The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-02-14
Thirty-Sev EVE Congress.
WASHINGTON, Feb, s.
FIRST SESSION.

FIRST SESSION.
WASHINGTON, Feb. S.
SENATE Mr.. Carlisle moved to take
up resolution offered some time since REL.
alive to the finances of the country. He
said our expenses are now at the rate of
100000 per month. He was opposed
to any union of the Government with
bankers. The resolution was referred to
the committee on Finance.
Bill from Committee on Fnaace, making
appropriations for support of Military
Academy passed without amendment.
Bill to define pay and emolument of army
officers was taken up and amendments OF
Military Committee adopted.
MIR. Sherman said the bill did not meet
the difficulty. A year ago we were physi-
cally weak with no public debt. Now we
are physically strong, but financially weak.
The total amount of expenses for next year
will probably not be less than $3.50 0OO,.
QUO. This greater expense than over was
borne by any nation. The highest expen>
diture OF Great Britain was never $50 900,
600 year, not even in the war with Ma.
poleon.
Mr.. Sherman here quoted from the Lon
don Post, the Government organ, which
said we 1.-THE United States Government
were approaching national bankruptcy. In
his judgment three propositions were need
ed. First the prompt levy of a tax of not
less than $l50,OOOOOO.
Second, careful revision of the laws re-.
gulating salaries and compensations.
Third, rigid scrutiny into the disburse.
ment OF all public funds, and prompt pun
ishment OF every officer taking money or
allowing Others to take it for properly in
the service of which Government does not
receive benefit.
Mr.. King presented several petitions
asking 100000 copies of the agricultural
report be printed in the German language.
HoUsE.--Mr. Conway of Kansas asked
leave to offer the following, to which May
nard objected, and unanimous consent was
required to introduce it:
Resolved, That the President be requested
to furnish the House, if not incompatible with
public interests, with the names of all persons
arrested under the order of any executive off.
Ger without legal process. and confined in any
of the forts or other prisons of this country as
prisoners of war, and the names of the forts or
other prisons. in which said persons have been
and are confined respectively, the date of the
several arrests, together with full statement
of the charges and evidence upon which
they were convicted. also the names of all
such persons who have since been discharged,
the date of their several disch argos and the
reasons for the same.
WASHINGTON, Feb. g.
SFNATE.-A long discussion ensued on
the bill to curtail or tax officers pay, &c.
during which Mr.. Doolittle said that the
people demanded taxation and victory both.
MIR. Doolittle offered an amendment, which
was agreed to, reducing the mileage
of members of Congress fifty per cent. AT.
ter Executive session the Senate adjourned
WASHINGTON, Feb. z.
SENATE--Mr Haines from the judiciary
Committee to whom was referred the Gre
dentials of Benz. Starke, Senior, from Ore
gon and other papers, without expressing
our opinion as to the effect of the papers on
any action OF the Senate, reported that Mr.
| Starke was entitled to take the constitution
al oath of Office
MIR. Trumbull asked leave to file the mi
nority report of the Committee they had
not seen fit report on the testimony given,
and could not agree with the majority OF
the Committee.
Mr.. Horton from the Committee on Pub
lie Lands, reported bill to reduce the ex-
| penses in making surveys and sales of the
public lands.
Mr.. Hale from the Naval Committee re-
ported a joint resolution giving the thanks
OF Congress to Capt Samuel F. Dupont
| nd \ rfT,o for ho wi
at Port Royal. Adopted.
Mr.. Grimes moved to take up the gun.
boat bill. He said that if intelligence which
had come to this city this morning was
true, the bill was not important. The bill
was taken up and amended by the Naval
Committee. 1t appropriates $lO,0OO,0OO
for this purpose.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.
HoUsE-An incidental debate occurred
when Morrill, said the pending bills was re.
ported by only one half of the committee
of ways and means. After further debat e
the Legal tender clause was rejected, ayes
SO, nays "a.
Mr.. Horton offered Morrills substitute
with amendments to the bill rejected, SIS to
90. MIR. Stanton presented a modification
of the original bill, agreed to.
MIR. Holman from the committee on gov
eminent contracts, reported joint resolu-
ton declaring that certain lands were
granted to Missouri on condition that Gov
eminent troops and military supplies be
transported over such railroads as might be
constructed from the sales and the proceeds
thereof free of charge. Init in consideration