Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-02-19
LATE NEWS.


WARRINGTON. Feb. 1Yth.--hOUsE-Ab bill
granting pension Of fifty dollars per month
to the widow Of the late Gen. Gaines was
passed.
The Senate's amendment to the House
Agricultural College bill vas next taken
up.
Mr.. Cobb moved to table the bill. Lost
bp lOs TO 95.
The Ssnate's amendments we're concurr-
| Cd In.
The House also agreed to the Senate's q
mendment to the bill for relief to the widow
Of Commodore Parker, and then went into
. committee on the Senate's amendments to
the Indian Appropriation Bill.
The amendments transferring the Indian
Bureau from the Interior to the war de-
partment WAS debated at length and was
rejected.
The action Of the committee was finally
reported to the House. Concurred in and
adjourned.
WAanInGron, Feb. l7th.--SENATk-Mr
Hunter, from the Finance Committee. repor-
ted the Executive. Legislative and Judicial
Appropriation Bill.
Mr.. Mason from the Committer on Foreign
Relations. moved 70 print the report of the
u. s. Commissioner TO Vaneouver's Island.
Agreed to.
Mr.. Wilson's resolution, recently laid over
called for detailed information respecting
Mr.. Butteefeld's Overland Mail contracts,
was taken up ard rgreed to.
disposed Of
Mr.. Wade, of Ohio, moved to postpone
all prior orders, and take up the Home.
stead bill
Mr.. johnson, Of Tennessee, also urged it.
Messrs. Wilson and Shields desired u vote
and Messrs Reid and Hunter wished it
postponed, but'the bill was taken up, 26 to
"a, and read
Mr.. Hunter agsin moved to take up the
Consular and the Diplomatic Appropriation
bill.
Mr.. Stuart demonstrated against this
crowding off the Homestead bill by an
Appropriation bill which was sure to
pass.
Some time was occupied in arranging
the precedence Of business.
Mr.. Seward urged vote on the Home
stead bill - . measure that would settle
definitely the policy with respect to the
public lands, and would rescue them from
being held by spectators and capitalists to
the detnment Of the interests Of labor.
HousE.-The sergeant-at-arms, pursuant
to previous orders Of the House. produced
John Csssin, of Philadelphis, who had been
summoned, but failed to appear, before the
select committee to investigate the account
Cf Mr.. Seaman, the late Superintendent Of
Public Printing. He was arraigned at the
bar of the House under the attachment for
contempt.
On motion of Mr.. Geo. Taylor, chairman
of the committee, the Speaker was directed
to PROFOUND to Mr.. Cassin, what excuse he
had to give, and whether he was now ready
to appear before the committee and answer
all proper questioDs.
Mr.. Csssin answered by . written state
ment under oath, that on being summoned
by the Seargent at-arms onlthe 9th inst, he
Immediately prepared to attend as required
but allowed himself to be delayed few
days owing to the illness Of . near relative.
He had now come and voluntarily surrend
ed himself. He meant no disrespect to the
House. and begged to be excused from any
apparent or actual dereliction, and was
ready to testify before the committee. Hsv-
ing purged himself from the alleged con.
tempt, on motion Of Mr.. Taylor he was dis
charged from custody.
Mr.. English called up the bill regulating
the postage on newspapers and periodicals.
He said it had been reported extensively
through the press that this bill proposed to
tax newspapers passing in exchange This
vas not the fact The design was that pc
riodical dealers shall receive their mail
matter ON the same terms - regular sub
scribera Another section authorized maps
and Autographs TO be carried 1t one cent
per ounce or fraction of IN ounce. Hereto
fore such matter has been excluded from
the mails. The third section proposes to
punish persons taking letters out of the of
fee by mistake, but wilfully or fraudulent
ly neglecting to return them; also persons
who, in like manner. failed to apply money
handed them for the prepayment Of postage.
DC. There is at present no adequate law to
punish such offences. The bill proposes .
fine Of 800 or Que years imprisonment or
both. The bill was passed.
Mr.. English made On Intellectual effort to
consider the bill to abolish the franking
privilege.
The House went into committee, John
Cochrsne Chairman.
The Army Appropriation bill was taken
up.