on an amendment springing up in this way. I do not see that there is any necessity for determining the matter just at the present time. Mr. WILSON. I move that the Senate proceed to the consideration of executive busi

ness.

Mr. SHERMAN. I hope that we may get rid of this appropriation bill. This question may come just as well on some other appropriation bill.

Mr. WILSON. If the Senator withdraws the amendment we can do that.

Mr. HENDERSON. I do not. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Does the Senator from Massachusetts withdraw his motion for an executive session?

Mr. WILSON. The amendment proposed by the Senator from Illinois will require some further examination and discussion, and if it is to be pressed I certainly think we had better not attempt to pass the bill to-day. We had better let it go over and reflect upon

it.

Mr. HENDERSON. I have no objection to that course. I have another amendment that I propose to offer to this bill, and perhaps it is an amendment that ought to be printed and that Senators would like to consider. I do not desire to put myself in the way of the passage of the appropriation bills. If it is absolutely necessary, if the public service requires that the bill should be passed immediately, I shall not stand in the way.

Mr. TRUMBULL. It is a bill for the next fiscal year, and will not go into effect until July next.

Mr. HENDERSON. That is what I supposed, and therefore it is not at all necessary that it should be hurried through immediately. I desire to offer another amendment, to insert the following as an additional section:

SEC.. And be it further enacted, That in all cases in which the incumbents of civil offices shall be permitted to perform the duties of their respective offices after their successors shall have been appointed and confirmed by the Senate, and after such successors shall have offered to qualify as provided by law, such incumbents shall not be paid any salary or other compensation, nor shall they be permitted to receive any emoluments of office for services rendered after the expiration of thirty days after the adjournment of the session of the Senate at which the appointment of their successors may be confirmed.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The question now is on the amendment offered by the Senator from Illinois to the amendment of the Senator from Missouri.

Mr. HENDERSON. I ask that the amendment which I have just read may be printed. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. It can only be received by unanimous consent. The Chair hears no objection. The amendment is received, and the order to print will be entered.

Mr. TRUMBULL. That order to print, I presume, will also include the amendment that I offered.

Mr. HENDERSON. Yes, sir.

Mr. CONNESS. I also propose offering an amendment, and I may as well offer it at this time. It is to come in at the end of the first section.

Mr. WADE. I also offer an amendment, to be added as an additional section, with a view to have it printed when the bill comes up again.

EXECUTIVE SESSION.

Mr. WILSON. I renew the motion for an executive session.

The motion was agreed to, and the Senate proceeded to the consideration of executive business; and, after some time spent therein, the doors were reopened, and the Senate adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MONDAY, April 23, 1866.

The House met at twelve o'clock m. Prayer by Rev. GEORGE F. MAGOUN, President of Iowa College.

The Journal of Saturday last was read and approved.

The SPEAKER stated as the regular order of business the calling of the committees for

The SPEAKER. The next business in order is the calling of the States and Territories for resolutions, the pending question being upon the resolution offered on Monday last by the gentleman from Illinois, [Mr. INGERSOLL.] On the demand for the previous question on Monday, no quorum voted. A motion to lay the resolution on the table was lost, and the question now recurs on seconding the demand for the previous question.

The resolution was read, as follows: Whereas it is one of the paramount duties of all legislative bodies to lighten as much as possible the burdens resting upon the laboring classes and promote the general welfare: Therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, That the Committee for the District of Columbia be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing by law the eight-hour system, as it is called, as constituting a day's work in the District of Columbia, and that said committee be authorized to report by bill or otherwise.

Mr. KUYKENDALL. I see my colleague is not in; can it be informally laid over?

The SPEAKER. It can be done by unani

mous consent.

Mr. WENTWORTH. I object. There are other resolutions to be offered; I want to get several in.

Mr. KUYKENDALL. If the previous question is not seconded, will the resolution go over? The SPEAKER. It would not under the rule.

Mr. HARDING, of Illinois. I propose to debate the resolution.

The SPEAKER. This is not the day of its introduction; therefore rising to debate it does not carry it over.

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

EVENING SESSION ON TUESDAY.

Mr. BIDWELL offered the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to:

Resolved, That the House will hold a session tomorrow (Tuesday) evening, the 24th, commencing at half past seven o'clock, for the purpose of hearing reports from the Committee on the Pacific Railroad. Mr. PRICE. I move to reconsider the vote by which the House agreed to the resolution; and to lay that motion on the table.

