Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-01-24
FORTIETH CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings


Mr.. Edmunds moved the referenoe Of The
message 70 ne Judiciary ComIuittap. II VA
perfectly manifest 10 hun lhat se cons tr ctIon
which the Pres Mt bad pUt upon the AZ ,Jurn-
ment OF Congress was wrong. and would head
10 very sorIous Inconvenience and impede the
public b1sJpsss. He hoped, therefore, tina; no
committee would take such action a. you'd
place all the Departments of the Iiov-rii rn.snt
IN perfect accord. There wss no political rea-
sons involved IN this, although this present
bill happened 70 be of a political mouse. a.,
thought that no member who examined Ia. ub-
Ject carefully could iall % arrive at the conclu-
sion that the Preeident was an error.
Mr.. johnson was inclined 10 concur m the
opinion Of the Ssnator from Vermont mir. Id
hiundsl a. 10 the proper construction OF thi>
maitr, and also thought 10 very proper thal
thIs question should b. placrd beyond doubt
Mr.. Buckalew said Congress had more than
onoe recognized the construction assumed by
the President, by repassiBg laws.
Mr.. Edmunds said Congress night have again
passed bills, but this ques ton had never ben
considered before. He held that the meaning OF
the Constitution was, when Congress adjourned
stne di,, and not that the President should have
the power " defeat bill every time Congress
took recess.
Mr. Sumner said the whole question was
still an open one, and he was glad that
IL had been referred To the judiciary Com
Inltt-e for an opinion. He had meant
10 concede nothing when he rpintroduced
the bill, but only desired to push it as much ~
possible.
The message was then referred TO the Judi
ciary Committee.
Mr. Morrill, OF Maine. from the Committr,.
on Appropriations, reported the hill supplying
df1iciencies in the appropriations Tor thr carry
ing out OF the reconstruction ACTS, and for the
service OF the Quartermast-rs Department,
with recommendation in favor of the S.nats
receding from its amendment prohibiting any
money appropriated for one purpose from beiug
applied for any other purpose.
MI. Grimes hoped the Sonale would not
re( EIDE.
The senate then refused to recede from it,
amendment.
The amendment OF the Honse prohibiting any
member of congress from rrceiving any n..ws-
paper except the Congressional Globc, and lirn-
ting the cost of stationery, Sc., for EACH TO ls
per year, was recommended by the committee
TO be non-concurred in; and the senate refused
10 concur.
On motion of Mr.. Wilson, the CORNERSTONE
OF Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands
was requested 10 forward copies of his order
dischargIng certain officers of the Bureau on
Eebl nary 18th, in certain States, aud also copie>
OF letters and reports OF assistant commission
ers detailing the effects of such dlsmiSsals.
On motion OF Mr.. Wilson the Secretary OF
the Treasury was requested 10 inform the Seu-
ate whether the force in the New York custom
house has not been increased, and NJ what eN-
pense, and whether the public business in that
office necessitates such increase.
The POINT resolution authorizing the distribu-
ton by The Commissioner of the Frrcdinrn'~
Bureau to destitute people in the South of such
dessicated meats ard vegetables are not need
ed for thc use Of the army, was passed
Elementary reconstruction bill il Was taken
up, on which Mr.. Morton, OF Indiana. was en-
titled To the floor. Mr.. Morton promised by
alluding TO his feeble state OF health and asked
the permission OF the Senate to remain i'm his
seat while delivering his remarks. H. then
read from manuscript aa argument ON the DOW
.rs OF Congress over reconstruction. &c- which
readlng " a. IN progress when our report closed
HOUSE oF RkPREsENTATIvEs-N Wash
nurI", (Ill.) from Committee on Approprla-
tons reported the Naval appropriation biIi for
the fiscal year ending june %. 1863. and ASKED
that IL be printed and rscommttad
Mr.. Washburpe said that accompany IN 2 IA.
Dill Was a tabular statement in relation 10 tha
expenses of the Navy. The reason Tor asking
the bili 10 b recommitted was for the purpose
OF giving The committee an opportunity ~
anime the revised estimates submitted by tn
Seer, tary of the Navy. The first estimates sub
initted by the SECRETARY amounted to over forrN-
seven millions dollars.
