Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-03-04
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, March 8.
SENATE.


A large number of reports from commit
tees were made, which were concurred
in and the committees discharged.
A resolution was unanimously adopted
asking the Secretary Of War fora statement
of moneys paid the Baltimore & Ohio rail-
road for transportation of troops since the
beginning of the war.
The Post Route bill was taken up and
several amendments were made thereto.
The Tariff bill was then taken up and an
amendment adopted exempting goods i'm
ported for the Sanitary Fair at Chicago
from duty. An amendment was adopted
placing duty of 21a cents per pound on
wrought iron tubes. An amendment was
adopted providing that parties who con-
tracted with Government before the in
creased tariff to deliver foreign goods,
shall be allowed an increase on the con-
tract price. An amendment was adopt
ed reducing the duty on railroad iron from
fifteen to ten cents per hundred pounds.
An amendment was adopted permitting
importation Of machinery for the manu-
facture of hemp and flax fabrics for one
year from the passage of the bill. The
Tariff bill was then passed.
The thanks ofthe Senate were unanimous
ly given to the Vice President for the able
discharge of his duties as presiding officer
of the Senate.
A bill extending the time for the con-
struction of certain land grant railroads in
Michigan, was passed.
The bill regulating fees for inspecting
vessels on the lakes, was passed.
The bill repeating section of the act in
addition to the several acts concerning COM
mercial intercourse between loyal and in
surrectionary States, was taken up. The
section authorizes the appointment of
Treasury agents to purchase and sell pro-
ducts of States in Instruction, with certain
restrictions. An amendment was adopted
requiring the delivery of all captured cot
ton to Treasury agents, vouchers to be CIV
en- to the owners, payable at the end of the
war. An amendment was adopted punish
ing the passing of any rebel bond, note or
scrip. The bill was then passed.
The Senate went into Executive session.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Dawes offered a resolution that there
be paid out of the contingent fund, to the
five claimants Of seats from Louisiana and
three from Arkansas, two thousand dollars
each as mileage. Adopted.
The House then acted on private bills to
prevent the enlistment Of persons charged
with crime in the District of Columbia, as
substitutes in the army and navy, and to
prevent frauds in the district jail in WASH
ington. 1t appears from the report accom-
panying the bill that 20 of the prisoners
in the Jail were recently let out on bail and
sold as substitutes.
The House then resumed consideration
of the report made by Mr.. Pendleton from
the select committee to admit members of
the Cabinet to seats on the floor, to be
interrogated and furnish information
concerning their respective departments.
He proceeded at length to reply to OBJ
jections which had been made to the
bill. He said that if no other good had
been accomplished by the discussion, it
had shown that the executive power ought
not to be increased, and his object was to
restrain it. Consolidation was despotism.
The proposition was constitutional, and if
adopted would elevate the character of
Cabinet ministers, and this he proceeded to
argue at length.
The bill in relation to various military
matters, to which has been added the
Amendatory Enrolment bill, was acted up
on. The House retained the section provid-
ing for mastering out with regiments such
men as had enlisted for uneXpired terms;
also retained the section holding the prin-
cipal responsible for improper substitutes
in certain cases.
The report from the Conference commit
tee proposing the establishment of a Freed
mans Bureau in the War Department, and
for the care of abandoned lands, was agreed
TO, Recess, ~. H '.