The question having been put on laying the motion on the table, no quorum voted.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. I ask the gentleman from California [Mr. BIDWELL] what particular object he has in holding a session to-morrow evening.

Mr. PRICE. I will answer that question. The Committee on the Pacific Railroad has not been called for two months, and from the course of business it will be two months longer before it will be called. Some members will have to be absent in a few days, and the committee are very desirous of making a report.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. Do the committee want an evening session for the purpose of passing their bills?

Mr. PRICE. For the purpose of acting

upon them.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. I consider these Pacific railroad bills as most important, granting as they do some sixty million dollars, and I trust that this House will not consider them in an evening session. There is no necessity for evening sessions now. The House is far ahead of the Senate, and I trust we will consider this matter only when the committee is called in order for reports.

Mr. CONKLING. Does the resolution admit the construction that action is to be taken on the bill to-morrow night?

The SPEAKER. The Clerk will read the resolution.

The resolution was again read.

Mr. CONKLING. Now, I ask the Chair whether the proper construction of that resolu

tion is that a bill may be put upon its passage when reported to-morrow evening.

The SPEAKER. It may, under the rule, as found in the Digest, which states that consent to report a bill carries with it the right to consider the bill.

Mr. CONKLING. I understand that; yet I should think that leave being asked to hear reports of a committee hardly conveyed to the House fairly the idea that we were to be called on to vote on the passage of the bills when reported.

Mr. STEVENS. I do not so understand it now. I understand the gentleman from Iowa [Mr. PRICE] to have meant nothing more than to bring these bills before the House and have them postponed until a proper time for consideration.

Mr. PRICE. My intention was that these bills should be acted upon to-morrow night, if the House agreed to the resolution. And, Mr. Speaker, I see no force in the objection of the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. WASHBURNE] or that of the gentleman from New York, [Mr. CONKLING.] If it is proper to act upon these bills at any time, they can be acted upon tomorrow just as well as three months hence. The Committee on the Pacific Railroad has not been called for two months; and in the course of the regular call of committees that committee will not, in all probability, be called for two months to come. I have said to the House, and I say again, that there are some members of the committee who wish to be absent for a few days, and who do not feel at liberty to be absent until this committee has been called.

Now, the call of a committee for reports involves the necessity of acting upon the reports when made, although, as a matter of course, the bills reported may be postponed by the House until a day certain.

The SPEAKER. The Chair will read the rule, on page 58 of the Digest:

"The right to report at any time carries with ittho right to consider the matter when reported. And where authority is given to a committee to make a report at a particular time, the right follows to consider the report when made."

Mr. PRICE. Certainly.

Mr. STEVENS. I suggest to the gentleman from Iowa, [Mr. PRICE,] that he consent, or if necessary put it into the resolution, that, although the bills may be discussed, yet no vote shall be taken upon them to-morrow night.

Mr. PRICE. I have no objection to that, if the vote can be taken

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. I desire to inquire into what position a bill would be left if it should be discussed to-morrow night without a vote being taken.

The SPEAKER. It would come up the next morning as unfinished business.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. By that means, then, the Committee on the Pacific Railroad would come in ahead of all other committees. I object to that, as it would be unfair to other committees. The Committee on Commerce, having very important business to report, has not had an opportunity to do so for some weeks.

Mr. PRICE. It is a little too late now for the gentleman from Illinois to object, and I will say to him that the very reason why I desire to have to-morrow night fixed for the hearing of reports from the Committee on the Pacific Railroad was that it would not interfere with any other business.

Mr. ELDRIDGE. I object to debate.

The SPEAKER. The motion to reconsider is not debatable, and the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. ELDRIDGE] objects to debate.

On the motion to lay on the table the motion to reconsider the vote by which the resolution was agreed to, there were-ayes 40, noes 33. Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois, called for the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

The question was taken; and it was decided in the affirmative-yeas 61, nays 40, not voting 82; as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Allison, Ames, Anderson, Delos R.

gentleman from New York, the matter is not before the committee, but before the House, pending a motion to reconsider.

Mr. LATHAM. What will be the first vote taken on the motion to reconsider?

The SPEAKER. The first vote will be on the reconsideration of the vote by which the subject was recommitted. The Clerk will read from page 164 of Barclay's Digest.

