The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-01-09
coNGRE8 I0NAL PROCEEDINGS.
WASHINGTON. Jan. s

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.
4 communication was received
from the Secretary of the Treasury in
reply to a resolution of inquiry in
regard to- taxes.g &c., on national
banks. Referred to the Committee
on Finance. .E.H
A petition was presented from some
citizens Of Toledo. asking legislation
OF relief in regard to adopted citizens
abroad. Referred to the Committee on
Foreign Relations.
Trumbull, from the Judiciary Com
mittee, reported a bill amending the
bankruptcy act, and recon nending
its Indefinite postponement, which
was agreed to.
Thayer presented memorial from
the citizens of Nebraska, asking re-
lief for naturalized citizens abroad.
Referred TO the Committee on For
eign Relations.
Morrill,, of Vermont, offered reso-
luton directing the Committee on
Finance to inquire into the expedien-
cy of af6xing penalty on any officer
of the Government who shall author
ize an expenditure of, or pay out
money for any purpose, not previously
authorized by Congress. After some
debate, the resolution was adopted.
On motion of Sherman. the Senate
again took up the House bill direct
ing certain monies in the hands of the
| United States Treasurer-the pro-
| ceeds of captured and abandoned
rebel property-to be covered by war
rants in the Treasury.
Trumbull took the floor. He
charged that the Secretary of the
Treasury had paid more than $1,000
| 900 to disloyal claimants, and even
| after diverse opinions by the Attor-
ney General, he has paid out iun-
dreds of thousands of dollars.
Sherman suggested, at the conclu-
sion of Trumbull's remarks, that the
bill be referred to the Committee on
| Retrenchment.
Fessenden asked it to be laid over,
| debate by Edmunds and Conness.
Trumbull argued at length in reply
to Fessenden's speech, delivered be-
| the Treasury might as we'll withhold
from the treasury the amount received
from internal revenue in the city of
New York to await the issue of suits,
as to hold the net amount received
from this property to meet clai ms ad-
| Indicated, not by the courts, but by
| the Secretary Of the Treasury.
Sherman moved to postpone fur
tEer consideration until to morrow
for the purpose of taking up the bill
| in regard to the contraction of the
currency, but subsequently withdrew
his resolution, a disposition being
manifested to continue the debate.
Mr. Howe then addressed the SEN
ate in favor of tbe bill.
Afer few remarks by Edmonds
and others, Ramsey moved to 60 into
executive session, but Withdrew the
! mo ion at the instance of Edmonds,
who offered a resolution of inquiry,
which was adopted, asking the Presi-
| dent for information as to whether the
bill, for the further security of equal
rights in the District of Columbia,
passed by both Houses, has been de-
| livered to the Secretary of State and
become law, ten days having elapsed
since its passage.
Grimes offered a resolution calling
on the Attorney General for copies of
his opinion regarding the pay of re-
tired officers of the navy. Adopted.
Howard introduced bill author
izing writs of error from District and
Circuit Courts of the United States, in
certain classes of criminal cases. Re-
ferred to the Judiciary Committee.
Morton offered a resolution in
structing the Judiciary Committee
to report on the bill superceding
and providing provisional govern
ments for the lately rebellious States,
until reconstructed under existing
acts of Congress.
Trumbull had no objection to the
resolution, except that the Commit
tee should be instructed before hand
as to their action.
Morton said he had considered the
matter, and had concluded to take
the sense of the Senate on it.
Williams hoped The Senate would
not be committed in adavHce, until
it knew what the Committee would
report.
Morton said the Senate was not
bound to support any bill that the
, Committee might report
Conkling thought the proposition
| rather ciroumlocutory; why not, he
, asked, save time by presenting the bill
; at once i At
Trumbull objected, and the resolu.
| f1ou vUac laId Ovnr