The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-14
The First Week or the SesslOn-Epat0sne o
the Proceeslings Of ConSress.

Vne F1rot week Oh the SeA91OH-Hpat0ame Oh
the Proceedings Of Congress.
THE SENATE AMUSING IrsELF-THE HOUSE COMMIT
TEEs-THR TAKIfF QUEsTIOS-PACIFIc RAIL
RoAD-PRIvATE BILLS PAsskD-CoURT OF
CLAINs-THE CLAYToS-BULwER TREAry-N-
PLACEMENT or JUDGE wATR0us-ADxIssIoS OF
KANSAS, ETC., ETC.
be said that the proceedings OF Congress dur
ing the past week marked with any very high de-
gree Of importance The FIRST weeks rarely do witness i'm
portan proceedings The rule heretofore has been almost
without exception that the first week. all events should
be frittered away somewhat In this sye-Monday, the
reading Of the Presidents message; Tuesday, drawing
for seats; Wednesday the announcement Of q members
DEATH any such thing has occurred during tho vacation
Thursday, adjournment the following Monday
give the Speaker and Vice President time and opportu
nifty nppo1t the standing committees. And the second
and third weeks have also been usually frtcrcd away,
the real business Of the session being
till after the Christmas holidays.
rnx poirx SIESrx SENATE.
For far the has regousIy observed this rule,
being than half hour any day
during the week with the exception of Monday when that
dgnaod indoent body for three hours listen.
20 the reading the Presidents annual message. ~
u y needless TO remark that business OF legs.
aye character done IN that branch OF Congress dur
the Tast week. The only theirs the elcc-
ton q an assistant dookcercr IN The place Of Mr. Isaac
Holland, dcccased The individual who got the appoint
meut s Mr. 4. Jones, gentleman who has been the
service Of the Senate since he lucky unncky
enough 20 be selected s page 70 that body many
ago IN the there keeper AZ there Il ia
the House Tbe sergeant the dookccpor OF The
S,uate and the duties ofthe Office performed by an
me HorsE COMMITTEES
Tho House has shown a much more crcdtabe example
of attention 10 business u has been session every
DAY of the except Wednesday, over which day an
adjournment bad 10 give the Speaker opportunity
q appointing the committees. Committees are no, APP
pointed FOR the Congress 81 the other officers of the
body are, and think they should be, but for the
mcnccmcnt Of each sssson, 70 have rcappontmcnt of
the Standing Committees The practice however, IL 10
make ~ change IN the psonnei ~ the committees, but
orgsuze them as they stood at the Close Of the preceding
II 50 happ'ned that vacancies existed In the
cbamanshp r. three of the important committees II The
House. Tho chairmnnshs, ~ The Committee Military
Anairs by the death Of Genera Jno G. ONT
~ Msatsppi that Of the Committee Elections
was yacan, rs the death az Ihos T. Harris az ILLINOIS,
tia, 81 the Committee of Ways and Means was Va.
cant ~ the resignation of T. Clancy Jones Of Pennsyl.
yania who resigned his scat Congress receiving the
appointment ~ Minister n Austria Tlre
ncd by the appointment of Chas. y Faulkner OF yir.
10 the first. Vim. w. Boycc, Of South Carolina, 10
the second, and John Phelps of Missouri third.
II be remarked here that In each instance southern
preferred 10 the vacancy although Of the
ehsrmanshps were fille,i last year BY Northern
but would be unjust TO supose that any sectional in
huence operated the SPEAKER making the selections
The three newly appointed charmen are each Of them
old members Of the House, and leading members
the committees and are in every respect well cal
cuated TO discharge with efficiency the duties of their
position.
The next day another bl locking 10 the same general
object introduced by the delegate from New Mexico
proposes 70 make grant OF ands 10 the Territories
New Mexico and Kansas and the State Of Missouri in alter
nate sections, 10 sd in the construction Of railroad Is
said Territories anil State. This bill referred b. the
Committee Public lands, that two committees will
virtually have charge of the matter.
In The Senate Mr. Gwn tried 10 have the question of tho
Pacific railroad taken up Tuesday by the eonstruc
ton given b. of the rules Of that body decided
that not IN order 10 take up any o the business OF
the last session within six days OF the meeting Of Ton
eress And SO the Senate has been quietly resting
oars.
psssvD
At the close of the last there several bills
LETT the Speakers table, that had been originally
passcd by the House, and that afterwards passed
With amendments, by the Senate The House took them
up last Tuesday and disposed Of them by reference and
Otherwise. Two of them passed finally BY the
Ilouse concurrng 10 the amendments OF the Senate.
These two severay entitled A bin for the relief
OF Roswell Mnad father of Theodore Minard deceased
and BIN 10 confirm the land claims of ccrtan puebos
and towns IN the territory Of New Mexico The Question
has In the senate whether the aeton Of the House
legitimate under the 22d rule, which provides
Ancr sx deys from the commencement of second or suh
segueni sesxon Of any Congress, AL bulls resclucs aud