Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1866-01-19
proceedings of Congress.


THURSDAY, Jan. ll--There was not much
of interest done in the Senate to-day beyond
the introduction OF bills and their reference to
appropriate Committees. The amendments to
the bill to enlarge the powers of the freedmen s
bureau were agreed to, and the further con-
sideration of the subject postponed. Leave
was granted to introduced bill TO admit the
State of Colorado into the Union. The bill
TO regulate the elective franchise in the Dis
trict Of Columbia was reported back from COM
mttee. A bill was introduced changing the
postal laws in several important particulars
The House passed a bill extending the time
for withdrawing goods from bonded ware
houses. 1t provides that all goods, wares and
merchandise that may remain in the public or
private bonded warehouses on the lst of April
next, may be Withdrawn within one year from
the time of importation, and after one year
from original Importation, and until the ex-
piration of three years, goods may be with
drawn for consumption, on the payment Of
duties and charges, with an additional duty
of ten cents. The judiciary committee reported
in favor of the joint resolution to transfer the
counties of Jefferson and Berkeley from Viz
ginia to West Virginia, but it was recommit-
ted. The committee OF ways and means was
instructed to inquire into the expediency of
exempting carriages valued at 500 from in
ternal revenue taxes and also of repeating
books. A resolution was adopted to inquire
into the expediency of the appointment Of a
Commission by the President to take charge
of so much of the powers of the municipal
government as relates to the police, sewerage,
sanitary regulations, cleaning and control of
the streets, &c. A debate then ensued on
suffrage in the District of Columbia. Both
Houses adjourned until Monday. M
MONDAY, Jan. l5.-To-day, in the Seuate,
a bill was introduced providing for the APP
pointment Of a board Of examination for all
army officers, those failing to pass a satisfac-
tory examination TO be put on the retired list
or dropped. Mr.. Wilson introduced his bill
fixing the strength and organization Of the
army, the main provisions of which were
| given last week. A resolution was offered
declaring that whereas the British govern
ment has refused indemnity for damage done
to American commerce by her subjects in the
late war; therefore the President be requested
TO withdraw our minister from London, and
to declare national non-intercourse between
| the two nations. The resolution was objected
| TO-, and was therefore not entertained.
The House by vote OF 1873 to II, laid on
the table resolution proposing to inquire
| into the expediency of ordering an election
by the colored men of the District of Column
bia who shall decide by ballot whether or
not in their opinion white men shall be al
lowed the right of suffrage. By avote of 80
| to II, the judiciary committee was instructed
| to inquire into the expediency of 50 amending
the act relating to the test oath as to allow
attorneys to practice their profession without
taking said oath, on an equal footing with all
other professions. The committee on public
buildings were directed to inquire as to the
healthfulness of the Presidents house, and if
found unhealthy, as to procuring grounds on
which to erect a new executive mansion. The
debate on the bill to extend suffrage in the
district OF Columbia was then resumed.
TUESDAY, Jan. l6.-In the Senate, to-day,
the resolution proposing non-intercourse he
tween the United States and Great Britain,
and to withdraw our minister from London,
was called up for consideration, when, on
motiNe of Senator Johnson, of Maryland, it
was laid on the table-the vote standing ayes
25, nays IL. The bill to establish military
and naval asylum for disabled officers and men
of the volunteer forces, was 30 amended as to
apply exclusively to the army, and then pass
ed The discussion on negro suffrage in the
District of Columbia was then resumed
The House passed the resolution authoriz-
ing the joint committee on reconstruction 20
send for persons and papers. bill was re-
ported to Increase the duties on imports The
bill to incorporate the United States Mutual
Protective Homestead Company was reported
back fromsp0mmittee, with an amendment.
The company is TO have capital of three
millions of dollars and its PROPOSED object is
to encourage the settlement of both whites
and blacks in the late rebellious States. The
House occupied the remainder. of the day in
discussing the bill to extend suffrage to
colored persons in the District of Columbia
Hon. John L, Thomas, Of Md, made speech
against it, IA