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S. HOOPER,

WILLIAM E. NIBLACK, Managers on the part of the House. Mr. NYE. I should like to inquire of the Senator from Ohio if the meter system is retained?

Mr. SHERMAN. Yes; the House of Representatives agree to the Senate amendment on that point substantially as we had it.

Mr. NYE. How is that?

Mr. SHERMAN. The Commissioner of Internal Revenue prescribes the kind of meters, but the distillers are required to get them. It takes away from the Commissioner the power of procuring them.

Mr. NYE. Is the distiller bound to get

them before he distills?

Mr. SHERMAN. No; that is all left to regulation.

Mr. NYE. I understand it will take years to supply the distillers with them.

Mr. SHERMAN. That is all left to regulations as under the present law.

Mr. NYE. I think the whole meter system is a very great humbug, and the advantage of it a great deal more delusive than real.

Mr. SHERMAN. If any Senator desires to know what disposition has been made of any particular amendment I will answer. I may state generally that the amendments of the Senate have been almost entirely concurred in, with a few modifications that have been made. I will not stop to explain the amendments unless some Senator has a question to ask in regard to particular items.

The report was concurred in.

MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE.

A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. MCPHERSON, its Clerk, announced that the House had passed the following bill and joint resolutions, in which it requested the concurrence of the Senate:

A bill (H. R. No. 541) making appropriations for the service of the Columbia Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb, and establishing additional regulations for the government of the institution;

A joint resolution (H. R. No. 341) for the relief of Z. M. Hall;

A joint resolution (H. R. No. 342) for the restoration of Commander Greenleaf Cilley and Commander Aaron K. Hughes, United States Navy, to the active list from the retired list; and

A joint resolution (H. R. No. 343) to admit free of duty certain statuary.

The message also announced that the House had agreed to the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H. R. No. 1353) for the removal of certain disabilities from the persons therein named.

EXECUTIVE SESSION.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Indian appropriation bill will now be resumed.

Mr. TRUMBULL. The Indian appropriation bill is a lengthy bill, and it will be impossible to finish it between now and the hour of

adjournment. I move that the Senate proceed

to the consideration of executive business.

The motion was agreed to; and after some time spent in executive session, the doors were reopened, and the Senate adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WEDNESDAY, July 15, 1868.

The House met at twelve o'clock m. The Journal of yesterday was read and approved.

ENROLLED BILL SIGNED.

Mr. WILSON, of Pennsylvania, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined and found truly enrolled a bill (H. R. No. 605) making appro

priations for the legislative, executive, and judicial expenses of the Government for the year ending 30th of June, 1869; when the Speaker signed the same.

REPRESENTATIVE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.

Mr. DAWES presented the credentials of James H. Goss, claiming a seat as a Representative from the fourth district of South Carolina; which were referred to the Committee of Elections.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. GORHAM, its Secretary, announced that the Senate had passed bills of the following titles, in which the concurrence of the House was requested:

A bill (S. No. 207) for funding the national debt, and for the conversion of the notes of the United States;

An act (S. No. 596) for the relief of Mrs. L. T. Potter; and

An act (S. No. 349) granting lands to the State of California to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the town of Vallejo to Humboldt bay, in the State of California.

The message also announced that the Senate had agreed to the amendment of the House to the bill (S. No. 567) relating to the Freedmen's Bureau, and providing for its discontin

uance.

The message further announced that the Senate had passed House bill of the following title, with an amendment, in which the concurrence of the House was requested:

An act (H. R. No. 1353) for the removal of certain disabilities from persons therein named.

REMOVAL OF POLITICAL DISABILITIES.

Mr. BOUTWELL. I ask unanimous consent that the bill just received from the Senate, with amendments, bill (H. R. No. 1353) for the removal of certain disabilities from the persons therein named, be taken from the Speaker's table and referred to the Committee on Reconstruction.

The SPEAKER. If there be no objection, the bill will be so referred. There was no objection.

Z. M. HALL.

Mr. JUDD. My colleague [Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois] has a bill which he is authorized to report from the Committee on Appropriations. I hope there will be no objection to considering it now.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois, by unanimous consent, reported from the Committee on Appropriations a joint resolution (H. R. No. 341) for the relief of Z. M. Hall; which was read a first and second time.

The joint resolution authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, in his discretion, to refund to Z. M. Hall, of Chicago, the sum of $104 10, being the tonnage tax paid on the schooner S. M. Pomeroy, in error, by her master at the port of Bay City, April 21, 1868, the tax having been paid by Hall at Chicago, April 16, 1868.

The joint resolution was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time; and being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time, and passed.

Mr. JUDD moved to reconsider the vote by also moved that the motion to reconsider be which the joint resolution was passed; and

laid on the table.

The latter motion was agreed to.

CONTINGENT FUND OF THE HOUSE.

Mr. WASHBURN, of Indiana, by unanimous consent, submitted the following res olution; which was read, considered, and agreed to:

Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to investigate into the disbursement of the contingent fund of the House for the years 1867 and 1868, with power to send for persons and papers when the same can be done without expense to the Government.

MRS. JULIA CODY.

Mr. BARNES introduced a bill (H. R. No. 1432) to place upon the pension-roll the name

of Mrs. Julia Cody, mother of James Cody; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. GOVERNMENT PROPERTY AT HARPER'S FERRY.

Mr. GARFIELD. I ask unanimous consent to report back from the Committee on Military Affairs, for consideration at the present time, a bill (S. No. 186) providing for the sale of the lands, tenements, and water privileges belonging to the United States at and near Harper's Ferry, in the county of Jefferson, West Virginia.

The SPEAKER. The bill will be read for information, after which there will be an opportunity for objection.

