Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-03-08
DoINGs OF CONGRESS

DoINGs OF CONGRESS.
SEHArE.-Yesterday, after our departure,
Mr. Rusk introduced the following resolution,
which was adopted - a
kesofued, That the Postmaster General be
desired to report to the Senate what amount
has been paid annually to the several railroads
in the United States for the transportation of
mails, for the last three years up to the 18th
of January last, with the rates Of charges in
the different States.
The homestead bill was received from the
House.
Mr. Walker moved its reference to the COM
mittee on public lands
Messrs- Cass, johnson and Seward, expressed
themselves in favor of the bill, and Messrs.
Mason, Bayard and Brown, indicated that
they would oppose it. =
= The bill was then referred. = r
The Vermont contested election case was
| taken up, but postponed till to day, when
Mr.. Phelps will speak.
After q discussion on the bill granting land
| for the benefit of the INDECENT insane, the
Senate went into executive session, and after
wards adjourned. 1t =-ia s>-
In THE HOUSE, yesterday, after we went to
press, the discussion of the Minnesota railroad
land donation bill was continued in Committee
| OF the Whole on the state of the Union, by
Messrs Rice. Bissell, Washburn. of Illinois,
| Taylor, of Ohio, Campbell, and HEM, FOR it !;
| and Messrs. Lane, of Indiana Smith, of New
York, aud Orr, against it.
The Committee then rose and before any
further business was consummated, the House
adjourned
PROCEEDINGS OF TO-DAY.
1 Ja1s, L. Al ID
Mr. Milburn, and the journal was then read;
after which
MIR. Fish presented petitions for a grant of
land, in aid of constructing ship canal around
the Falls Of Niagara, and from Columbus Col
iege, N. Y, for the grant of a township Of
land to each chartered college
| Mr.. Thomson, Of n. J.. presented memo
rial from citizens of New Jersey, in behalf of
| relig ious freedom. #s#s sr
Mr. Cass presented petition for the right
| Of religious worship abroad to American citi-
1 zens. 80
Mr. Shields presented series of resolutions
voted at a meeting OF the soldiers Of the war of
| 1917, held in Baltimore, on the subject Of the
bounty land act; also the report of the joint
committee of the two Houses on the subject Of
the sufferers by the late shipwreck of the San
francisco. The hon. Senator then moved that
Is. l20) bill to promote the efficiency of the
army by retiring disabled officers should be
| taken up, which was passed with amendments.
Mr.. Hamlin reported q resolution from the
Committee on Public Printing, that the claim
of A. Boyd Hamilton, late Public Printer,
should be adjudicated upon by the FRS. Comp
trollor of the Treasury. Read three times
MIR. Foot moved that Is. 40 bill for the in
digent insane should be then taken up
Mr.. Adams spoke upon the subject He did
not consider that the old States have as good a
title to the public lands as the new States. He
characterized the grants for schools and inter
nal improvements, a consideration to the
purchasers of the remaining sections to buy
them, thus enhancing their value. and render.
ing the lands more saleable. He then ad.
verified to the grant of swamp land to the south
western States, which likewise was of similar
description, their value being increased by
their being reclaimed. The honorable Sena-
tor continued to combat the arguments brought
forward in favor of the measure, by his col
league on former day of the debate. The
Federal Government had no right to grant a
gra.uity in the present instance.
i Mr.. Stuart moved an amendment to the eff
feet that the lands subject to an entry at 81 25
per acre shall be the lands from which the
grant in each State should be taken, when
ever there are any lands of that value in the
State.
The bill as amended being put on its final
passage
Mr.: Dodge, of Iowa, spoke against it, but
would not oppose any obstacle to its passage,
as the majority of the Senate were favorable
The bill was then put on its final passage
ayes %, noes IL. The bill was passed.
Mr.. Petit moved for the special order of the
day, on the question of privilege in the right
OF the Senator from Vermont to his seat when
MIR. Phelps addressed the Senate on the sub
ect and was speaking when we left.
HoUsE.-To-day, after the reading of the
Journal
The Speaker laid before the House Treas
ury Department communication, covering a
copy OF the Secretarys circular for the pro-
curement of information relative to American
manufactures, with $50 replies thereto; re-
ferred to the Committee Of Ways and Means,
and ordered to be printed
Mr.. StrattOn, by leave. presented Joint reso-
lutions from the New Jersey Legislature, ask
ing Congress to appropriate $500, 900 for the
Improvement of the navigation along shore
from Sandy Hook to Cape May; referred to the
| Committee on Commerce
Mr.. Stanton, of Tenn, by leave reported a
resolution allowing the Judiciary Committee
| the services of clerk
Mr.. Letcher moved to amend it by adding
clause providing that the services Of the said
clerk should be dispensed with as soon as the
said committee should dispose of the Gardiner
fraud investigation devolved on them by the
House: Amendment agreed to, and then the
amended resolution was adopted
Mr.. Faulkner, from the select committee on
tho united States armories, reported a resolu
ton allowing that committee a clerk during
their investigations into the condition of those
government works.
Mr.. Lane, of Ind, proposed to amend it by
adding clause granting the services Of a
clerk to the Committee on Private Land
Claims; amendment not agreed to-
| The said resolution was then adopted