Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-05-12
Conversational.
WAsHINGTON. Nav III.

SENATE-Rev. Mr.. Bowman, OF Indiana,
Il Methodist was elected Chaplain.
The bill equalizing the grade of line and
naval officers was passed.
A resolution nstructing the committee
on the Conduct of the War to inquire into
the Red river disaster, was passed.
The bill for the relief friendly Sioux In
dians was passed.
A resolution for the relief of machinery
contractors was called up.
The bill for the better organization of
Quartermasters Department to be in opera
tlon only until one year after the close of
the rebellion, was passed.
Mr.. Hale reported II bill apDropriating
s 1000 to Commodore Porter and the Office
I'D crew of the gunboat Essex, which dis
troycd the rebel ram Arkansas.
The bill to equaiiZe the grade of naval
officers was passed.
Mr.. Davis offered resolution that the
arrangement made by the President and
Secretary Of War with Generals Blair and
Schenck, concerning their resignation, is
in derogation OF the Constitution, and not
within the powers of the President and
Secretary of War, or either of them to
make.
The bill for the better organization of the
Quarternasters Department was passed.
The conference committee on the bill rel
ative to appointments of volunteer officers
in the navy, requiring confirmation by the
Senate, reported and the report was agreed
to. Also relative to naval appointments and
courts-martial.
The bill to aid Iowa in constructing rail-
roads by land grants was passed.
Adjourned.
HoUsE-The diplomatic and consular ap-
preparation bill was taken up and an
amendment adopted authorizing the Presi-
dent to appoint twenty-five consular pu-
pills.
The Senate's amendment erecting the
Belgian cOnsularship to first class consul,
with Il proportionate increase of salary,
was non-concurrcd in, and committee of
conference ordered.
The bill to secure homesteads on confis-
Gated lands to soldiers and sailors, without
regard to color, was taken up
Fernando Wood opposed it in speech
till the close Of the morning hour.
The joint resolution to drop from the
army rolls all unemployed Generals, was
taken up.
Mr.. Schenck explained and argued in
favor of its adoption.
The House voted on Mr.. CoN's amend
ment, heretofore offered, providing that
whenever any officer shall demand Board
of Inquiry, according to the rules and reg
ulations in such cases, and be willing to
serve, such board shall be forthwith con-
vened; and if the board shall find him COM
petcnt for command in the rank to which
he is entitled he shall be restored to active
service, with full pay; and all officers who
have received the thanks of Congress dur
ing the present war shall be exempt from
the provisions of this act.
The amendment was rejected by 46 to 60.
The House considered Mr.. Kernan's SUBJ
stitute of joint resolution proposing that
a board of three Major Generals, three
Brigadier Generals and Colonels be ap-
pointed to examine and report to the Sec
retary of War as to the competency and
incompetency of unemployed Generals; the
latter to be dropped or remanded to the po-
sitions in the regular army occupied by
them before they were appointed general
officers under the volunteer act.
Mr.. kernan's substitute was rcjected-50
to 60.
On motion of Mr.. Schenck, the previous
question was ordered on the Joint resOlu-
tion which provides that all Major Generals
and all acknowledgements in the military
service of the United States. who, on the
1st of July next, shall not be in the per-
formance of duty in service corresponding
with their respective grades and ranks, and
who shall not have been engaged in such
uuIy OT ScTNlCe lOT IIlTee InOnUllS cO0Jlnu-
ously next prior to that date, shall then be
dropped from the rolls OF the army, and all
the pay and emuluments or allowances of
such general officers so dropped shall cease
from that date, and the vacancies thus occa-
stoned may be filled by new promotions and
appointments, or in other cases; but no of
ficers to be considered or included in the
fore2ing provision whose absence from duty
shall have been Occasioned by wounds re-
ceived or disease contracted in the line of his
duty while in the service of the United
States, or by his beinga prisoner of war in
the hands of the enemy, or under parole;
and any Major General of volunteers or
Brigadier General of volunteers, who may
have been appointed from the regular
army under the authority given in section
4th of the act approved July 22d, 1862, to
auth orize the employment of vol
unteers to aid in the enforcement
of the laws and protection of public prop
erty, and the acts amendatory thereto, who
shall be so dropped from the rolls, shall not
thereby be discharged from the service of
the United States, but shall be remanded to
his position and duty as an officer of the
regular army. The above joint resolution
passed-72 to 45.
The House concurred in the Senates
amendments to House bill establishing
postal money order system.
Adjourned.