Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-01-20
CONGRESSIONAL.

In rae SENATE, yesterday, on requeet of
Mr.. Hunter, the Secretary read parts Of the
existing pension laws, to which the app,opri-
alton bill is amendatory
Mr.. Stuart moved to amend the amendments
by providing that they remain in force until
repealed by law.
Mr. Hale objected to this mode of attaching
permanent provisions 10 appropriation bills
Mr.. Stuart withdrew his motion, and the bill
On motion of Mr.. Gwin, the Pacific Railroad
bill was taken up.
The motion made by Mr.. Brown to Law the
bill on the table was lost-yes 20, nays SO.
Adjourned.
In THE HOUSE,, Mr. Cobb, from the Commit
tee on Public Lands, introduced bill amenda.
tory of the presumption laws of the United
States, making provision for settlers who may
have occupied lands before they were sur
| veyed, to pre-empt the same; to prevent dis
putes relative to the claims of such settlers
| where more than one may be found to have
settled upon the same tract; and to prevent
| frauds under the presumption acts.
Mr.. Grow moved to amend, preventing the
sale of public lands under Executive procla-
nation until they have been surveyed and the
plats OF the surveys filed in the General Land
| Office for period Of ten years.
Mr.. Jones, Of Tenn, moved to lay the bill
upon the table; not agreed to-yess A, nays
| I2O.
The morning hour having expired, further
| action on the bill was postponed, and the
| Speaker submitted several executive commu-
| nications. Among which was one from the
Secretary of the Navy, in answer to a resolu-
ton inquiring whether the chaplains in the
| Navy were required to conform to the ritual
| of the Episcopal Church, or wear gowns when
| performing religious exercises on board. The
Secretary says that the regulations of the De-
| partment, approved by Congress and the Presi-
dent, require the chaplains to wear gowns, but
no particular church ritual is prescribed. The
wearing of gowns is part Of the uniform regu-
lations of the service.
Another of the communications was from the
President, informing the House that this Gov
| eminent had received no correspondence from
Eogiand and France relative to the acquisi-
ton of Cuba
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole, and took up the Consular and Diplo-
matte appropriation bill.
Mr.. keitt made a lengthy and argumenta-
| tive speech on the acquisition of Cuba. He
did not believe it could be bought, and there
fore, regarded it the duty Of this country to
seize it, to prevent its falling into the hands Of
Franco and England.
| Mr.. Lovejoy moved to strike out of the diplo-
matte bill the appropriations for all the foreign
4 mihsters saidIles, NOT agreed to-ayes %,
| noes SO.
The appropriations for ministers to Persia,
| Buenos Ayes, Switzerland and Rome were
| then stricken out.
Pending motion of Mr.. Burnett to strike
| out all the ministerial appropriations except
| those to ministers to Great Britain, France,
| Russia, Spain, Mexico, China and Paraguay,
| the Committee rose.
The House again went into Committee of the
| Whole. and resuming the consideration of the
Presidents annual message, took a recess un =
| til clock.
In the evening, speeches were made by Mar
| shall Of Kentucky, Goode, Scott and Andrews,
| on general topics, after which the House ad-
iOurned.