The Clerk read, as follows:

"49. When a motion has been once made, and carried in the affirmative or negative, it shall be in order for any member of the majority to move for the reconsideration thereof-on the same or succeeding dayand such motion shall take precedence of all other questions, except a motion to adjourn, and shall not be withdrawn after the said succeeding day without the consent of the House; and thereafter any member may call it up for consideration."

Mr. LATHAM. My inquiry is, what will be the first vote taken by the House on the motion to reconsider?

The SPEAKER. To reconsider the vote by which the report in the Tennessee case was recommitted to the committee on reconstruction. That can be called up at any time when the House is not engaged in the transaction of other business.

Mr. LATHAM. If the House reconsider that vote, what would be the next vote?

The SPEAKER. The subject would be before the House-not recommitted to the committee.

Mr. ELDRIDGE. Does the Chair decide that the committee have not the subject in charge?

The SPEAKER. The subject is not before the committee pending the motion to reconsider, which can be called up at any time when the House is not engaged in other business. Mr. ROSS. Is there no chance by which the House can get rid of this committee?

The SPEAKER. That is not germane to the question before the House.

Mr. WENTWORTH. I call for the regular

order of business.

Mr. DELANO. I take an appeal from the decision of the Chair in reference to the Tennessee credentials.

The SPEAKER. The appeal is entertained but is not debatable, as it has been made at a time when debate is not in order, and upon a question growing out of an undebatable subject.

Mr. CONKLING. I move that the appeal be laid upon the table.

Mr. RANDALL, of Pennsylvania. I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. DELANO. As the appeal is not debatable I withdraw it.

INDIAN DEPREDATIONS.

Mr. HITCHCOCK, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill to provide for the relief of persons for damages sustained by reason of depredations and injuries by certain bands of Arrapahoes, Cheyenne, and Sioux Indians; which was read a first and second time, ordered to be printed, and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

FIRST REGIMENT COLORADO MILITIA.

Mr. BRADFORD, by unanimous consent, submitted the following preamble and resolu tion; which were read, considered, and agreed

to:

Whereas it is represented that a certain regiment of militia, known as the first regiment of Colorado mounted militia, was in the winter of 1865 mustered into the service of the United States by order of Colonel Thomas Moonlight, then commanding the district of Colorado, and that they remained in the service for several months, the horses and a portion of the equipments being supplied from private means, and that said regiment was discharged without compensation; Therefore,

Be it resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the facts, and if they find them to be substantially true as stated, to report a bill providing such compensation as may be just and proper.

SUPPORT OF INDIAN TRIBES.

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

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Interior be

requested to furnish this House with a full statement of all money on hand, on the 10th day of July, 1865, applicable to the support of the various Indian tribes, and for all other purposes connected with the Indian service. Also, the entire amount which has been expended since that time and up to the 20th day of April, 1866, and the objects for which such expenditures have been made, together with the amount now on hand applicable to said service under the following heads. Also the amount which has been expended, over and above the appropriations already made, namely:

Pay of superintendents and agents, pay of subagents, pay of temporary clerks by superintendents, pay of interpreters, pay for presents to Indians, pay for provisions for Indians, pay for agency buildings and repairs, for contingent expenses of the Indian department, for making treaties with Indian tribes, for transportation of Indian annuity goods, support of refugee Indians in the southern and midile superintendencies, amount expended for support of refugee and other Indians over and above the amount heretofore appropriated.

TRIAL OF JEFFERSON DAVIS.

The SPEAKER. The next business in

order is the following resolution offered by the gentleman from Indiana, [Mr. JULIAN,] which was laid over one day under the rule:

Resolved, (as the deliberate judgment of this House,) That the speedy trial of Jefferson Davis, either by a civil or military tribunal, for the crime of treason or the other crimes of which he stands charged, and his prompt execution, if found guilty, are imperatively demanded by the people of the United States in order that treason may be adequately branded by the nation, traitors made infamous, and the repetition of their crimes, as far as possible, be prevented.

Mr. WILSON, of Iowa. I suggest to the gentleman to refer that to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. JULIAN. Mr. Speaker, is this resolution now debatable?

The SPEAKER. It is; it was laid over under the rule for debate.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. Has the morning hour expired?

The SPEAKER. The morning hour will expire in one minute.

Mr. JULIAN. Idemand the previous question on the adoption of the resolution.

Mr. SMITH. I desire to debate it. The SPEAKER. If the previous question is not seconded it will then be open for debate. Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. I ask that the resolution be again reported.

