The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-02-03

concluded,
Mr. Houston, of Alabama, moved that the
House 20 into Committee of the Whole on the
state of the Union, which was agreed to.
The Committee again took up the Deficiency
hill when various amendments recommended
by the Committee Of Ways and Means were
reportsd and considerable discussion TOOK
place with reference to the salary OF Mr.
Kennedy, Superintendent OF the Census once
the construction of the law by the Secretary
of the Interior and the Attorney General being
that he was entitled to SO, 900 per annum, but
the Comptroller refused to pay him that
amount. A resolution fixing that sum was
ultimately agreed to.
Other amendments were disposed of and the
House adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20.
The New York mint bill was tho first bust
ness in order. and Mr. Brooks concluded his
remarks He alluded to the inoompetency OF
the mint at Philadelphia, the loss sustained by
individuals, owing to its operations-the mint
returning none of the silver contained in less
than 90 o. of gold sent to il, which is made
use of for its own purposes, and to sustain the
bullion fund, and for contingencies.
The motion to reject the bill was negatived,
the yeas and nays being taken-yeas SO, nays
ga.
Mr.. Brooks moved that the bill be engrossed
and read third time; pending which, mo-
ton was made to lay the bill on the table
uoon which the yeas and nays were ordered,
and it was negatived-yeas rs, nays So.
The morning hour having expired, the
Speaker decided that the House having ordered
that the question of the third reading be put, it
OVERRIDE all other motions, except one for a
call of the House. or to adjourn.
Tho yeas and nays were then ordered on the
third reading Of the bill; which was negatived-
yeas SO, nays SO.
MIR. Briggs of'New York, moved to recon-
slider the vote.
Mr.. Florence of Pennsylvania, moved to lay
the motion to reconsider upon the table; and
the yeas and nays having been ordered, it
passed in the afirmative-yeas 81, nays SO.
The House resolved itself into Committee
of the Whole on the state of the Union, and
the Deficiency bill was again taken up when
various amendments were disposed Of. On the
passage of one voting sum to complete the
pedestal On which is placed the equestrian
statue of Gen. jackson,
MIR. Stanly, of North Carolina, proposed to
add an amendment, stating that the vote was
in consequence of the exertions of Gen. Jack
son in putting down notification and secession /;
which led to rather an uproarious and good
humored discussion.
AT length a motion prevailed that the Com
mittee rise, and the House adjourned.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 81.
MIR. Stanly from the Committee of Ways and
Means, reported bill to pay to different States
public moneys due under the act of 1886 /;
which WAS read a first and second time last
session, and referred to the committee.
Mr.. Orr moved to lay the bill on the table
and the yeas and nays having been ordered,
the motion was carried-yeas lO5, nays 60.
Mr.. Stanly endeavored to have his motion, TO
print the bill, put from the Chair but the
Speaker decided that the motion went with the
bill ; against which decision
Mr.. Stanly appealed but it was sustained
by the House
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union, and again
took up the amendments of the Deficiency bill,
a number of which were disposed Of
The last of these was resolution by Mr..
Stanly, that in future books shall not be sup
piled to members for the Congress of which
they were not members. The value of these
books he said, amounted to nine hundred dol
lars, which are often sold by members. In
some instances q former member of Congress
dies, and his executors consider the books az
assets; and there being no purchaser for them
in the localities, they are sent to agents at
Washington, who sell them there, and they are
again issued for the use of members.
The amendment was adopted.
The Committee then rose and the bill with
amendments were reported and having been
agreed to, the bill was read third time, and
passed.
The House then adjourned.
FRIDAY, JANUARY %.
Mr. Stanly moved that the House take up
the bill from the Senate concerning bail in civil
causes in the District of Columbia, labolishing
all right to hold to bail on mesne process)
Mr. Sweetser objected
Mr. Jones Of Tennessee, said that if he should
obtain the floor on Monday, he would move
that the bill be taken up II was important
it should be passed. A man has been in jail
for three months 1t was case of the hardest
personal oppression and tyranny ever known
to the civilized world
Mr.. Mace asked the House to be discharged
from further service as a member of the Com
mittee Of Claims The committee have pre-
| pared for the action of the House vast num-
| Der of bills in behalf of honest and Just claims
against the Government. The action Of the
House had been such that the committee had
beeh called but once during the present session
and last session. Now, he did not wish to bear
any blame He did not wish to be subject to
the labor of investigating cases involving law
while he knew that Congress will not act upon
them. If it was the object of the House TO deny
justice to claimants, the sooner they and the
country were made acquainted with the fact
the better. Having washed his hands Of the
inj Justice towards the numerous claimants, and
placed the truth on record he respectfully
Withdrew his request TO be excused from SER
vice aga member of the Committee of Claims
The House resolved itself into Committee of
the Whole on the Private Calendar. Mr.. Hall
was called to preside.
When the Committee rose the House passed
twenty-five of the bills reported,
And adjourned.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 20.
The House resumed the consideration of the
report Of the Committee of Conference lmade
yesterday by Mr.. Cobb on the disagreeng
votes of the two Houses on the amendment OF
the Senate to the bill Of the Senate to continue
half-pay to certain widows and orphans.
The motion pending from yesterday WAS to
lay it upon the table; to which the House to-
day refused to agree-yeas 20, nays l29
| he report was then concurred in.
Dir. McNair rose to make an inquiry,
whether or not the select committees Of the last
session held over TO the present
The Speaker replied, his opinion WAS they do
not, yet 1t seemed that this was contemplated
| by the House, or that new ones should be ap.
pointed. If it was the pleasure of the House
the Chair would now reappoint the select com.
mittees which existed at the close Of the last
session.
Mr.. McNair moved that tho select commit.
tee to examine the foundations Of the extension
Of the Capitol be reappointed
Several points of order were raised and dis
cussed; and, finally, the motion that the Speak.
or reappoint the select committees was laid