The bill, which was read, provides in the first section for authorizing and directing the Secretary of War to make sale at public auction of the lands, tenements, and water privileges belonging to the United States at and near Harper's Ferry, in the county of Jefferson, West Virginia, except as hereinafter provided, in such parcels as shall, in his opinion, be best adapted to secure the greatest amount of money therefor on a credit of one and two years, taking bond and security from the purchaser or purchasers for the payment of the purchase money. But no such sale is to be made until the time, terms, and place thereof shall have been published in one of the principal newspapers in each of the cities of Washington, New York, and Cincinnati for sixty days prior to the day of sale. The proceeds of the sale are to be applied by the Secretary of War as follows: first, in defraying the expenses of making the sale; second, in refunding to the United States the principal sum of purchase-money paid for the lands, tenements, and water privileges by the United States, and for the erection of buildings thereon; and third, if any surplus remain, he is to deliver the same to such agent as the Legislature of the State of West Virginia shall appoint to receive the same; but upon condition that such surplus shall be received by the State of West Virginia, to be set apart, held, invested, used, and applied as a part of the school fund of that State, under and by virtue of, and in manner and form as provided in section first of the tenth article of the constitution of West Virginia, and for no other purpose. And on making such sale of the lands, tenements, and water privileges, or any part thereof, the Secretary of War is empowered and required, on receiving the purchase-money in full, to execute all necessary deeds therefor to the purchaser or purchasers thereof, on behalf of the United States. The second section authorizes and directs the Secretary of War to convey by deed to Storer College, an institution of learning chartered by the State of West Virginia, all those certain portions of the aforesaid property, namely, the buildings, with the lots on which they stand, numbered thirty, thirty-one, and thirty-two, also building numbered twentyfive, with enough of the lot on which it stands to give a breadth of ten rods on High street, said buildings and lots being situated at Harotherwise known as Washington street, all of per's Ferry aforesaid, being the same which have heretofore been assigned by the War Department to the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, for educational purposes; and also to convey by deed to the proper persons all such other lands and buildings, portions of the aforesaid property, as have heretofore been set apart by the proper authority for religious, charitable, and town purposes.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. I will not object provided the gentleman will amend his bill by striking out a portion of the bill, so as to provide the proceeds of this property shall go into the Treasury of the United States.

Mr. GARFIELD. I will allow the gentleman to offer it.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. I shall not withdraw my objection if that is not incorporated in the bill.

Mr. HUBBARD, of West Virginia. I want five or ten minutes to debate the proposed amendment of the gentleman from Illinois. Mr. SPALDING. I cannot yield if it gives rise to debate.

WHARVES IN OSWEGO HARBOR.

Mr. CHURCHILL. I ask unanimous consent for leave to the Committee on Commerce to report back a joint resolution.

There was no objection.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. The Committee on Commerce direct me to report back House joint resolution No. 296, giving the assent of the United States to the construction of certain wharves in the harbor of Oswego, New York. The committee found no objection to its passage, but many reasons why it should be passed. I am instructed to move a proviso to the joint resolution, that it shall be subject to the approval of the engineer of the Army.

The amendment was agreed to.

The joint resolution, as amended, is as follows:

Joint resolution giving the assent of the United States to the construction of certain wharves in the harbor of Oswego, New York.

Whereas the common council of the city of Oswego, in the State of New York, by resolutions unanimously adopted April 7, 1868, and May 12, 1868, in pursuance of the authority granted them by the Legislature of New York, in the charter of said city, have given permission to the owners of lots 11 and 12, also of lots 13, 14, 84, and 82, and of lots 15, 16, 17, and 18, in Fortification block, number two, in the first ward of said city, to construct wharves in front of said lots, seventy feet in width, and extending northerly so that the north end of said wharves may be on a line with the north line of the Ontario elevator pier, but not less than two hundred and fifty feet distant from the nearest point of the United States pier, which wharves will extend into the navigable waters of said harbor; Therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the assent of the United States be, and the same is hereby, given, so far as Congress has power to give the same, to the owners of the lots abovementioned to construct said wharves in accordance with the terms of said resolutions, subject, however, to the approval of the engineer department of the Army.

The joint resolution, as amended, was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time; and being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time, and passed.

Mr. CHURCHILL moved to reconsider the vote by which the joint resolution was passed; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table.

The latter motion was agreed to.

W. II. COX, DECEASED.

Mr. MILLER, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, reported back House bill No. 1420, directing the Commissioner of Pensions to proceed to hear evidence and determine the right of W. H. Cox, deceased, late a sergeant in company F, second regiment Pennsylvania artillery, to a pension, in same manner as if he was still living, he having died of disease contracted while a prisoner of war at Andersonville, Georgia; and if found to be entitled to a pension, then the same from the time of his discharge till death be paid over to his father, Charles D. Cox, with the recommendation that it do pass.

The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time; and being engrossed, it was read the third time.

Mr. MILLER. Mr. Speaker, I will give a brief explanation of this bill. W. H. Cox, a healthy young man of about twenty years of age, residing with his father, Charles D. Cox, in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, the town in which I reside, on the 16th of February, 1864, was enrolled and sworn in as a sergeant in company F, second regiment Pennsylvania artillery. That the regiment to which he was attached was ordered to the front, and on the 2d of June, 1864, at the battle of Coal Harbor, Virginia, the said W. H. Cox was taken prisoner by the rebels, conveyed to Andersonville, Georgia, and there confined as prisoner of war for about ten months. Then, being released, was taken to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at which place he was, on the 8th of August, 1865, hon40TH CONG. 2D SESS.- No. 256.

orably discharged from Government service in pursuance of a telegram from Adjutant General's office dated May 12, 1865. That he returned to his father's, in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and being, in consequence of his treatment in rebel prison, broken down in health, and found by his physician to be incurable, made application on the 14th of June, 1866, for a pension; but before the evidence was completed, to wit, on the 9th of July, 1866, died, so that all proceedings before the Commissioner, in consequence of his death, were suspended. The object of this bill, Mr. Speaker, is to authorize and require the Commissioner of Pensions to proceed to secure evidence and determine whether said W. H. Cox was entitled to a pension in same manner as if he was still living, and if he decide that he was so entitled, then the same, from date of his discharge till death, be paid to his father, Charles D. Cox, who wants to apply that money toward paying for a plain monument to mark the grave of his son, who lost his life in the cause of our country. I trust, Mr. Speaker, that this bill may pass by a unanimous vote.

The bill was passed.

Mr. MILLER moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table.

The latter motion was agreed to.

CHANGE OF REFERENCE.

On motion of Mr. SITGREAVES, by unanimous consent, the Committee on Military Affairs were discharged from the further consideration of the petitions of Almira Ambler and Alexander Moffitt, and the same were referred to the Committee of Claims.

COMMANDERS CILLEY AND HUGHES.

Mr. PIKE, by unanimous consent, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, reported a joint resolution (H. R. No. 342) for the restoration of Commander Greenleaf Cilley and Commander Aaron K. Hughes, of the United States Navy, to the active list from the retired list; which was read a first and second time.

The joint resolution was reported. It authorizes the President to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, the aforesaid commanders to the active list with the rank they may be entitled thereon.

