Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-02-18
FORTIETH CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings,
TuHspAH. Rehrs&rr is

SshhTk-lhe Ohalr presented solution. of
asking q renewal Of the city charter. Referred
10 Committee on District Of Columbia
nr Anthony prese nied the petition OF Wilson
Is. Buriingame and twelve Others, engaged in
the capture Of the rebel ram AibemarIe, asking
share OF the prize money. Referred TO Com
mirsee on Naval Affair.".
Mr.. Grimes presented petition OF tcm po-ior,
Darney and others, asking thai all the Commo-
dores on the retired list on January \, 1863 br
promoted 10 Rear AdmirAls in the navy Re-
ferred TO Committee on Naval Affairs
Mr. Sherman, from the Committee on Finance
reported the House bill TO facilitate the collec-
ton OF the direct taA in the State OF Delaware:
" which was passed.
ing, reported the joint resolution TO provide for
the medical and surgical history of the rebel
HON. and the medical statistics OF the Provost
Mr.. Ramsey introduced a bill to amend the
postal laws and increase the efficiency of the
postal service. Referred 10 Committee on Post
Mr.. Ramsey called mp the House JOINT resolu-
ton authorizing the transmission through tn.
mails, free Of postage, of certain certificates by
the Adjutant General Of New Hampshire
The Committee on Post Offices reported an
amendment I'm the nature of q substitute, au-
thorizing the Adjutant Generals of any of the
States 10 transmit through the mails. free Of
postage, under such regulations as may b. pre-
scribsd by the Postmaster General. certificates
Of merit awarded by the Legislature of any
State: which was agreed to.
Mr.. salisbury said he could not for a no.
msnt suppose that this resolution had anything
TO do with the approaching election in New
Hampshire, and he was glad that the Senate
had at last awakened to a sense of the service
performed on the field by the brave soldiers of
New Hampshire.
The bill was then passed
MIR. Morrill,, Of Vermont, introduced resolu-
uons providing for the formation of a Senate
library, prescribing rules therefor. and ap-
pointing a librarian AT a salary of - 90 per
annnm.
Mr.. Morrill, said the resolutions were a copy
of those introduced several years since by tn.
late Senator Foot The necessity Of having
such a library was apparent 10 all. He asked
that the resolutions b. referred TO the Commit
tee on the Library.
Mr.. Wilson called mp the House Joint resolu-
ton 10 reduce the expenses of the War Depart
mrnt; which was passed.
Mr.. Cattell, from the Committee on Finance,
reported adversely on the House bill 10 regu-
late the custody Of public monies.
The bill TO provide for the gradual reduction
OF the army, and 10 abolIsh b unnecessary grades
thersin, was taken up, and certain amendments
reported by the committee were agreed TO. and
The case Of Hon. p. r. Thomas Of Maryland.
was then taken up.
Mr.. Trumbuil said he would like to make
some remarks IN reply 20 the arguments of sew
eral Senators, who, a. he thought, had tortured
he testimony into a consideration TO suit their
own particular views.
House OF PREPREsENTATIvKs.-Mr Hubbard.
Nv. VAL from the Committee on Banking and
currency, IspOrttuS Dill tDe Comp
rcller Of the Currency, with the approval of
the Secretary of the Treasury, TO revoke the
the order appointing receiver for the Farmers
and Citizens Brink Of Williamsburgh, New
York, and that that institution be turned over
10 the directors. Considered and passed
On motion of Nr. Kelley, (Pa-,) the Secretary
of State was directed 10 communicate TO this
House the report of :. G. Townsend, Commis-
sioner TO the Paris Exhibition, upon the subject
of silk culture and silk manufacture.
