The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-03-22
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From washington.

| From Washington.
WASHINGTON, March Is, 1S6O.-SENATE.
The chair presented message from the
President communicating additional docu-
ments in reference to the alleged hostilities
on the Rio Grande. They were laid on the
table and ordered. to be printed. A COM
nunication was also received from the Sec
T ,etary of the Treasury transmitting the sta
Sistcs relative to trade with the British North
American Provinces.
Several petitions were presented, the con-
tents of which could not be heard in the re-
porter's gallery.
On motion of Mr.. AstknnY, resolution
was adopted instructing the Post Office Com
mittee to inquire into the expediency of pro
viding by law for the prepayment of letters
by the, penny post.
Mr. Latham introduced a bill to create a
separate commission for tn, inspection of
boilers and machinery of steam vessels.
The bill authorizing the sale of the pub
lie arms to the States, and to regulate the
appointments of the Superintendent of the
National ArmorieS, was taken up.
On motion of Mr.. Davis, an amendment
was adopted that the sales in each year shall
not exceed the. increased manufacture, which
may result from said sales, and if the whole
number to be sold is less than the reausi-
tions made, they shall be divided araong the
States applying pro rata, as the arms filrn-
ished by the United States are now 1istrib-
uted .,s
i Mr.. Simmons moysd to strike out the LIST
section of the bill, which provides for the
distribution of the arms. Not carried, 20. to
%.
Yeas-,Messrs. Anthony, Benjamin, Chan
dler, Clark, Colamer, Dixon, Doolttle, Dur
kee, Fessenden, Foot, Foster, Grimes, Hale,
\ Hamln, Harlan, Sumner, Trumbull, Wade,
Wilkinson, Wilson.
Nays-Bayard, Benjamin, Biyler, Bright
Brown, Clay, Clingman, Crittaadcns Davis,
Douglas, Fitch, Fitzpatrick, Gwin, Hemphill,
Hunter, Iverson, Johnson of Tenn, Kenne-
dy, Lane, Latham Mason, Powell, Rice, Sc
bastian, Slidell, Thompson, Toombs, Wig
fall
Mr.. Douglas moved to strike out the Sec
ond section, changing the mode of superin-
tendence from civil to military
The Chair stated that the motion was not
in order, as the Senate had already voted on
that question.
Mr.. Hale moved to strike out the enacting
clause.
Mr.. Anthony moved to postpone further
consideration of the bill and take up the pri-
vate calendar.
! A bill was passed for the relief of the
American Board Of Con nssioners for For
eign Missions; for the reliefof Jere niah Pen
dergast; for. the relief of Abn II Merrill for
the relief Mela Dennie; for the relief of Sam
uel II. Taylor and heirs; for the relief of
Thomas NJ ,dlen, bill authorizing the in
stitution of suit against the United States
to test the title to csrtf.in lots in Hospital
Square in San Francisco The hill for the
relief OF Thos. Grown was discussed and laid
on table.
On motion of Mr.. Mtson, at o'clock the
Senate went into executive Session to com
plete the unfinished business of yesterday.
Adjourned.
HoUsE.-Mr. Pendlcton offer d pream-
bic, that Whereas the Chairman of the CON-
) mittee on public printing stated on this floor
that the prices for composition now Above |
by law are too large, AMI half pay would be
abundant, and more than sufficient, and
whereas by the terms of a resolution hereto
fore adopted as preliminary to the election
> of a Printer, the House reserves tn right to
' reduce the compensation at any time; there
fore,
Resolyed, That the committee on Printing
be instructed to report bill by which the
prices for composition NOW fixed by law be
b. reduced half that amount.
Mr.. Washbrrn of Me-, objectc if the res
olution would lead to discussion.
Mr.. Houston. presumed it would be no OBJ
lection if the resolution Were changed into
the form Of an inquiry.
Mr.. Pendleton preferred to- let the resolu
ton stand as is He took it for granted tina,
1 the. views Of the Chairman were those of the
: entire committee.
Mr.. Washburn of Me-, objected, saying
that unanimous consent was necessary fol
: its introduction. ... ..
l The House went into committee on the
t amendment to the rules
During the proceedings an Intellectual at
tempt was made by Mr.. Reagan to confnt
5 the discussion in the committee of the Whole
on the State of the Union to the subject pen
Il ding, and spoke of the abuses of the presen,
r practice, and the useless consumption OF
: time, to the discredit of the House.
5 Mr.. Washburn of Maine regarded such
latitude in debate as an essential safety
valve
Mr. Pendleton showed how, by the work
ing of the rules, members are almost entirely
precluded from introducing bills and resolu
tons, while unlimited time is afforded fol
essays on the negro and al! other irrelevant
questions.
v Mr.. Branch said this resulted from tn,