Also, the petition of William W. Hubbell, for compensation for damages sustained by him by reason of the use by the United States of his inventions in war materials;

to the Committee on Military Affairs.

By Mr. Hale: The petition of John A. Buck, A. J. Jordan, and others, for an appropriation to clear the channel of the Eastern Penobscot River, Maine;

to the Committee on Commerce.

By Mr. Hardenbergh: The petition of the letter-carriers of Jersey City, New Jersey, for an increase of their salaries;

to the Committee on the Post Office and Post-Roads.

By Mr. Benjamin W. Harris: The petition of Lowell A. Chamberlain, first lieutenant, First Artillery, to be relieved from the responsibility for 203,073 pounds of coal, and that the money value thereof, which has been withheld from his pay, may be reimbursed to him;

to the Committee on Military Affairs.

By Mr. Hayes: The petition of R. F. Dimmick and 246 others, inmates of the soldiers' home at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that the claims of pensioners be promptly adjusted;

to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. Hunton: Papers relating to the claim of John T. Armstrong, for property rented, used, and bought by the United States authorities; Also, papers relating to the claim of the Washington and Ohio Railroad Company, for railroad supplies purchased for military purposes by the United States in 1861;

to the Committee on War-Claims.

By Mr. Keifer: The petition of Sarah J. Taylor, for a pension; to the Committee on Invalid Pensious.

Also, the petition of John F. Oglevie and 118 others, for the equalization of the bounties of soldiers of the late war;

to the Committee on Military Affairs.

By Mr. Kidder: The petition of W. L. Wood and others, for a suspension of contests in timber-claims until remedial legislation is adopted; to the Committee on Public Lands.

By Mr. Killinger: The petition of William K. Verbeke, for compensation for supplies furnished and services rendered in recruiting soldiers for the United States Army;

Also, the petition of citizens of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, that the petition of W. K. Verbeke be granted;

to the Committee on War-Claims.

By Mr. Knott: The petition of Francis A. Page, to be paid the salary of a messenger on the disabled soldiers' roll of the Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives from the 1st of April, 1877;

to the Committee of Accounts.

Also, papers relating to the claim of J. W. Bowling and J. S. Golladay, for fifty barrels of whisky libelled and sold in Kentucky by the United States authorities;

to the Committee of Claims.

By Mr. Mackey: The petition of R. M. Musser, to be paid the salary of a messenger on the disabled soldiers' roll of the Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives from the 1st of April, 1877;

to the Committee of Accounts.

A'so, the petition of R. W. Clarke, for compensation as a clerk in the Post-Office Department;

to the Committee of Claims.

By Mr. Mayham: The petition of J. D. Hutton, to be paid the salary

of a messenger on the disabled soldiers' roll of the Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives from April 1, 1877;

to the Committee of Accounts.

Also, papers relating to the claim of the heirs of Chauncy M. Lock. wood, for carrying United States mails;

to the Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads.

By Mr. McMahon : The petition of Johanna Kuhlmann, for a pension; to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Also, the petition of Robert H. Flavell, for compensation for property lost while in the service of the United States;

to the Committee on Military Affairs.

By Mr. Mitchell: The petition of Jacob Jones and 632 citizens of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, for the extension of the scope and efficiency of the homestead law;

to the Committee on the Public Lands.

By Mr. Morgan: The petition of John S. Poindexter, that his military record be corrected;

By Mr. Phillips: Papers relating to the claim of William M. Pleas and F. S. Jones, for property lost through the agency of United States officials;

to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Also, the petition of Nannie Spencer, administratrix of Warren Fovor, for compensation for cord-wood furnished the United States;

Also, papers relating to the claim of Spencer & Mead, against the Kansas tribe of Indians, for goods sold to them;

to the Committee of Claims.

By Mr. Rea: Resolutions of the legislature of Missouri, remonstrating against the removal of the Sioux Indians to the Indian Territory; to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Also, the petition of 45 citizens of Rochester, Missouri, for a system of finance that will free our country from coin redemption;

to the Committee on Banking and Currency.

Also, the petitions of the letter-carriers and citizens of Saint Joseph, Missouri, for an increase of the salaries of letter-carriers;

to the Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads.

By Mr. Shallenberger: The petition of Elizabeth Teagarden, for a pension;

to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. Strait: Papers relating to the claim of Joseph M. Cumming and others, for compensation for property seized by United States revenue officials;

to the Committee of Claims.

By Mr. Thompson: The petition of Charles S. Reisinger, to be paid the salary of a messenger on the disabled soldiers' roll of the Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives from the 1st of April, 1877; to the Committee of Accounts.

By Mr. Throckmorton: A paper relating to the establishment of a post-route from Granbury, by way of Centreville, to Weatherford, Texas; to the Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads.

By Mr. Thornburgh: The petition of W. H. Newlee, administrator of the estate of J. G. Newlee, deceased, for pay for property taken by the United States Army;

By Mr. Wait: The petition of William R. Bennett and others, for compensation for property destroyed by the United States Army in Florida; to the Committee on War-Claims.

By Mr. Warner: The petition of Aun McManus, for a pension; to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. Whitthorne: The petition of the heirs of Matthew Allison, to be refunded money illegally taken from said Allison by the United States authorities:

to the Committee on War Claims.

Also, the petition of John Harlow, to have his name restored to the Army roll of the Tenth Tennessee Infantry;

By Mr. Benjamin A. Willis: The petition of Rodman G. Moulton, for compensation for property taken by the United States Army;

to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Also, the petition of Brewster & Company, to be refunded taxes illegally collected of them;

to the Committee on Commerce.

Also, papers relating to the claim of Robert M. Henning and Albert Pierce :

to the Committee on War-Claims.