The joint resolution was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time; and being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time, and passed.

Mr. PIKE moved to reconsider the vote by which the joint resolution was passed; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table.

The latter motion was agreed to.

Mr. MOORHEAD. I call for the regular order.

Mr. STEVENS, of Pennsylvania. Allow me to offer a joint resolution.

Mr. MOORHEAD. I yield to my colleague on account of his indisposition.

REMISSION OF DUTY ON STATUARY.

Mr. STEVENS, of Pennsylvania, by unanimous consent, introduced a joint resolution (H. R. No. 342) to admit free of duty certain statuary; which was read a first and second time.

The joint resolution provides that the statue representing the figure of Victory, intended to surmount the monument in memory of Pennsylvania soldiers who fell in the Mexican war, now about being erected on the capitol grounds at Harrisburg, being in marble cut in Italy, and which will soon be ready for shipment, shall be admitted free of duty.

The joint resolution was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time; and being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time, and passed.

Mr. STEVENS, of Pennsylvania, moved to reconsider the vote by which the joint resolution was passed; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table. The latter motion was agreed to.

SURVEYOR GENERAL IN UTAH.

Mr. JULIAN. I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table, for the purpose of concurring in the amendment of the Senate thereto, the bill (H. R. No. 202) to create the office of surveyor general in the Territory of Utah, to establish a land office in said Territory, and extend the homestead and preemption laws over the same.

Mr. RANDALL. I object, unless we take up the bills from the Speaker's table in their regular order.

HOMESTEAD AND PREËMPTION LAWS. Mr. JULIAN. I ask unanimous consent to offer the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Committee on the Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill extending the preemption and homestead laws of the United States over the territory of Alaska, establishing a suitable number of land districts therein, and providing for the appointment of registers and receivers therefor, and of a surveyor general for said territory.

Mr. MOORHEAD. Mr. Speaker, is this the regular order? It is not.

The SPEAKER. Mr. MOORHEAD.

lar order.

I called for the regu.

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COLUMBIA DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTE.

The SPEAKER. The regular order is the consideration of the bill pending at the adjournment yesterday (H. R. No. 541) making appropriations for the service of the Columbia Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and

Dumb, and establishing additional regulations: for the government of the institution. The pending question is on the amendment of the gentleman from Illinois, [Mr. WASHBURNE,] to add to the bill various sections. Pending that motion the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. SHANKS] moved to reconsider the vote by which the House disagreed to the substitute offered by the gentleman from Illinois, [Mr. WASHBURNE.]

Mr. MAYNARD. I move to lay the motion to reconsider on the table.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. I hope it will be reconsidered; it will save $40,000.

Mr. SPALDING. I hope it will not be reconsidered.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. I demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

The question was taken; and it was decided in the affirmative-yeas 67, nays 49, not voting 84; as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Archer, Arnell, Delos R. Ashley, Baldwin, Banks, Barnes, Bingham, Blair, Boles, Boyer, Brooks, Broomall, Roderick R. Butler, Dawes, Dixon, Dockery, Donnelly, Driggs, Eckley, Eldridge, Fox, Garfield, Higby, Hinds, Chester D. Hubbard, Ingersoll, Jenckes, Alexander H. Jones, Kelsey, Kerr, Kitchen, Knott, Koontz, Laflin, George V. Lawrence, Mallory, Maynard, McKee, Miller, Moorhead, Morrissey, Mungen, Myers. Nicholson, Perham, Peters, Phelps, Pile, Plants, Poland, Smith, Spalding, Starkweather, Thaddeus Stevens, Stone, Taber, Taylor, Thomas, Lawrence S. Trimble, Twichell, Upson, Van Auken, Van Trump, Henry D. Washburn, Thomas Williams, Stephen F. Wilson, and Woodbridge-67.

NAYS-Messrs. Bailey, Baker, Beatty, Benjamin, Benton, Buckland, Benjamin F. Butler, Churchil Sidney Clarke, Cobb, Cook, Covode, Cullom, Delano, Ela, Ferriss, Fields, Getz, Golladay, Grover, Hawkins, Hopkins, Hotchkiss, Hunter, Judd, Julian, William Lawrence, Logan, Loughridge, Marshall, McCarthy, McClurg, Mercur, Moore, Mullins, O'Neill, Orth, Paine, Pomeroy, Scofield, Shanks, Stokes, Trowbridge, Van Aernam, Elihu B. Washburne, William B. Washburn, Welker, William Williams, and James F. Wilson-49.

NOT VOTING-Messrs. Adams, Allison, Ames, Anderson, James M. Ashley, Axtell, Barnum, Beaman, Beck, Blaine, Boutwell, Boyden, Bromwell, Burr, Cake, Cary, Chanler, Reader W. Clarke, Coburn, Cornell, Deweese, Dodge, Eggleston, Eliot, Farnsworth, Ferry, Finney, French, Glossbrenner, Gravely, Griswold, Haight, Halsey, Hamilton, Hard

ing, Hill, Holman, Hooper, Asahel W. Hubbard, Richard D. Hubbard, Hulburd, Humphrey, Johnson, Thomas L. Jones, Kelley, Ketcham, Lincoln, Loan, Lynch, Marvin, McCormick, McCullough, Morrell, Newcomb, Niblack, Nunn, Pike, Polsley, Price, Pruyn, Randall, Raum, Robertson, Robinson, Roots, Ross, Sawyer, Schenck, Selye, Shellabarger, Sitgreaves, Aaron F. Stevens, Stewart, Taffe, John Trimble, Burt Van Horn, Robert T. Van Horn, Van Wyck, Ward, Cadwalader C. Washburn, John T. Wilson, Windom, Wood, and Woodward-84.

So the motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

The question recurred on the amendment of Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois, to add to the bill the following:

SEC. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Interior, the chief justice of the supreme court of the District of Columbia, the Surgeon General of the Army, the chief of the Bureau of Medical Surgery of the Navy, and the chief engineer of the Army, shall constitute a commission, which shall be known and designated as the "Commission of Charities for the District of Columbia."

SEC.. And be it further enacted, That the said commission shall organize immediately upon the passage of this act, and the Secretary of the Interior shall be the president thereof, and he shall designate as secretary of the said commission a clerk of his Department, who is of the fourth class, and who shall keep a record of all the proceedings and transactions of the said commission.

