The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-12-06

late with some degree of wisdom on the
supJect, ana he hoped the bill would be
referred to them. A bill of this char
acter should be very carefully pre-
pared, and so thinking the Joint Com
mittee on Retrenchment had set up this
subject as their first business,-
They had all this morning been
engaged in considering it, and thew
hoped to take 1t up again and complete
the consideration of it Tomorrow
morning. There were pending in the
House and Senate five or six different
bills on the same subject, and it was
the intention of the committee to select
from all these bills whatever was espe-
cially in substance, or best expressed,
hoping thereby to frame bill such as
would meet the approval of both
the House and Senate.
The Speaker announced a message
from the Senate stating that it had
managers for the Union Soldiers Ma
tional Asylum.
Mr.. Schenck moved to amend Mr..
Stevens motion to refer the bill regula-
ting appointments to office to the Judi
ciary Committee, by moving to refer it
to the Joint Committee on Entrench-
ments.
Mr.. Williams, of Pa, moved to amend
by striking out the third section of the
bill, and offered substitute therefor.
Additional amendments were offered
by Messrs. Schenck, Stevens, Hale of
N. Y, and Garfield.
On motion of Mr.. Williams, the bill
with all the amendments proposed,
was ordered to be printed, and made
the special order for tomorrow.
Mr.. Lawrence, of Ohio, from the
Committee on the Judiciary, reported
House bill No. 6S5, to amend the act
regulating the proceedings in Criminal
cases, and for other purposes, with an
amendment substituting the word four
for the word two, andIthus making the
bill provide that in the trial of any Of
fence in which the right of trial by Jury
exists, the defendant shall be entitled
to only four peremptory chal-
lenges. This, however does not apply,
to trials for capital offences. The
amendment was agreed to, and the bill
was ordered to a third reading and
passed.
Mr.. Lawrence, from the Judiciary
Committee, reported House bill 4l6, re-
latiug to the qualifications of iuries in
capital cases, with an amendment pro-
viding in cases of trial for crimes
against the United States, no Juror
shall be rejected by reason of his hay
ing expressed or formed an opiuion on
the guilt or innocence of the accused,
from having read the newspapers oft
day, and from the current report, pro-
vided he is otherwise competent.
An amendment was also proposed
striking out all after the enacting
clause, and providing that the trial of
any person charged with treason or
having taken part in rebellion against
the authority of the United, States or
having given aid and comfort to rebels
against that authority. When n person
called as juror shall state that he form
ed or eXpressed an opinion as to the guilt
of or Innocence of the accused, the
court shall therein proceed to examine
him as to the ground of his opinion.
and if it shall appear that it has been
formed upon newspaper reports or
hereSay, and not upon conversation
with the case, and if the juror shall say
that he feels capable, Notwithstanding
that opinion, of rendering an impartial
verdict upon the evidence under the
law; that he will do so, need not be re.
jected. Also providing in the second
section that the courts of the United
states shall have power to select or or
der to be selected by lot or otherwise
such jurors as may be deemed necessary
for the proper administration of iuS-
tice, to issue or enforce process
therefore. Mr.. Lawrance who reported
the bill, said that tho State of Ohio had
law similar to that now proposed to
be enacted, and that this bill having
y
mittee on the Judiciary, he thought
that it might pass.
Mr.. LIE Blond, of Ohio, wished to
suggest that inHsmuch as the bill pro-
posed to change entirely the existing
law concerning the qualification of iu-
rors, he thought it only wise and prop
er that it should be printed, so that the
members might see it and be able to
come to an intelligent conclusion on
the subject. he was aware that Ohio
had laws like this, but it was verv
questionable whether, in the opinion OF
the people of that State, it was consid-
cred an improvement upon the old
law. Indeed he believed that in the
main lt,waS considered not to be an
impro 8ement. He hoped that his col
league (Mr. Lawrence,) would permit
the amendment to be printed.
Mr.. Lawrence replied that the sub
ject had been a long time before Com
gress, and had been duly considered.
and he hoped it would be disposed OF
at this time. In Ohio, where similar
law was IN force, he had never heard
any objection to it from any quarter,
Mr.. Stevens, of Pa, had SON doubt
as to the prOpriety of changing the ex-
esting law. He was in favor of pun
ishing criminals, but he did not
know that it was desirable to enact anv
new law on the subject. He therefore
pill be postponed until Monday next.
in order that 1t might be printed.
Mr.. Lawrence, from the Committee on
the Judiciary, reported bill to protect
the rights of action of loyal citizens,
The bill provides that when n citizen OF
the United States, who has always re-
manned loyal to the Government shall
begin an action 10 recover an injury To
person or property, no such action shall
be defeated on the ground that the act
complained of was done by virtue OF
authority of the late so-called Confed-
crate States of America or any State
declared in rebellion by the Presidents
proclamation, unless such act was done
by DEGREES or in obedience to Judgment
| or decree of a Judicial Court, The bIlI
was amended by striking out in lieu OF
the words justify or sustain and insert
ing the word allow and also by striking
out the words unless the action COM
planned of was done by DEGREES or in
obedience to decree of Judicial Court,
time and passed.
Mr.. Perham, of Maine, from the
COMMITTEES on Pensions, reported Senate
bill to provide for the payment of pen
slons. The bill authorizes the Presi-
dent to establish agencies for the pay
ment of pensions wherever in his iudg-
ment the public interest and convent.
ence OF pensioners require agents TO be
appointed, by and with the consent OF
the Senate, and to hold office for a term
of tour years.
Mr.: Washburne, of Illinois, desired
to offer two or three amendments to
the bill as it stood. 1t conferred upon
the President power to establish agen.
cies for the payment O + pensions w6er-
ever, in his judgment. the public inter
ests ana convenience of pensioners
required. He was opposed to niviTg
that power to the President, oP that
I part of the hill md nh nth.. .:.S:i-