Resolved, That the Committee on Patents be instructed to inquire into the expediency of compiling and printing in one body the laws of the United States and the regulations of the Patent Office relative to patents. On motion of Mr. Cobb, by unanimous consent, Ordered, That leave be granted for the Committee on Enrolled Bills to be absent from the sittings of the House while engaged in the duties of the said committee. Notices were given, under the rule, of motions for leave to introduce bills as follows, viz: By Mr. Ward: A bill to amend an act entitled "An act to authorize the employment of volunteers to aid in enforcing the laws and protecting public property," approved July 22, 1861; and By Mr. Morrison: A bill for the payment of field officers of regiments for the time actually employed in organizing their regiments. The Speaker announced that he had appointed Mr. Boutwell a member of the select committee on the rebellious States in the place of Mr. Gooch, excused; and that he had appointed Mr. Francis P. Blair, jr., a member of the Committee on Private Land Claims in the place of Mr. Gooch, excused. All the committees having been called for reports of a private character, The House resumed, as the regular order of business, the consideration of the joint resolution (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-heretofore reported from the Committee on the Judiciary, the pending question being on the motion of Mr. Wilson to recommit the same to the said committee. Pending the question on the said motion, After debate, Mr. Pendleton moved, at 3 o'clock and 28 minutes p. m., that the House adjourn. And the question being put, It was decided in the negative,{ Yeas The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, 21 68 John T. Stuart Mr. John H. Rice Edward H. Rollins After further debate, and pending the said motion to recommit, On motion of Mr. Schenck, by unanimous consent, The bill of the Senate (S. 36) to amend an act entitled "An act for enrolling and calling out the national forces, and for other purposes," approved March 3, 1863, was taken from the Speaker's table, read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed. Mr. Ward, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 164) to amend an act entitled "An act to authorize the employment of volunteers to aid in enforcing the laws and protecting public property," approved July 22, 1861; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Longyear, by unanimous consent, presented a joint resolution of the legislature of the State of Michigan, asking for a donation of public lands to endow female colleges; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands and ordered to be printed. And then, On motion of Mr. Pendleton, at 4 o'clock and 50 minutes p. m., the House adjourned. MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 1864. The following petitions, memorials, and other papers, were laid upon the Clerk's table, under the 131st rule of the House: By Mr. Stevens: The petition of the owners of the bridge across the Susquehanna river at Columbia, in the State of Pennsylvania, praying compensation for its destruction during the rebel raid into that State; which was referred to the Committee of Claims; Also, two petitions from citizens of the State of Pennsylvania, praying a change in the mail route from Intercourse to Jordan's Mills, in that State; which were referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. Spalding: Three petitions of citizens of Ohio, praying the construction of a navy yard at Cleveland, in that State; which were referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs; Also, three memorials from citizens of Ohio, praying the improvement of the public works in the harbor at Cleveland, in that State; which were referred to the Committee on Commerce; Also, three memorials of citizens of Ohio, praying the construction of a ship canal around the Falls of Niagara; which were referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals. By Mr. Jenckes: The memorial of Thomas A. Paine and other officers in the internal revenue department of the State of Rhode Island, praying an increased compensation; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means; Also, the memorial of James Jarden and other citizens of the State of Rhode Island, praying aid to the South American Steamship Company; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce. By Mr. Morrill: The memorial of citizens of the State of Vermont, praying that Congress may abolish African slavery; which was referred to the select Committee on Emancipation. By Mr. Cobb: The petition of W. W. Cothner and others, for the relief of N. B. Boyden, late receiver of public money at Eau Claire, in the State of Wisconsin, and his sureties; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands. By Mr. Samuel J. Randall: The petition of Daniel Saint, praying compensation for property destroyed at Pensacola, in the State of Florida; which was referred to the Committee of Claims. By Mr. Knapp: The petition of citizens of the State of Illinois, praying an increased duty on the castor bean; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. By Mr. Edward H. Rollins: The petition of E. B. West, Thomas Fox, and Samuel Pollock, clerks of paymasters in the navy, praying an increase of compensation; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. By Mr. Boutwell: The petition of citizens of the State of Massachusetts, praying the establishment of a uniform ambulance system; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. By Mr. Blow: The memorial of the Evangelical Lutheran Society of the State of Missouri, praying that ministers of the gospel may be exempt from military duty; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. By Mr. Jenckes: The petition of James A. Brown and others, watchmen in the Capitol grounds, for increased compensation; which was referred to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds. By Mr. Dawes: A copy of the proceedings of the board of canvassers of the territorial election held in Dakota Territory on September 1, 1862; which was referred to the Committee of Elections. The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House a communication from the Commissioner of Agriculture, asking that an additional number of the Agricultural report be printed for the use of his office; which was referred to the Committee on Printing. The Speaker having proceeded, as the regular order of business, to call the States and Territories for bills on leave for reference only, Bills and a joint resolution were introduced and severally read a first and second time and referred, as follows, viz: By Mr. John H. Rice: A