SEC. -. And be it further enacted, That the said cominission shall have the full control and direction of all the appropriations made by Congress to the charitable institutions of the said District of Columbia, and of all such appropriations as may be made for the purposes of charity in the said District, and shall have the power of visitation and examination of all the institutions in the said District, to the support of which appropriations shall be made by Congress. No money shall be drawn from the appropriations made to the charitable institutions of the District, or for the purposes of charity in said District, except upon the requisition of the president of the commission, made upon an order of the commission, duly entered in the journal of their proceedings, and all the accounts of the said commission shall be nudited by the First Auditor of the Treasury. And it is hereby provided that the provisions of this act shall not be deemed to include the Government hospital for the insane in the District of Columbia.

SEC.. And be it further enacted, That no money shall be expended for the Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, for the Columbia Hospital for Women and Lying-in Asylum, and for the Providence Hospital, until the title to the property, real and personal, of such institutions shall be transferred to the United States by conveyances, certified as , being valid by the Attorney General of the United States, and conveying all the right, title, and interest of the said institutions in the property conveyed.

SEC.. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the said commission to make a full report to Congress, at the December session of each year, of all its transactions and of all the expenditures made under its direction, together with a statement of the condition of the charitable institutions of the District for which appropriations shall have been previously made, and which shall have been expended under its direction.

Mr. SPALDING. Is that debatable? The SPEAKER. It is not, the previous question having been ordered.

Mr. SPALDING. The Committee on Appropriations do not recommend these amend

ments.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. Does the gentleman object to the amendment?

Mr. SPALDING. I do, and the majority of the committee object to it.

Mr. STEVENS, of Pennsylvania. I ask the gentleman if he will allow me to have a paper read

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. I should be glad to have this matter open to debate. Mr. STEVENS, of Pennsylvania. Oh, no; the gentleman has not heard me through.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. I object to debate unless I can have a chance.

The SPEAKER. Debate is not in order. Mr. STEVENS, of Pennsylvania. The gentleman has debated it more than any one else. Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. I demand the yeas and nays on the amendment.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

The question was taken; and it was decided in the negative-yeas 63, nays 71, not voting 66; as follows:

-

YEAS Messrs. Ames, Axtell, Bailey, Baker, Beatty, Benjamin, Benton. Boutwell, Bromwell, Buckland, Benjamin F. Butler, Cake, Cary, Churchill, Sidney Clarke, Cobb, Cook, Covode, Cullom, Delano, Ela, Ferriss, Fields, Getz, Gravely, Grover, Haight, Hawkins, Hopkins, Hotchkiss, Hunter, Judd, Julian, Ketcham, Laflin, William Lawrence, Logan, Loughridge, McCarthy, McClurg, Mercur, Moore, Morrell, Mullins, Orth, Paine, Pomeroy, Randall, Robertson, Roots, Scofield, Shanks, Stokes.

Taylor, Trowbridge, Van Aernam, Elihu B. Washburne, William B. Washburn, Weiker, Thomas Williams, William Williams, James F. Wilson, and John T. Wilson-63.

NAYS-Messrs. Anderson, Archer, Arnell, Delos R. Ashley, Baldwin, Banks, Barnes, Beck, Blair, Boles, Boyden, Boyer, Brooks, Dawes, Dixon, Donnelly, Driggs, Eckley, Eldridge, Fox, Garfield, Glossbrenner, Golladay, Griswold, Hamilton, Higby, Hinds, Chester D. Hubbard, Ingersoll, Jenckes, Alexander H. Jones, Kelsey, Kerr, Kitchen, Knott, Koontz, Loan, Mallory, Maynard, McKee, Miller, Moorhead, Morrissey, Mungen, Myers, Niblack, Nicholson, O'Neill, Perham, Peters, Phelps, Pike, Pile, Plants, Poland, Raum, Schenck, Smith, Spalding, Starkweather, Thaddeus Stevens, Stone, Taber, Thomas, Twichell, Upson, Van Auken, Burt Van Horn, Van Trump, Stephen F. Wilson, and Woodbridge-71.

NOT VOTING-Messrs. Adams, Allison, James M. Ashley, Barnum, Beaman, Bingham, Blaine, Broomall, Burr, Roderick R. Butler, Chanler, Reader W. Clarke, Coburn, Cornell, Deweese, Dockery, Dodge, Eggleston, Eliot, Farnsworth, Ferry, Finney, French, Halsey, Harding, Hill, Holman, Hooper, Asabel W. Hubbard, Richard D. Hubbard, Hulburd, Humphrey, Johnson, Thomas L. Jones, Kelley, George V. Lawrence, Lincoln, Lynch, Marshall, Marvin, MeCormick, McCullough, Newcomb, Nunn, Polsley, Price, Pruyn, Robinson, Ross, Sawyer, Selye, Shellabarger, Sitgreaves, Aaron F. Stevens, Stewart, Taffe, John Trimble, Lawrence S. Trimble, Robert T. Van Horn, Van Wyck, Ward, Cadwalader C. Washburn, Henry D. Washburn, Windom, Wood, and Woodward-66. So the amendment was not agreed to. The question was upon ordering the bill to be engrossed and read a third time. Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. I move that the bill be laid on the table. The SPEAKER. Before it has been ordered to be engrossed?

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. Has the bill been engrossed yet? I object to it if it has not.

Mr. GARFIELD and Mr. MAYNARD called for the yeas and nays on the motion to lay the bill on the table.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

The question was taken; and it was decided in the negative-yeas 42, nays 84, not voting 74; as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Ames, Bailey. Beatty, Benjamin, Benton, Cake, Churchill, Sidney Clarke, Cobb, Cook, Covode, Dockery, Ela, Ferriss, Fields, Golladay, Grover, Haight, Hinds, Hopkins, Hotchkiss, Hulburd, Hunter, Judd, Knott, Loughridge, Marshall, McCarthy, Mercur, Moore, Mullins, Orth, Paine, Perham, Pomeroy, Sawyer, Scofield, Shanks, Trowbridge, Elihu B. Washburne, William Williams, and James F. Wilson-42.