The SPEAKER. It will again be reported if there is no objection.

Mr. JULIAN. I object.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. Has not the morning hour expired?

The SPEAKER. Not yet.

The previous question was seconded-ayes

50, noes 42.

Mr. ANCONA. I demand tellers on seconding the demand for the previous question. The SPEAKER. It is too late.

Mr. ANCONA. Then I demand tellers on ordering the main question.

Mr. HARRIS. Is the resolution debatable?
The SPEAKER. It is not.
Mr. CHANLER.

Is it in order to move to lay the resolution on the table? The SPEAKER. It is. Mr. CHANLER. I make that motion, and demand the yeas and nays upon it.

Mr. WILSON, of Iowa. Iagain ask the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. JULIAN] to permit this to go to the Committee on the Judiciary, who are now investigating that charge and taking testimony.

Mr. HARDING, of Illinois. I do not see that this resolution involves any doubtful question upon which we need the advice of the Judiciary Committee. Mr. ELDRIDGE. an amendment?

Is it in order to move

The SPEAKER. It is not.

Mr. ELDRIDGE. I ask the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. JULIAN] to allow the word "military" to be stricken out, so as to leave it that he shall be tried by a civil tribunal. Then there will be no objection to it.

Mr. GARFIELD. I hope it will not be stricken out, but that we shall have full power to try him.

Mr. HARRIS. I rise to a point of order, that the resolution presents a question which

this House has no authority whatever to pass

upon.

The SPEAKER. The Chair overrules the question of order. It is not a question of order; it is a matter for the discretion of the House. Mr. JULIAN. I conceive no possible reason for declining a direct vote on the proposition, and I therefore ask for a vote of the House on the resolution as it stands.

Mr. RANDALL, of Pennsylvania. Is it in order to move as an amendment to refer the resolution to the Judiciary Committee?

The SPEAKER. It is not, the previous question having been seconded.

Mr. ELDRIDGE. Does the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. JULIAN] decline to modify his resolution?

The SPEAKER. He does; and it would require unanimous consent to modify it.

Mr. BINGHAM. Is it in order to move to reconsider the vote by which the previous question was ordered.

The SPEAKER. The motion to lay on the table prevents it.

Mr. BINGHAM. I hope the gentleman from New York [Mr. CHANLER] will withdraw that motion, in order that I may move to reconsider.

Mr. CHANLER. What is the motive of the gentleman in making that motion?

Mr. BINGHAM. If the gentleman will withdraw his motion to lay the resolution on the table, I will move to reconsider the vote by which the previous question was seconded, so that I may move to refer the resolution to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. CHANLER. Then I withdraw. The question being put on the motion to reconsider the vote by which the previous question was seconded, there were-ayes 80, noes 33.

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

The SPEAKER. The gentleman cannot demand the yeas and nays on this motion. He may demand tellers.

Mr. COBB. I call for tellers.
Tellers were not ordered.

resolution reconsidered.
The SPEAKER accordingly declared the

The question recurred upon seconding the demand for the previous question; and being put there were-ayes 21, noes 71.

So the previous question was not seconded. The SPEAKER. The morning hour has

expired.

Mr. SCHENCK. I call for the regular order of business.

THE TEST OATH.

Mr. WILSON, of Iowa. I ask the unanimous consent of the House to make an adverse report on the message of the President, with accompanying communications, recommending a modification of the test oath, that it may be laid upon the table, and ordered to be printed. The SPEAKER. That can only be done by unanimous consent or under a suspension of the rules.

Mr. WILSON, of Iowa. Then I move to suspend the rules so as to enable me to make the report. [Cries of "There is no objecreport. tion.'

Mr. RANDALL, of Pennsylvania. I call for the regular order of business.

Mr. WILSON, of Iowa. I merely ask that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from the further consideration of the subject and that the report be laid upon the table and printed.

Mr. ROGERS. I desire to present a minority report in favor of the recommendation of

the President.

Mr. RANDALL, of Pennsylvania. I object to the reception of the report.

Mr. WILSON, of Iowa. I move a suspension of the rules.

