Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-03
XXXIxTH CONGRESS.
THE EQUALIZATION OF BOUNTIES,
Reorganization of the Judiciary.
The Baltimore Ship Channel.
Protection to American Fishermen.
SENATE.
WASHINGTnN- Anril 9

ALABAMA RAILROADS.
| The Chair laid before the Senate a communication
from the President. enclosing memorial from the
| Legislature of Alabama asking an extension Of time
for the completion OF certain railroads Referred to
the Committee on Finance and ordered to be printed
Mr.. Sumner presented seven different petitions
| trem citizens Of Louisiana, asking Congress to
| establish State governments there and elsewhere,
| which shall recognize perfect equality before the
lazy; Referred to the Committee on Reconstruction.
Also, petitions from citizens of Fichburg asking
an amendment of the tariff as to protect labor.
Referred to the Committee on Finance
Also, petitions of citizens of New York, asking the
passage of an international copyright law. Referred
to the Committee on Finance.
| Mr.. Howe presented the petition of citizens of
| Wisconsin, asking amendment to the Constitu-
ton providing that the President and Vice President
| shall be elected by direct vote Of the people, Re-
| ferred TO the Committee on the Judiciary.
| Mr.. Wilson presented the petition of Mrs. Mary
u ION to asking & the restitution Of certain property
States Tax Commissoner. Referred.
MI. Mr. Lane, Of Kansas, presented the petition of
Ttruct railroads. Referred to Committee on Public
| Lands.
Mr.. Morgan presented resolutions of the Legsla
ture Of New York in favor Of an increase of pay to
naval ohcerS. Referred to Committee on Naval Af-
| fairs
| Mr.. Wilson introduced joint resolution to pro-
vide Tor the representation of the United States at
the international Health Congress, to be held at Con
stantinopo. Laid on the table and ordered to bo
| printed.
| NAVY DEPARTMENT
Inc 6lll to establish hydrogaphic Office in the
Grmes, and, after amendment, passed.
On motion Of Mr.. Stewart, the bill to amend an
act to provide for report of the decisions of the Su
preme Court, giving the reporter eight months in
stead Of in which to publish the reports was taken
up and passed.
| EQUALIZATION OF BoUNTIEs.
| Mr.. Wilson, from the Committee on Military AZ
fairs reported with amendments, the bill to provide
Tor the equalization OF bounes to soldiers in the late
war of the rebellion.
The material amendments are as follows:
1t provides that home guards" other troops or
gan'zed Tor local service, and now excluded from
participate in the bounties provided for by this act
Section second provides that any soldier DISCHARGED
from service on account of wounds received in battle
en- picket IN skirmish, or in line Of duty else than
actual conflict, shall be entitled to the bounty
though he had served out his full term of enlist
ment And II deceased his widow or heirs, shall be
entitled to the same
Section three provides that any soldier who shall
sell barter away his fl al discharge papers shall
receive no benefit whatever from the provisions Of
Section FIVE provides that no agent attorney or
third party shall be allowed to take part in the col
lection of claims for said bounty except as hereina
ter provided. Such claims must be presented within
twelve months alter the passage of this act to the
paymaster general. the claimants be forever de-
| barred from the benefit of this act.
| Section six provides that claims Of widows and
heirs of deceased soliiers shall be examined by the
Second Auditor of the Treasury and if presented by
an agent attorney he shall make oath that he has
no interest whatever IN said bounty beyond the fees
Tor the collection of the same, which fixed fol-
lows: For the preparing and prosecution of claims
for collection and remittance of all exceed
ing 500, ten per centum upon the amount collected
and Tor all sums exceeding 500 the sum of $40,
| said fee to include all expenses except the
| necessary afidavits, which shall be betrayed by
the claimant, and any agent or attorney who shall
directly or indirectly charge more shall be deemed
guilty Of msdemeanor, and shall, upon conviction,
be fined not more than s. goo, nor less than 81 0OO,
and be forever prohibited from the prosecution of
| claims against the Government.
| DISTRICT COURT.