NAYS-Messrs. Anderson, Archer, Arnell, Delos R. Ashley, Axtell, Baker, Baldwin, Banks, Barnes, Bingham, Blair, Boles. Boutwell, Boyer, Bromwell, Brooks, Buckland, Cary, Dawes, Dixon, Donnelly, Eckley, Eldridge, Eliot, Fox, Garfield, Getz, Glossbrenner, Gravely, Hamilton, Higby, Hooper, Chester D.Hubbard, Richard D. Hubbard, Ingersoll, Jenckes, Alexander H. Jones, Julian, Kelsey, Kerr, Ketcham, Kitchen, Koontz, George V. Lawrence, Mallory, Marvin, Maynard, McClurg, McKee, Miller, Moorhead, Morrissey, Mungen, Myers, Niblack, Nicholson, O'Neill, Peters, Phelps, Pike, Plants, Poland, Randall, Raum, Roots, Schenck, Sinith, Spalding, Starkweather, ThaddeusStevens, Stokes,Stone, Taber, Taylor, Thomas, Twichell, Upson, Vau Aernam, Van Auken, Van Trump, William B. Washburn, Thomas Williams, Stephen F. Wilson, and Woodbridge-84. NOT VOTING-Messrs. Adams, Allison, James M. Ashley, Barnum, Beaman, Beck, Blaine, Boyden, Broomall, Burr, Benjamin F. Butler, Roderick R. Butler, Chanler, Reader W. Clarke, Coburn, Cornell, Culiom, Delano, Deweese, Dodge, Driggs, Eggleston, Farnsworth, Ferry, Finney, French, Griswold, Halsey, Harding, Hawkins, Hill, Holman, Asahel W. Hubbard, Humphrey, Johnson, Thomas L. Jones, Kelley, Laflin, William Lawrence, Lincoln, Loan, Logan, Lynch, McCormick, McCullough, Morrell, Newcomb, Nunn, Pile, Poisley, Price, Pruyn, Robertson, Robinson. Ross, Selye, Shellabarger, Sitgreaves, Aaron F.Stevens, Stewart, Tafie, John Trimble, Lawrence S. Trimble, Burt Van Horn, Robert T. Van Horn, Van Wyck, Ward, Cadwalader C. Washburn, Henry D. Washburn, Welker, John T. Wilson, Windom, Wood, and Woodward-74.

So the motion to lay on the table was not agreed to.

The question recurred upon ordering the bill to be engrossed and read a third time. Mr. SPALDING and Mr. GARFIELD called for the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.'

The question was taken; and it was decided in the affirmative-yeas 82, nays 35, not voting 93; as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Anderson, Archer, Arnell, Delos R. Ashley, Baker, Baldwin, Banks, Barnes, Beck, Bingham, Blair, Boles, Boutwell. Boyden, Boyer, Brooks, Broomall, Roderick R. Butler, Cary, Coburn, Dawes, Dixon, Donnelly, Eckley, Eldridge, Eliot, Fox, Garfield, Getz, Glossbrenner, Gravely, Higby, Hinds, Hooper, Chester D. Hubbard, Rich

ard D. Hubbard, Ingersoll, Jenckes, Kelsey, Kerr, Kitchen, Koontz, George V. Lawrence, Mallory, Marshall, Marvin, Maynard, McClurg Mckee, Miller, Moorhead. Mungen, Myers, Nicholson, O'Neill, Perham, Peters, Phelps, Pike, Plants, Poland, Raum, Smith, Spalding, Starkweather, Thaddeus Stevens, Stewart, Stokes, Stone, Taber. Thomas, Twichell, Upson, Van Aernam, Van Auken. Burt Van Horn, Van Trump, Henry D. Washburn, William B. Washburn, Thomas Williams, Stephen F. Wilson, Windom, and Woodbridge-82.

NAYS-Messrs. Bailey, Beatty, Benjamin, Benton, Sidney Clarke, Cobb, Cook, Covode, Cullom, Ferriss, Fields, Golladay, Haight, Hamilton, Hotchkies, Hunter, Judd, Loan, Logan, Mercur, Moore, Mullins, Orth, Paine, Pomeroy, Randall, Sawyer, Scofield, Shanks, Taylor, Trowbridge, Elihu B. Washburne, William Williams, James F. Wilson, and John T. Wilson-35.

NOT VOTING-Messrs. Adams, Allison, Ames, James M. Ashley, Axtell, Barnum, Beaman, Blaine, Bromwell, Buckland, Burr, Benjamin F. Butler, Cake, Chanler. Churchill, Reader W. Clarke, Cornell, Delano, Deweese, Dockery, Dodge, Driggs. Eggleston, Ela, Farnsworth, Ferry, Finney, French, Griswold, Grover, Halsey, Harding, Hawkins, Hill, Holman, Hopkins, Asahel W. Hubbard, Iluiburd, Humphrey, Johnson, Alexander H. Jones. Thomas L. Jones, Julian, Kelley, Ketcham, Knott, Laflin, William Lawrence, Lincoln, Loughridge, Lynch, McCarthy, McCormick, McCullough, Morrell, Morrissey, Newcomb, Niblack, Nunn, Pile, Polsley. Price, Pruyn, Robertson, Robinson, Roots, Ross, Schenck, Selve, Shellabarger, Sitgreaves, Aaron F. Stevens, Taffe, John Trimble, Lawrence S. Trimble, Robert T. Van Horn, Van Wyck, Ward, Cadwalader C. Washburn, Welker, Wood, and Woodward-83.

So the bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

The question being on the third reading of the bill,

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. I call for the reading of the bill in full. The bill was read.

The question being on the passage of the bill,

Mr. SPALDING called for the previous question.

The previous question was seconded and the main question ordered; and under the operation thereof the bill was passed.

Mr. SPALDING moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table.

The latter motion was agreed to.

ENROLLED BILL SIGNED.

Mr. WILSON, of Pennsylvania, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that they had examined and found truly enrolled a bill of the following title; when the Speaker signed the same, namely:

An act (S. No. 567) relating to the Freedmen's Bureau and providing for its discontin

uance.

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. GORHAM, its Secretary, announced that the Senate insisted on its amendments to the amendments of the House to Senate bill No. 352, to authorize the temporary supplying of vacancies in the Executive Departments, and agreed to the conference asked by the House, and had appointed Mr. TRUMBULL, Mr. EDMUNDS, and Mr. VICKERS, as the conferees on the part of the Senate.

The message further announced that the Senate requested the House to return to the Senate its resolution of concurrence in the report of the committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on House bill No. 818, making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the year ending June 30, 1869, and for other purposes, for the purpose of making a motion to reconsider the same.

REPRESENTATIVE FROM NORTH CAROLINA.

Mr. SCHENCK presented the credentials of David Heaton, claiming to be a Representativeelect from the second district of North Carolina; which were referred to the Committee of Elections.

