On motion of Mr. Boyer, the Committee on Military Affairs were dis charged from the further consideration of the petition of Wm. Backus, a bill (H. R. 312) to provide for officers and soldiers not mustered into the service; a bill (H. R. 409) for the relief of Joel H. Lucia; the petition of Amos Devoe; the petition of Alfred F. Stoney; and the petition of James M. Swales; and the same were laid on the table; also the petition of William Hemphill, guardian of the minor brother of David Hemphill, deceased, and that the same be referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

On motion of Mr. Garfield, the same committee was discharged from the further consideration of the petition of citizens of Illinois, relative to pensions withheld from March 3, 1865, to June 3, 1866; and the same was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions; also, from a bill (H. R. 99) for the relief of Lieutenant John H. Osler, of Guernsey county, Ohio, and that the same be referred to the Committee of Claims; also, from the following, viz:

A resolution of the legislature of the State of Kansas, relative to the erection of a monument at or near Baxter Springs;

A bill (H. R. 211) to increase the subsistence department of the army of the United States;

A bill (H. R. 1105) for the reorganization of the United States colored troops, their instruction and colonization;

A resolution calling on the Secretary of War for information respecting the number of officers employed in Washington;

A bill (H. R. 866) to facilitate the settlement of the accounts of paymasters of the army;

A bill (H. R. 52) to repeal the twelfth section of an act approved July 17, 1862, entitled "An act to define the pay and emoluments of certain officers of the army, and for other purposes;"

and the same were laid on the table.

On motion of Mr. Henry D. Washburn, the same committee were discharged from the further consideration of the bill (H. R. 491) giving a bounty to soldiers drafted into the army of the United States, and the same was laid on the table.

On motion of Mr. Sitgreaves, the same committee were discharged from the further consideration of the petition of George W. Merritt, the petition of H. K. Thatcher, the petition of Mrs. Susan Sibley, the petition of William B. Andrews and others, and the petition of S. Ñ. B. Strider and others, and the same were laid on the table.

Mr. Garfield, from the same committee, to which was referred the bill of the Senate, (S. 186,) "An act providing for the sale of the lands, tenements and water privileges belonging to the United States at and near Harper's Ferry, in the county of Jefferson, West Virginia," reported the same 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 therewith.

Mr. Garfield, from the same committee, reported joint resolutions and bills of the following titles, viz:

H. Res. 373. A joint resolution directing the Secretary of War to sell Bergen Heights arsenal;

H. R. 1487. A bill to declare and fix the status of the corps of judge advocates of the army;

H. Res. 374. A joint resolution authorizing the sale of the Chattanooga rolling mill property at Chattanooga, Tennessee, to the Southwestern Iron Company;

H. Res. 375. A joint resolution donating condemned cannon for the erection of a monument to Major General Kearney;

H. R. 1488. A bill to consolidate the several asylums for aged and disabled soldiers created under the laws of the United States;

H. R. 1489. A bill granting a portion of the military reservation at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, to the American Baptist Home Mission Society; H. R. 1490. A bill to define the pay of officers of the army detailed to act as military instructors;

H. Res. 376. A joint resolution to pay W. S. Morse and Chas. S. Shambaugh for services rendered the Committee on Military Affairs of the House of Representatives;

which were severally read a first and second time.

The House having proceeded to their consideration, the said bills and joint resolutions were severally ordered to be engrossed and read a third time.

Being engrossed, they were accordingly read the third time and passed. Mr. Garfield moved that the several votes on the passage of the said bills and joint resolutions 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 bills and joint resolutions.

Mr. Henry D. Washburn, from the same committee, to which was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 940) to equalize the bounty of soldiers, sailors, and marines who served in the late war for the Union, reported the same without amendment.

By unanimous consent, the said bill was made a special order for one hour on the 2d Tuesday of January next.

Mr. Garfield, from the same committee, to which was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 905) to establish a national system of military education, reported the same with amendments.

Pending which,

Mr. Garfield moved that its further consideration be postponed until the 2d Tuesday of January next.

On motion of Mr. Ross the bill was laid on the table.

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.

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. 658. An act to relieve from disabilities Franklin J. Moses, a citizen of South Carolina;

When

The Speaker signed the same.

By unanimous consent indefinite leave of absence was granted to Mr. Shellabarger.

