The Portland daily press., 1863-02-27
XXXVII UONGREsS.---second Session.
WASHINGTON Feb. %.
cENArE


A resolution was adopted requesting the
President to furnish the correspondence be-
tween the Manchester workrnen and himself
A joint resolution was adopted to facilitate
proper representation of our industrial inter-
ests at the Hamburg National Exhibition.
Mr.. Powell offered resolution to appoint
committee to investigate the conduct of Col
Gilbert in dispensing an assembly at Frankfort,
KY. Laid over.
The bill providing Circuit Courts for dis
tricts in California and Oregon, and for an
other Associate Judge of the Supreme Court,
was passed.
A resolution was adopted instructing the
Military Committee to inquire how many pay
masters, quartermasters and commissaries of
subsistence Of volunteers are required by the
public service, and, inquire into the propriety
OF limiting the number.
The bill to carry into effect the treaty with
Peru was passed.
Mr.. Powell called up the resolution appoint
Ing committee of Investigation relative to
the arrest of Mahoney.
Mr.. Wilson moved to indefinitely postpone
it. Carried-27 against 10.
The bill to organize the engineer corps was
taken up.
Mr.. Grimes opposed 1t.
An amendment was adopted, comforting the
rank Of Brigadier General on senior officers
Of Marine corps, and abolishing the office OF
Colonel Commandant The bill was then re-
committed to the Military Committee.
The bankrupt bill was then taken up.
The CONSUMPTION bill, as reported from the
House, and amendments, was ordered to be
printed.
The Senate then went into executive ses-
sion, after which adjourned.
Mr.. Dawes, from the committee on Govern
ment Contracts, reported the Senate bill with
amendments, to punish frauds, which was
passed. 1t provides that any person employ
ed In the military, militia or naval forces in
time of war, directly or indirectly engaged in
procuring false vouchers, receipts, DC, for the
purpose of obtaining money lraudulently from
the government shall be arrested, tried by
court martial, and on conviction be punished
by fine and imprisonment, as the court may
decide, save death. Any person not in the
military or naval service, on conviction. shall
pay fine of 5000 aud double the amount of
damage the government may have sustained,
and Imprisonment not less than one nor more
than five years.
Mr.. Mcpherson, from the Military Commit
tee, reported back the Senate bill for the APP
.pointment Of additional Major Generals and
Brigadier Generals. The committee proposed
an increase OF Major Generals from 20 TO 40.
Agreed to--SS against So. Also to increase
the Brigadier Generals from 30 to 100. Agreed
to-S9 against AZ. The proviso that no Gen.
eral beyond the authorized number shall be
appointed in any branch of the service, was
stricken out.
Mr. Cox offered an amendment that the
President shall appoint no one except for gal
liant conduct inthe field Adopted-9i against
Al. The bill passed-1l3 against 80.
The House then went into committee on
the amendments to the internal tax bill.
Several amendments relative to the tax on
spirituous liquors were offered and rejected.
Mr. Stevens made a report on the disagree
ing notes of the two Houses. on the bill to
provide ways aud means for the support OF the
Government All points are covered except
the bank clause. The report was agreed to-
yeas II, nays go.
The House insisted on its bank clause dis
agreement, and asked for another committee
of conference.
The House took recess till o'clock.
Erening Sessioa.-The House resumed the
consideration of the amendments to the tax
bill-Mr. Coliax in the chair. Among the
amendments adopted was one taxing steam
engines of all descriptions. including marine
engines, one and one and a half per cent adj
valorem instead OF as in the bill, per cent.
advalorem on marine engines.
Mr.. Lovejoy moved an amendment that
hereafter there shall be no higher duty col
lected on printing paper imported than is ini-
posed in the act to which this is supplement,
in domestic manufacture Of paper
Mr.. Morrill, of VT, said the amendment was
irrelevant before conclusion OF the commit
tee on Ways and Means, as they intend TO
bring in a bill on the subject of paper tax,
which the House could modify to any extent
they pleased.
Mr. Lovejoy withdrew the amendment
Mr.. Fisher offered ssubstitute-for the second
section being the same in substance but more
carefully drafted, which was adopted.
The committee acted on the bill to the end
of the fifth section without making any mate
rial alteration, when they rose and the House
adjourned.