IMPROVEMENT OF MILWAUKEE HARBOR.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois, by unanimous consent, submitted the following report from the Committee on Commerce; which was laid on the table:

The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the memorial of the city of Milwaukee for re

imbursement for certain expenditures on the harbor of that city, with accompanying documents, report that they have postponed the further consideration thereof until the first meeting of the committee in December next, and have referred the same to a subcommittee consisting of Hon. T. D. ELIOT and Hon. P. SAWYER, with instructions to ascertain the facts and to report at such meeting.

CIVIL APPROPRIATION BILL.

The SPEAKER laid before the House thefollowing message from the Senate of the United States:

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, July 15, 1868. Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to request the House of Representatives to return to the Senate

its resolution of concurrence in the report of the

committee of conference on the disagreeing vote of the two Houses on the bill (H. R. No. 818) making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the Government for the year ending June 30, 1869, for the purpose of making a motion to reconsider the

same.

The SPEAKER, The House has agreed to the report of the committee of conference on this bill, and the motion to reconsider has been laid on the table. The Chair is therefore of the opinion that it is not within the power of the House to comply with the request of the Senate, except by unanimous consent.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. I object. The SPEAKER. A message will be sent to the Senate stating that, under the rules, the House is unable to comply with the request.

REPRESENTATIVE FROM NORTH CAROLINA.

Mr. DAWS. The Committee of Elections, to whom were referred the credentials of David Heaton, claiming a seat in this House as a Representative from the second district of North Carolina, have directed me to report that they have examined the credentials and find them in due form of law; and they there. fore recommend that he be admitted to a seat upon taking the oath of office prescribed by

the act of 1862.

The report was agreed to.

Mr. DAVID HEATON presented himself at the Speaker's desk and was duly qualified by taking the oath prescribed by law.

Mr. MOORHEAD. I call for the regular order.

INDIAN TREATIES.

The SPEAKER, by unanimous consent, laid before the House the following communication from the Secretary of the Interior. The Clerk read as follows:

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, WASHINGTON, D. C., July 15, 1868. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a resolution of the House of Representatives, of the 13th instant, in the following words, namely: "Resolved, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, directed to furnish to this House copies of all treaties made by the peace commissioners with the several tribes of western Indians during the last and present years."

In reply I have to state that all the treaties referred to, which have been reported to this Department have been laid before the President and by him transmitted to the Senate for its constitutional action thereon, and that none of said treaties are now in the possession or under the control of this Department. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, O. H. BROWNING,

Hon. SCHUYLER COLFAX,

Secretary.

Speaker House of Representatives.
The communication was laid on the table.

FUNDING BILL.

Mr. MOORHEAD. There is so much pressure upon me that I will withdraw my demand for the regular order of business.

Mr. POLAND. I will yield, then, to the chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means. Mr. SCHENCK. I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table Senate bill No. 207, for funding the national debt and for the conversion of the notes of the United States in order that it may be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. Mr. RANDALL. I object.

RELIEF OF DRAFTED MEN.

Mr. BOYER. I ask unanimous consent to report back from the Committee of Ways and Means House bill No. 424 amendatory of an act entitled "An act for the relief of certain drafted men."

Mr. MULLINS objected, but afterward withdrew his objection.

The bill was read. It provides for the repeal of so much of the second section of an act entitled "An act for the relief of certain drafted men," approved the 28th day of February, A. D. 1867, as provides that said section "shall apply only to claims received at the War Department prior to its passage; " provided that all claims under said second section of said act shall be presented and filed within two years from the date of the final passage of this act and not afterward.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. Does that give anything to the District of Columbia? The SPEAKER. It does not.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. I want the District of Columbia included.

Te SPEAKER. That would not be in order o this bill.

Mr. VASHBURNE, of Illinois. Then I
object.

Afterwed the objection was withdrawn.
The bill
vas ordered to be engrossed and
read a thin time; and being engrossed, it was
according read the third time, and passed.

Mr. BOER moved to reconsider the vote
by which thebill was passed; and also moved
that the motion to reconsider be laid on the
table.

The latter moon was agreed to.

Mr. BOYER, from the same committee, also reported back the following as having been provided for y the general bill just passed; and the same ere laid on the table:

An ad (H.. No. 186) to extend an act
entitled An ac for the relief of certain drafted
men," aproved February 28, 1867;

An act H. R. No. 463) to amend an act
for the relief cetain drafted men, approved
February 281867
Memorial

return of comutation money;
Heiry Tibby, of Ohio, for the
Memorial of W. Kirker, praying for the
passage of an a for return of commutation
money; and

Jack, praying for return of

TICAL DISABILITIES.

Petition of J.
commutation mon
REMOVAL OF PO
Mr. BOUTWEL
I am directed by the
Committee on Recon
ruction to report back
the amendments of
Senate to House bill
No. 1353 for the remo of certain disabili-
ties from persons therei med. The Senate
strike out eight names
add some others.
The committee are of
opinion that the
amendments are proper reasonable. I
shall demand the previous stion.

Mr. BROOKS. The parding of rebels is
so important that I ask the nas be reported.
The Clerk proceeded to rea the amend-

ment.

Mr. BROOKS. I will not all these
names be read if we have some inmation of
who they are. Who is Mr. Moore

Mr. BOUTWELL. The report me from
the Committee on Reconstruction;
is in the original bill.

name

Mr. BROOKS. Mr. Dyer is an old bel;
I would like to know something about h
Mr. BOUTWELL. The gentleman
the Committee on Reconstruction, and oht
to know as much as the rest of us.

on

The question was taken; and there wereyeas 111, nays 20, not voting 71; as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Ames, Anderson, Archer, Bailey, Baker, Banks, Beatty, Benjamin. Benton, Blair, Boles, Boutwell, Boyden, Brooks, Broomall, Buckland, Benjamin F. Butler, Roderick R. Butler, Cake, Churchill, Cook, Cullom, Dawes, Delano, Dixon, Dockery, Donnelly, Driggs, Eliot, Farnsworth, Ferriss, Fields, Fox, French, Garfield, Getz, Glossbrenner, Griswold, Haight, Hamilton, Heaton, Higby, Hill, Hinds, Hooper, Hopkins, Chester D. Hubbard, Hulburd, Hunter, Ingersoll, Jenckes, Alexander H. Jones, Judd, Kelsey, Ketcham, Koontz, Laflin, William Lawrence, Loughridge, Lynch, Mallory, Marshall, Marvin, McCarthy, McKee, Miller, Moore, Moorhead, Morrell, Mullins, Mungen, Myers, Niblack, O'Neill, Paine, Peters, Phelps, Pike, Pile, Plants, Poland, Pomeroy, Randall, Raum, Robertson, Roots, Sawyer, Schenck, Shanks, Smith, Spalding, Starkweather, Stokes, Stone, Taylor, Lawrence S. Trimble, Twichell, Upson, Van Aernam, Van Auken, Burt Van Horn, Elihu B. Washburne, Henry D. Washburn, William B. Washburn, Welker, James F. Wilson, John T. Wilson, Stephen F. Wilson, Windom, Woodbridge, and the Speaker-111.