The question was taken; and two thirds voting in favor thereof, the rules were suspended. On motion of Mr. WILSON, of lowa, the Committee on the Judiciary was discharged

from the further consideration of the message of the President of the United States transmitting communications from the Secretary of the Treasury and the Postmaster General, requesting a modification of the oath of office prescribed by the act of Congress approved July 2, 1862, and the same was laid upon the table, and the report of the committee ordered to be printed. Mr. ROGERS submitted a minority report upon the same subject; which was laid upon the table, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. WILSON, of Iowa, moved to reconsider the vote by which the report of the Committee on the Judiciary was disposed of; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

The latter motion was agreed to.

PREVENTION OF CHOLERA.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. I move to suspend the rules to enable me to report from the Committee on Commerce, for action at this time, a joint resolution to prevent the introduction of cholera into the ports of the United States.

The question was taken; and two thirds voting in favor thereof, the rules were suspended.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois, then, from the Committee on Commerce, reported the joint resolution; which was read a first and second time.

The joint resolution authorizes the President of the United States to make and carry into effect such orders and regulations of quarantine as in his opinion may be deemed necessary and proper, in aid of State or municipal authorities, to guard against the introduction of cholera into the ports of the United States.

It further authorizes the President to empower military and naval commanders in ports and places in States that have been or are in insurrection to enforce such quarantine regulations as may be deemed necessary for the purpose of guarding against the introduction of cholera or yellow fever, and providing for a proper course of treatment of patients.

The resolution also appropriates such amount of money as may be necessary to carry the joint resolution into effect.

Mr. SCOFIELD. I rise to a point of order. I submit that, as the joint resolution makes an appropriation, it must have its first consideration in Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union.

The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Pennsylvania will observe that the suspension of the rules suspended that rule as well as all others. The motion was to suspend the rules that the joint resolution might be considered in the House at this time.

Mr. SCOFIELD. Then I wish to suggest to the gentleman from Illinois that there ought to be some limit to the amount of the appropriation.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. The committee considered that point, and they did not fix any limit to the amount of the appropriation because it was impossible to tell how much or how little would be needed. It is a matter which must necessarily be left to the discretion of the Departments. I would be in favor of fixing a very small sum if the object could be accomplished. But the yellow fever is now prevailing in some of the ports and in other places in the South, and the Secretary of War has issued an order rather outside of his authority, and unless some provision of this kind shall be made he says he will have to revoke that order. I hope, therefore, the House will pass the joint resolution, and I demand the previous question upon it. The previous question was seconded and the main question was ordered.

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. WASHBURNE, of Illinois, moved to reconsider the vote by which the joint resolu

tion was passed; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table. The latter motion was agreed to.

NITRO-GLYCERINE.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois, gave notice that the Committee on Commerce, to which was referred the subject of the necessary legislation to protect life and property from the dangerous explosive properties of nitro-glycerine, with leave to report upon the subject at any time, would probably be prepared to report on Thursday next, at which time they would ask the action of the House upon the subject.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.

A message in writing was here received from the President of the United States, by Hon. EDMUND COOPER, acting Private Secretary; also a message that he had approved and signed bills and joint resolutions of the following titles, namely:

An act (H. R. No. 18) to authorize the sale of marine hospitals and of revenue-cutters; An act (H. R. No. 25) for the relief of Thomas Hurly;

Joint resolution (H. R. No. 88) expressive of the thanks of Congress to Major General Winfield S. Hancock;

Joint resolution (H. R. No. 102) for the relief of Alexander Thompson late United States consul at Maranham; and

Joint resolution (H. R. No. 108) appointing managers for the National Asylum for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.

REORGANIZATION OF THE ARMY.

The House resumed the consideration of the bill (H. R. No. 361) entitled "An act to reorganize and establish the Army of the United States."

The following section was under consideration:

SEC. 16. And be it further enacted, That the quartermaster's department of the Army shall hereafter consist of one quartermaster general, with the rank, pay, and emoluments of a brigadier general; six quartermasters, with the rank, pay, and emoluments of colonels of cavalry; ten quartermasters, with the rank, pay, and emoluments of lieutenant colonels of cavalry; fifteen quartermasters, with the rank, pay, and emoluments of majors of cavalry: forty-four quartermasters, with the rank, pay, and emoluments of captains of cavalry; and at least two thirds of all original vacancies in each of the grades of lieutenant colonel or major, and all original vacancies in the grade of captain shall be filled by selection from among those persons who have rendered meritorious service as assistant quartermasters of volunteers in the Army of the United States in the late war. But after the first appointments made under the provisions of this section, as vacancies may occur in the grades of major and captain in this department, no appointments to fill the same shall be made until the number of majors shall be reduced to twelve and the number of captains to thirty, and thereafter the number of officers in each of suid grades shall continue to conform to said reduced numbers.

