Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-02-23
Congressional summarY.

In the United States Senate on Thursday,
petitions were preseatei fol. .an equalization Of
all the soldiers in the army without regard to
color The Agricultural Committee reported a
bill to encourage emigration. IL appoints
Commissioner, of Emigration, ap officer in the
Department Of State. with clerks, &c, who
shall collect aud seud information to Europe
calculated to enlil lhttu the people there on the
benefits Of emigration TO this country also for
the establishment OF an EN- grant office at New
York. The report Of the Cunmittee oil Confer
ance on the enrolment bill WIS presented and
motion to print was lost. MIR. Conness introdu-
ced joint resolutions providing for the enlistment
Of citizens into the naval service, and authoriz-
ing the President to transfer soldiers to the ma
val service at his discretion and providing for
an advance pay of three months to every sailor
enlistng in the naval service, to be refunded out
Of prize money which may become due to such
sailor. The Senate then adjourned.
In the House Of Representatives, on Thursday
q bill was passed to provide for the purchase OF
Rock Island, Illinois, for the purpose Of erecting
sn arsenal, MIR. Clay, of Kentucky, introduced
q bill, which was referred to the Committee Of
Ways and Means, providing that where contracts
have been made since the first of January, 1869,
to be paid in gold, nothing but gold shall be a
legal tender thereof any law to the contrary not
wlthstanding. bill was introduced to organ
iLe regiment Of veteran volunteer engineers.
A long discussion took place on the joint resol-
utiOn to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury
to sell the surplus gold in his possession. MessI s
Hooper, of Massachusetts, Stebbins, of New
York, Garfield Of Ohio, ard others favored the
resolution.
In the U. s. Senate on Friday, Mr.. Hendricks
Introduced bill authorizing the transfer of iu-
dictments from the District TO the Circuit Courts
OF the United States MIR. Foster, bill to pro
vide for the renting of abandoned lands and
houses IN insurrectionary States, for the care
and employment Of persons therein set free by
the proclamation Of the President The Com
mittee on Naval Affairs WAS instructed 10 INQUIRE
into the expediency Of establishing Navy-ya
at New Castle, Delaware. The report of the
Committee Of Conference on the enrolment bill
was called up, and lengthy discussion ensued
| principally upon the Communication clause The
report OF the committee WAS cOncurred in, aud
the Sen lte adjourned until Tuesday.
The House Of Representatives insttu ,ted the
judiciary Committee to investigate the charges
contained in memorials against the Hon. A. q.
Miller, Judge of District OF Wisconsin, The bilb
on the private calender, except one appropria-
ting about SIC, 900 for houses destroyed in Vir-
glnia by military authority, which was postponed
for one week, The Military Committee report
ed the Senate joint resolution relative to the
transfer of persons from the military TO the
naval service. which was passed. The Com
mlttee on Printing reported adversely on print
ing fifty THOUSAND additional copies Of General
MoCleian's report. and ten thousand additional
copies were ordered. The bill 10 establish A
Bureau for Freedmens Affairs was taken up and
discussed until the expiration of the morning
hour. The Committee on Ways and Means re-
ported unfavOrably upon the resolution author.
izing the Secretary of Treasury to sell surplus
gold. The report of the Committee of Conferance
upon the Enrolment bill was adopted. Adjourn.
ed nntil Monday