NAYS-Messrs. Adams, Arnell, Barnes, Bromwell, Cary, Cobb, Coburn, Eldridge, Golladay, Hawkins, Hotchkiss, Johnson, Julian, Loan, Mercur, Nicholson, Orth, Taber, Thomas Williams, and William Williams-20.

NOT VOTING-Messrs. Allison, Delos R. Ashley, James M. Ashley, Axtell, Baldwin, Barnum, Beaman, Beck, Bingham, Blaine, Boyer, Burr, Chanier, Reader W. Clarke, Sidney Clarke, Cornell, Covode, Deweese, Dodge, Eckley, Eggleston, Ela, Ferry, Finney, Gravely, Grover, Halsey, Harding, Holman, Asahel W. Hubbard, Richard D. Hubbard, Humphrey, Thomas L. Jones, Kelley, Kerr, Kitchen, Knott, George V. Lawrence, Lincoln, Logan, Maynard, McClurg, McCormick, McCullough, Morrissey, Newcomb, Nunn, Perham, Polsley, Price, Pruyn, Robinson, Ross, Scofield, Selye, Shellabarger, Sitgreaves, Aaron F. Stevens, Thaddeus Stevens, Stewart, Taffe, Thomas, John Trimble, Trowbridge, Robert T. Van Horn, Van Trump, Van Wyck, Ward, Cadwalader C. Washburn, Wood, and Woodward-71.

So (two thirds having voted in favor thereof) the amendment of the Senate was agreed to.

Mr. BOUTWELL moved to reconsider the vote by which the amendment of the Senate was agreed to; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table. The latter motion was agreed to.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

Indefinite leave of absence was granted to Mr. JULIAN on account of sickness; also leave of absence to Mr. BARNES till Monday next. LEAVE TO PRINT A SPEECH.

Leave to print a speech on irrigation, intended to have been made last evening in Committee of the Whole, was granted to Mr. DoN[See Appendix.]

NELLY.

HOT SPRINGS RESERVATION.

Mr. POLAND obtained the floor on a question of privilege, being the contested-election case of Switzler vs. Anderson, but yielded to

Mr. JULIAN, who asked unanimous consent to report back from the Committee on the Public Lands a bill (I. R. No. 1276) for the sale of the Hot Springs reservation in Arkan

sas.

Mr. BENJAMIN. I object if it gives rise to debate.

The bill was read. It recites that the public reservation known as the Hot Springs reservation, in the State of Arkansas, is now held and occupied without color of title by various persons, whose claims have never been acknowledged by the United States Government, and that the public interest and humanity require that said springs be made available for public use, and the welfare and settlement of the State will be promoted by the sale of lands adjacent thereto; and provides that upon the passage of this act the Secretary of the Interior shall cause to be surveyed, platted, and Mr. ELDRIDGE. It is very good reading;id out into streets, blocks, and lots, or parI hope it will all be read; we want to know all these men who have been born again. [Laughter.]

Mr. BROOKS. They do business so fast
There is one Beatty in the list; is it the poet
is impossible for me to keep up with them
Beatty?

The Clerk resumed, and concluded the reading of the names.

Mr. BROOKS. I call for the yeas and nays on agreeing to the amendment of the Senate. Mr. FARNSWORTH. This is a substitute for the House bill, and requires a two-third vote. The Journal should show that it passed by a two third vote.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

cels of ground of such form and area as will
besi
facilitate the construction of a town, a cer-
tain portion of the public domain known as the
Hot Springs reservation. The bill makes fur-
ther provision in regard to the appraisement,
&c., of the lots and parcels of ground.

Mr.BROOKS. Unless the gentleman from Indiana sists on the reading of that long bill I tell him now that I shall object, and I object on the ground that it refers only to "loyal persons, which means Republicans, and excludes all Democrats.

Mr. JULIAN. If the gentleman objects I have no power to press the bill.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. Before the gentleman from New York makes his objection, I would like to have read an amendment which I propose to offer to the bill.

The SPEAKER. The bill is not before the House.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. I ask that the amendment may be printed and referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

Mr. BROOKS. I object.

CONTINGENT FUND OF THE HOUSE.

Mr. BROOMALL. I desire to enter a motion to reconsider the vote by which the House this morning adopted the resolution offered by the gentleman from Indiana, [Mr. WASHBURN,] directing the appointment of a committee to inquire into the disbursement of the contingent expenses of the House. My object is to amend the resolution so as to direct the Committee on Accounts to make the investigation.

The SPEAKER. The Chair will state that motions to reconsider entered now may possibly not be reached if Congress shall adjourn next week, as seems to be probable.

Mr. BROOMALL. Then the motion to reconsider had better be disposed of now.

The SPEAKER. Does the gentleman from Vermont [Mr. POLAND] yield for that purpose? Mr. RANDALL. If he yields he must yield the floor finally.

Mr. ELDRIDGE. I insist on the regular order. It is time this gentleman, Mr. Switzler, was admitted to his seat or rejected.

The SPEAKER. It depends on the gentleman from Vermont, whether he calls up the report of the Committee of Elections or not.

Mr. POLAND. I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

Mr. BROOMALL. All I desire to say is that the gentleman from Indiana, [Mr. WASHBURN,] who offered the resolution, is satisfied that the proper committee is the one I have mentioned, the Committee on Accounts. I see no objection to its going to the regular standing committee, in preference to a select committee to be raised.

Mr. WASHBURN, of Indiana. I did not in offering the resolution propose to censure any committee of the House. I do think that an examination is necessary, and that it ought to be had. If the House thinks it better to send the matter to the Committee on Accounts I am perfectly satisfied. I do not court a select committee so that we have an examination.

Mr. BROOMALL. All I want is that the examination shall be in the regular way. I call the previous question.

The previous question was seconded and the main question ordered; and under the operation thereof the motion to reconsider was agreed to.