On motion Of Mr. Wade the bill to define more
clearly the jurisdiction and powers Of the Supreme
/ Court of the District of Columbia was taken up.
| Mr.. Wade offered an amendment fixing the salary
l the lott
Mr. Salisbury opposed the amendment, and de-
manded the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays being ordered the amendment
| was agreed to by vote of q to 5.
Mr.. Henderson offered amendment, which was
agreed to- to insert after the word surees in line IS Of
SECTION !? to be approved by the clerk"
The bill having been read three times was passed,
and on motion of Mr.. Wade the title was amended
by adding, " and for other purposes"
On motion of NRTA5 Rr Sumner the Joint resolution
authorlneR Rear Admiral Paulding accept the deco
ration OF the equestrian order of st. Maurice from
| the king OF Italy, was taken up and passed.
| On motion of Mr.. Brown, the President pro tenn
was requested to fill the vacancy in the Committee
on Public Lands, oeeaSoned by the death of Mr.. Foot
On motion of Mr.: Harris, the bill to reorganizo the
judiciary of the United States was taken up and read
number of amendments reported by the Com
/ mittee were agreed to,
4 number of other amendments were offered and
I agreed to.
The provisions of this bill have heretofore been
| published.
l
Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
DAfUNITIEs OF CITIZENS.
MIR. Shellabarger, Of Ohio, introduced bill to de-
clare the privileges and immunites of citizens of the
several States. Referred to the Judiciary Committee.
| hr. Ward, of n. Y, offered preamble and reso-
luton reciting that the House had previously in
structed the Committee Military Affairs to report
bill for the equalization of bounes for soldiers and
sailors therefore resolved that they have leave to re-
port by bill or otherwise atany tme which was agreed
FISHING GROUNDS.
Mr. PIKE, OF Maine, offered a preamble and reso-
British Provinces had warned fishermen from Off
the fishing grounds adjacent to their waters, and
seem disposed to renew the unfriendly action of for
times therefore resolved that the Secretary the
Navy be requested to send sufficient force to pro-
recognized by the treaty of and other subsequent
treat!es which was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs.
PUBLIC PRINTING.
Mr.. Grinnell, of Iowa, offered the following
ResoiUea, That the Committee on Printing be re
quested to report to this House what reforms if any
are needed in the purchase of paper the ordering
books, documents bills and other matter printed a.
the public expense: in the management of the print-
ing office, the collection and sale of the waste paper
either at the said office or in any other place under
the control OF the Government in any other thing
connected with the consumption of paper and the
purchase of the same and to this end they hereby
empowered to send for persons, books and papers
and to ma Ike such examinations shall in their
Judgment be necessary to attain the end hereby
sought, with authority to sit during the sessions OF
BALTIMORE SHIP CHANNEL.
On motion of Mr.. john l.. Thomas, Of Maryland
resolution adopted directing the Secretary Of
War to inform the House what appropriation will BE-
necessary to complete the ship channel from Fort
McHenry to the mouth Of the Patapsco river, to-
geher with such other information as may be in pos
session Of the Department.
PAY OF OFFICERS.
Mr. Schenck, of Ohio, introduced bill to reduce
and establish the pay Of officers of the army. Re
ferred.
TROOPS MUSTERED OUT.
Mr. Schenck also submitted letter from the Sec
retary OF War stating that the Sth of January
there 81 $50 white and s. G2 coored troops In
the field; and March 10Th 27,l7l white and 39 8I4
colored Since the 10th Of March, 10, 106 white ana
g591 coored had been ordered to be mustered out
The total reduction since January is 10000 white
and 80, ,5i9 colored troops. By May lst the muster
ing out will be completed, when there will remain
7O65 white and 3O2l7 oolored-total II, ,232-troops
in the field.
After considering bills relating to land grants t.
Western States the House, without action on them
at $50 P. NJ, adjourned.
The Trin Of 10 IN fllc