Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-03-14
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at II o'clock:
Mr.. GOODE of Virginia, offered resolution re,
qucstng the Speaker to inform the Governor OF
Va that vacancies exist in the I'd and 9TH Con-
gressional districts of Virginia by reason of the
resignation of the Hon. II. II. Whitfield and Hon.
VIM. &. RiveS. Agreed TO.
Mr.. McMULLEN, Of Va, asked that the rule be
suspended for the purpose of taking up billto
amend the tax law. lie called the yeas and nays.
The House refused to suspend the rules-yeas "a,
nays 2S.
Mr.. SNEAD, Of Mo-, under a suspension of the
rules called up bill for the relief of Major Jno.
Reid OF Missouri, which considered and passed.
The special order, viz: the Senate bill ''to amend
the law in relation 10 impreSSments," WAS taken
up considered and passed.
The CHAIN laid before the House communca-
tion from the President, StatAs that Inc has now
under consideration an act to diminish the number
OF exemptions and details in which there are two
features which would, in practise, SO impair It's ef-
fciency as to counterbalance, ii not to outweigh,
the advantages contained in its other clauses viz
LIST. The oZemption from all military service Of
skilled ar1izaus and mechanics 10 the employment
of the Government, who are many thousands in
number, fnrm very important aud Indispensable
portion of the local defence tfO0ra.
I'd. The revocation of exemptions and details
heretofore granted by the President, and the pro-
hbitipg of the granting of all such exemptions
hereafter and which he asks may be amended By
Congress.
Mr.. MILES, of S. c., presented bill 'to amend
the aSt 10 limiDish the numDeH OF exemptions aud
details" in accordance with the recommendation
contained in the Presidents message.
The bill was considered and passed.
(rhe bill authorizes the President TO detail such
persons for employment in the several Departments
as the Heads of such Departments shall certify TO
be indiSpenSabIy necessary provided that the total
number in all the Depart meats shah not exceed l0Q
parsons lit for active service in the field limits the
exemption of skilled Nrtizans and mechanics to ser
vice in the field and not fOF service in the local de-
tspCe.l
The Chair also laid before the House q oommuni-
cation from tbs President stating that he returned,
with his approval an act to regulate the business Of
conscrptiOn and recommends that the Sth section,
which provides for the appointment OF board of
surgeons 10 examine and finally discharge IRON
vice. persons who are permanently disabled, many
Of w6m are Competent ~ perform VALUABLE service
at pas, or evenn active operations, be repealed,
or modified.
On motion of Mr.. GOODE of Va, the message
was referred 10 the Special Committee on impress
meJts
JOINT resolution of thanks TO and for the relief OF
Major Casper Tochman, formerly OF the Polish
Army, was considered and passed by vote of yeas
Il ~, nays I.
| MIR MILES under a suspension Of the rules, re-
ported from the Committee OIL Military Affairs, a
Senate hill to extend act entitled an act 10 gradu
ate the pay Of general officers approved June 10th,
| 1864, Passed.
Also Senate bill to.proyide for the organization
| OF a Bureau Of Inspection. -
Senate bill 10 provide for the appointment OF a
| Solicitor OF the War Department, and Senate bill
| authorizing the Ordnance Bureau TO manufacture
alcohol, which were laid on the table.
| Mr.. MILES, from the same committee, offered a
resolution calling for the printing of the report OF
the operations of Gen. }. L. Johnston. Agreed TO.
| On motion OF Mr.. MARSHALL, the House took
| a recess till aud hdf O'Clock.