The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-02-17
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
ssth CONGREss-sECOND SESSION,
WASHINGTON, Feb. II, 1865.

SENArE.-Mr. Foote offered a resolution,
which was referred to Committee on Printing,
providing for the publication of compilation
Of the provisions of the constitution and the
laws passed in pursuance thereof, respecting
etxra sessions of the Senate and House.
Mr.. Sumner asked leave to call up the report
of the Committee of Conference on the Freed
mans bill. Decided in the affirmative-25
yeas, II nays.
Mr.. Sumner moved to make the bill special
order for Monday noon. 1t was 80 ordered.
Mr.. Henderson presented the memorial of
the Missouri Legislature praying that soldiers
enlisted for unexpired terms be discharged
when their regiments are mustered out
Mr.. Wade, from Committee on the Conduct
of the War, presented the testimony of Gen.
Grant on the subject of the exchange of pris-
oners, which was read.
Gen. Grant appeared on the floor of the
Senate at 10 O'Clock, and was introduced to the
members severally.
Mr.. Wilson offered q resolution, which was
sion on the evenings of Tuesday and Wednes-
day next, for the consideration of executive
business.
Mr.. Wilson stated that there was between
1890 and 1900 nominations awaiting the action
of the Senate.
Mr.. Clark presented the credentials of Hon.
Aaron H. Cragin as q Senator from New
next, which were read.
The consideration of the legislative, judicial,
and executive appropriation bill, was resumed
from yesterday. The question required on the
motion to increase the appropriation for trav.
cling expenses of United States Judges of
California from 81 900 dollars to $4,000.
On motion of Mr.. Sherman it was fixed at
$1,000.
Mr. Salisbury said he had seen Gen. Grant
for the first time this morning, on the floor of
the Senate and it seemed to him that he
(Saulsbnry) that the President had made a
great mistake in appointing him to that high
position that man who did not know how to
cut swell better than he ought not to be Lieut..
General. Why, there was not q Lieutenant of
could not keep up bigger style than this man
whom the President had injudiciouslyappointed
Lieut. General. There was not Lieutenant
or Provost Marshal that Mr. Stanton sent down
to keep the people of Delaware from voting
that could not cut better swell than General
Grant, He GSaulsbury) thought this fit sub
ject TOR the consideration of the Senate.
Uaughter.)
Mr.. Hale moved an amendment to increase
the salaries of oil Assistant Secretaries and the
Second and Third Assistant Postmasters to
81, 500 from and after the next fiscal year.
Mr.. Collamer demanded the yeas and nays.
He said if the Senate commenced increasing
salaries there was no telling when it would
stop. More greenbacks would have to be
question was decided in the affirmative. Yeas
81. NAYS Is.
Mr.. Wilson offered as an amendment to the
bill the following proposition, that from and
after the first daJ of March, 1885, the commu-
tation price of the ration for officers in the field
below the rank of brigadier general shall be
fifty cents-that thereafter there shall be no
In tow <oA
GERS in the army, and that all volunteer officers
who shall continue in the service until the close
of the war shall receive three months pay on
being mustered out of the service.
Mr.. Sherman did not like to see such a pro-
vision in his bill. and at his suggestion Mr..
Wilson withdrew it, with the understanding
that it would be offered as an amendment to
the army appropriation bill.
Mr.. Collamer offered an amendment to appro-
plate SIC, 900 for improving and charging the
Congressional library. which was adopted.
The bill as amended was reported to Senate
and passed.
The Senate went into executive aession.
WASHINGTON, Feb. IL, 1865.
SENATE.-Mr. CONFESS called up the bill to
establish mail steamship service between the
United States and China. The bill provides
that the Postmaster General shall have power
to contract with any company who will agree
for the lowest price to establish line of steam.
ships and make 20 round trips between San
Francisco and China per year. The contract
to go into effect on the first day of January
1867. Bill passed-yeas rs, nays IL.
Special order being the report of the Con-
ference Committee.on the Freedmen's Bureau
bill was then taken up. The report was read
but no action taken.
Mr.. Sherman's motion to take up the House
Joint Resolutions reducing the duty on i'm.
ported paper prevailed. The question was
upon the amendment of the Senate Committee
on Finance to strike out three and insert fif-
teen per cent
The question then required on the amend
ment of the Finance Committee to make the
duty Is per cent. This was agreed to by yeas
so, nays Is.
The question was then taken on the final
passage of the resolution as amended by strik-
ing out three and inserting fifteen per cent. 1t
was decided in the affirmative
The Senate then went into executive session,
and soon after adjourned.
Much time was consumed in considering
an amendment to exempt Bibles and Testa-
ments or volumes containing only parts of
either and paryer books from any duty or tax.
This was agreed to. The same section also
exempts from duty or tax arithmetics, spell
ing books, biographies, grammars and school
books of all kinds used in common and pri-
mary schools, and all books printed exclusively
for the use Of Sunday Schools; provided it