Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-02-26
TELEGRA:PHICi.,
CONGRESSIONAL ] REPORT. ] 1.1 ;.

XXXVI1I Congress----First Session
-, s,f.. WASHINGTON, Feb. 1s.
SENArE.-Mr Wilson, from the COMMITTEES
Of Conference on the part of the Senate OF
the enrolment bill made report, which, af
ter partial reading, was ordered to be pre-
sented and made the special order for to
morrow. ero7- ...l. q, -...sy .ET s~f O..
The House provision for $500 commute
ton was agreed to, with proviso that il
shall exempt for no longer period than one
year, and that at the expiration of that time
such person shall again be liable to draft
The bill as reported also provides that free
colOred persons who may be drafted shall not
be assigned as State troops, but shall be
mustered into the service as United States
colored volunteers. r.,r -. .5.545..e-5a.3 re
| Fernando Wood said the resolution was
only for temporary purpose, and he was
opposed to it for the reason that gold was re-
quired as the basis for sustaining the Gov
ernnent. He argued that no nation could
live by borrowing, and where the expendi-
lures exceed the income the result would be
bankruptcy, ruin and reputation.
Mr.. Kasson explained that the resolution
only proposed to appropriate the surplus
gold beyond the wants of the Government.
The petition from citizens of New York
praying for an equalization of soldiers pay,
without regard to color, was laid on the table.
/ A bill was introduced to encourage emf,
grafton and ordered to be printed. liz @
Mr. CONFESS introduced the following Joint
resolutions: -'. -....,f E. ..aa, ..s--4r- --
Be 1t resOzued, 1st., That the Provost Mar
shal General be and is hereby directed to
list oh Cfvn
to enter the Naval service Of the
United States, under such directions as may
be given by the Secretary of War and the
Secretary of the Navy, which enlistment shall
be credited to the appropriate District; pro-
vided, nevertheless, that inasmuch as persons
enlisted in the Naval service receive prize
money, they shall not be entitled to receive
any bounty upon their enlistment.
I'd, That the President of the United States
may, whenever in his judgment the public
service requires, authorize and direct the
transfer of persons who have been employed
in the service and are now enlisted in regi-
ments for land service, from such regiments
to the Naval service, upon such terms and
according to such rules and regulations as he
may prescribe; provided, that the number of
transfers from any company or regiment shall
not be SO great as to reduce such company or
regiment below the minimum of strength re-
quired by the regulations of the military SER
vice, and provided, further, that such sum as
may have been paid to persons go transferred
as bounty for enlistment to the military SER
vice shall be transferred from the recruiting
fund of the Naval service to the credit of the
proper appropriation for the land service
On motion of Mr.. Grimes the following
amendment was added
Be 1T further resolved, That there shall be
paid to each enlisted, able or ordinary sea.
man hereafter enlisted into the service an ad-
vance of ehree months as a bounty to be re-
funded to the Treasury from any prize money
to which such enlisted seaman may be en-
titled.
The joint resolution as amended was
adopted. 4l a.y ..H. ...,
The Senate went into Executive session
and shortly afterward adjourned.
HoUsE.-The bill passed providing for the
government obtaining from the owners Of
Eock Island, Ills., to erect an arsenal. DDS 8.
The House proceeded to the consideration
of the resolution to sell the surplus gold in
the Treasury. .s~ ,...,'.....r.
Mr.. Hooper stated that the amount of gold
on hand Saturday was nearly nineteen million
dollars Estimates show that there will be
on the first of June, about $37, 100000
The requirements for gold from now till the
1st of July, to make payments of interest on
the public debt, will be less than S24 ZOO, 900,
showing an excess of about $4,000, 900,
which may be sold. ----.------------. t .
Mr.. Pendleton, as member of the Com
mittee Of Ways and Means, differed in opin-
ion with the committee The amount to be
realized would be small and offered but little
relief. The Secretary of the Treasury now
has power to buy gold, and he (Pendleton(
would not trust any officer with the power to
sell gold, thus giving him the power to raise
or depress the market at his own particular
pleasure. - sa- taL
Mr.. Mallory, of Ky., announced the fact
that the Secretary has not asked for this
power.
Mr.. Pendleton said in the course of four
months we will have to pay as interest more
than the amount of gold on hand.
Z Mr.. Boutwell,, of Mass, suggested and sup,
authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to
anticipate the payment in gold of the interest
on the public debt at the rate of 6 per cent.
Mr.. Cox advocated the smendment that the
sale of gold shall be by bids, with at least 5
days notice given.
On motion of Mr.. Stevens the resolution
and amendments were recommitted to the
Committee on Ways and Means, to be re-
ported back tomorrow. Lbs Z --.
Mr.. Clay, of KY, introduced bill, which
was referred to the Committee on Ways and
Means, providing that when a special or ex-
press contract has been maoe since Jan. 1st,
1852, or shall hereafter be made upon the
deposit or loan Of 6 Id, for the payment of
such loan or deposit, nothing shall be legal
tender for the discharge of such contract or
of any judgment rendered thereon but gold,
any law to the contrary Notwithstanding.
Mr.. Garfield introduced bill, which was
referred to the Committee on Military Affairs,
to organize regiment of veteran volunteer
engineers. .-. -s 5.aase3 d.
A joint resolution explanatory of certain
acts of Congress relative to the $25 bounty
was reported from the Military Committee
and passed. -s--- ,e..' 3sls
The bill establishing Freedman's Bureau
was taken up. Without action on the bill
the House adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.
OENATE.-1ne Cenate prOceeaeu 10 tne coI'
sideratlon of the report on the enrolment
bill. A debate ensued. -- ... ..s.ls-..
No amendments were made. ,.-
Mr.. Clark, from the Committee on Claims.
presented the petition of Chas. De Hena, and
asked that the committee be discharged from
further consideration and that it be referred
to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. Lane, of Kansas, announced his inten-
ton to introduce bill for the erection of
State House at the seat Of government of
Kansas. 1@'1 ei1 a c'a u
Mr.. Hendricks introduced bill authorizing
the transfer of indictments from District to
Circuit Courts of the United States. Re-
ferred to the Judiciary Committee.
n Mr.. Wilson called up the report of the
Committee of Conference on disagreement to
the enrolment bill. After lengthy debate