Mr. Butler (mtsrrupting. )-les; and az the
same time the Secretary had fifteen million OF
former appropriation unexp-nded.
MIR. Washburne endorsed the statement. The
Committee on Appropriations had carrfully
examined the estimates and had reported an
appropriation of less than Nineteen mill ioas,
while the Serretary's estimat. was for iorIy-
seven millions. They believed that ninetren
millions of dollars would meet all The require
ments of the Navy Department. II. wanted
this House and the people 10 bear in mind the
TACT that a Republican committee Of a Republi-
can House OF Representatives had cut dow IA.
after mature cons liberation. the eNorbtaut a-ti-
suDHfltu bN me Democratic
OF the Navy of q Democratic admin isfraiion
MI. Spauding (O.) said II was but TO a public
omceI 10 say that the Secretary of The NAVY
mad revised the estimates first made and had
presented greatly reduced ones.
Mr.. Washbnrne admitted the fact. The SEC
reiary had reduced the estimates from forty
seven millions TO "a millions, but the Commit
tee had reduced the appropriation brlow hat
The bill was ordered to b. printed and re-
committed.
Mr.. Chanler IN. " submitted a resolution
T.a ha f.aprS -
ly Occur red upon an emigrant ship arriving al
New York from Germany. and directing the
COMMITTEE on Commerce ~ inquire into ANA
report the best means 10 prevent the evils re-
sufting from crowding emigrant ships, Ac
The resolution Was adopted.
Mr. W;shburne, I'LL. rising TO privileged
question, said he was surprised to lind THAI he
was reported as not having voted upon the r.
construction bill He was present aud vote
and Was an favor OF the bill
The Speaker proceeded To the call of commit
Ices Tor reports of privste character, and Mr..
benlamin. mo, from COMMITTEE ON Invalid
Pensions, reported upon Il number of priv at
oils; which were disposed OF ~ indicated BY
Mr.. Muller (Pa.) also reported from th. sam.
committee number of bills of a similar ns-
ture Reports OF the same character Were m.de
oy Messrs Burr, 1ll.,l Mum, ;Tenn.D Van
Asrnam, IN f-,) Trimble- lKy) and Psrhl,rl.
The Speaker laid before tn. House the fol.
From the Secretary Of War transmitting ali
information in his Department in RELATION to
the capture of Jefferson Davis Referred 10 the
Committee on Claims.
From the Secretary of the Treasury trans
mlttlng communication from the Comptrollsr
OF the Currency in relation 70 loans 20 National
Banks. Referred TO Committee on Ban king and
Currency.
From The Secretary of the Treasury in r.la
uon 10 the revenue cutter service Referred xo
Committee on Commerce :.
The House proceeded Ia the consideration of
the Dill reported some time ago by Mr. Wash
burne (Ill.) TO prevent the pay yment Of certain
claims.
The bill provides that no money shall, be maid
for the following classes Of claims until the
further action OF Congress, viz: LIST On account
OF the seizure or impnessment OF or for de-
murrage, or detention Of any appliane.s OF
ansportation-whether by land or water
such as steamers. boats, barges trains of
wagons or carr, and 20 forth. in insurrecuon-
ary states I'd, For transportation service. toIl.
ferriage, beyond the tariif Of rates fixed by Tn.
Quartermaster General during the war. and
80, tor the use and occupation of land an tn. ir
surrecuonary States. used for fortificaflor,s aa
osner defensive military purposes during Inc
war for suppression Of the rebellion. -"
Meesfs- P1le, Holman, and Mungen oppcs .a
the bill, on the ground that il was unjust 40
many loyal men whose boats had been seized
ana ruined or injured in the service In wss
the duty OF the Government, they argued. 10 b.. |
JUST at the same time that it was endeayoring 10
exercise wise economy
0r Maynard (Tenn-) opposed the third 4
Clause OF tne oail. II was manifestly uni iusf Tor
the Government could not afford to refuse the
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