So the resolution was agreed to. Mr. Brandegee 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. Mr. Brandegee, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee for the District of Columbia be, and they are hereby, instructed to call the attention of the municipal or other authorities to the existence and prevalence of the small-pox within the District, and to urge upon them the necessity of the immediate establishment of suitable hospitals, the enforcement of stringent and necessary sanitary regulations, the adoption of some general, and, if necessary, compulsory, system of vaccination, and such other measures as shall tend to prevent the further spread within the District of this terrible scourge of mankind. The Speaker having resumed the call of the committees for reports, Mr. Dawes, from the Committee of Elections, to whom was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 9) to fix the time for holding elections for representatives in Congress, and to enable soldiers in the service of the United States to vote for said officers, reported the same without amendment. Ordered, That the said bill be printed and recommitted to the said committee. On motion of Mr. Dawes, by unanimous consent, Ordered, That leave be granted to the Committee of Elections to sit during the sessions of the House. On motion of Mr. Stevens, by unanimous consent, Ordered, That leave be granted to the Committee of Ways and Means to sit during the sessions of the House. Mr. Woodbridge, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the joint resolution of the House (H. Res. 7) concerning the restoration of the civil authority of certain States, and of the United States, within regions once under the control of the existing rebellion, reported the same without amendment. Ordered, That the said joint resolution be printed and recommitted to the said committee. Mr. Farnsworth, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported a joint resolution (H. R. 16) to continue the bounties heretofore paid; which was read a first and second time. Pending the question on its engrossment, After debate, Mr. Farnsworth moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered and put, viz: Shall the joint resolution be engrossed and read a third time? And it was decided in the affirmative, Yeas.. The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are Mr. William J. Allen Mr. George Bliss Henry T. Blow Mr. Samuel S. Cox 麗 Ignatius Donnelly John R. Eden Mr. Reuben E. Fenton 113 2 Augustus Frank Ordered, That the said joint resolution be engrossed and read a third time. Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time. Mr. Morrill moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered. Pending which, Mr. Morrill moved the previous question, and the House refused to second the same. The question then recurring on the motion to reconsider, On motion of Mr. Farnsworth, Ordered, That the motion to reconsider be laid on the table. The question then recurring on the passage of the joint resolution, Mr. Farnsworth moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered, and under the operation thereof the joint resolution was passed. Mr. Farnsworth 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 request the concurrence of the Senate in the said joint resolution. All the committees having been called, The Speaker resumed the call of the States and Territories for resolutions. Mr. Eliot, on leave, introduced bills and a joint resolution of the following titles, viz: H. R. 61. A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to release certain property from attachment, and for other purposes; H. R. 62. A bill fixing certain rules and regulations for preventing collisions on the water; and H. Res. 17. A joint resolution repealing part of the 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; which were severally read a first and second time and referred as follows, viz: H. R. 61 and H. R. 62, to the Committee on Commerce; H. Res. 17, to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Morrill submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Public Buildings be requested to examine and report as to the expediency of setting apart the old hall of the House of Representatives as a hall for statuary; and also as to the cost of a new flooring and bronze railing on each side of the passage-way through the hall, preparatory to the reception of such works of arts. Mr. Woodbridge 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 including in the draft now ordered by the President of the United States those who volunteered for the nine months service, and report by bill or otherwise. Mr. Sweat submitted a resolution, which he subsequently modified, and which was read, considered, and agreed to, as follows, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill authorizing the President to appoint a scientific board, whose duty it shall be forthwith to make a thorough examination into the theory adopted by the government in the construction of the steam vessels built under the direction of the Secretary of the Navy, and to report the practical working thereof; also, whether or not the engines now used in vessels in our naval service differ from those used in the steam marines of Europe and in the merchant vessels of this country, and in what said difference consists; and whether or not, as now constructed and applied, they are in accordance with well-known scientific laws pertaining to them, or in clear and open defiance thereof; and whether the recognized law of the "expansive power of steam" has been applied in such a manner as to obtain the highest possible rate of speed and economy of fuel; and whether the adoption of engines constructed in accordance with this law, generally approved in Europe and this country, will not greatly economize the force of steam and insure much greater speed than has yet been attained in our steam vessels; and whose duty it shall be to report generally such improvements in the construction of vessels for our naval service as they may deem that the interests of the country demand; and that they have power to order a vessel, built on the plans now adopted by the Navy Department, to be run over measured distances, under the control of the inquiring bureau, with a view to ascertain the speed and power which may be developed by the use of the plans now adopted. Mr. John H. Rice submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Invalid Pensions be directed to inquire what legislation is necessary, if any, more perfectly to organize the Pension bureau and facilitate the transaction of its business, and report by bill or otherwise. Mr. Sweat submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee for the District of Columbia do inquire into the extent of the facilities afforded by the Washington City railroad for the carriage of passengers, and if of opinion that the same are inadequate, that they have power to report by bill or otherwise, as they may deem proper. Mr. Pike submitted the following resolutions; which were severally read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Navy be directed to communicate to this house a copy of the report of Acting Lieutenant Edward T. Devans of the treatment of the officers and crew of the United States steamer Howqua, in Halifax harbor, in June last, when said steamer touched at Halifax for the purpose of coaling. Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of amending the law authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to appoint acting officers of the navy so as to extend the power of appointment so as to include acting officers above the grade of lieutenant. Mr. Blaine submitted the following preamble and resolution; which were read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Whereas the prolonged delay in the distribution of prize-money to the offi cers and seamen of our navy is working serious injury to the service by creating distrust in the good faith of the government, and thereby retarding enlistments: Therefore, Resolved, That the Secretary of the Navy be directed to communicate to the House, as promptly as may be, the reasons for this delay, in order that it may be remedied by additionel legislation if needful. Notices were given, under the rule, of motions for leave to introduce bills as follows, viz: By Mr. Holman: A bill to equalize and establish the "civil commission" at Memphis, Tennessee. By Mr. Cravens: A bill to ascertain who have lost horses and other property in the States of Indiana and Ohio by the rebel raid under command of General John H. Morgan and Union forces in pursuit of said rebels, in July, 1863. By Mr. Stevens: A bill to abolish certain laws in the "Confederate States," and to fix the terms of their admission into the Union. By Mr. Kinney: A bill to establish a mail route from Weber to Provo City, in Utah Territory, via Morgan, Porter, Croydon, Henefer, Coalville, Hoytsville, Wanship, Peva, Kansas, Heber, Mound, Midway and Charleston, and to provide for the necessary service on said route. 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. John H. Rice reported that the committee having had under consideration the special order, viz: H. R. 50. A bill making appropriations for the service of the Post Office Department during the fiscal year ending the 30th of June, 1865, had directed him to report the same without amendment. The House having proceeded to its consideration, Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed and read a third time. Being engrossed, 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 request the concurrence of the Senate in the said bill. On motion of Mr. Stevens, the House again 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. Dawes reported that the committee having, according to order, had the state of the Union generally under consideration, and particularly the annual message of the President of the United States, had come to no resolution thereon. Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read and referred to the Committee on Printing, viz: Resolved, That ten thousand extra copies of the various official reports made by Major General Ulysses S. Grant, during the war, be printed for the use of the House. Mr. Francis Thomas, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R 63) supplemental to the laws relating to the War Department, authorizing the settlement and payment of certain claims against the United States; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed. Mr. Francis W. Kellogg, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 64) granting lands to the State of Michigan for the construction of a wagon road for postal and military purposes; which was read a first and second time and referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. Blow, 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 justice and propriety of refunding to the State of Missouri the amount paid and expenses incurred by the provisional government of that State, both for enrolled and other militia actually in service during the present rebellion, and report by bill or otherwise. Mr. Boyd, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to furnish to Congress (if in his opinion it be compatible with the public interest) all the information of an official character which he may have received respecting the extension of the southwest branch of the Pacific railroad, and his order, if any, respecting the same. Mr. Holman, by unanimous consent, submitted a resolution, which he subsequently modified to read as follows, and which was considered and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed to inform the House whether any payments have been made to either of the following named railroad companies, namely: the Illinois Central Railroad Company, the Burlington and Missouri Railroad Company, or the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad Company, for transporting property or troops of the United States since the 25th day of February, 1862, and if any such payments have been made, the amount paid to each company; and also the amount paid to each of said companies prior to the above date, and the basis on which said payments have been made; and that he also inform the House what claim, if any, the said companies, or either of them, have against the government for the transportation of property or troops, and which are still unpaid. And then, On motion of Mr. Eckley, at 3 o'clock and 45 minutes p. m., the House adjourned. THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 1864. The following petitions and memorials were laid upon the Clerk's table, under the 131st rule of the House: By Mr Kernan: Three petitions of citizens of Oneida county, New York, praying for the construction of a ship canal around Niagara Falls; which were referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals. By Mr. Deming: Two memorials of citizens of Connecticut, asking a uniform hospital and ambulance system; which were referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. By Mr. Boutwell: The memorial of the 53d regiment Massachusetts militia, praying for the bounty awarded to similar regiments; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. By Mr. William G. Brown: The memorial of James A. Bartlett, praying compensation for a horse taken by the United States authorities; which was referred to the Committee of Claims. By Mr. William B. Washburn: The petition of certain assistant assessors in the State of Massachusetts, praying an increase of salary; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. By Mr. Marvin: The memorial of the proprietors of Congress Spring, New York, praying a reduction of the income tax on spring waters; which was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. By Mr. Longyear: The memorial of Charles P. Dibble and other citizens of Michigan, praying that Calhoun county, in that State, may be annexed to the eastern judicial district of Michigan; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. |