By Mr. Yeates: The petition of Samuel Waters, to be refunded the amount expended by him while a wounded soldier of the United States Army;

By Mr. Young: The petition of T. A. Kendig, for pay for conveying United States mails;

to the Committee of Claims.

The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House the following statement, prepared by the Clerk, of papers on file in his office in the following contested-election cases, viz:

Testimony and papers relating to the contested election case of G. D. Tillman against Robert Smalls, from the State of South Carolina.

Testimony and papers relating to the contested-election case of J. J. Finley against Horatio Bisbee, jr., from the State of Florida.

Testimony and papers relating to the contested-election case of John S. Richardson against Joseph H. Rainey, from the State of South Carolina.

Testimony and papers relating to the contested-election case of Jere Haralson against Charles M. Shelley, from the State of Alabama.

Testimony and papers relating to the contested-election case of James L. Nutting against James B. Reilly, from the State of Pennsylvania. Testimony and papers relating to the contested-election case of Thomas M. Patterson against James B. Belford, from the State of Colorado. Testimony and papers relating to the contested-election case of J. B. Elam against George L. Smith, from the State of Louisiana.

Testimony and papers relating to the contested-election case of Benjamin Deau against Walbridge A. Field, from the State of Massachu

setts.

Testimony and papers relating to the contested election case of William H. Hardy against H. S. Stevens, from the Territory of Arizona. Testimony and papers relating to the contested-election case of Samuel W. McDowell against Richard Williams, from the State of Oregon. Testimony and papers relating to the contested-election case of J. H. Acklen against C. B. Darrall, from the State of Louisiana.

Testimony and papers relating to the contested-election case of E. W. Robertson against C. E. Nash, from the State of Louisiana.

Testimony and papers relating to the contested election case of William E. Hinton against Joseph Jorgensen, from the State of Virginia. Testimony and papers relating to the contested election case of John R. Lynch against James R. Chalmers, from the State of Mississippi. Testimony and papers relating to the contested-election case of Peter D. Wigginton against Romualdo Pacheco, from the State of California.

On motion of Mr. Springer,

Ordered, That the said papers be referred to the Committee of Elections.

Mr. Springer moved to reconsider the vote last taken, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Mr. Springer, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz:

Resolved, That the Committee of Elections be authorized to have printed for its use any testimony it may deem necessary relating to contested-election cases before said committee.

Mr. Springer moved to reconsider the vote last taken, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Mr. Hale presented papers in the contested-election case of Haralson vs. Shelley; which were referred to the Committee of Elections.

Mr. Wood presented papers in the contested-election case of Tillman vs. Smalls; which were referred to the Committee of Elections.

Mr. Wood moved to reconsider the votes last taken, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Mr. Goode, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz:

Resolved, That the Committee of Accounts be, and they are hereby, instructed to designate the committees of this House which are entitled to clerks under the act of March 3, 1877, and report to this House.

Mr. Butler, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolu tion; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz:

Resolved, That a select committee of seven be appointed, with authority to inquire into the manner of ventilating the Hall of the House of Representatives, the competency of the machinery, air-passages and ducts, engines and engineers, for that purpose, and to recommend to this House and the officers of the same such changes and remedies for deficiencies as to the coinmittee shall seem proper; also to inquire into the practicability of so changing the location of this Hall as to bring into it air and light, without pumping the one or straining the other through stained glass; to report the expense of such alteration and change; also to examine and report what, if any, changes can be made in the configuration and extent of this Hall to secure such acoustic properties as will enable members to hear the proceedings therein so as to be able intelligently to transact the public business; and for these purposes the committee are empowered to make requisition for the services of the Supervising Architect of the Capitol Extension, and, if they judge proper, the services of the Supervising Architect of the Treasury Department, to make surveys, plans, and estimates in furtherance of these objects; such committee to have power to employ a clerk and to report at any time.

Mr. Goode moved to reconsider the vote last taken, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

The Speaker then proceeded, as the regular order of business, to call the committees for reports,

When

Mr. Wood, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported the following resolution, viz:

Resolved, That so much of the President's message as relates to the appropriations required for the Army and the military establishments, the

Navy, the courts, and for repairs, &c., for the buildings of the Depart ment of the Interior in consequence of the late fire, be referred to the Committee on Appropriations; and as much as refers to the proposed international exhibition of agriculture, industry, and the fine arts to be held at Paris in 1878, and the proposed international prison congress to be held at Stockholm in 1878, be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

On motion of Mr. Wood,

Ordered, That the said resolution be committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

And then,

On motion of Mr. Wood, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, and after some time spent therein the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Goode reported that the committee, having had under consideration the message of the President of the United States, had directed him to report, with a favorable recommendation, the following resolution, viz:

Resolved, That so much of the President's message as relates to the appropriations required for the Army and the military establishments, the Navy, the courts, and for repairs, &c., for the buildings of the Department of the Interior in consequence of the late fire, be referred to the Committee on Appropriations; and so much as relates to the proposed international exhibition of agriculture, industry, and the fine arts to be held at Paris in 1878, and the proposed international prison congress to be held at Stockholm in 1878, be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The resolution was agreed to.

Mr. Wood moved to reconsider the vote last taken, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

The Speaker having resumed the call of committees for reports,

Mr. Ewing, from the Committee on Banking and Currency, reported a bill (H. R. 805) to repeal the third section of the act entitled "An act to provide for the resumption of specie payments;" which was read twice, ordered to be printed, and recommitted to the said committee.

Mr. Fort, by unanimous consent, on behalf of the minority of the said committee, presented a proposed amendment to the said bill; which was ordered to be printed.

Mr. Ewing moved to reconsider the vote by which the said bill was recommitted to the Committee on Banking and Currency;

Pending which,

Mr. Conger moved that the said motion to reconsider do lie on the table.