The New York herald., 1868-01-10

into executive session, soon ai.sr adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
WASHINGTON, Jsa Q. 1868.
rRorecTos OF WITNESSES IsroRAERs.
Mr. WILSON lrep.) Of Iowa. introduced . bill for the
proscoa In certain Of persons making disclosures
defendants or tes,ying witnesses which Was 70.
fsrred 70 the Committee on the Judiciary.
Tho bill provides that other pleading Of
any party. and discovery or evidence obtained by
means OF any judicial proceeding from any party orwt-
ness in tuis or any foreign eounlry shall Do given
In evidence used against such party or Witness or his
properly or estate, 10 court OF the United staes
AMENDMENT OF TRs BANKRUPT LAW
Mr.. AkNgLL, Qep) Of Tenn, introduced bill to
amend the Bankruptcy acs which was referred TO the
Judiciary Committee
NrERcsssos RRIKAsE or FENAN PRISONERS
The House proceeded TO the regular business n the
tion yesterday by Nix Orh from the COMMITTEES
on Foreign Aairs requesting the President ntercede
with The Queen OF Great Britain for the release OF Father
Mcmahon, convicted Fsnian raider and Imprisoned
In Kingston, Canada West
Mr. oRrn, peD Of In4 yielded 70 Mr. PAINE, rcp Of
wM, Sns introduced similar joint resout ion in re'
Terence 70 Robert Lynch, OF Milwaukee.
Mr. WooD. ldoml OF N Y, obtained the floor and
gave notice OF h5 intention introduce joint rsolu.
uoa requesting the President TO nerposs hi. official
epthQly " enect tho immediate release OF Colonels
John Warren and w, Nagle, and any other American
citizens who have been arrested In Ireland under the
hab,as corpus act and who wero imprisoned with
out sufficient ground 10 chargs them tn the c,mms-
sion OF any offence against he laws OF Great Britain
Mr. Wood sent up TO mo Clerks desk and had read
correspondence between Colonel Nagie, himself and the
Secretary Of State Hs Afterwards stated that Prssi
dent bad attempted 10 lnsercede 10 the matter
rotary OF sta aud Sir Frederick Bruce, who had
iegraphod to Lord stanley recon nending the
Release OF those two persons The British govern
Tins be characterized studied direct Intentional IN
suit TO the United StRles IL entirely in keeping
with the whole policy and conduct or Grea, Britain
IN M her
anmus, her vindcliveness, her magnlty against the
Un,ed states Her whole conduct had been insulting,
arrogant and such as proud great and tree people
like that OF the United States would submit TO olera
a day longer
Mr.. sHAsKs rep OF Ind spoke in favor OF the jou,
resolution reiating 10 Father Mcmahon, taking the
ground that he entitled under British statutes
to trial by mixed jury, which right had been denied
him.
Mr. BROOKS Idem.l of N. y, suggested a modification
OF the language OF tho joint resoluon inasmuch IL
would be closely criticised Ia its literary well its
political aspect He would advise the omission OF the
words "Fenlan raidern Tho word "raider' not
be found either in Webster or Worcester II It meant
anything 1T meant predatory incursion into another
country, and its very use admitted crime.
Mr. RANKS rep.) Of Mass, Chairman of the Commit
exact terms. fne appeal behalf of Father Mcmahon
was maie on the general belief that there
stances affecting his which would produce favor
sole action on the part Of the British government
Mr. HiGBY, lrep.I OF Cal, asked Mr. Banks to state
on what charge Father Nc Mahon WAS convicted Was
II not treasonY
Mr.. BANKS understood that It was
Mr. HIGBy WAS therefore In favor OF Mr. Brooks sug-
gestion.
Mr.. Ortiz remarked that the charge on which Father
Achahon was convicted that oil and felony,
and he modified the Joint resolution 10 that particular
The joint resolution then passed unanimously.
MIR. Paines joint resolution IN reference to Robert
Lynch, OF Milwaukee, was also passed unanimously.
Mr. Wo0D then introduced the JOINT resolution OF
which no mad given notice In reference 70 Colonies War
rem and Maggie.
sion OF tho words inerposs his Official authority" and
the substitution OF the words 'thst tine Presldent DO
quested 70 intercode,n &c
Mr. WooD made the modification suggested Mr..