Mr.. Butler Mass introduced a bill to amend
the act establishing national banks. Referred
To the Committee on Banking and Currency
Mr.. Starkweather (Conn.) introduced a bill
appropriating S5 900. TO be placed in the hands
of Ia. Secretary of STATE. TO be- used by him for
the relief OF the wants of destitute American
citizens abroad, and 10 bring them back 10 the
United States; the relief 10 b. for such ci;izers
as have been arrested imprisoned and dis
charged after trial, but who have not means To
return 10 the United States: and the Secretary
of State shall report TO Congress detailed state
ments OF the expenditures under this bill
Mr.. tarkweather urged the immediate pas
sage of the bill, arguing that there Were eases OF
destitution abroad which required immediate
attention on behalf Of the Government Among
the number tha; had come 10 his kno gledgr
who had been arrested and subseQ Quently re-
leased, but had not means To come 10 this coun-
try, were soldiers tho had served throughout
the war for the Union. IL was but simple
act of justice TO make tins appropriation and
az he doubted W hether there would be oppoei-
tion, he demanded the previous question.
The previous question was seconded. and the
bill was then passed by yeas and nays vote OF
ia 10 -
Those voting in the negative Were Messrs.
ILL.,, Broomall Of Pu., Baldwin and Butler of
Mass, Coyode of Pa, Farnsworth of III,
Harding Of H., Hawkins OF Tenn, Hubbard
renee Of Pa, Marvin of N. y, Moore Of n
Mullins of Tenn, Myers OF Pa, 0'Neill OF Pa,
Perham OF Me-, Scofeld Of Pa, Trimble Of
Tenn, Washbnrn Of Wis, Washburne of III,
WashbuTn Of Ind, Washburn of Mas, VIII
lams of Pa, and Window of Minn.-@q.
On motion of Mr.. Kerr Nnd. }, the President
was requested 10 communicate TO this House
any report that has been made in pursuance of
the joint resolution of March 18th, 1867, relative
To ship canal around the falls OF the Ohio.
The House resumed the consideration of the
bill reported on Thursday last from the Com
mittee on Revolutionary Pensions, granting n
creased pensions to surviving soldiers of the
Revolution and Of the war of 1s12. The bill
appropriates about two million dollars.
Mr.. Miller pa u no reported the bill. urged
its passage as a matter OF justice 10 these old
soldiers, of whom there Were now but few sur
vivors.
Mr.. Loan MO- also advocated the measur.
a. one 80 elninently Just that he would not in-
suit the intelligence Of the House by pr,sump-
tion that there Was member upon the 1oor
who wonld do such an act ofinjusticea a. to vote
for the bill
MIR Washburne (In.,) said the gentleman
from Missouri threw ont a quasi threat that no
gentleman dared vote against this measure,
but he dared do il, and he wanted opportu-
nifty 10 demonstrate that $I72,C0O,O0O would be-
eXpendrd under the bill.
Mr. Miller demanded the previous question
on IN. bill, and il was seconded, when be agreed
to yield portions Of the hour TO which he was
entitled TO Gentlemen who desired TO speak.
Mr. Loan was utterly amazed at the state
ment made by the gentleman from ILLINOIS,
(Mr. Washburne, and his statement was so alb
surd that il scarcely needed n word of expla-
natcn. In the course of natur IL could not h.
possible that there were more than twenty
thousand surviving soldiers Of the war Of Isl2.
which, AT one hundred dollars q year, the
amount appropriated to each indl dlyidual.
would not exceed g., ,0O0,0O0 But this bill does
not contemplate giving the pension TO all these
soldiers, but only to such as arr in a destitute
condition and dependent upon others for sup
port. The statement of the gentleman from H.
lnois (Mr. Washbnrne) was based upon esti-
mates previously made for another bill. in
which IL was contemplated not only to pension
the surviving soldiers OF fsls, but also the
widows and other descendants Of such soldiers.
and the estimates also contemplated the grant
ing of these pensions for period of years
Mr.. Washburne said this bill wac an evil
dence Of the rone perpetrated upon the coun-
try by this system OF forcing bills through un-
der the operation OF the prev ious question. He
firmly believed that this bill should not pass
this House, and he read estimates, previously
submitted. 10 show that his statement fret
made was correct, and the amount Of money IL
would require to carry out the provisions Of
this bill. 49,
Mr.. Logan (Iil) protested against his COL
league making statement which had already |
been explained rs not applying TO the bill un.
A0p sAoro -