Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1864-07-01
CONGRESS.

MONDAY, June 20.
the Secretary to amend the contract with Mr. Eric
son for the construction two floating batteries
The bill to prohibit the discharge of persons from
liability to military duty, by reason of the payment
Of money then came up Mr.. Brown offered an
| amendment, the effect of which is to authorize the
enrolment the friendly Indians for the protection
of the border States aud frontiers After some dis
cussion the bill was laid over. A message was re-
/ ceiyed from the President relative to Mexican af
fairs, and also one relative to the Arguelles
A report of the Committee of Conference on the
Legislative and judicial Appropriation bill was con-
CURED IN. Mr.. Morrill, introduced bill authorizing
the sale of custom houses wharves, docks, 6e.
when Iot needed as such. The bill to repeal the
Communication clause in the conserption act was again
taken up andlts consideration occupied the remain
| der of the session
HoUsE,-The Committee on Elections reported
that j. G. Scott ofMissouri, entitled to retain his
seat. The report was laid over. The Committee
on Post offices instructed to INQUIRE into the ex
pediency Of repeating the law prohibiting the carry
/ lug ofnewspapers In the overland Pacific mails
Mr.. Ross, ofltinois, introduced resolution grant
ing the same pay as Congressman to persons arrest
! ed without process of law and released without
trial. Laid over. The bill making appropriations
for certain civil expenses of the government was
considered in Committee of the whole but was not
disposed OF. AT the evening session the committee
on Naval Affairs was instructed to inquire into the
1
ulation of pay to mechanics and others in the Navy
yards according to rates paid in private shipyards-
/ The Judiciary Committee reported in the case of
/ William 4orkum that the proceedings were reg
ular. and his Imprisonment the result of the SEN
/ tenee Of the court martial which tried him.
| TUEsDAY, June 81
| SENATE-Fhe Naval COMMITTEES reported the ioint
resolution to amend the contract with Captain John
Ericsson for the construction of the two iron eads
1 Dictator and Puritan The bill to secure to per
sons IN the military and naval service of the United
States homesteads on forfeited estates in ipsnren
tonary districts was also reported The Interconti-
mental Telegraph bill then taken up and was de.
bated at length. motion postpone until Decanl.
Der was rejected, and the bill was passed after the
clause granting subsidies was stricken out The
Military Committee reported the bill repeating the
?5U0 exemption clause IN the Conscription act and
the Senate then took recess until p. NJ The
evening session was consumed in the consideration
of District of Columbia business
| HoUsE-Ihe Military Committee reported ad.
versely upon the petition of certain citizens who had
been confined in rebel prisons TO be allowed the same
pay ana ratlons as U. 5. soldiers. A joint resolu-
ton Tor the relief of the widow Of Spencer Kellogg
who was executed as spy by the rebels was report
'el ana passed. 1he Senate bill for examination
as to the morals and business qualifications of COM
miSsales, quarermasters paymasters and assistant
paymasters was passed. Seyeraloher military bills
were reported. The Committee Of Conference on
the Legislative Executive and Judicial Appropria-
Schenck, from the Committee Military Affairs re-
ported bill relative to the draft After consider
able discussion, the first section repealing the $500
Communication, was stricken out several other amend
nents were offered, but without coming to a note,
the House took recess. At the evening session
the Pacific Railroad bill was considered, without ac
ton.
SEyATE.-A resolution instructing the Committea
on Foreign Reations to report upon the expedieney
OF extending the Reciprocity treaty to Central British
America was laid over. The House bill authorizing
negotiation with certain Indian tribes in Oregon for
the rehnqnlshmeat of certain rights secured to them
by treaty was passed. motion to take up the bill
tor the repeal of the Fugitive Slave law was rejected
Ihe bill to prevent military interference in elections
was considered, and after being somewhat amended
passed. The bill AUTHORIZING the transfer Of nor
sons from the army to the navy was also passed Al
so the bill appropriating $4,000 to compensate the
officers and Of the gunboat Essex for the capture
OF the rebel ram Arkansas. Also the bill to estab.
lish navy yard at Cairo The bin relative fo the
contract of John Ericsson for building the ronclads
Puritan and Dictator, then considered and at the
evening session was passed. The bill for the relief
OF contractors for machinery, &C., was discussed at
length.
HousE.-The House passed q resolution 10 CON
eude the session the S0th. The Committee on
Elections reported a resolution that Chas w. Carri-
gan IS not, and NJ Russell 1hayer is entitled to the
seat from the fifth district of Pennsylvania report
was also made IN the Arkansas election cases with
resolution providing for the appointment by the
President of Commission of three persons TO visit
the nsurreconary States and report TO the President
whether the loyaists have formed State government
sc. 4 minority report was also presented The
subject viii be considered on Saturday. The Com
mlttee on Elections reported a resolution that John
Kline is not, and Leonard Myers is entitled to the
seat from the third district of PENNSYLVANIA The
Pacific Railroad bill was considered without final ac
ton, and then in Committee ofthe Whole the $780,
I IN hi Iltrac fox
were offered, and the discussion ofthe bill consumed
the remainder of the session.
THURSDAY, June %.
SENATE.--Alr Collamer reported back the House
Post Route bill with various amendments and Il was
passed Mr.. Wilson reported back the House bill TO
amend the act to provide for the payment for horses
and other property destroyed in the military service
Passed. Mr.. Cowan reported the bill to result the
duties on good imported for the Sanitary and Chris
tan Comission fairs, with substitute remittng the
duties simply for the Chicago Sanitary Fair and it
was passed. Mr.. Trumbuli reported a bin for hail in
certain cases of Military arrests with an amendment
limiting the taking of bail to the several Conrts Of the
United States. The original bin included State
Courts He also reported adversely the bill to pro-
vide tor claims against the Government for iniurv and
destruction of property by the army or by military
authority during the Rebellion. Mr. Harrisrenorted
the bill prescribing the time within which indictments
may be found against persons charged with crimes
against the laws of the United States. The House
~ ASpetl tHe fuBltYe DlaVe law came the
special order. After debate, the bill was passed
Yeas q, Nays II. The motion to reconsider the bin
passed yesterday, to prevent military interference in
elections, was taken up. Without concluding. the
senate took recess. The evening session was de-
voted to discussionofthe $500 Communication clause
| HoUsE,-The House passed the Senate bill amend
atory of the law of March, 1863 which extends the
time within which patentees who have neglected il
may pay the final balance fees within six months from
the passage of this act to secure their patents The
House in the Committee of the Whole on the States
of the Union resumed the consideration of the new
loan bill. A long debate ensued The Committee
acted ON and agreed to Mr. Stevenss substitute for
the first section--Yeas ", Nays 81. The House,
however, at subsequent stage of the PROCEEDINGS
refused to in the action of the Committee. by
vote Of 50 against so. The House also refused to
concur IN Mr., Pomeroy's substitute for the second
section, by A against 81. The bill was then passed
without division tha YaaS aoJ NJ.