Wood also, at the suggestion OF Mr.. Banks suuck
the words "under the naoeas corpus act"
As thus modified tho joint resolution was passed
unanimously.
wmKgY METRES.
Tho morning hour having expired, Mr. ScHEyCK, frep)
OF Ohio, from the COmmiues Ways and Means ro-
ported Joint resolution to provide for
report on metres for distilled spirits and
asked for ite Immediate consideration
provides Tor tho creation OF a commission Of ave
person, to be appointed by the Secretary examine
carefully all metres and mechanical
vontons that may DO presented, intended TO measure
test and ascertain the p-oductveness Of grain other
srcie prepared for dstiaton. the actual quantity
and strength OF distilled sprs subject to produced
tnerofrom, giving due notice Of the time, when and
place where such examination 10 to be conducted tho
commission to meet and proceed 10 the performances OF
Its duties under the instructions Of the Secretary
Treasury at the earliest practicable day, and 10
municated TO Congress the results OF the exami.
nation with such recommendations as it may DO
deemed expcdieni. on Defere the 10th OF February
next The second section provides that pending the
ton OF the commission. aud until Its report be made
and adopted by law, work ON the const rue.
tion Of morss nm Ter tho direction OF the treasury De-
partment shall be suspended, and that in the
no further contrac. for metres shall be made by tho
Secretary OF the Treasury under section fifteen Of the
OF Marcn 2 1867 The third section directs Secre
tary OF the Treasury TO the expenses incident
carving ont OF the joint rsoution, ani also
bic compensation for the services OF the
Mr. sHsScKs wHisKEY R,iJA
Pending its cons. .deration the Senate amendments to
The House bii IN reference To bonded warehouses for
whskey was presented by the Secretary of the Senate
and was Immediately, on motion Of Mr. scsnscx con.
sidered ooncurred anu the bill now goes 10 The
President for his signature.
wuLsKsY MErRE QUESTION RESUMED
The consideration OF tue iont resolution for tho ap-
resumed.
Mr. vAS WICK, trepl OF n. Y, required Information
from the Chairman Of the Committee Ways aud
Means on tho subject, remarkipg that he did not
deissDd why a commission of five could ascertain
the facts more clearly than The various no per-
sons who nsd already been examining the subject.
Mr.. SCnsScK went into explanation Of what had
already taken place In reference TO metres aud OF the
propTiety and necessity of having q commission ap.
pointed provided In the isat resolution lie declared
that u wa3 as certain that metro gauge the quantity
anu strength Of spirits could be cousractei "a wall as
yardstck TO measure the desk before him. He admitted
that no mechanical contrvance could supply the place
OF honesty ~ empoyes but Just so far metre could
man uaughter) they would be accomplishing the do
sired object. Tue dcsisn 10 have the metre under
locs and key, that II could not he tampored with by
the dstiier or any person except tho person TO whom
the key nIusted hut there came In the only All.
culy IN inc nater-the difficulty OF getting honest
olcor 10 keep the key. One means preventing ra,.
caiity was TO have some way OF measuring the whssey
that came out o the tail OF the st and although tho
s,ii might be, by Of the officer with the i,.
tler tapped shove the tall tho afn xing Of would
60 FAR towards preventing frauds.
ur LoGsS (rep) OF III, member Of tho Com ni,tee on
Ways and Means spoke in support OF the Joint resou-
tion, AMI declared that the regulations force In
relation 20 the whskay tax seemed 20 bs made specially
for the purpose Of protecting viIsny and fraud They
must Lave been other suggested TO the eiay OF the
Treasury foe tha. purpose or have been adopted by him
through Ignorance He explained a. consderab be length
tho facility by which frauds cou be committed with
any mclre applied 10 tue trial Of tho sl is theory
was TO measure tho gram, aud compute the quantity Of
whiskey winch II should produce Bat unless the moral
integrity OF the employees OF Mr. johnson aud Mr.
EcCuloch cluld be measured the tax could never be
collected He hni himself told the officers OF the de-
partmens that certain employees were thieves and hs
could not gei hem removed Hc know facts showing
that members OF the Metropolitan Revenue Board la
New York conheoted wl.h frauds terpetus,ed b.
means OF straw bail and Otherwise and yot they were
not removed II dishonest, corrupt machine from
Its head To s feet He did not how high the res.
dent the Secretary Of the Treasury might stand thsy