The national Republican., 1866-04-12
CONGRESSIONAL REPORTS.
xxxixrH ooSeREss-F1Rsr SESSION.
WEDNESDAY,, April IL, 1865. =

Massachusetts,, asking assistance for the European
and North American Railroad, connecting Halifax,
40, with the United States. Referred to the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations.
Mr.. Sherman presented tho petition Of citizens Of
Ohio, asking an amendment Of tho tariff laws, so as
10 protect American industry. Referred TO the
Committee on Finance.
Mr.. Clark, from the Committee on the Judiciary,
TO whom referred resolutions enquiring whether
any legislation is necessary to protect officers Of the
army from civil suits growing out OF acts during the
rebellion, asked to be discharged from the further
consideration Of the subject, as provision on the
subject had already been made in bill heretofore
reported.i which was granted
WESTERN PACIFIC RAILROAD
Mr.. Conness introduced a joint resolution to ex.
tend the time for the construction Of he FIRST twenty
miles Of the Western Pacific Railroad to November
], 1886. Referred to the Committee on the Pacific
Railroad.
EDUCATION oP SOLDIERS.
Mr.. Sumner introduced a resolution requesting
the Committee on Military Affairs 70 inquire into
tho expedieney Of adopting system Of education
Tor the soldiers in the army OF the United Statos,
so that the time which Is not employed In post or
garrison duty may be occupied in moral and intel.
lectuai improvement, to the end that the army of
tho United States may be q nursery Of OH GERS and
also Of citizens; which was adopted
rHE WHISKY QUESTION IN THE SENATE.
Mr.. Wilson introduced resolution prohibiting
the sale Of spirous or other liquors In the Capitol
buildings or grounds, and making It the duty Of
the Commissioner Of Public Buildings to execute
the same.
Mr.. McDougsll made few remarks on this sub
ject, which he concluded by saying that he was In
| favor OF wine, whisky and war.
Mr.. Wilson said that during the last few years
employees Of the Capitol had been taxed to keep
members Of Congress in whisky. Whisky had been
kept In committee rooms and other parts Of the
building Tor the accommodation Of Congressman.
Mr.. NcDougall demanded the yeas and nays on
| the ndopton of the resolution,
Mr.. Grimes said the resolution ought 20 60 to tho
Committee on Public Buildings
Mr.. Clark said II was notorious that the salo OF
intoxicating liquors was carried on at the Capitol.
| 1t was known that some Of the pages and messen-
gers had been compelled TO pay for liquor drank by
members, and that some of these poor boys, whose
mothers had sent them here TO help earn q lveli-
| hood, had been made drunk. The practice Of re-
| failing liquors within the precincts of the Capitol
should be stopped, and at once.
Mr.. Hendricks said that perhaps the Senator
| from Massachusetts, Mr.. Wilson had information
| on the subject which other Senators had not. lie
| Mr.. II. had been here for fifteen years, aud had
not known until this day that liquor was sold in the
building. II suoh was the case, he was opposed to
| it, and should therefOre.yOte for the resolution.
| Mr.. Anthony moved to amend by adding under
tho direction of the President of the Senate and
| the Speaker Of the House."
Mr.. Conness opposed the amendment He did
not wish the responsibility of this matter divided.
lie thought 1t was 4 disgrace and shame for men
to come hero in a state of intOxication and make
laws for the country. OF course we could not pre-.
vent them from drinking, but We could prevent
them from obtaining liquor in this building.
Mr.. Grimes favored the amendment 1t was not
dividing the responsibility, but putting 1t under
the authority of our own presiding officers where 1t
should be-
Mr.. McDougnIl. Mr. President, do not know
but that 1t would be better for the sober Senator
from California (Mr. Conness) to indulge himself
| little more in generous wine as also the Senator
| from New Hampshire, (Mr Clark l am sure It
| would have softening influence on the Senator
from Massachusetts, (Mr. Wilson, l think this
talk about libertines and drunkards Is all wrong,
and enter my protest against It. think it would
| be better II We had now, as formerly, our lunch
room for the Senate, and could sit and sip wine.
think II would be better II the Senator from Mas.
sachusetts would drink his wine and apple jack, as
did his fathers before they cut down all the apple
| trees In Massachusetts,. Then the apple brandy was
put out when guest came in and again before be
LEFT. Those were the good old times Think such
propositions as this tend to degrade the dignity Of
| the Senate.
The amendment of Mr.. Anthony was thon agreed
TO- and the resolution passed by 33 yeas to nays
MessrS. Davis and McDougall.
| THE KANSAS WAR DEBT.
On motion of Mr. Pomeroy, the bill to authorize
the Secretary Of War to pay the State of Kansas
for expenses incurred in raising troops under a
requistiOn from Major General Curtiss was taken
up aud passed.
| HABEAs CORPUS.
| On motion Of Mr.. Clark, tho bill to amend the
| " Act relating to habGdS corpus and regulating
judicial proceedings in such easos " was taken up,
and after some consideration was postponed until
Thursday.
QUALIFICATIONS OF JURORS.
| Mr. Clark called up the bill in relation to the
qualifications Of jurors, and to writs of error in
| certain cases, reported with amendments by the
Committee on the Judiciary.
| Mr., Salisbury asked for n postponement,
Mr.. Harris had lost sight Of the bill, and would
like 1t to be postponed until tomorrow.
| The further consideration Of the bill was then
postponed.
| THE HEALTH CosGREss.
Mr.. Wilson moved to take upthe joint resolution
relative to the representation Of the United States
Mt the International Health Congress at Constanti-
nople.
Mr. Sumner said this matter was now before the
Committee on Foreign Relations, and at his sugges
tion, Mr.. Wilson withdrew his motion.
sATIOsAL MILITIA.
Mr.. Wilson introduced a bill to provide for the
national defence by establishing uniform system
Of militia, &c. Referred to the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs.
rnE RoS.cLAD CONTRACTORS.
| On motion Of Mr.. Nye the bill to reimburse GER
tain contractors Of rOnclads for losses incurred in
fulfilling their contracts was taken up and read.
Mr.. Grimes said that, as a member Of the Com
mittee on Naval Affairs. he had not concurred in
the accommodation that this bill should pass, and
proceeded TO give his reasons therefor. This BILL
though 1t Gppropriates two million and a quarter,
would not debar furtherappropriatons for the same
contractors. Some Of the claims were just, but
many were not.
The bill was further discussed by Mcssrs Con-
ness and Hendricks. Mr.. H. said tho matter had
been referred to a subcommittee composed of the
Senator from Nevada, Mr.. Nye, the Senator from
West Virginia, Mr.. Van Wnkle, and himself,
lMr. Hendricks They had examined the subject
with great care, and had recommended this bill.
lie Mr.. II. was of the opinion that the claims Of
the contractors were just No one could foresee in
August, 1852, when these contracts were made
| that such enormous rise in the prices of labor
and material would take place. He did not think
the Senator from Iowa Mr.. Grimes had any good
authority for the statement that there would be
more claims from these contractors
Mr.. Grimes said he had his information from the
| Navy Department.
Pending discussion, a motion was made to ad-
journ.
Mr.. Clark entered a motion to reconsider the
vote granting the use Of the Senate Chamber to
Mrs. NJ. G. Walling.
The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.
Mr.. Holmes of New York, presented resolutions
OF the Legislature Of tho State of Now York in
favor Of tho passage of the Civil Rights bill, the
7, P,esident's veto TO the contrary Notwithstanding:
| which were laid upOn the table and ordered to be