Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-02-12
CONVERSATIONAL. :,
XxxyIIJTH CON GREss.-FIRsT SESSION
FRIDAY, February 12.

RIDA1s eDrudrg IL.
.SENATE-The Vice President announced tLe
new Committee on Man ufactures as follows
MeseIs SpIague, chairman Morgan, PidGie.
hendricks and Henderson,
MT. 1rUmbull presented petitions from the
u. >. judges for Wisconsin, Iowa, Ohio and
other western States in reference to the made
quacy OF their salaries; which were referred to
the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Lane, of Ind, offered resolution, which
was adopted, instructing the Judiciary Com
mittee to inquire into the expectancy of SO
amending the present laws regulating the Su-
preme Court as to confine me decisions to qu-s-
tions of law alone.
Mr. h ddle offered resolution for printing
1900 additional copies of Gen. McCieIians
report for the use Of the Senate; which was re-
f.rred TO The Committee Printing.
MT Foster, from the Committee on Pensions,
reported tavorably on the petition of John M.
Burns, OF Getty sbuTg, citizen who was
wounded in the great battle of that place, for a
pension, with a BILL and Recommending its
passage.
MIR Morrill, presented a memorial from the
president OF the Great Fails Manufacturing
Company praying investigation i'll relation to
tire Government agent condemning their prop
tfty an taking the water at the Great Fails of
the Potomac fer the use of the Washn gton
AqueGhct Referred TO the Committee on the
Dis III u Of Columbia.
Dir Foot called up the bill relating TO the
Office OF Comm ssioller of Public Buildings.
II he hill places the work on the Cap ito the
dCme and Patent Office building, and all ap-
preparations for public buildings and grounds
il the city, except those connected with the
Treasury extension, under the control OF the
Commissioner OF Public Buildings, who is to
give hond in $4,000. He is also TO dishurse the
pay OF the Capitol police, transmit his esti-
mates annually 10 the Secretary of the Treas
urv and his annual report to the President
Mr. i cot explained that from 1874 to 1861 the
construction of these buildings had been under
the supervision of the War Department, SIM
Fly by order Of the esident, with military
engineer i'll charge; but In 1862 they were TT ans
ferred, by resolution offered IN Congress by
himself, 20 the sup rvis ION OF the Interior d.
pa tment. The work being then resumed, Mr..
walter was re-appointed architect, and the
Commissioner OF Publ, Works made disburs.
ing agent, without additional compensation,
until Congress subseq uentiy, az the instance of
the Seert tary OF The Interior, appropriated $500
for lin. All plans and contracts had already
been made, and there were oyerseers in eacn
department of work, aud therefore no need ior
n general superintendent. But since the pres
ent Secretary OF the Interior has come into Of
flee he has appointed one, at salary of $3.50,
with an additional $3.50 for supsrinten ding the
nqaeouCL The Secretary was Influenced with
the desire to facilitate the WORK. ana possible
economy, he had no doubt, bat he did rot see
the necessity for such an officer
He regarded 1t as a siGecnre, rs there was
nothing TO do but what could be as well done
by the officers he had mentioned. The present
sppCintte Is but an agent Of the Secretary of
the Interior, appointed by him and paid out of
the funds appropriated Tor the Department
such salary as he chose to prescribe. He
thought IL better the super vision and disburse-
NEXT of such large sums rs appropriated for
these purposes should only be in the hands OF
an officer whose appointment was made by the
advice of the Senate.
HoUsE.-The House passed the Senate bill to
re establish the principal port ofentry OF Cham
plain at Plattsburg.
On morton OF Mr. Schenck, the further con-
slderation of the enrolment bill was postponed
until two O'Clock.
The committees were called for reports of a
private character.
Mr. Bald win, of Massachusetts,, from the
CoLamlttee on Printing, said the Committee
had been unable TO agree on the fellow resoiu-
ton. which had been referred TO them, namely:
s'Resolred, That there be printed for the use of
the House, the regular number OF copies OF a
Dictionary OF the United States Congress, pre-
pared by the late librarian ST The House Mr..
LanrnaDe and the Clerk OF the House shall pay
snitahle copyright, provided it hall not ex-
coed two dollars a copy: The resolution was
carried
Some time was spent in the consideration OF
private bills.
The House. at o'clock, proceeded to act on
the Enrolment bill.