Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-01-13

by law and shall be extended to refugee.
and freedmen in all parts of the United
States, and the President may divide the
sections Of the country containing such
refugees and freedmen into districts each
containing one or more States not to exceed
twelve in number, and, by and with the
consent of the Senate, appoint an assistant
Commissioner for each Of said districts, who
shall give like bond, receive the same
compensation and perform the same duties
prescribed by this act, or said Bureau may
in the discretion Of the President, be placed
under a commissioner and assistant COM
naissioners, to be detailed from the army, in
which event each officer so assigned to duty
shall serve without increase Of pay or al
lowences. liT = .C d. a- ..
Sec. 2 provides for the division of the
districts into sub-districts and the appoint
ment of clerks, and authorizes the Presi-
dent of the United States to extend military
Jurisdiction and protection over all en-
ployees, agents and other officers. e.
Sec. authorizes the Secretary of War to
issue provisions, fuel, clothing, &C., for ref
ugees and freedmen.
Section authorizes the President to re-
serve for sale or from settlement under the
homestetS s.id pre-emption laws, and to
set apart for the use of freedmen and loyal
| refugees unoccupied lands in Florida Mis-
| sissippi and Arkansas, not exceeding in all
| 100000 of acres of good lands, and the
| Commissioner under the discretion of the
] President shall cause the same to be allotted
and assigned in parcels not exceeding forty
acres each to the loyal refugees and freed
men, who shall be protected in the use and
enjoyment thereof for such term of time and
at such annual rent as may be agreed on
between the Commissioner and such refu-
gees or freedmen. The rental shall be
| based upon a valuation of land to be ascer-
| tanned in such manner as the Commissioner
may, under direction Of the President by
| regulation, prescribe at the end of such
term-or sooner if the Commissioner shall
assent thereto. The occupants of any par
| cells so assigned may purchase the land and
receive the title thereto from the United
States in fee simple ~ upon paying therefor
| the value OF the land ascertained as aforesaid.
Section 5. That the possessory titles
granted in pursuance of Major-General
Sherman's special field order dated Savan-
nah, January 10th, 1865, are hereby con-
frmed and made valid.
Section 8. That the Commissioner shall
under direction of the President procure in
the name of the United States, by grant or
purchase, such land within the district
aforesaid as may be required for refugees
and freedmen dependent on the Government
for support, and he shall provide or cause 20
be built asylums and schools. But no such
purchase shall be made, nor contract for the
same entered into, nor other expenses in
CURED until after appropriations shall have
been provided by Congress for the general
purposes of this act, out of which payments
for said lands shall be made. And the Com
missioner shall cause such lands from time
to time to be valued, allotted, assigned and
sold in manner and form provided in the
preceding section-provided, always, that
the said lands shall not be sold for less than
the cost thereof to he,United States.
Section Z authorizes the President to ex-
tend military protection to the freedmen in
all cases Of laws making discrim nation
against them account of color.
Section prescribes punishment for sub
jecting freedmen to slavery.
The bill was, after reading, on motion Of Mr..
HENDRICKS postponed till Monday.
Mr.. TRUMBULL called up the bill to
protect the inhabitants 0f the United States
in the enjoyment of their civil rights, Or
motion it wss made the special order for
Monday. 1
Mr.. FESSENDEN offered a resolution
which was adopted authorizing the
special Committee on Reconstruction to
send for persons and papers.
A message from the President, transmit
ting the credentials of the Senators elect
from Colorado, the proceedings Of the Con-
II,
of the State of Colorado, offered by Mr..
STEWART, were referred to the Committee
on Territories.
Mr.. LANE, of Indiana, called up bill in
relation to pensions, providing for the ap-
pointment OF pension agents and regulation |
of pension districts by the President instead
Of as at present, by the Secretary of the In |
terror, which was postponed till Monday |
next
Mr.. MORRILL,, from the Committee on |
the District OF Columbia, reported the bill to |
regulate the elective franchise in the Dis. |
strict 1t is the same as recently printed, |
with the provision requiring the elector TO
be able to read the Constitution in the Eng |
lish language and to write his name, strick- |
en- ont. |
Mr.. DIXON introduced a bill relative to |
the sale of postage stamps and stamped |
envelopes on credit, which authorizes the |
Postmaster General TO supply agents who
shall engage to sell and circulate them un- |
der the Instructions OF the Department and |
give bonds for faithfully accounting there's |
for. The agent is allowed not exceeding |
five per cent. on sales and shall be deemed |
a custodian of public moneys, subject to the |
penalties for defalcations of such officials |
The sales must be made only for coin or |
United States Treasury notes. The bill was |
referred to the Post Office Committee.
Mr.. DIXON also introduced a bill to |
amend the postal laws, which provides:
First-That after January, 1867, all news
papers and periodicals., including those
mailed from the office of publication, shall
be prepaid, and none shall be carried with |
out payment except those coming for for
eign countries.
6econd-That the Postmaster General
my sell stamps and envelopes at the value
OF the stamps impressed upon them.
Third-After the lst of April next all let
ters forwarded from one postottice to another
at the request of the person addressed shall
be sent without additional postage, and dead
letters shall be returned free.
Fourth-Letters endorsed to be returned
towriters, act Of March Sd, 1883, shall be re-
turned free. ..s.
Fifth-Authorizing the sending of letters
to any postoffice in the United States and any
foreign port at cost not exceeding the sea
postage.
Sixth-The provisions for publishing lists
ofnon-delivered letters in newspapers Of the
largest circulation is repealed and the adver-
tising left discretionary with the Postmas-
ter General.
Seventh-The balance of the appropria-
ton of SlO0, 900 under the 18th section of the
act of May 9th, 1864, may be used as far as
necessary to supply the deficiency in the
prOceeus VI tue 1hOASg OIuSA - ecAH III tAO
current year.
Eighth-That any sum not exceeding $50
may be sent by money order, and the Zee
for from $50 to $40 shall be thirty cents.
Ninth--That money order shall be good
for twelve months, and if lost duplicate
shall be issued free.
Tenth-That all railroads carrying the
mail shall carry without extra charge all
printed matter directed by the Postmaster
General TO be sent thereon.
Eleventh-That persons maliciously in
terfering with letter boxes shall be fined
from one hundred to thousand dollars, and
imprisoned not less than three years.
Twelfth-That the President may direct
appropriations from one branch Of the postal
service TO another when necessary.
On motion of Mr.. Ward, the Committee
of Ways and Means was instructed to in
quire into the expediency of repeating the
internal Revenue tax on paper, and all Bi-
bIes, Testaments and other religious works
and school books used in colleges and aca-
denies. A resolution was also passed in
structing inquiry into eKpediency of taxing
all horse races by requiring 5 per cent. of
the gross receipts.
At one o'clock the Senate went into ex-
ecutive session; and soon after adjourned till
Monday. 81. ....z-.
General News.
Robbery.
SCHENECTADY, January l2.-The clothing
store of Van Vranken & Archer, in this city,