'clock and 30 minutes p. m., the House adjourned. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1869. The following petitions were laid upon the Clerk's table, under the rules: By Mr. Benjamin F. Butler: The petition of Anthony D. Havely, praying for an invalid pension. By Mr. Niblack: The petition of C. M. Mears, late of company K, 14th Indiana volunteers, praying for an invalid pension. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Myers: The petition of James Hitchins, praying compensation for losses sustained by him during the war of the rebellion; which was referred to the Committee of Claims. By Mr. Schenck: The petition of citizens of the State of Ohio, praying for the abolition of the franking privilege; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. Thomas: The petition of citizens of the State of Maryland, praying for a republican form of government. By Mr. Polsley: The petition of members of the bar of Greenbrier county, West Virginia, remonstrating against the removal of the circuit court from Parkersburg to Wheeling. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. Beck: The petition of merchants and dealers in distilled spirits in Bourbon county, Kentucky, praying for a change in the tax law. By Mr. Koontz: The petition of the officers and trustees of Pennsyl vania college at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, praying that the bequest of David Pearson for the endowment of a professorship in said college may be exempt from taxation. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. By Mr. Mungen: The petition of citizens of the State of Ohio, praying for a mail route from Dinsmore to Fryburg; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. Mr. Beck, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1860) providing for the holding of an election in Mississippi, and for other purposes; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Reconstruction, and ordered to be printed. Mr. Ela, from the Committee on Printing, reported a joint resolution (H. Res. 438) relative to certain purchases by the Interior Department, accompanied by a report in writing thereon; which resolution was read a first and second time. Pending the question on its engrossment, Mr. Ela moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered, and under the operation thereof the said resolution was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time and passed. Mr. Ela moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and also |