Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-01-15
FORTIETH CONGRESS-.
This Afternoons Proceedings,
"WEDNESDAY, Jan. Is.

something is not done very soon by the Govern :
nent It will have TO provide a very large bury
ing ground Referred to Committee on Mill
Mr.. Morton presented a petition signed by
over 1900 colored laborers of Washing ton
a king for a fair share of employment on the
public works, stating also that they ar, ex :
Guided from all competition with white Ia
boreI In the usual walks of business, and are
confined 10 the most burdensome occupatious
that the white laborers refuse TO work with
them, and the Government contractors bring
Ne re large numbers of foreigners to labor on the
pubic works who are generally opposed to
the principles OF the Republican party.
MI. Morton asked that the petition ba referred
10 the Comittee on the District. and hopad the
committee would give it a fair consideration
Inc people did not ask for charity, but for
work.
Mr.. Sumner said there was a bill now on IN.
Calender OF the Senate which would. in q great
part, meet the object sought by the Senator Ii
was 10 take IRON the Mayor of this city the
appointing power which he was now welding
Tor the d. trlmept OF the class of our fellow
citizens who thought as he MIR 81 and the
Senator from Indiana, (Mr. Morton.) The
Mayor did not represent the political senti.
mt nj OF this city, and the power which he
30 grossly abused should be taken from him.
Inc Committee on the Judiciary Were. on
motion OF Mr.. Trumbull. discharged from the
further consideration of several bills, includ-
ing the bill relating TO fees and costs IN the
United States Courts.
Mr.. Sumner, from the Committee on FOREIGN
Relations, reported joint resolution to provide
for the representation of the United States at
the International Maritime Exhibition at
Havre.
Also, joint resolution to pay $500 to the
Spanish Government on account of the steam
er Puerta Sonora de Ia Reza, seized by General
sherman at Port Royal, and afterwards
taken for the use of the Navy Department
Passed.
Mr.. Drake offered a resolution to print 10. 900
copies Of the majority and minority reports in
the case Of the suspension of Secretary Stan
ton. Referred to Committee on Printing
, MI. Conness offered 4 joint resolution giving
the consent OF Congress to the acceptance by
the hon. Ansom Burlngame, of the mission
tendered him by the Emperor of China. Re-
ferred to Committee on Foreign Relations
MI Drake, from the Committee on Naval
Affairs reported with amendment the bill pro-
viding the line officers Of the Navy, not under
the rank Of Commander. may be detailed TO per
form the duties of Consul or Consular agents
with shore duty pay.
HOUsE.-Mr. Dawes Mass offered q hill as
substitute for the District of Columbia school
bill heretofore introduced by Mr.. Stevens. (Pa)
Mr. Dawes sand this bill had been prppared
by number of gentlemen largely Interested in
school matters, and it was more practicable i'm
Its operation than that of Mr.. Stevens
The Speaker said the paper could not ba of.
fered as substitute, as the original bill was
not now before the House, but il could be
printed, with notice that ii would be offered at
the proper time.
The order to print was therefore made
MIR. Julian (lnd-,) from the Committee on
Public Lands, reported adversely upon the bill
giving public lands to Freedmen under the
homestead laws; the object of the bill having
been attained by provision in another bill
Laid on the table.
Also from same Committee reported ad verse
~ upon the memorial of the Territorial Leg
lslature OF Utah, asking for donation of town
SITES foI school purposes. Laid on the table.
Mr.. Donnelly, from Public Lands Commit
tee, reported tayorably upon q bill to amend
the homestead law, SO as TO reliye settlers on
the public lands living AT a distance from a
district land office irom the necessity of making
personal application for lands, but permitting
them TO make the necessary afildayIts before the
clerk OF the county court in which they NAV
reside.
After discussion, Mr.. Washburne (Mo.) Of
Tered an amendment 10 apply the homestead
law 10 all even sections of land, but he subse
quently withdrew it,
The bill reported by the committee was then
passed. N'"
The Speaker laid befor. the House a commu.
nicatlon from the Secretary of the Treasury
enclosing draft of a bill prepared by the man
ayers OF the United States Mint. providing for
the coinage OF hye cent nickels by the branch
mint at New Orleans. Referred 10 COMMITTEES
on Coinage, Weights and Measures.
Inc House resumed the consideration Of the
reconstruction BILL upon which Mr. Wood IN
" was entitled TO the floor but he Welded a
few minutes to Mr.. Nicholson. fDel. , who sand
he would not delay the House with a speech
put would content himself with having read
letter from Goureneur Morris TO Timothy
Piekering, showing that in the early days of
the republic men looked AS with propbetic
vision to Just such acts as this, and pronounced
them unconstitutional
Mr Wood IN. } then proceeded TO address
the House, and referred 10 the acts that had
passed Congress since Monday last, among
which he enumerated the Suprrme Court hill
and the bill that he said had been proposed
and which was calculated to disgrace one of
the most honorable officers of the army by
sriking MS name from the roll of Major Cen
erals, because he was not in accord with the
majority of Congress.
Mr.. Spaulding (Ohio) made the point OF order
that the Supreme Court bill had passed, and
tnat General Hancock's bitl was not before the
House, and that the gentleman must confine
himself 10 the question Al issue.
Ihe Chair orerrnled the point Of order.
MT Wood, resuming. said he was strictly in
order, for he was simply reviewing the legisla-
tIon before Congress. The effort 70 get rid of
Gen Hancock in the manner proposed was one
OF the most cowardly that could be resortad to-
Alter reference to the action OF the Senate in
the stanton matter, Mr.. Wood proceeded To
speak TO the bill under con sideration and
characterized as bill without name:
a chhd without parent; production
without an author; monstrosity and the most
infamous act of all the infamous acts of this
infamous Congress.
MIR. Bingham (O.) called the gentleman To
order, and demanded that the words Just spoken
be taken down at the Clerks desk as required
by the rules.
The rule applicable in the case of words
objected to was read.
Mr.. Ross, (In.) IL suggest that the gentleman
modify his language by saying the $50 called
infamous Congress-" (Laughter.l
The words objected to, "a monstrosity and
the most infamous act Of all the infamous acts
OF this infamous Congress- Were then read
from the Clerks desk.
The Speaker declared the language out of
order, and said under the rules the gentleman
could not proceed except by unanimous con-
sent.
Mr.. Bingham.-I object to the gentleman's
speaking at all, unless he takes back those
words.
Mr.. Kerr (Ind.) asked if all the words read
were excepted to, or only that portion relating
to the House.
The Speaker said any, as a member, could
except to any words. The gentleman from
Mem York can have an opportunity to explain
If he desires it.
Mr.. Wood.-Mr. Speaker, have no expla.
nation to make. 4- ..-- =
The Speaker.-Then the gentleman can only |
proceed by consent OF the House.
The question was then put upon allowing
Mr.. Wood to proceed and consent was refused |
by ricd r0ce vote.
Mr.. Eldridge demanded the yeas and NAYS.
The House refused its consent by yeas %,
nays 10S s,s'f
Messrs Pruyn IN. " and Phelps, fMd,)
vote, but consent was refused. "a -
As soon as the vote was announced the Speak.
er recognized q member from Kentucky fMr
Becky and at the same time recognized Mr.
Dawes, (Mass.,) who said he rose to q Question
of privilege ,
Mr.. Davis then offered a resolution that Fer.
nando Wood, member of the House from the
State of New York had this day used in debate
on the floor Of the House the following I.n