The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-02-12

The said resolutions were then referred
to the following committee, to report
thereon by bill or otherwise Messrs. Da-
ma, Smith of Md. Lloyd, Taylor and Bib.
After consideration of confidential bust
ness the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Saturday, FEB. u.
Mr.. Cheves, from the committee of Ways
and Means, in pursuance of the instructions
OF the House, reported a bill to remit the
claims of the U. >. in certain goods. wares
and merchandise captured oy private arm
ed vessels of the U. S.-.rWice read and
committed.
Mr.. Basset, from the Naval Committee,
reported bill supplementary to the act for
INCREASING the Navy of the U. s.
The bill proposes to authorize the build
ing six sloops Of war, and four others for the
Lake service, and to put out of commission,
after the completion Of these vessels, such
OF the gun boats as the public service may
not REQUIRED
The bill was twice read and committed.
Nfr. Bond, from the committee on the
subject, reported a bill concerning the max
ing of salt at the u. States Saline in the
linois territory. by the partial introduction
of negroes therein.-Twice read and COM
mitted.
The SheGker laid before the House the
Annual Report ofthe Commissioners of the
Sinking Fund and also two letters from
the Secretary of the Treasury, the one
i;iins the names, &c. of the clerk
employed III the Treasury and the other
transmitting statement of payments made
on account of the public debt, and of the
Revolutionary government, in conformity to
Il resolution of the House requiring the same.
These papers were seyerally ordered to be
printed.
EXCLUSION OF FOREIGN SEAMEN.
The house again resolved itself into a
committee of the whole, Mr.. Bdsset in the
chair, on the bill regulating the employ
ment of foreign seamen in the armed yes
sells and in the merchant service of the u.
States.
Mr.. Ridgely made a speech Of some
length explaining his ideas on this subject,
and concluded with moving an amendment,
the object of which was. to provide that no
person not native should be employed in
the service of the u. States, until the peri
on of probation of five years, required by
our laws, should have been comtlefed.
Nh. Blob having remarked that this
amendment only went to explain provi
sion Of the bill not now perhaps sufficiently
clear
1t was adopted without divi sion.
S1ndry other amendments were proposed
by Mr.. Ridgety and agreed to.
Other amendments were proposed to the
bill. ike that cf Mr.. Rideely. not affecting
the principle, some of which were agreed to
AVID others rejected, OIL which desultory
debate took place.
The most important amendment made to
the bill, was the agreement of the commit.
tee to a motion made by Mr.. Robertson tc
strike out the eighth section ofthe bill, which
our readers will recollect provides that the
bin shall not have effect except as to the
seamen of such nation as shall have made
reciprocal arrangements as to the seameu
Uf the u. States.
About o'clock, the committee rose and
re por, a. tie bill ard
The House forthwith adjourned.
Monday, ret. 8, 1912.
Mr.. Boyd presented a resolution of the
Legislature OF Iiliaois territory relative to
pre-emption rights to lands in the said ter
ritory, which was referred to the committee
of Public Lands.
The Speaker laid before the House O
letter from the Secretary Of the Treasury,
transmit.ing statement Of the District
Tonnage OF the y. States.
| a message from the senate was an
Inounced Ola confidential nature.
| The House was accordingly cleared of
all strangers, ard remained ~ secret session
for two o. three hours.
When the doors were cpened--l