The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-28

The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate a letter
from the Secretary of the Smithsonian institution
muncating the annual report of the operations expen-
dtures and condition Of that institution for year 1857
Mr.. PEARcE moved that the report be printed, and
that ten thousand extra copies be printed twenty five
hundred of which shall be for the of the institution
and tho motion referred to the COMMITTEES on Print
ing.
AEMoRIAn, PETITIONS, ETC.
Mr. TooMBS presented resolution of the legislature
of Georgia. in favor of the enactment of law to relin
qush the Indian title to certain Indian reservations in
that State which referred to the Committee In
dian Affairs.
Mr. IvERsoN presented the petition Of Elizabeth
Spear widow of Thomas Williams, who was killed in
battle, praying to be allowed pension which
ferred to the Committee Pensions.
Mr. GREEN presented the petition of citizens of Ne
braka in that portion of the Territory lying upon the
Missouri river and between the mouth of the Big Sioux
and the Running Water rivers praying that that tract of
country may be attached to- and form part of the Terri
tory Of Dacota which referred TO the Committee
Territories.
Mr. RICE presented the petition Of citizens of St. Paul
Minnesota praying permission to enter small strip Of
government land lying within the corporate limits Of
that city which referred to the Committee Pub
lie Lands.
Mr.. POLK presented petition of citizens of New
York. praying that the public lands may be laid out in
farms lots of limited size, for the free and exclusive
use of actual settlers which was laid on the table
REPORTS COMMITTEES.
Mr.. HUNTER, from the Committee ON Finance, te
whom referred the bill making appropriations for the
legislative executive and judicial expenses Of the gov
ernment for the ensuing fiscal year, which had been
turned from the House of Representatives with sundry
of the Senate amendments disagreed TO, reported the bill
back and recommended that the Senate insist upon its
amendments, and ask committee Of conference; which
agreed to, and Messrs FirzPAraICK, PEARcE, and
TRUMBULL were appointed
Mr.. STUART, from the Committee Public Lands, to
for surveying the public lands in the Territory of Wash
ngton reported it back with amendment, and recon-
mend its passage.
Mr.. S.. from the committee, to whom was refer
red the bill from the House of Representatives for extend
ing the land laws of the Cascade mountains in Ore
gon and Washington Territories reported it back with
out amendment and asked its immediate consideration
and objection being made it was read third time
and passed.
Mr. FOSTER from the Committee on Pensions, report
ed bill for the relief Of Ebenezer Kicker which was
read and passed to second reading
MIR. HALE, from the Committee Naval Affairs to
whom referred the bill from the House of Represent
atves for the relief of b. W. Palmer and Others reported
it back with amendment in the form of substitute
and asked its immediate consideration. The amendment
was agreed to- and the bill read third time and
passed. the title being amended to read follows
San act relating to the compensation of pursers assist
ants sna clerks Of commandments and yards.''
Mr.. H. from the same committee, to whom
ferred the petitions of Walter Nexsen and Henry s.
alton of the same both the provided for by
the bill which had just been passed which agreed
to-
Mr.. HARLAN from the Committee on Public Lands.
to whom referred the bill for the relief of the pur
chasers of public land within the timber opposite
Fort Keaey and for the settlers within the Winnebago
agency reservation the Fort Atkinson reservation and
the timber opposite Fort Crawford all in the
State of Iowa, reported it back with amendment, and
recommended its passage.
Mr.. CLAY, from the Committee Commerce, to
whom were referred the memorial of members of the
board of marine surveyors of PHILADELPHIA in relation
a breakwater on Grow Shoal the memorial of 4. b.
Bishop praying appropriation to test the utility of
dredging machine, and the memorial of William A.
Vaughan, John Smith, William d. Little and Nathaniel
bennett r., reported adversely thereon
Z Mr.. GREEN from the Committee on Territories, to
whom were referred the memorials of citizens Of Iowa.
relative to granting license to Lewis A. Thomas to
tablish ferry across the Missouri river and of Giles s.
Isham praying grant of land in Arizona condition
taking certain settlers there submitted adverse reports
thereon.
Mr.. DIXON, from the Committee to Audit and Con-
troll the Contingent Expenses of the Senate asked to be
discharged from the further consideration OF the resou-
tion to pay Willis A. German for his services in investi
eating alleged frauds of Superintendent of Indian Af
fairs and that it be referred to the Committee Indian
Affairs; which agreed to-
Mr.. MALLORY, from the Committee on Naval Affairs,
submitted adverse report on the claim of Elbrdge
Lawton.
Mr. IvERSON, from the Committee on Claims asked
dl6chaRed the Iurtner
port of the Court of Claims in the of Jacob Bgeow
administrator of Francis Cazeau and that it be referred
to the Committee Revolutionary Claims which was
agreed to.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
On motion by Mr. COLLAMER, a resolution was
adopted directing the Secretary of the Navy to inform the
Senate the time at which each of the vessels of the navy
but the original cost thereof and the amount and
time of the repairs each, exceeding five thousand dol
lars at time also the present condition OF each as to
competency for service, and where the same
On motion by Mr.. IvERSON, resolution adopted
the Committee Military Affairs to inquire
into the expediency of reporting amendment to the
army appropriation bill, providing IN appropriation to
authorize the Secretary Of War to adopt and apply on
limited scale to tho present future of the United
States, the late Improvement in firearms OF Capt j. n
Ward.
On motion by Mr.. HANIIN, resolution adopted
directing the Secretary of War to communicate to the
Senate any Information in his possession showing the
necessity of improvement in the Potomac river in the
District Of Columbia what the distractions in the river
now cost the annually, and his opinion upon
the necessity or expediency of said Improvement
On motion by Mr.. TRUMBULL, resolution
adopted directing the Postmaster General to inform the
Senate whether the book published by John c. Rvcs in
1857 entitled Iist Of Post Offices in the United States
with the names of postmasters on the 18th OF July
1857 also the Regulations and Laws of the Post Office
Department compiled from the records of that depart
ment by d. D. r. Leech, is recognised by the depart
cnt as containing correct copies OF its regulations in
at the time of its publication, and whether said
book is furnished to the deputy postmastes and post
Office agents for their government in the discharge OF
their official duties also the same information In re-
gard to the book published by George Gideon In 1892
com lied by the said d. d. r. Icech, and entitled List