New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-12
KIM CONGRESS-nD SESSION
sENATE.....W WASHINGTON. Dec. II, 1867.
PETITIONS.

defects in the Homestead b, which operates TO the IN
jury of settlers and asking for appropriate legislation IL
Also petition largely signed by adopted czens pray
Sng that some action be taken defining their rights IN
view Of occurrences abroad III was IeIeIeu 10
M DIXON Dem Comm presented petition from the
Trustees of the Taylor orphan Asylum OF Racine Nlscon
SIN praying for the removal OF the present TAX on pc
ouests which was referred the Committee on Finance
cOvERNMENr LANDS AT HARPERs FERRY
Mr. WILEY rep, West Val Introduced Du 10 ser
lands and water privileges of the United sta'e az OF
near IIurpers Ferry West Virginia which was referred
TO the Committee ON Military Ahairs s. -o>opres
Mr. FESsENDEN rep, Me) introduced the following
iont resolution, which was adopted; - ,,oso,to ts
cOncurring That the Select Committee OF the two Houses
revise and cqualze the pay Of the employees OF each
House, and be authorized TO report ny D JOINT Iesou
ton or rule, such provisions or regulations as may be
necessary OrprOpcr for rearrangng ana dennlng the
their JOINT authority for reducing the number OF such
empOy6s and generally for reduction Of the employees
aud the more economical expenditure OF the contingent
fund Of each House
Mr.. ANTHONY rep, r. ~ introduced the following
bill which referred to the Committee on the Jul
Bc i enacted &C., That all and singular the laws dec
IaraoHs, aud acts Of c0uscatOn forfeiture. passed,
OF America made, had done, directly indirectly,
by under tho color of their authority or by the judg-
color Of their authority jurisdiction shall be- and they
are hereby absolutely null and void to all ntents and
TIlE LAKE SUPERIOR AND PUGET's SOUND RAILROAD
Mir HOWARD tRcp.. Mich0 introduced bhl to amend
act granting lands to aud IN the construction OF rail
road and telegraph e from Lake Superior 20 Puget's
Sound by the northern route winch was referred to the
PROCEEDS OF CAPTURED PROPERTY,
On motion Of Mr. SHERMAN rep, Ohio the Senate
took up bill directing that certain money IN the hands
received from TIE Slc OF captured anu aoTluoncu PUl
eTty, shall covered by warrant INTO the Treasury, ana
sherman stated that the bin passed the House at the
first session Of The present Congress- and was considered
by the Senate Finance Committee but in consequence OF
representations Of the Secretary of the Treasury 1t had
been deferred until now But no reason against It's pas
% IN u
Mr. EDMUNuS CSep, VIZ said the Committee on Re
treuchment to which the joint resolution had been re-
Gerred atter passage by the House had instructed MN
to report resolution broader IN its terms In tue hands
of employees OF the Government, here and there were
also received from the sale Of such property There
might be good reasons for me retention OF S9Gn su5 D
the Committee thought best that they should be pald INTO
The Treasury. lie therefore moved 10 amend by Striking
all the cuactiug clause, and inserting reSOu
tiOn That all moneys which have been received Dyiany
officer or employe OF the Government or any Depart
ment from the sale captured abandoned property,
under color OF the several acts Of Congress providing Tor
the Treasury shall hc paid into the treasury together
on" Also further resolution, THAT any officer or per
having the custody or control OF such money, VINO
shall the 10 his rrefuse or neglect
for the 80 days passage hereof TO pay the
into the Treasury shall IN any way pay away OF as
pose Of the same Otherwise than by paying il into the
Treasury snail be dcemedin embezzler Of public moneys
and punished 10y IMPRISONMENT not more tlan ten years
.hnd pay fine equal 10 the sum einOezzled.D -.