bill (H. R. 165) in relation to the accounts of the States of Massachusetts and Maine, to the Committee of Claims. By Mr. Thomas T. Davis: A bill (H. R. 166) to incorporate the People's Gas-light Company; and A bill (H. R. 167) for the improvement of the Potomac river opposite the city of Washington; severally, to the Committee for the District of Columbia. By Mr. Nelson: A bill (H. R. 168) to amend an act entitled "An act for enrolling and calling out the national forces, and for other purposes," to the Committee on Military Affairs. By Mr. Fenton: A bill (H. R. 169) authorizing the construction of a penitentiary, jail, and house of correction in and for the District of Columbia, to the Committee for the District of Columbia; and A bill (H. R. 170) concerning applications for pensions, to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Long: A bill (H. R. 171) for the relief of Jacob S. Lowery and George A. Gray, to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Hale: A bill (H. R. 172) for the relief of Daniel Fuller, to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Holman: A bill (H. R. 173) in relation to costs in the circuit and district courts of the United States, to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. Longyear: A bill (H. R. 174) to amend an act entitled “An act to amend the laws relating to the Post Office Department," approved March 3, 1863, to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. Blow: A bill (H. R. 175) to authorize and establish a navy yard and depot on the western waters, to the Committee of Ways and Means. By Mr. A. W. Hubbard: A bill (H. R. 176) to regulate the compensation of registers and receivers of land offices in the locations of lands by States and corporations under acts of Congress, to the Committee on Public Lands. By Mr. Gornelius Cole: A bill (H. R. 177) to amend "An act to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the Missouri river to the Pacific ocean, and to secure to the government the use of the same for postal, military, and other purposes," approved July 1, 1852, to the select committee on the Pacific railroad; and A bill (H. R. 178) to create a school fund out of the proceeds of confiscated property, to the select committee on the rebellious States. By Mr. Higby: A bill (H. R. 179) concerning certain lands in the State of California, to the Committee on Public Lands. By Mr. Windom: A joint resolution (H. Res. 27) directing the Secretary of the Interior to pay to the Chippewa, Ottawa, and Pottawatomie Indians, in Michigan, the sum of $192,850, to the Committee on Indian Affairs. By Mr. Kinney: A bill (H. R. 180) to enable the people of Utah to form a constitution and State government, and for the admission of such State into the Union on an equal footing with the original States, to the Committee on the Territories; Also, a bill (H. R. 181) to enlarge and increase the mail service in the Territory of Utah on established routes; A bill (H. R. 182) for increase of mail service in the Territory of Utah; severally, to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. Alley: A bill (H. R. 183) to secure the speedy transportation of the mails, to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. All the States and Territories having been called, Mr. Dawes, from the Committee of Elections, to whom were referred the credentials of A. P. Field, claiming to be elected to a seat in this house from the State of Louisiana, submitted a report in writing thereon, accompanied by the following resolution, viz: Resolved, That A. P. Field is not entitled to a seat in this house as a representative from the State of Louisiana in the thirty-eighth Congress. Ordered, That the said report and resolution be laid on the table and printed. Mr. Dawes, from the same committee, to whom were referred the credentials of Joseph Segar, claiming a seat in this house as a representative from the first congressional district of Virginia, made a report thereon, accompanied by the following resolution, viz: Resolved, That Joseph Segar is not entitled to a seat in this house as a representative in the thirty-eighth Congress from the first district in Virginia. Ordered, That the said report and resolution be laid on the table and printed. The Speaker having proceeded, as the business next in order, to call the States and Territories for resolutions, Mr. Orth submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and, under the operation of the previous question, agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of organizing a department of the government, to be denominated the "Department of Industry," to embrace under its supervi sion and control a bureau of agriculture; a bureau of freedmen's affairs; a bureau of mines, minerals and mineral lands; and a bureau of colonization and immigration; and to report by bill or otherwise. Mr. Harrington 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 establishing a navy yard at Madison, in the State of Indiana, and report by bill or otherwise. Mr. Holman submitted the following resolution, viz: Resolved, That the immediate increase in the pay of the private soldiers of the army is imperatively demanded by every consideration of justice and sound public policy; that such increase is especially necessary and proper in behalf of those soldiers who entered the army prior to the adoption of the present regulations as to bounties; and that the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to report bill, at the earliest practicable moment, increasing the pay of the private soldiers to correspond substantially with the increase in the price of labor and of all articles of domestic consumption since the pay of the private soldier was fixed at thirteen dollars per month. The same having been read, Mr. Holman moved the previous question, and the House refused to second the same. Mr. Stevens moved that the resolution be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Pending which, Mr. Samuel J. Randall moved that the resolution be laid on the table. And the question being put, It was decided in the negative, Yea 1 Nays The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Mr. John R. McBride voted in the affirmative. Those who voted in the negative are Mr. Ephraim R. Eckley John R. Eden Josiah B. Grinnell Mr. Francis C Le Blond Mr. Glenni W. Scofield 1 141 Thomas B. Shannon R. B. Van Valkenburgh So the House refused to lay the resolution on the table. And being put, Yeas It was decided in the affirmative, Nays The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are Mr. John B. Alley William B. Allison Lucien Anderson Mr. James M. Ashley Mr. Henry T. Blow George S. Boutwell Mr. William G. Brown Ambrose W. Clark |