Washington telegraph., 1855-03-28
What Congress has Done,

The actual business Of the session lust closed is
summed up in the passage of seventy-nine public
acts eleven public resolutions. one hundred and
twenty-eight private acts, and fourteen private
resolutions. Among the important laws passed
is the bill to carry into effect the Reciprocity
Treaty with Great Britain; and .hs. Bounty Land
Bill to Soldiers o. the War of 1872 which will
sweep off two hundred million acres of the public
domain Also an act providing tor the payment
of the creditors OF Texas whose claims were re-
cognized in the act OF the 9th OF September 1850;
and the act making appropriations ior the pay
ment of pensions to invalids, WIDOWS, orphans,
and others entitled to such bountles under various
acts of Congress The Navy Retired List bill:
the bill increasing the salaries OF the Justices of
the U. S. Supreme Court, of the u S. District
Judges and of Land Office Receivers and Regis
tiers; the bill adding tour regiments to the Army;
and the bill allowing members oil Congress to re-
ceive paw from the Treasury from the opening of
each session.
Congress scattered the public treasure with a
profuse hand the last days of the session-the
whole appropriations amounting to some sixty
millions The general appropriation bill was
100000 the Army s150O0.O0O; NAVY SIS
600 600, Postoffice IS 100000; Pensions 81 l.4OO-
900; and FortidcatiOn> 81. ga. 900. The appro-
priations for forthcatiOns scattered from PEN
obscot Maine, along the Atlantic coast and Gulf
of Mexico, round to St Philippe, Louisiana; forts
on the northern frontier OF Texas $50 0O0 tort at
entrance of San Francisco harbor $50 900; and
fort at Acatras Island, S3OO-0OO. River and
Harbor Improvements get nothing unless it be
some $4,000 for deepening St Clair Flats. and
like sum for improving St. Mary's river
Lou. Journal.
A letter from Washington, dated March 4th,
says:
Nearly everything which it was expected would
be acted on by Congress was disposed OF, except
Mr. Evans bill to settle the claims of Revolu-
tonary officers, which failed to obtain the Presi-
dents signature.
Lieut. Col. E. v Sumner has been appointed
Senior Colonel in the new regiment
Every member of the Senate signed General
Shields recommendation for the appointment of
a new BTIgadIer General. but the President re-
fused to send in his name Much indignation is
felt The office would never have been created
except with the understanding that it was for
Gen Shields
The select committee of the House on the
Smithsonian Institution has made report decid-
edly against Prof Henrys management and his
support by the board of regents. Mr.. Witte,
single member OF the committee has made mi
norIty report. The evidence before the commit
tee tall of which is ordered to be printed is very
murh against the management
The enIgTant passenger bill has passed with
amendments changing the quantity of food. and
requiring it to be cooked for the passengers: also
charging $40 for each passenger over wears of
age who may die on shipboard
Mr. Soule has beer. invited TO dine with MS Ex-
cel!ency on Monday, but declines that distinguish
ed honor until adjustment of difficulties is had
There viii be no warrants issued under the
new bounty land law for three or four months
New plates have to be engraved $4,000 have
been appropriated for the new clerks to be en-
ployed,
The Senate, in Executive session tonight. con-
hrned the appointments of Judge Gilchrist. of
New Hampshire LumPkin, Of Ga, and Blackford,
of Indiana as court OF commissioners on claims
The bounty land bill was sent in signed by the
President.
The House agreed to the Senate amendment
striking out the tariff bill, by vote of 70 against
g.