Mr.. SHERMAN had no objection 10 the amendment;
But surprising there had been property seized ana so9
which did not come under the head or Captured ana
abandoned Property should not that also he asked be
included
Mr EDMUNDS was aware that other existed, but
he had simply offered the amendment as instructed by
Mr. TRUMBULL Rep., Ill hoped the amendment
%Oud be adopted. The preamble TO the House resolution
Enent had authority over the money. The preamble re-
cites that such property being IN the control OF the
property should be- settled without the sanction Of Con-
Rress He thought very clear from the law that IL was
not So He denied every implication TO be drawn from
the preamble The statute authorizing the sale said the
proceeds must be paid the United States Treasury
lie read the second section OF the Act Of March r. 1862
directing the Secretary Of the Treasury TO appoint such
agents, showing that his position was correct Inc law
Tulther provided that CLAIMS against such property might
be preferred in the Court Of Claims and tuat on salts
factory proof and evidence the proceeds sona
be paid over. This property amounted 10 over SiWOV
Now after years have elapsed resolution comes IN
here declaring That II was III me eOhOl Oh e secretary
of the Treasury 20 settle claims IL never was IN MS
law In 1855 the question was submitted to the Attorney
General who said that this property must be sold ana
second section OF the Act Hundreds of thousands of
dollars had since been pad by the Secretary Of the Treas
CRY which had never come through the Court OF Claims
Treasury nearly $4,000 which parties had been endeav
orn to get Secretary of the Treasury TO adudcae
Mr.. TRUMBULl continued Speaking OF the amount amount
restored 10 the claimants by me secretary on he ieasu
ry after the opinion Of the Attorney General and claim
Sng that had power TO do II without the action OF
the Court Of Claims He was therefore opposed 70 tne
action Of the House resolution particularly TO the lan
Mr. DRAKE was understood TO say that the Secretary
OF the Treasury did not claim the power 10 dec0e upon
mi SHERMAN said there we're other points not GOV
BRED by the decision OF the Acknowledgment There were
bad been allowed to lie IN the Treasury to await the de-
Mr. TRIJMBtiL said the opinion Of the AttOrney-Gen-
eral had not been followed because here was resolution
80 compel the money to be paid in The entire proceeds
bt this cotton two millions, and the net proceeds
were the modest Of ten millions. The law was PLAN
enough but he would support the amendment onereu Dy
Mr. TDMUNDs construed the law as did the Senator
FFsssnrv n0 had he beeyed the right to decide fret
whether the property captured or abandoned II
was that Treasury agents had gathered large
amount Of cotton, and doubtless absorbed good deal OF
ST. Many claimants asserted that such property not
nbandoned but that they were driven from Their homes s
EsSSvfeSaTS GTthe Treasury.
o. motion Of Mr. FEsSENDEN Rep Me- the further
6OIsiderotiOu was postponed until tomorrow.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Senate took up, and passed, on motion OF MT
CRAGIN rep, n. Hj the resolution regard TO the
salaries OF messengers pages &C. retained during the re-
es THE Committee revised the resolution by providing
that the amount be paid out Of the contingent fund OF
: Mr. SUMNER G2ep Mass) presented petition from
Brisbane and $4,000 cOlOred citizens OF Kentucky,
asking for them the rights Of Suffrage. He read the
petition which claims that spirit OF robbery arson ana
murder exists m that State.
Mr.. DAWES Dem, KyJ announced the petition as
foul aud false libel KENTUCKY referred TO the
Committee the judiciary
The concurrent resolution dourn Friday the 20th
inst. until January 6th received from the House,
read, and laid over.
The Senate then took up pr. MOIrilPs Rep, VT bill
20 raise the value Of egaender notes 10 par The BILL
heretofore published directs the Secretary Of the Treas
ry 20 iay all legal tenders bearing interest in coin,
after July 4 1869 and authorizes him to sell any surplus
gold in the Treasury to the January preceding recey
tng therefor United States notes compound interest
notes three per cent certificates and National bank
notes IL requires the National banks with less than
three per cent specie Of capital hand 70 retain in com
All interest received Oh United States bonds deposited by
2hem-ths not adding, however 70 their required re-
serve II also requires them after that date to pay IN
coin all their currency Of five dollars and under when
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS bills to be paid oPt.Snay tgd S
noncompliance the part OF the National banks ana
the Controller Of the Currency is empowered TO author
Mr. MORRILL, spoke in advocacy. Of the bill "a fun