The following amendment had been moved by Mr. DAVIS:

Strike out all after the enacting clause of the section and insert the following:

That the quartermaster's department of the Army shall hereafter consist of one quartermaster general, with the rank, pay, and emoluments of a brigadier general; four assistant quartermasters general, with the rank, pay, and emoluments of colonels of cavalry; eight deputy quartermasters general, with the rank, pay, and emoluments of lieutenant colonels of cavalry: sixteen quartermasters, with the rank, pay, and emoluments of majors of cavalry; and forty-eight assistant quartermasters, with the rank, pay, and emoluments of captains of cavalry, and the vacancies hereby created in the grade of assistant quartermaster shall be filled by selection from among the persons who have rendered meritorious service as assistant quartermasters of volunteers during two years of the

war.

The pending question was upon the following amendment proposed by Mr. SCHENCK to the original section:

Add to section sixteen the following:

But nothing in this section shall be construed so as to affect the commission of any officer now commissioned, either as acting quartermaster general or as deputy quartermaster general or as assistant quartermaster general, but only to change the title to quartermaster in the case of those who rank as colonels, lieutenant colonels, majors, and captains, without affecting in any way their relative positions or the time from which they take such rank.

The question was taken, and the amendment of Mr. SCHENCK was agreed to.

The question recurred upon the amendment of Mr. DAVIS.

Mr. SCHENCK. I move to amend the amendment by adding the following:

But as vacancies may occur in the grades of major and captain in this department no appointments to fill the same shall be made until the number of majors shall be reduced to twelve and the number of captains to thirty, and thereafter the number of officers in cach of said grades shall continue to conform to said reduced numbers.

The amendment proposed by the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. THAYER] and accepted by the gentleman from New York [Mr. DAVIS] in lieu of one he had offered does not conform, as I will hereafter show, to what was recommended by the military officers to which this matter was submitted. There has been a great deal of misapprehension upon that matter, which has been persistently pressed upon this House, all of which I mean to clear up by the record.

But I confine myself now to proposing to amend the substitute by adding to it that which I have read, and which is contained in the original section, eventually reducing the number of those officers with a view to guarding against the continued increase of the force in the quartermaster's department, and bringing it down, even in case the substitute should be adopted, to the point to which the committee think it should be brought, by legislation looking to the future sufficiency of the quartermaster's department.

Now, I have already said to this House that there has been a continued effort made to increase the number of officers and to increase their rank in the different bureaus or staff departments stationed here at Washington. And I have said to the House that I was prepared to expect that, whenever any committee felt it their duty to report against this gradual progress in the increase of numbers, rank, and pay in these staff departments, there would be a general outcry from those departments, which would be felt in its influence upon this House; and, as I once before said, that influence has gone far beyond my expectations. This House has already passed upon the Adjutant General's department, and has added two colonels and one lieutenant colonel beyond what was ever recommended by anybody outside of this House, and beyond what was asked for by the Adjutant General's department itself. That the House has already done.

Mr. CONKLING. If the gentleman will allow me, I desire to say that I have no doubt the fact is precisely as he states it; and I wish to say for one that, such being the effect of the section, I voted under an entire misapprehension; I understood the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. THAYER] to receive from a member of the committee the assurance that the effect of the amendment would be to leave the matter precisely as it stood; and when afterward the chairman of the committee showed us the effect of that amendment, I am satisfied that it took entirely by surprise a large num. ber of those who had voted for it.

Mr. SCHENCK. I am assured by two or three gentlemen around me that they voted under a misapprehension; and I desire to prevent any such misapprehension in the future.

Mr. THAYER. Will the gentleman allow me to correct an erroneous statement?

Mr. SCHENCK. I will give the gentleman an opportunity to make the correction when I get through.

Now, sir, I think myself that the House, in voting upon the proposition made by the gentleman from Pennsylvania, did not understand that he had accepted a modification proposed by the gentleman from Maine, [Mr. BLAINE,] which introduced an entirely new feature. am sorry that the gentleman from Maine, my colleague on the committee, is not present at this time, because I wish that the history of this matter shall be fully understood. It was proposed by the gentleman to go further than the Department itself had asked, because if we did not do so, certain friends of his would