The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-01-17
Thirty-Seventh Congress,
FIRST SESSION.

SENATE.-A NUMBER OF petltlOns were
presented. 5i 9fa hslet.es
MIR. Sumner, from Committee on Federal
Relations, reported the bill on the subject
and the French spoliation claims, with q
recommendation that it be postponed until
the next session.
Mr.. Wilson, from Military Committee
reported House bill making an appropria,
ton of $l50000 for completing the defen:
ses Of Washington.
Mr.. Latham offered resolution that the
Judiciary Committee be instructed to en-
quire into the necessity OF increasing the
fees of the United States Marshal of Cali.
f0rnia.
MIR. Lane of Kansas, offered resolution
to promote the efficiency of the troops serv.
ing in Kansas. Referred.
Mr.. King introduced bill to authorize
the Secretary of the Treasury to issue treas.
ury notes to the amount of 100000, 900 at
7 per cent. interest, and providing for d.
rect tax of $l0,000,000 for the payment oil
the interest prepaid.
Mr.. Sumner moved to take up the House
bill for the relief of the owners of the Brit.
ish ship Perthshire.
Mr.. Hale hoped not. He thought that
England ought to be satiaied wi what we
had already done, at least for the present
The motion was disagreed to.
Mr.. Hale called up the resolution to alter
the rules of the Senate so as to prevent the
making of special orders. The resolution
passed.
Mr.. King offered resolution asking the
Secretary of War to inform the Senate as
to payments made for freight on railroads
in Maryland and Virginia for transporting
in connection with the army.
Mr.. Powell called up the resolution ask.
ing the Secretary of War to answer the
resolution passed at the last session request
ing him to furnish list of all contracts
made since the I'd of March, and the prices
paid, &c.
Mr.. Wilson thought there was not suffi
Gent force in the War Dep ,rtment to au-
swer all the resolutions sent to the Depart
ment. he (Wlson) thought it was better
to attend to the pressing duties of the coun.
try first. -'
The bill providing for the appointing Of
Suffers and defining their duties, &c. was
taken up. The question was on MIR. Gar.
isles motion to recommit the bill with IN.
structions to abolish the Office of Suffer
and provide tobacco ration; after further
discussion, the bill was postponed on the
suggestion of Mr.. Wilson that be would
bring in another bill in regard to the sub
ject which, he thought, would be sarisfac
tory.
On motion of Mr. Clark, the Kansas con.
tested seat case was taken up.
Mr.. COllamer moved that the contestant
Mr.. Stanton, be allowed to be heard before
the Senate on the question.
Motion agreed to. Ayes 80, nays 4
nays, Dixon, Hale, Sumner and Wilkinson
Mr.. Rice called attention to the rules o.
the Senate.
MIR. Fessenden moved to reconsider ths
vote.
Motion disagreed to, and Mr.. Stauntor
appeared and took seat.
HoUsE.-Mr. Stevens, from Committee
on Ways and Means, reported the army ap.
preparation bill. Referred to Committee Of
the Whole.
Mr.. Davis, from Committee on Elections,
made favorable report on the memorial Of
Andrew j. Clements, praying that he be
admitted to seat from the 4th Congress.
sional District of Tennessee. The report
was adopted. Clements was qualified by
taking the oath to support the Constitution
of the United States.
Mr.. Holman, from select committee On
Government contracts, reported resolutions
which were adopted, calling on the Secre-
tary of War to inform the House under
what authority and by whom army supplies
and other property held for military pur-
poses in Utah, were sold, with statement
of the property, its cost and value, and the
amount realized from the sale, with notice,
if any was gwen OF. sale and if any sup
plies were destroyed, by whose direction,
and that the Secretary furnish copy of the
order for that purpose.
Also that the Secretary inform the louise
by whose authority l4O0 troops have been
organized in Colorado, what disposition is
to De made of them, what arms have been
purchased by the Governor of that Terrific
ry, and whether it is the intention OF the
War Department to recognize and liquidate
the debt thus incurred, including the pur-
chase of arms, &c
The House resumed the consideration of
the amendments reported to the House from
the Committee OF the W hole, on the state
of the Union, to the civil appropriation
bill. tas a~...
MIR. Dawes, of the Government Contract
COMMITTEE, said in explanation of his for
mer remarks, that charges on the Treasury
are now such as to nearly reach its bottom
He begged leave to Gail attention to some
OF the facts touching the manner OF the im~
mtnse puoilc expenditures. These be re-.
CITED at some length. sr...sess.,
....to. b..,!, WASHINGTON. Jan. IA!
SENATE.-Several petitions fer the eman.
cipation OF slaves. &c, were presented.
q Mr.. aPowell's resolution was taken up,
asking the Secretary OF War for an answer
to the resolution 10 regard to contracts, SC.
HOusE.-Ehe House resumed the con.
siderati0n from Thursday of the bilito at OIL
ish the franking privilege. 9di 10 40. ~
G Mr. Porter expressed the hope that Con.
gress would distinguish itself by reforming
abuses and making recipients pay postage
on documents, instead OF this being done bv
the public at large. s9af frc5-ti.vEa >
Several other gentlemen expressed their
views upon the subjectoo13 o.aipe'l 2