The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-01-08

pre-emption for actual settlement,
all the unsOld even numbered sections
and part of sections of public lands,
remaining unsold, along the lines Of
railroad where the odd numbered
sections have been granted or reserY-
ed to aid in the construction of rail-
roads. Adopted
The Speaker presented a communi-
cation from the Secretary of the
Treasury, transmitting the report of
the Special Commissioners of Rev
enue. Referred to Committee on
Ways and Means. Also a communi-
eaton from the Secretary of the In
terror, transmitting copies of letters
from the Secretary of War dd fatereae
and Gen. Halleck, relative to survey
inc and bringing into market the
lands of the peninsula OF Alaska.
Referred to Committee on Public
Lands.
The bill to facilitate the payment
Of soldiers bounties came up. Ali
amendments were withdrawn, and
Washburne, of Indiana, proposed to
substitute a bill directing the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury to employ by
transfer, or otherwise, a sufficient
number additional clerks, (not less
than ffty), in the department Of the
Second Auditors office, in the Treas
ury Department, furnishing informa-
ton to the Paymaster Major General,
in reference to soldiers claiming
bounty under the act of July, 1866,
to be continued so long as necessary.
and preference to be given in this EN-
ployment of clerks to discharged sol
n Il 81
Secretary of the Treasury to provide
all clerks employed in that business;
also, directing the Assistant Treasur-
er, at New York, to pay duplicate
checks. on notice of the loss of the
original.
Aruold asked Washburne to ac-
cept an amendment trasferring the
petition of the colored soldiers for
bounty and back pay, to the Freed
mems Bureau.
Washburne declined to allow the
amendment to be offered, and pressed
vote on the substitute, which was
agreed to, and the bill passed.
Pike, from the Committee on Ma
val Affairs, reported back joint es-
olution authorizing the Secretary of
the Navy to dispose of such iron-clad
vessels as in his judgment are not
required by the interests of the SER
vice, at price to be determined by
appraisal to be made by a board of
not less than five naval officers, two of
whom shall be engineers, and report
to be made to Congress as fast as yes
sells are sold, of the amount realized
from such sales and of the parties to
whom sold.
Schofeld moved an amendment,
providing that the proceeds of the
sales shall be paid into the Treasury.
Washburne, of Illinois, expressed
a desire to have information as to the
number, names. prices, &C., of the
iron -clads belonging to the navy,
saying there had been the grossest
abuses in the whole business.
Wood suggested that the vessels
should be sold at public auction, the
board fixing their minimum price.
Pike stated that this bill applied to
fifty y-four iron -clad vessels that were
now laid up. Of these there were at
League Island twenty one; New Or
leans, eight; Mound City, eight;
Washington, five; Boston, four; New
York, three; San Francisco, two;
Philadelphia, three.
Maynard inquired who were ex-
pected to be the purchasers.
Pike said it was manifestly to the
interest of the Government to dis
pose of these vessels, as a better class
could be produced in case Of necessi-
ty; for in addition to them there were
number on the stocks which could
be completed in a very short time
Last year there had been apprehen-
slons Of a difficulty between France
and Prussia, and France had imme-
diately reinforced its navy by the pur-
chase of two of our largest sized iron
clads. Now some of the smaller
powers of Europe and South America
were in trouble and wished to pur-
chase some of the smaller vessels, anu
applications for that purpose had been
made to the. Navy Department last
week.
After further debate, the joint reso-
luton passed yeas 80, nays 90.
The resolution offered by New
comb, on the 26th of November, call
ing on the heads of departments for
information about their employees,
was laid on the table.
A Senate joint resolution author
izing Rear Admiral Thatcher to ac-
cept the decoration from the King of
Hiwaian Island, passed.
Conkling's amendment, exempting
cotton grown in 1868, was adopted
"a to q.
Mr. Drake offered an amendment
declaring that no further provision of |
law is required to authorize the col |
lection OF tax after 1868. Adopted.
On motion of Morrill,, of Vermont, |