By Mr. James F. Wilson:

Resolved, That the Committee on Revision of Laws be, and are hereby, instructed to inquire into and report on the legality of the appointment of official or general assignees by certain United States district judges in contravention of the spirit and provisions of the bankrupt law and of the mode adopted by said courts of transferring all bankrupt estates within the limits of their judicial districts to such official or general assignees; also, as to the propriety of so changing the bankrupt law as to prevent any settlement of bankrupt estates by any other than the assignees duly elected by the creditors of estates.

By Mr. Ela:

Whereas it appears from the report of the Comptroller of the Currency that the National Bank of the Metropolis, of Washington, District of Columbia, has been in voluntary liquidation since October, 1866, then owing the United States for deposits $552,712 45, since reduced to $470,954 70, which was secured by a deposit with the United States of $400,000 interest-bearing bonds of the United States; and also that a further deposit of $202,000 of interest-bearing bonds were held to secure the circulation of said bank, all of which is still outstanding; and whereas this bank further appears by said report to have become a depos itory of United States disbursing officers since it has been in liquidation: Resolved, That the Committee on Banking and Currency inquire and report what legislation, if any, is necessary to enable the Comptroller of the Currency to wind up the affairs of a bank which has no office or place of business, and stop the payment by the United States of interest to a bank upon a debt which the bank owes to the United States, and to prevent an insolvent bank from becoming a depository for United States officers.

By Mr. Starkweather:

Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be directed to inquire what legislation is necessary for the protection of the fur seal in Alaska, and to regulate the taking of the same, and to report by bill or otherwise. By Mr. Julian :

Resolved, That the Committee on the Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of so amending the homestead acts as to allow parties who have availed themselves of the benefits of said acts to make final proof of settlement before clerks of courts of record; also that in all cases where parties have made entries and have failed to comply with said acts, persons desiring to contest such entries may make proof of the fact before such clerks; and that said committee report by bill or otherwise.

Mr. Churchill, by unanimous consent, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom were referred bills of the following titles, viz:

H. R. 220. A bill to perpetuate testimony in the courts of the United States; and

H. R. 1258. A bill to define felonies and misdemeanors, and to regulate peremptory challenges in the courts of the United States, and for other purposes;

reported the same, the former with an amendment in the nature of a substitute therefor, and the latter without amendment.

Ordered, That the said bills and amendment be printed and recommitted to the said committee.

Mr. Schenck, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolu tion; which was read, and, by unanimous consent, considered and agreed to, viz:

Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed to inform this house

how many commissioned officers of the army are detailed for duty in the quartermasters', subsistence, pay, medical, and other departments of the service in and about the city of New York, and how they are each and severally employed; also, how many enlisted men and civilians are detailed or employed in connection with such service in and about the said city; and whether the number of such officers, enlisted men, and civilians cannot with advantage to the public interests and due consideration of economy be reduced.

Mr. Thomas L. Jones, by unanimous consent, submitted 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 inquire into the necessity and probable cost of erecting a suitable building for United States circuit and district courts of the United States, revenue offices, and post office in the city of Covington, Kentucky, and report to this house as soon as practicable.

Mr. Prince, by unanimous consent, submitted the following preamble and resolution, viz:

Whereas John A. Wimpy and John H. Christy both claim to have a right to represent the sixth district of Georgia in the House; and whereas the returns show the said John H. Christy had a majority of the votes cast, and the said John A. Wimpy claims that enough fraudulent votes were cast for the said John H. Christy to invalidate his election; therefore, Resolved, That the said John A. Wimpy be authorized to give to the said Christy notice that he shall contest the election on the grounds of fraud; that said Christy have ten days thereafter to answer the same, and they have thirty days to take testimony from the date of said answer; and that in all things else the testimony be taken and returned in conformity to existing law.

The same having been read,

On motion of Mr. Woodward,

Ordered, That they be referred to the Committee of Elections.

Mr. Benjamin moved that the several votes this day 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. Van Wyck, by unanimous consent,

Ordered, That leave be granted to the Select Joint Committee on Retrenchment to submit a report in writing on Monday next, and that the same be printed.'

On motion of Mr. Henry D.,Washburn, by unanimous consent, leave was granted for the withdrawal from the files of the House of the papers in the case of Miss Victor.

On motion of Mr. Benjamin F. Butler, by unanimous consent, the bill of the Senate (S. 643) for the relief of William A. Griffin was taken up, read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee of Claims. The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House executive communications as follows, viz:

I. A letter from the Secretary of the Navy in answer to a resolution of the 16th instant, stating that no reduction can be made from the estimates heretofore submitted;

II. A letter from the same relative to a deficiency in the appropriation for provisions for the marine corps;

which were severally referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

III. A letter from the Secretary of the Interior transmitting copies of certain papers in relation to the Union Pacific railroad, in answer to a resolution of the House of the 15th instant; which was referred to the Committee on the Pacific Railroad and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Julian, by unanimous consent, from the Committee on the Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 1192) for the relief of Joseph A. Ingham, reported the same with an amendment, in the nature of a substitute therefor; which amendment 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. The title of the bill was then amended so as to read, "A bill to extend the provisions of the homestead act to the orphan children of deceased soldiers, who are under the age of twenty-one years.”

Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in the said bill.

The Speaker named Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne to perform the duties of the Chair on Monday next.

On motion of Mr. Brooks, by unanimous consent,

Resolved, That the Reconstruction Committee are authorized to sum mon such witnesses to appear before them as the committee may deem necessary to enable them to report fully on the state of affairs in Geor gia, Mississippi, Virginia, and Texas, under the resolution of reference heretofore made.

The Speaker having proceeded, as the regular order of business, to call the committees for reports of a private nature,

Mr. Ferry, from the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, reported a joint resolution (H. Res. 389) for the relief of Lewis D. Smith, accompanied by a report in writing thereon; which resolution was read a first and second time.

