The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-06
WASHINGTON, February $.


. Mr.. GRIMES, of Iowa, from the Committee on
Naval Affairs, reported, with amendment the bill
dehning the rank of Admiral and staff officers in
the navy, and crediting to volunteer officers i'm
the naval and marine service who may be trans
ferred to the regular service, the sea service
performed by them as volunteer officers.
MI FESSENDEN, of Maine, from the Com
mittee on Finance, reported, with verbal amend
ments, the bill making appropriations for the pay
ment Of invalid and other pensions for the year
ending June 80, 1868. The bill approprates $780,
Mr. TRUMBULL, of Illinois, introduced a bill
10 enable States TO select swamp and overfowed
lands within their limits, omitted TO be selected
nnder the act Of Congress of 2sth September, 1850
Referred TO the Committee on Public Lands.
Mr.. DAVIS, of Kentucky, introduced bill au-
thorzing the Circuit and District Courts of the
United States to remit mitigate fOrfetures, fines
and disabilities in certain cases, which provides
that when any person shall incur any fine, penal
tV forfeiture or disability, shall have been i'm
tsTested in any vessel, goods, wares or merchan-
dse which shall be subject 10 seizure by force of
law Tor leyying duties or taxes, any act con-
ceTning the registering or licensing Of vessels en-
Eaged in the coastng trade or ttsheres shall nave
been sued or indicted in the name of the United
States the District or Circuit Court of the United
States trying such case, and rendering Judgment
m the same, or in which the case may be pending,
shal have power and discretion on the facts 0efore
tbe oourt to mitigate or remit such line or for
feure II in the opinion Oh the GTq me Id9 s III
intended fraud on the part of the defendant and
also to direct the discontinuance OF such sulton
such terms said court may deem Just. Referred
10 the Committee on Finance.
Mr. WILSON, of Massachusetts, introduced
folio wing, which was COnSlubTeu anu hRIebu TO-
Resolved That the Secretary OF the Treasury
be directed to report for the information OF Oon-
gress, what amount of money has been received
from sales of cotton or other property turned over
IN the Treasury Department under the several
laws of Congress, and what disposition has been
made of the same; whether any OF the money has
been Maid or refunded to claimants, and If so the
name of such claimants, the amounts severally
paid, and under what authority OF law, and upon
what evidence such payments have been made.
Mr. HENDERSON, of Missouri, introduced a
bill to authorize and provide for the construction
of a military and postal road from Galveston,
Texas TO Fort Gibson in the Indian territory, with
n branch to Little Rock, Arkansas.
The bill grants the right of way over public
lands, and requires the government to issue TO tine
company S4OO,0O0 IN United States bonds for every
twenty miles of the said road laid with double
track, when in running order. Referred to the
Committee on the Pacific Railroad.
Mr. WADE, of Ohio, moved to postpone all
prior orders and take up the one term constitu-
Mr.. POLAND, of Vermont, hoped not He
hoped the Bankrupt bill would be taken up and
Mr.. WADE said there was no prospect of reach
ing vote on the Bankrupt bill. Members were
still anxious TO speak on It, and there was no tell
ing where the debate would end
Mr.. FESSENDEN, of Maine hoped the Bank
FUpt bill would not be laid aside. 1t was an i'm
portant measure, and ought to be passed.
Mr. SUMNER, of Massachusetts, said the con-
stitutional amendment did not need the signature
of the President, aud might therefore be acted on
mp to the last day. With legislative bill it was diff
ferent Senators would see the reason for passing
important bills at the earliest possible day.
the Bankrupt bill came up, the pending question
being on the amendment of MIR. Howard TO strike
out the 37th section which applies the provisions
of this act to all corporations and joint stock
panies, and contains a proviso, "that whenever
any such corporation OF joint stock company shall
become bankrupt, such decree in bankruptcy shall
work forfeiture of all the franchises of such cor
poration, and the affairs of such corporation shall
be wound up in the manner provided in this act in
respect to private persons"
Mr.. POLAND, OF Vermont, moved to amend the
section proposed to be stricken out, by inserting
fha I'm and husness phafOrA the word
corporation, and by striking out Of the proviso the
words "such decree of bankruptcy shall work
forfeiture OF all the franchises of said corpora
ton, and the affairs of such corporation shall be
wound up" and inserting in lieu thereof the
words sits property and assets shall be distri-
bnted among the creditors of such corporation"
The amendment was agreed to, and the question
was then taken on striking out the section as
Mr.. FOGG, of New Hampshire, offered an
amendment 70 strike out the following from the
"Proyided that when the number of creditors
present amount to five and less than ten, the votes
OF two at least, shall be necessary for a choice;
and when the number of creditors amounts to ten
more, the votes of three, at least shall be neces
sary for a choice"
Mr. FOGG, of New Hampshire, offered an
amendment that no discharge under this act for
debts contracted before its passage shall be made
without the consent of three-fourths OF the credi
tors who have filed and proved their claims.
Mr. Fogg spoke against the bill as dishonest
measure calculated TO be of no benefit to worthy
and deserving men, He wished to utter solemn
protest against it,
The amendment was disagreed to.
Mr.. SUMNER, OF Massachusetts, moved an
amendment, by way of provso that no judge
shall proceed TO the consideration of petition tor
voluntary bankruptcy until the petitioner shall
have taken the test oath of the act of Congress of
July 2, 1862. In Offering the above, MIR. Sumner
said great many persons went with rebellion for
the purpose OF repudating their debts. lie wished
10 prevent them from reaping the benefit Of that
rebellion under this bill.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Maryland, did not believe
any such motive influenced secession in the south.
Mr.. SUMNER subsequently modified his amend
ment so that in administering the oath such words
as make It applicable to the holding of any office
shall be omitted.
SENDEN, SUMNER, POLAND and HENDER-
son, and was then disagreed to. Yeas 10; nays 30;
as follows
Yeas-Messrs. Chandler Cragin, FoRg. Fowler
Howard Lane Pomeroy, Sumner, Wade, and Wilson
Nays-Messrs Brown, Buokslew, Oonness, Oowau,
Davis, Dixon, Doolittle, Edmuuds, Fessenden Fos
Kirkwood. Morgan, Morrill, Norton Psttersonn Po,
land, Ramsey, Ross, Salisbury, Sherman, Stewart,
MIR. EDMUNDS, OF Vermont, mt offered an mend
lnent provlso, that all citizens of the United
States petiuoning to be declared bankrupt shall
file an oath OF allegiance to the United States with
their petition. Agreed to-
Mr. HENDERSON, of Missouri, moved to
amend by making the minimum amount of In Iebt-
edness for which voluntary bankruptcy nav he
instituted $l0OO instead of $500, in the bill of
the House. Agreed to.
MIR. FOGG, of New Hampshire, moved to insert
$500, instead of $500, in the place alluded to- Dis
agreed to-yeas 10, nays 20.
The bill was then taken out OF Committee of the
Whole and reported to the Senate,
Mr.. SUMNER, of Massachusetts, asked for an
other vote striking out the following: "And in
all proceedings in bankruptcy commenced after
one year from the time this act shall go into opera
uon, no discharge shall be granted 70 debtor
whose assets do not pay nifty per cent. on the
claims against his estate, unless the assent in
Wrltng OF mejority in number and value OF his
creditors VINO have proved their claims is filed IN