Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-02-16
CONGRESSIONAL.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.
SExATE.-The Vice President took the chair
at precisely Ii O'Clock, when Father Boyle, of
the Catholic Church, pronounced the opening
prayer Not Senator occupied seat At the
time, save one, who, during PRAYER, retired into
the lobby. The Vice President raped with
his gavil, and remarked that he could not call
the vacant desks to come to order, and so he
would wait the arrival of the Senators. By II
quarter past l o'clock the Senators had stepped
in, and tn. reading of the journal was COM
menced.
Mr.. Slidell, of La, offered resolution order
ing evening session on Wednesday and Friday,
in order to discuss the Cuba bill. Laid over.
The President presented Mr.. wright'S report
on relation TO the Indian war in W astIington and
Oregon Territories.
The House bill modifying the pay of the army
officers, was taken up and amended, producing
much discussion, chiefly between MessrS. Pugh
aud Davis. Mr.. Pugh's amendment was that
the act of Feb. 1857, be repealed, and the pay Of
all officers of the army be that prescribed by
laws formally in force.
Mr.. Toombs of Ga, supported this view, and
thought the army officers received much more
paw, propOrtionaly, than the same amount of
talent does in any other walk Of life. He csti-
mated that at the purchase price of commissions
in the British army, eutenants place, fresh
from West Point, would be $50, 1000. Mr.. Pughs
resolution was lost-yeas IA, nays Al.
Mr.. Wilson, of Mass, introduced bill to
regulate the mileage of Senators and Represen-
tativcs. 1t gives 10 cents per mile for distances
under 1000 miles; 90 cents for distances be-
tween 1000 and $500 miles, the distances to be
computed by the nearest mail route Referred
to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Clay, of Ala, gave notice that he would
to morrow call up the old soldiers bill from
the House, and have a test vote npOn 1t.
Mr. Crittenden then took the floor on the
Cuba bill.
HousE.-Mr Lafayette Grovenor, the mem
Der elect from Oregon, was qualified and took
his seat.
Mr.. Geo. Taylor, of n. Y, reported pre-
amble setting forth that John Cassin. Of Phila.,
having been duly summoned, has refused to
appear and give testimony before the Senate
COMMITTEES appointed to investigate the accounts
of Mr. Seamen, late Superintendent of Public
Printing, and concluding with a resolution that
the Speaker be directed to issue his warrant
to the Sergeant-at-armS to arrest said CaSsln,
wherever he is to be found, and bring him forth
with before The Bar of the House to answer for
contempt of its authority. The resolution was
passed
The House went into Committee of the Whole
on the State of the Union on the Senate's
amendment to the Indian appropriation bill.
Mr.. Stanton, of Ohio, said that Mr. Garnett
yesterday contrasted the expenditures under
Mr. Fillmores Wing administration, with those
under the present, Buchanan's, during the last
year, greatly to the prejudice OF the present
administration. He had congratulated himself
that he had at last found a genuine aud sincere
apostle of retrenchment and reform, but the
gentleman from Virginia in the next breath had
endeavored to throw the responsibility for the
largely increased expenditures on the minority
with few on the democratic side. Under these
circumstances the idea of his carrying away the
sins of the Democratic party into the wilderness
was altogether out of the question. 1t had
occurred toN him (MT. Stauton) that the confess
sion was the first step toward genuine repent
ancc, but il the majority are not responsible the
country has little to hope for froIa Democratic
quarters.
The amendments to the Indian appropriation
bill were acted on, when the COMMITTEES rose.
A recess was taken till o'clock for the purpose
of general debate.
New York, Feb. l5.-In view of the uncer-
tainty attending the operation of the Atlantic
Telegraph Company, the associated press have
adopted measures to organize an efficient and
permanent news establishment at Cape Race,
4. F., and there is good reason to believe that
from aud after the LIST of May next, very
large majority of all the European steamers
will give their valuable assistance The ar
engagements of the Associated Press will be on
the most liberal scale, and hardly fai!
to obtain the news from Europe in from five
to seven days after the departure of the steamers.
PIrrsBuReu, Feb. I5-Rivcr feet by pier
mark, stationary. Weather wet.