The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-24
CONGRESS-.
4 WASHINGTON. May "a.
Senate.

Mr.. Wilson Mass offered a resolution for a
special committee TO investigate the condition
OF the National banks, as to how much Govern
ment money has been deposited in them within
the past year, by whose authority, and whether
and to whom interest has been paid on such
deposits. Adopted.
At l o'clock the Recon structon report was
taken up.
Mr.. Stewart (Nevada) addressed the Senate
in favor OF universal suffrage and universal
amnesty.
House of Representatives.
Mr.. Eliot (Mass.), from the Committee on
Commerce, reported back the Senate amend
mcnts TO the House Joint resolution TO prevent
the introduction OF cholera in the ports of the
United States, which was cOnCurred in, so that
the Joint resolution IS passed by both houses.
Mr. Walker (Ohio), from the Committee on
the District OF Columba,t reported back with
amendments, the Senate bIll to incorporate the
Women's Hospital Association OF the District of
Columbia.
The amendments were agreed to and the bill
passed.
A bill for the relief of Lucinda Gates was re-
ported by Mr.. Taylor (N. Y. }, from the,Commit-
tee on Invalid Pensions, and passed.
bill erecting the Territory of Montana into
a Surveying District was reported by Mr..
Strouse (Pa.), from the Committee on Terrific
rles, and passed. ...
The Senate JOINT Resolution for the accept
ance of collection OF plants tenoered to the
United States by Frederick Peck, was reported
back from, the Committee on Agriculture by
Mr.. Budwell (Cal.) and passed.
The bill reported by Mr.. Eliot (Mass.) on
Tuesday TO amend and continue in force the
bill establishing the lrecdmen's Bureau,
came up as the business in order in the morning
hour.
MIR. Stevens (Pa.) moved to amend the sixth
section in reference to the Sea Islands, by
making it read that when the former owners
shall apply for restoration OF the lands the
Commissioner shall refuse 10 surrender them.
He SAID that these lands were forfeited to the
United States as belonging to belligerents, and
they were allotted to some 5000 families which
were now IN possession, cultlvatlng sthem and
having comfortable homes upon them.
1t would be cruel and unjust to turn them ont,
leaving the Government to procure for them
other lands at the cost OF S25 an acre. as pro-
posed by the section,
The amendment was adopted-yeas 79; nays
46; so that the section now reads:-
Section g. And be it further enacted, That when.
the former owners of lands occupied under
General SheIman's field order, dated Mt Savannah
January l6 1865 shall Apply Tor restoration OF SAID
lands, the commissioner shall refuse to surrender
the same.
Mr.. Shellabarger (Ohio) moved to amend by
adding to the foregoing section, Provided, That
nothing in this act contained shall be construed
to affect the right OF any person to recover, in
the proper courts, any title or right of posses
sion which such person may have in any of the
land held under said field order.
Mr.. Davis IN. " moved to amend by striking
out all after the second section.
Mr.. Brandagee Comm moved to postpone the
further consideration of the bill till the second
Monday in December next.
He sustained the motion bS the argument that
at that time Congress would be in a condition
to act more intelligently on the subject as it
would then have before it the reports of the
Commission sent by the President, and of the
Special Committee, to be sent by both Houses,
to inquire into the working OF the system, and
adding, in an undertone, that the postponement
would save some congressman, and particularly
in Indiana.
The motion to postpone was negatved; yeas
81, nays 81.
The morning hour having expired, the bill
went over till Tuesday next
Mr.. Schenck (Ohio) gave notice that the Com
mlttee on Military Affairs had carefully revised
the Bounty bill, and had made alterations in
it; that report would be made to-day, and
that he would ask the House tomorrow, after
the morning hour, to consider it. One very
material change made in the bill is that all local
bountIes paid TO soldiers are TO be taken into
consideration, and deducted from the sum
which might otherwise appear due.
The bill, as originally reported, provided only
for the deduction of the United States bounty
also received. This change will cut out from
the benefits OF the bill almost all who had en-
listed after the payment OF liberal bouLtes had
commenced.