Pending the question on its engrossment,

After debate,

Mr. Ferry moved the previous question.
Pending which,

Mr. Pettis rose and announced the death of Darwin A. Finney, a representative from the State of Pennsylvania.

After remarks upon the life and public services of the deceased,

Mr. Pettis submitted the following resolutions; which were read, considered, and agreed to, viz:

Resolved, That the House has heard with deep emotion the announcement of the death of Hon. Darwin A. Finney, a member of this house from the State of Pennsylvania.

Resolved, That this house tender to the relatives of the deceased the amount of its sympathy on this afflicting event, and as a testimony of respect for the memory of the deceased the members and officers of this House will go into mourning by wearing crape on the left arm for the period of thirty days.

Resolved, That the Speaker appoint a committee of nine to attend the remains of the deceased on their arrival at New York from that city to the place of interment.

Resolved, That the Clerk communicate a copy of the foregoing resolu tions to the widow of the deceased.

Resolved, That as a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased, the House do now adjourn.

Whereupon,

The Speaker announced the appointment of the following committee under the said resolutions, viz: Mr. Pettis, Mr. O'Neill, Mr. Randall, Mr. Woodward, Mr. George V. Lawrence, Mr. Dawes, Mr. Blaine, Mr. Cullom, and Mr. Beck.

And then,

The House adjourned.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1868.

Mr. Stephen F. Wilson, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined and found truly enrolled bills of the following titles, viz:

H. R. 1555. An act to amend an act entitled "An act imposing taxes on distilled spirits and tobacco, and for other purposes," approved July 20, 1868 8;

H. R. 1556. An act to relieve certain persons of all political disabili ties imposed by the fourteenth article of the amendments to the Consti tution of the United States;

When

The Speaker signed the same.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Burch, one of their clerks:

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a joint resolution and bill of the following titles, viz:

S. R. 178. Joint resolution tendering sympathy to the people of Spain; and

S. 711. An act relating to the Metropolitan Railroad Company; in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of the House.

Mr. Stephen F. Wilson, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee did this day present to the President of the United States a joint resolution of the following title, viz:

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

Mr. Van Wyck, from the Select Committee on Retrenchment, under the authority granted by the House on Friday last, submitted a report in writing on whiskey frauds and the administration of the internal revenue department; which was ordered to be printed and recommitted to the said committee.

Two 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 this day approve and sign a joint resolution of the following title, viz:

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

And then,

On motion of Mr. Getz, at 12 o'clock and 20 minutes p. m., the House adjourned.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1869.

Several other members appeared, viz:
From the State of Nevada, Delos R. Ashley.
From the State of Arkansas, Logan H. Roots.
From the State of New Jersey, Charles Haight.
From the State of Wisconsin, Philetus Sawyer.

Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne, from the Committee on Appropriations, reported a bill (H. R. 1570) making appropriations for the consular and diplomatic expenses of the government for the year ending June 30, 1870, and for other purposes; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, and made the special order in committee for to-morrow after the morning hour, and from day to day until disposed of, and ordered to be printed.

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

By Mr. Benjamin F. Butler: The petition of Betsey S. Jackman, praying for a pension.

By Mr. Price: The petition of Sarah L. Goodrick, praying for increase of pension.

By Mr. Spalding: The petition in behalf of minor brother and sister of Charles H. Hoag, 10th Ohio cavalry, praying for a pension.

By Mr. Julian: The memorial of Julia Finley, relative to a pension. By Mr. Perham: The petition of Lucy L. Putnam, praying for arrears of pension;

Also, the petition of Elizabeth Copeland, praying for arrears of pension: Also, the petition of Mary R. Brown, praying for arrears of pension. By Mr. Schenck: The petition of Michael Mulgreen, company E, 25th Ohio volunteers, praying for a pension;

Also, the petition of Hugh Wallace, praying for a pension.

By Mr. James F. Wilson: The petition of Aaron Young, praying for an increase of pension;

Also, the petition of Vinson F. Horton, company I, 25th Iowa volun teers, praying for a pension;

Also, the petition of Joel Farley, private company F, 11th Iowa volunteers, praying for arrears of pension.

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

By Mr. A. C. Baldwin: The petition of William H. Treadway, praying for his compensation for extra services.

By Mr. Benjamin: The petition of William Carson, of Palmyra, Missouri, praying for relief.

By Mr. Banks: The petition of Turner Merritt, praying for payment for cotton taken by the United States authorities.

By Mr. Ingersoll: The petition of Samuel Strong, praying for the passage of a joint resolution authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to adjust his claim for work and materials for custom-house at Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

By Mr. Delano: The petition of Eliza A. Ratcliff, praying for compensation for subsistence furnished to sundry volunteers during the rebellion.

Also, the petition of Charles Cooper and Gorham A. Jones, sureties of William and John Hanagen, praying for relief.

By Mr. Benjamin F. Butler: The petition of L. A. Benter, praying for remuneration of damage for a robbery committed by soldiers of the United States army.

By Mr. : The memorial of E. W. Jones, late collector of internal revenue, first district of North Carolina, praying for remuneration for services from 25th June, 1865, to 13th November, 1866.

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

By Mr. James F. Wilson: Two petitions of A. R. Wickersham and one hundred and twenty-four other citizens of Iowa, praying for amendment of the law taxing tobacco.

By Mr. Benjamin F. Butler: The resolution of the Salem Board of Trade, in favor of the resumption of specie payment;

Also, the memorial of the Oriental Powder Company, praying for the return of taxes paid on powder sold on contract with the United States; Also, the petition of George F. Putnam and others, of Salem, Massachusetts, praying for reform in the system of internal revenue taxation.