The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-03-07
HOUSE.

Mr.. Elliot by unanimous consent In
troduced q bill to authorize contracts
for foreign mail service and to aid in
the construction ard employment of
American built steamers, which was re-
ferred to the Postoffice committee.
The bill authorizes the Postmaster
General to contract for term of years
with the citizens or corporations of the
United States for conveyance of for
eign mails between the ports of New
York, Boston, Philadelphia and Baiti-
timore and ports of Great Britain,
France, Belgium and the German States.
The vessels must be built in the
United States and wholly owned
by the citizens thereof or corporations
established therein. Each line must
consist of not less than two nor more
than four steamships between such
ports, and be of not less than 2S00 tons,
be classed as A No. l, aud be of speed
equal to that now contracted for with
the Cunard line. The subsidy is not to
exceed S2O, 600 per year for each steamer.
Mr.. Julian reported bill providing
that at the sale of the Usage Indian
reservation lands in Kansas, actual set
tiers on the 9th of March, 1868, who
have made improvements and who are
citizens of the United States, or have
declared their intentions to become citi-
zens, shall have the privilege of pur-
chasing the same, not exceeding one
hundred acres, at tho highest prices bid
by any bona fide bidder, and shall pay
for the same in four annual cinstall-
ments.
Mr.. Donnelly moved an amendment,
providing that both the odd and even
numbered sections shall be offered for
sale.
Mr.. Clarke, of Kansas, spoke in favor
of the bill and amendment.
Agreed to, and the bill passed.
Mr.. Bingham, from the Impeachment
Managers, reported resolution author
izing them to sit during the sessions Of
the House and to send for persons and
papers, administer oaths and take testi-
mouy of witnesses. Agreed to.
> It was agreed that the sessions to-
morrow be for debate only.
Mr.. Dawes, from the committee on
Elections, reported the following bill,
to which the committee had mani
mously agreed:
Be it enacted, DC, That whenever any
person who has participated in the late
rebellion, and from whom all legal dis
abilities arising therefrOm have been
removed by act of Congress, by u vote
of two-thirds of each House, has been
elected or appointed to any office or
place of trust in or under the Govern
ment of the United States, he shall, be
fore entering upon the duties thereof,
take and subscribe to the following oath
or affirmation, and nosother:
I(A. b. do hereby swear, OF affirm,
that will support and defend the Con-
stitution of the United States against
all enemies, foreign or domestic, and that
will bear true faith and allegiance to
the same. That take this obligation
freely, without any mental reservation
or purpose of evasion, and that will
we'll and faithfully discharge the du.
ties of the office to which am about to
enter. So help me God.
Under the operation of the previous
question, the bill passed.
At 3 o'clock the Board of Managers
on the part of the House appeared, and
Mr.. Bingham, the chairman, announced
that the Senate was organized for the
trial of the impeachment of Andrew
johnson, President of the United States
Adjourned.