the public debt," so that all goods, wares, and merchandise, or articles manufactured, or made and sold by any person or persons, except spirituous and malt liquors and manufactured tobacco, where the annual product shall exceed the sum of $600, shall be exempt from duty to that amount, or that said amount in value, in such cases, shall only be subject to the same rate of duty as in cases where the annual product shall not amount to the said sum of six hundred dollars. Mr. Noble, by unanimous consent, submitted the following preamble and resolution; which were read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Whereas it is alleged that the amount of duty now received on the importation of foreign paper by the government does not pay the increase in the price of paper consumed by the government: and whereas it is also alleged that the present duty sustains and promotes a monopoly among the paper manufacturers of the country: Therefore, Resolved, That the Committee of Ways and Means be, and they are hereby, requested to inquire into the expediency of repealing so much of the revenue act as imposes a duty on paper, and that they report by bill otherwise. Mr. Schenck, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 131) to promote the efficiency of the battalion of engineers of the United States army; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Law, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be, and they are hereby, instructed to inquire whether any legislation is necessary, and if so, what, to provide for the care and maintenance of, and attendance upon, the soldiers wounded in the service of the United States, and who have been, or may be, discharged from said service and returned to the several States, with leave to report by bill or otherwise. By unanimous consent, bills on leave were further introduced, read a first and second time, and referred as follows, viz: By Mr. Daniel Morris: A bill (H. R. 132) to regulate appeals from the Court of Claims; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. Le Blond: A bill (H. R. 133) for the benefit of William Sawyer and others, of the State of Ohio; which was referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims. By Mr. Donnelly: A bill (H. R. 134) to establish a Bureau of Immigration; which was referred to the select committee on that subject. Mr. Garfield, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Printing, viz: Resolved, That ten thousand extra copies of the various official reports of Major General William S. Rosecrans, during this war, be printed for the use of this house. And then, On motion of Mr. Spalding, at 3 o'clock and 30 minutes p. m., the House adjourned. THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 1864. The following memorials, petitions, and other papers, were laid upon the Clerk's table, under the 131st rule of the House: By Mr. Windom: The memorial of Nathaniel McLean and others-heretofore referred January 21, 1861; which was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. By Mr. Donnelly: The memorial of the legislature of the State of Min nesota, praying a grant of lands to make up the deficiency in the grant heretofore made to aid in constructing the Minneapolis and Cedar Valley railroad; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands. By Mr. Alexander H. Rice: The memorial of the letter-carriers of the Boston post office, praying an increase of compensation; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. William B. Washburn: The memorial of citizens of Massachusetts, praying an amendment to the enrolment act; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Dy Mr. Kernan: The memorial of Goodyear's executor for an extension of the patent granted to Charles Goodyear for vulcanized India-rubber; which was referred to the Committee on Patents. By Mr. Garfield: The memorial of the Religious Society of Friends of the State of Ohio, praying exemption from the operation of the enrolment act; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. By Mr. Dawson: The petition of General James Kenan-heretofore referred January 20, 1859; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. By Mr. Ward: The petition of William B. Cutler, sutler of Excelsior brigade, 73d regiment, New York State volunteers, praying relief; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs; Also, the memorial of Townsend Harris, late minister resident at Japan, praying an allowance for extra services; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. By Mr. Rogers: The petition of Daufattle, Cook & Co. and others, cottonspinners of the State of New York, praying a repeal of the tax on thread and yarn; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. By Mr. Leonard Myers: The memorial of 421 clerks in the quartermaster general's, ordnance, clothing, and surgeon general's departments of the army, praying an increase of salaries; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. By Mr. Ward: The memorial of certain gunners, boatswains, carpenters, and sailmakers, praying an assimilated rank in the navy; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. By Mr. Edgerton: The memorial of George C. Johnson-heretofore referred December 8, 1862; which was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. By Mr Charles O'Neill: The memorial of William Wheeler Hubbell for compensation for the use of his explosive shell and fuze and percussion exploder, and praying a patent therefor; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. By Mr. Griswold: The memorial of Abraham Snyder-heretofore referred January 12, 1863; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of War, transmitting a statement of expenditures of appropriation for contingent expenses of the military establishment for the year 1863; which was referred to the Committee on Expenditures in the War Department and ordered to be printed. Mr. Cobb, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee did, on the 13th instant, present to the President of the United States joint resolutions of the following titles, viz: H. Res. 15. Joint resolution to provide for the printing, annually, of the report of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue; and H. Res. 16. Joint resolution to continue the bounties heretofore paid. Nicolay, his private secretary, notifying the House that he did, on the 13th instant, approve and sign the said joint resolutions H. Res. 15 and 16. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Forney, their Secretary: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed bills of the following titles, viz: S. 50. An act to authorize the President to appoint a Second Assistant Secretary of War; and S. 57. An act declaring the assent of Congress to an act of the legisla ture of the State of Illinois, therein named; in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this house. The Speaker having announced, as the regular order of business, the joint resolution of the House (H. Res. 18) to amend a joint resolution explanatory of "An act to suppress insurrection, to punish treason and rebellion, to seize and confiscate the property of rebels, and for other purposes," approved July 17, 1862, reported yesterday from the Committee on the Judiciary-the pending question being on the motion of Mr. Wilson to recommit the same, The House proceeded to consider the same. After debate, and pending the question on the motion to recommit, On motion of Mr. Stevens, the House proceeded to consider the business on the Speaker's table. When The concurrent resolution of the Senate for the appointment of a joint committee on the conduct and expenditures of the war was taken up. On motion of Mr. Cox, Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. The bill of the Senate (S. 50) to authorize the President to appoint a Second Assistant Secretary of War was taken up, read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. The bill of the Senate (S. 57) declaring the assent of Congress to an act of the legislature of the State of Illinois, therein named, was taken up, and read a first and second time. Pending the question on its third reading, Mr. Ellibu B. Washburne moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered, and under the operation thereof the said bill was ordered to be read a third time. It was accordingly read the third time and passed. Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate with the concurrence of the House in the said bill. Mr. Stevens, by unanimous consent, from the Committee of Ways and Means, to whom was referred the joint resolution of the Senate (S. Res. 15) amendatory of the joint resolution to supply, in part, the deficiencies in the appropriations for the public printing and to supply deficiencies in the appropriations for bounties to volunteers, reported the same without amendment. The House having proceeded to its consideration, Ordered, That it be read a third time. It was accordingly read the third time and passed. Mr. Stevens moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate with the concurrence of the House in the said joint resolution. Notices were given, under the rule, of motions for leave to introduce bills as follows, viz: By Mr. William G. Brown: A bill erecting West Virginia into a separate judicial district, and for other purposes. By Mr. Thomas T. Davis: A bill for incorporating the People's Gas light Company in the city of Washington. On motion of Mr. Stevens, 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. Cox reported that the Committee, having had under consideration the special order, viz: H. R. 122, had come to no resolution thereon. On motion of Mr. Stevens, by unanimous consent, Ordered, That the said bill (H. R. 122) continue a special order until disposed of. On motion of Mr. Arnold, by unanimous consent, Ordered, That the said bill (H. R. 122) together with the amendments thereto, adopted in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, be printed. On motion of Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne, by unanimous consent, Ordered, That an amendment proposed to be submitted by him, when in order, to the concurrent resolution of the Senate providing for the appointment of a joint committee on the conduct and expenditures of the war, be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and that the said amendment, together with the resolution, be printed. Mr. Orlando Kellogg, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of so amending the conscription act, so called, as to require that enlisted volunteers, claimed by wards or towns in which they reside, shall be credited to such towns on their quota of the 200,000 men last called for by the President of the United States. Mr. Hale, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 135) for the relief of the legal representatives of John Brooks, deceased; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims. Mr. Coffroth, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 136) for the relief of George Mowery, of Pennsylvania; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. William G. Brown, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 137) erecting West Virginia into a separate judicial district, and for other purposes; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne moved that when the House adjourns, it adjourn until Monday next. And the question being put, (Yeas... It was decided in the negative, {es. The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Mr. Sydenham E. Ancona Mr. Henry C. Deming 53 84 Henry Winter Davis Those who voted in the negative are Mr. John B. Alley William B. Allison Nathan F. Dixon Mr. Ignatius Donnelly Thomas D. Eliot Francis C. Le Blond Mr. Benjamin F. Loan James M. Marvin So the motion to adjourn over was disagreed to. Mr. William H. Randall George H. Yeaman. Mr. Francis W. Kellogg, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of constructing a naval depot or dock yard at Grand Haven, on Lake Michigan, and report by bill or otherwise. And then, On motion of Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne, at 3 o'clock and 10 minutes p. m., the House adjourned. FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 1864. The following memorials, petitions, and other papers, were laid upon the Clerk's table, under the 131st rule of the House: By Mr. Odell: The memorial of the letter-carriers of the Brooklyn post office, in the State of New York, praying an increase of compensation ; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. Kernan: The memorial of citizens of Oneida county, in the State of New York, praying the construction of a ship canal around the Falls of Niagara; which was referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals. By Mr. Dixon: The memorial of citizens of the State of Rhode Island, praying the establishment of a special ambulance corps; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. By Mr. Eliot: The petition of Paul Dyer for relief on account of the sinking of the steamer Sumter; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. By Mr. H. Winter Davis: The petition of Mrs. Rebecca Scott, widow of Major Scott, United States army, praying an increase of pension; which was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Ambrose W. Clark: The memorial of citizens of the State of New York, praying the establishment of a ship canal around the Falls of Niagwhich was referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals. ara; By Mr. Griswold: The petition of Jacob Shavor and Albert C. Case, praying compensation for the use of their patent post marking and cancelling stamp; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. William B. Washburn: The memorial of citizens of the State of Massachusetts, praying certain changes in the act for enrolling and calling out the national forces; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. |