The question recurred on the adoption of the resolution.

The Clerk read the resolution, as follows: Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to investigate into the disbursement of the contingent fund of the House for the years 1867 and 1868, with power to send for persons and papers where the same can be done without expense to the Govern

ment.

Mr. BROOMALL. I now move to strike out the words "a committee of five be appointed" and insert "the Committee on Accounts be directed."

Mr. WASHBURN, of Indiana. I would ask the gentleman ifit has not been their duty for the last two years?

Mr. BROOMALL. No; it has not. The Committee on Accounts have had no power of inquiring into what I understand to be the irregularities. They have desired it, but it has never been conferred on them by the House.

Mr. RANDALL. What are the irregularities.

Mr. BROOMALL. I do not know; I never heard of them till this morning. Mr. RANDALL. Common rumor says they extend to very large amounts. I hope, there

fore, that if the Committee on Accounts undertake the job they will do it thoroughly.

Mr. BROOMALL. The Committee on Accounts are in the habit of doing their duty conscientiously.

Mr. RANDALL. They ought to have done it for two years.

Mr. BROOMALL They had no power. Mr. FARNSWORTH. Have the committee asked for that power?

Mr. BROOMALL. During the last Congress the committee tried upon various occasions to get the floor, but failed to do so.

Mr. RANDALL. They are a privileged committee.

Mr. BROOMALL. No; they are not a privileged committee as to such matters.

The SPEAKER. The Committee on counts are not privileged to report at any tine. Mr. ELDRIDGE. I understood the gotleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. BROOM] to say that the Committee on Accounts hve been in the habit of investigating these counts; and yet he says they have not had he power gentleman what he means? for two years. Now, I would like/o ask the

Mr. BROOMALL. I understed my colleague [Mr. RANDALL] to imply at the committee might not investigate this matter. I replied to him that the Commitee on Accounts conscientiously. were in the habit of doing their duty fully and

the contingent fund of the Housefully investi Mr. MAYNARD. If the objed is to have gated the Committee on Accots can do it more fully than any special committee that can be organized. The only pracical question, I conceive, is whether we have sufficent confidence in their honesty and capacity. If I had sufficient confidence in then to believe that they would go to work and make this investigation honestly and faithfully, I would vote for their amendment; if I had no, then I would vote against it. I shall vote for the amend

[blocks in formation]

vote for it.

Mr. BROOMALL. If thought there was a member in this Hous who really had not enough confidence in the honesty of the Committee on Accounts to be willing to permit them to examine and eport upon a matter of this sort, I would befre night get out of the position of the chairman of that committee.

Mr. NIBLACK. I beg leave to assure the gentleman, as this matter has come before the House, that some of these irregularities are by common rumer and report charged to some extent at the door of the Committee on Accounts itself They therefore assume to do what is to them a very delicate task. It is charged that in their examinations they have done nothing more than make merely formal examinations, taking the statements that are submitted to them without further examination.

Mr. BROOMALL. All that is new to me, and I do not think any member of this House will venture upon making any such charge as that. No committee of this House has ever worked harder and tried more to get at truth, justice, and exactness than the Committee on Accounts. If any gentleman wants to be satisfied whether or not I state the truth, he can have access to all our records at any time, and can attend our sessions at any time.

Mr. SPALDING. Does the committee propose to report at this session?

Mr. BROOMALL. I presume we will; we will if we can. I now call the previous question.

The previous question was seconded, there being, upon a division—ayes eighty-three, noes not counted.

The main question was then ordered.

66

The question was upon the amendment of Mr. BROOMALL, to substitute the Committee on Accounts" for a select committee." Mr. RANDALL. Upon that question I ask for the yeas and nays.

The question was taken upon ordering the yeas and nays, and upon a division there were seventeen in the affirmative.

So (the affirmative not being one-fifth of the last vote) the yeas and nays were not ordered. The amendment was then agreed to.

Mr. BROOMALL moved to reconsider the vote by which the amendment was agreed to; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table.

The latter motion was agreed to.

The resolution, as amended, was then adopted.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.

of the United States, was delivered to the A message in writing, from the President House by Colonel WILLIAM G. MOORE, his Secretary.

HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS.

Mr. JULIAN. The gentleman from New York [Mr. BROOKS] withdraws his objection to the consideration of the bill providing for the sale of the Hot Springs reservation in Arkansas.

Mr. ARCHER. I renew the objection.

UNITED STATES CONSULAR SYSTEM. The SPEAKER laid before the House the following message from the President of the United States:

To the Senate and House of Representatives:

I herewith transmit to Congress a report, with the accompanying papers, received from the Secretary of State, in compliance with the requirements of the eighteenth section of the act entitled "An act to regulate the diplomatic and consular systems of the United States," approved August 18, 1856. ANDREW JOHNSON.

WASHINGTON, July 15, 1868.

Mr. BANKS. I move that the message and accompanying documents be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and ordered to be printed.

The motion was agreed to.

FUNDING THE NATIONAL DEBT.

Mr. SCHENCK. I now ask unanimous consent to have taken from the Speaker's table the bill of the Senate No. 207, for funding the national debt, and for the conversion of the notes of the United States, in order that it may be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

No objection was made, and the bill was taken up and read the first and second time.

Mr. SCHENCK. I now move that the bill be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means, and ordered to be printed.

The motion was agreed to.

ELECTION CONTEST-SWITZLER VS. ANDERSON.

Mr. POLAND. I rise to a question of privilege, and call up the resolutions reported by the Committee of Elections upon the contested-election case of Switzler vs. Anderson, from the ninth congressional district of Missouri.

The Clerk read the resolutions, as follows: Resolved, That George W. Anderson is not entitled to a seat in this House as a Representative in the Fortieth Congress from the ninth congressional district of Missouri.

Resolved, That William F. Switzler is entitled to a seat in this House as a Representative in the Fortieth Congress from the ninth congressional district of Missouri.

Mr. POLAND. Mr. Speaker, at this period of the session, and especially in this temperature, I do not propose to take very much of the time of the House in discussing the question that is raised by these resolutions reported by the Committee of Elections. Any gentleman upon this floor who has taken interest enough in this case to read the report of the committee which has been before the House for several months, a report which is very full and elaborate, will have learned more about the case than I should be able to tell him in the short time which I propose to occupy; and, as to any gentleman who has not felt interest enough to read the report of the committee, I can hardly expect he will take interest enough to listen to what I shall have to say upon the subject.

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