Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-12-27
Congressional Proceedings.

ton calling for information in regard TO the
employment of persons in the Treasury De-
partment, who have not taken the oath OF
allegiance, and whether there are persons
employed and paid for offices not provided
by law, was taken up, amended and passed.
Mr.. Wilson called up bill TO protect the
freedmen in the lately rebclllous States. 1t
declares that all laws heretofore IN force IN
such States, whereby and inequality of civil
rights and immunities among the inhabl-
tants, on account of race and color, exist,
are null and void In THE HOUSE, Mr..
Schenck reported joint resolution that the
President be requested to suspend any order
mastering out the officers OF the Veteran
Reserve Corps until Congress shall have
time to consider the subject and take some
legislative action as to the future disposition
to be made of said Corps After some de-
bate the resolution, under the operation of
the previous question, was passed, yeas III;
nays So Mr.. Steven 5 resolution, as amend
ed by the Senate, was taken up and passed
without debate also one directing the Com
mittee on the death of President Lincoln to
take into consideration the expendiency of
completing the Washington Monument,
and dedicating it to the memories of both
Washington and Lincoln. Resolutions on
Negro Suffrage were introduced by Mr..
Farnsworth of Illinois. After refusing to
lay them on the table (yeaS, 43 nays, lI3, J
the House referred them to Select Com
mittee.
In THE SENATE, on the 18th, a resolution
was offered instructing the Committee on
the Judiciary to consider the expendiency
Of adopting the Eight Hour rule in all en-
ployments and places within jurisdiction of
Congress 1t was laid over informally
The remainder of the session was occupied
in addresses upon the death of Senator Col
amer of Vermont by his colleagues Mr.
Foot, Mr.. Harris, Mr. johnson, Mr.. Fes
sender, Mr.. Dixon, Mr. Riddle, Mr. Sum
ner and Mr.. Poland Resolutions were
passed, and the Senate adjourned till Mon
day as mark of respect to the deceased.
In THE House. the Committee on Recon-
struction and the admission of claimants
from the Rebel States was announced by
the Speaker 1t was voted (if the. Senate
| conour) that the two Houses adjourn from
| Dec, 20 to Jan. 9-the vote being 90 to 81.
Bills were passed appropriating $50, 900 to
refurnish the White House, and SIS, no.
| 600 for the payment of invalid and other
pensions. A resolution for printing %, 900
| extra copies (instead of 250, 900, as first pro-
| posed of Gen. Grants report was passed.
MIR. Henderson of Oregon offered resolu-
ton that treason Is crime and ought to be
punished, which the House adopted by a
unanimous vote-l53 yeas. A resolution
was passed to inquire into the expediency of
establishing National Bureau of Educa-
tion without limit Of race or color Onmo
tion of Mr.. Wilson of Iowa, the House
adopted resolution substantially the same
as the latter clause of the Stevens resolution
rejected by the Senate, providing that all
papers relating to claimants from the Rebel
States, be referred without debate to the
Joint Committee of Fifteen, and that no
| persons be admitted as representatives from
such States till the final report of that Com
| mlttee.
In THE SENATE, on the 18th, the petition
of Vice Admiral Farragut and LOO other
naval officers for increase of pay, was pre-
sententcd and referred Resolutions were
passed to pay Mrs. Collamer the amount
due her late husband and to expend $780,
| 600 for the support of destitute Indians.
| Mr.. Wilson offered resolution for COM
mittee in reference to retiring regular officers
who had rendered no meritoriors service dur
ing the war, and filling the vacancies thus
created from regular, veteran reserve, or
volunteer officers of distinction which was
referred. The House bill to refurnish Ex-
ecutlve Mansion was passed. The Commit
tee on Commerce was instructed to report
| vessels sold under foreign flags during the
| war. MIR. Doolittle introduced a bill to al
low persons in certain cases to act as grand
and petit jurors Notwithstanding they may
have formed opinions on the matters in
question. Resolutions were adopted of re-
| spect to the memory of President Lincoln,
| and directing memorial ceremonies on the
l2.h Feb. Bills were introduced in relation
| to the Court of Claims, the n. Y Custom
| House and the United States Courts, after
which the Senate went into Executive ses-
sion and then adjourned. In THE HOUSE,
several members, not heretofore in attend
ance, We're sworn in. The credentials of
James Nj. johnson, member elect from the
Third district of Arkansas, were received
and referred to the Select Committee. A
resolution, giving the opinion that the Con
stltutlon should be so amended as to pre-
vent any State, lately in rebellion, from be-
ing entitled to representation In Congress
until 1t adopts an amendment adverse to
paying the rebel debt and the late owners of
slaves tor those who were set free, was also
referred to the same committee. Among
the bills introduced were one repeating all
laws pending. for fixed bounties: one TO pro-
vide for the consolidation of the Indian
tribes one amending certain sections of the
national banking law; one preventing any
person holding Office in Utah who advocates
polygamy Among the resolutions intro
duced and appropriately referred were; one
instructing the Committee on Freedmen to
inquire into the expendiency of some addi-
tional legislation securing to the freedmen
and colored citizens of the lately rebellious
States the political and civil rights of other
citizens; one lnstructIng the Naval Com.
mlttee to inquire into the expendiency of
establishing a navy yard on the Mississinni.
one to inquire into the expendiency of dis