The Portland daily press., 1862-12-24
XXXVII OONGREsS.---seoond Session.
SENATE.

XXXVII U0NGRESS.---Second Session.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. Dec. %.
The annual financial report of the Secretary
of the Interior was received. Also a message
from the President, transmitting the report OF
Reverdy johnson, Commissioner at New Or
leans.
The Senate agreed to the House resolution
to adjourn to-day until the first Monday in
January-26 against 13.
Mr.. Howard introduced a bill to amend the
act to amend the Judiciary of the United States.
Referred to the judiciary Committee.
Mr.. McDougal introduced bill to amend
the act to aid in the construction of the Pa
cific Railroad and telegraph.
Mr.. Hale offered resolution that the COM
mittee appointed to inquire into the chartering
Of transports for the Banks expedition, be also
instructed to inquire into the employment of
transports generally by quarternasters and
agents of the War Department, the rates at
which they were engaged, by whom, and for
how long. Adopted.
Mr.. Lane, of Kansas, gave notice of bill
to authorize the President to raise two hun
dred regiments of infantry composed of per-
sons of African descent.
Mr.. Sumner, from the committee on Foreign
Relations, reported bin for the relief of the
Norwegian bark Admiral Tordenshaild
Mr.. Saulsbury's resolution inquiring wheth-
er any troops had been sent into the State of
Delaware at the late election, was taken up
and discussed until the expiration of the morn
ing hour, when the Bankrupt bill was taken
up.
Mr.. Doolittle offered an amendment exempt
ing homesteads when exempt by State laws
where bankrupts reside.
Mr.. Trumbull offered an amendment TO
strike out the words exempting banking and
railroad corporations from the provisions of
the bill for compulsory bankruptcy. He said
the laboring people of Illinois had lost S5.OO0.-
OO0 in less than five years by these banking
corporations. In no way have the people lost
more or been cheated worse.
The amendment was rejected-yeas II, nays
Is.
Mr.. Wade from the committee on the Con-
duct of the War, here made report relative
to the late battle at Fredericksburg, which was
ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Collamer offered an amendment exempt
ing municipal corporations from that provi-
sion of the bankrupt bill. Adopted.
Mr.. Colamer also offered an amendment to
exempt literary, religious and eleemosynary
institutions.
Mr.. Hale objected to exempting charitable
institutions, for he thought no such institutions
ought to get in debt in order to give charity.
The amendment was agreed to.
The Senate then went into executive session,
and on the opening of the doors adjourned to
January 5th.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Pendleton Of Ohio, rising to privileged
question, moved that the protest he offered
yesterday be entered upon the Journal
The Speaker stated that the House had re-
pulsed the entering of it on the journal, and
cited former precedents in support of his de-
cision.
Mr. Pendleton appealed. The Speaker was
sustained-74 against 20.
The House passed the Senate bill to improve
the organization OF the cavalry forces by pro-
viding that each regiment may have two as
sistant surgeons and that the number of pri-
Yates in each company be increased from 20
to 7S.
Mr. Stevens, from the Committee on Ways
and Means, reported the legislative, judicial
and executive appropriation BILL 1t was made
special order for the 5th of January.
The House concurred In the Senate's Joint
resolution for adjournment over the holidays.
Mr.. Collax, from the Committee on Post
Office Affairs, made report on the resolution
to inquire into the expediency of giving the
frankng privilege to Assessors under the In
ternal Revenue law.
Mr.. Blake reported a bill, authorizing the
Postmaster General to establish a postal money
order system. 1t proposed to charge five
cents on ten dollars, ten cents on more than
ten or less than twelve hundred dollars, and
five cents on all additional sums of one hun
dred dollars or less. Duplicates to be issued
when the orders are lost. The bill passed
Mr.. Wilson offered resolution iustructng
the committee TO inquire wether the Superin-
tendent of Census, Mr.. Kennedy, is the author
of the published letter to Jacob Thompson,
etc. with power to send for papers and per-
sons.
Mr.. Cox said that Mr.. Kennedy himself de-
sired an investigation.
The resolution passed.
The House passed resolution granting the
use of its halls to James Z. Murdoch for an
evening during recess, for a reading, the entire
proceeds to be appropriated to the sick and
wounded soldiers.
The House proceeded to the consideration
of the bill for annual treaties with certain
Sioux and Dacotah Indians, and indemniiying
the sufferers by their enormities. The bill
proposes the appointment of commissioner
to hear complaints of parties aggrieyed. 1t
protects the rights and interests OF those In
dians who sought to save the whites from
massacres. 1t proposes to transfer the funds
from the thieves and murderers to the suffer
ers. The bill appropriates Sl,500,000 or as
much thereof as may be necessary.
The question being taken on the passage of
the bill, no quorum voted. The vote was "a
against 1S
The House by unanimous consent went into
Committee of the Whole for debate.
Mr.. Allen of ILL.,, made speech against
sending freed negroes into that State against
its organic law.-Adjourned.