Mr. Dodge, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported a bill (H. R. 1491) fixing the amount found to be due to the State of Iowa on account of certain claims against the United States, accompanied by a report in writing therein; which bill was read a first and second time. Pending the question on its engrossment,

The morning hour expired;

When,

On motion of Mr. Schenck, the House proceeded to the consideration of the business on the Speaker's table.

The joint resolution of the Senate (S. R. 104) relating to the ocean mail steamship service between the United States and China, authorized by act of Congress, approved February 17, 1865, was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

The bill of the Senate (S. 622) in relation to bridges across the Ohio river was next taken up and read a first and second time.

Pending the question on its engrossment,

Mr. Bingham moved that it be referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals.

Pending which,

Mr. Eliot moved to amend the same by striking out "Roads and Canals" and inserting "Commerce."

Pending which,

Mr. Moorhead moved to amend the said amendment, by striking out "Commerce" and inserting in lieu thereof "the Post Office and Post Roads."

Pending which,
After debate,

The said amendment to the amendment and the said amendment were severally disagreed to, and the motion of Mr. Bingham was agreed to.

So the said bill was referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals. Mr. Bingham 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.

By unanimous consent, Mr. Trowbridge was excused from further service on the Committee on Revolutionary Claims;

When

The Speaker appointed Mr. Charles M. Hamilton to fill the vacancy occasioned thereby.

Mr. Phelps, by unanimous consent, presented the memorial of Patterson and Murquiando relative to the claims of the government and citizens of the United States to the island of Alta Vela; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Scofield moved that when the House adjourn, it adjourn until Monday next; which motion was agreed to.

Mr. Scofield 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. Broomall, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 1492) to regulate the value of United States legal-tender notes, and to provide for their redemption; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

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

I. A letter from the Secretary of the Interior, transmitting a tabular statement of accounts of Indian agents to June 30, 1868; which was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs, and the question of its printing referred to the Committee on Printing.

II. A letter from the Secretary of War, transmitting papers relative to the sale of the Fort Snelling reservation; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and ordered to be printed.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. McDonald, their chief clerk: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have indefinitely postponed a bill of the House of the following title, viz:

H. R. 1484. An act to relieve from disabilities Franklin J. Moses, of South Carolina.

Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne submitted the following resolution, viz: Resolved, (the Senate concurring,) That when the two houses of Congress adjourn on Monday, the 21st instant, they adjourn to meet on Tuesday, the 5th of January, 1869.

The same having been read,

Mr. Schenck moved to amend the same by striking out "Monday the 21st" and inserting in lieu thereof "Wednesday the 23d," and also by striking out "Tuesday the 5th" and inserting in lieu thereof "Monday

the 4th."

Pending which,

Mr. Washburne moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered and put, viz: Will the House agree to the said amendment?

So the said amendment was disagreed to.

The question then recurring on the said resolution,

Mr. Baldwin moved that it be laid on the table; which motion was disagreed to.

Under the further operation of the previous question, the said resolution was agreed to.

Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate therein. Mr. 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.

By unanimous consent, leave of absence for one week was granted to Mr. Fox, Mr. Garfield, and Mr. Buckland.

By unanimous consent, leave was granted for the withdrawal from the files of the House of the papers in the case of F. A. Gibbons.

By unanimous consent, a joint resolution and bill of the Senate of the following titles, viz:

S. R. 170. Joint resolution in relation to the library of the Department of Agriculture; and

S. 565. An act to authorize the Secretary of State to adjust the claim of Gustavus G. Cushman for office rent while commissioner under the · reciprocity treaty;

were severally taken up, read three times and passed.

Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith.

Mr. Trowbridge moved that the vote on the passage of the said resolution (S. R. 170) be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Mr. Peters moved that the vote on the passage of the said bill (S. 565) be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Joint resolutions and bills of the Senate of the following titles were then taken up, read a first and second time, and referred as follows, viz: S. R. 171. Joint resolution in relation to coast defence, to the Committee on Military Affairs.

S. 642. An act to amend the charter of the National Capital Insurance Company, to the Committee for the District of Columbia.

S. 174. An act for the relief of Mrs. Emma Wilson, of the State of Indiana, to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

S. R. 162. Joint resolution to regulate the carriage of passengers in steamships and other vessels, to the Committee on Commerce; and

S. R. 173. Joint resolution respecting the provisional governments of Virginia and Texas, to the Committee on Reconstruction.

The bill of the Senate (S. 575) to refer the claim of Joseph Segar, was next taken up and read a first and second time.

Pending the question on its third reading,

After debate,

Mr. Benjamin moved that it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Pending which,