Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-03-04
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

MIR. Lowndes, from the committee of WAYS
and Means, reported "a bill supplementary tn
AN act 10 regulate the duties on imports and
TONNAGE; which was read and ordered TO be
read I'd time to morrow.
On motion of Mr.. Harrisca,
Resptred, That the Secretary of War he and
he Is hereby instructed TO report to this House,
AZ their next session the numher and couditi-
ons OF the contracts which have been made for
the supply OF arms for the United States since
the adoption OF the present constitutions speui-
tying the loss. If any, which the public have
sustained BY the non-fulfilmcnt of such con.
tracts, or by the advance OF money on account
OF the same; together with any other intorma-
ton he may possess, tending To shew the adj
vantages or disadvantages attending that mode
OF oD aiming arms, compared with that of Ma
ional Armouries, and that he report there
with, the amount of money expended in each
OF the present national arnouries, the number
and species of arms there manufactu red
and the number and species of arms repair
ed.
On motion of Mr.. Smith, of Nd. il was
agreed that joint committee of both Houses
he appointed To examine and report TO their
respective Houses what business is pending be-
fore them, and which it is indispensable TO act
upon previous to the adjournment: 81 Messrs.
smith of Md. and Vancey were appointed on
the part ofthis House.
The committee of the whole, to whom were
committed the bill for the establishment OF an
invalid corps, and the bill making pro-
vision for three additional military academies
were discharged there from and the said bills
were postponed indefinitely.
The bills from the Senate "to enable the
people of the western part of the Mississippi
territory to form constitution and state 90
vernment, and for the admission cf such state
INTO the union on an equal footing with the ORR
gihai states, passed through committee of
the whole, and was reported 10 the House
whereupOn,
a. motion was made by Mr.. Pickens, to
STRIKE out all the said bill. after the enacting
clause, and in lieu thereof to insert the bill re-
ported bya select committee of this House on
the 18th ut. for the admission of the ,rhOie ter
rito'y into the union, as state; which motion
was negatived
\ motion then made bv Mr.. Tay-
Tor of Ncw-York, that the said bin and the
Whole subject be postponed indefinitely
which motion was decided in the mega
tive.
FOR d the motion G2-Againstit 80:
a motion was then made by Mr. TAYLOR of n
y. to amend the bill by Incorporating therein
the following provisions:
Aud that IN case the said convention shall
FORM constitution aud state government for
the people of the said territory of Mssissippi.
the Said convention, as soon thereafter as NAV
ne; IS hereby required TO cause to be transmit
tel TO Congress "A true and attested COPY of
such constitution or frame of state govern
ment a. shall be formed and provided by the
proved by Congress at lis next session, after
the receipt thereof, the said state shall be adj
United INTO the union upon the same footing
with the original states"
This motion was nerative.l and tho hill
was ordered to be engrossed for a third rea
ding.
The following bills, which oricinatedin this
honse, were severaily cad a third time and
passed
A bill TO amend the act entitled "Anact
granting bounties in land and extra paw to GER
tam Canadian volunteers" passed on the 5tb
March 1916.
y for s.c A.
and
bill =" making an appropriation for
opening. and cutting out a road therein des-
cribed."
The bill e to establish an uniform sys-
fem of bankruptcy was indefinitely postpon-
The bills which are stated above as having
passed the Senate on this day, which had
not previously passed this House, were twice
read aud committed, except the bill for
the relief of the Representatives of John /
farnall, which was reada third time and pass
The House spent some time in committee Of
tue whole on sundry bills of a private natu but
did not finally act on them before an adjourn
ment took place.
TneaIay, February %.
The Speaker laid before the House a letter
from the Secretary of the Treasury transmit
ting the annual abstract of the official eInoIu-
ments and expenditures for the year 1916 and
the Speaker also laid before the House q letter
from the Treasurer of the United States trans
hitting the annual statements of his accounts.
both documents were ordered TO lie on the ia
bic.
Mr.. VI. Nelson offered the following resolu-
ton for consideration
leeSO'red, That the committee of WAYS and
Means be instructed TO enquire into the exue
diency of lcsscning the duties upon wines i'm
ported from France and other forei i'm conn
tries, and to report TO this House thereupon.
The resolution being read, tie question was
taken on considering the same, and decided i'm
the Negative. ~
SINKING FUND.
The Honse then resolved itself into com
mttee OF the whole, Mr.. Jackson i'm the chair
on HE bill for the redemption of the hubble
lrDt. Providing, substantially, to make tho
SINKING fund ten millions Annually and Tn add
to the fund Of ten millions. the further snn nf
nine millions, the existing surplus i'm the Urea
SnTy y TINS, making tile whole sum applied this
year to the reduction Of the debt, amonrt TO
nineteen millions Of dollars. Also aufhorising
the Secretary ct the Treasury, at any time dur,
ing tue present year, TO pay to the Commission
ers OF the sinking fund the further sum of fonr
miilons, To he considered as AN advance ia thar
amount on The appropriation Of ten millions
commissioners of the sinking fund to he an
pied to the redemption of the debt. anv sur
Plus which may hereafter accrue, over and a.
Dove the sum OF two millions TO be always 70
tanned in the Treasury The bill having been
MIR. Lowudes rose, and. in q sncecb of coo.
siderable length. submitted the views of the
committee OF ways and Means in recommends
ing the present bill and advocated fbe noiicv
81 applying the proposed sums TO the redemn.
ton OF the public debt.
Mr.. Castor moved the addition of clause
nHectnig the Commissioners Of the sinking
tnnd TO apply the surplus which may accrue to
the purchase Of the government sfock beId L..