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in destitute circumstances; and for several years has been wholly dependent upon him for support.

The bill was reported to the Senate as amended, and the amendment was concurred in and ordered to be engrossed, and the bill to be read a third time. It was read the third time and passed.

JANE D. BRENT.

On motion of Mr. VAN WINKLE, the bill (S. No. 298) granting a pension to Jane D. Brent was read a second time and considered as in Committee of the Whole. It provides for placing the name of Jane D. Brent, of Detroit, Michigan, widow of Thomas Lee Brent, late a captain in the Army of the United States, on the pension-roll, at the rate of twenty dollars per month, until her marriage or death, and after either event the pension is to be continued to Mary Brent, daughter of Thomas Lee Brent, if then under the age of sixteen years, until she attains that age.

Mr GRIMES. Let us hear the report read. The Secretary read the following report from the Committee on Pensions submitted by Mr. VAN WINKLE on the 2d of May:

The Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the petition of Jane D. Brent, respectfully report: That it appears that Captain Thomas L. Brent, the late husband of the petitioner, entered the Army of the United States, from West Point, in 1835, and remained therein until his death, which occurred at Fort Leavenworth on the 11th of January, 1858, having been in active service in the wars in Florida and Mexico. The petitioner, in March last, applied to the Commissioner of Pensions to have her name placed on the pension-roll as the widow of Captain Brent, accompanying her application with satisfactory proof of her identity, marriage, and continued widowhood; but owing to the want of positive proof that her husband died of a disease caused by his service in war, as required by the act of July 21, 1848, in order to enable her to obtain a pension under that act, her application has been suspended by the Commissioner, and she has been advised to apply to Congress for relief.

The committee find in the papers submitted to them strong presumptive evidence that Captain Brent died of disease contracted in active service in the line of his duty in Mexico, during the continuance of the war with that country. Brevet Colonel and Surgeon John M. Cuyler, of the United States Army, certifies that he was one, and the senior, of the medical officers who were with Captain Brent during his last illness, and that the disease of which he died was chronic pleurisy. He adds, "There is no doubt, I imagine, he was in the discharge of his official duty when seized by the disease that eventually terminated his life."

Major Lewis Cass, jr., certifies that he was stationed at Meer during the fall of 1847, and at Monterey in the succeeding spring, as inspector general, and was then in frequent communication with Captain Brent, whose health was not good, which the captain "justly and correctly" ascribed to the climate of Mexico; that his health continued to grow worse, and not unfrequently incapacitated him for duty, and he complained of weakness and debility, with difficulty of breathing. Major Cass thinks his disease was pleurisy, and adds that Captain Brent's habits were temperate and regular.

It is evident that Captain Brent's disease was contracted while in the service of the United States. He ascribed it, at a time when he could have no motive to deceive, to the climate of Mexico; and as the war with that country was then in progress, and he was a conspicuous actor in it, having been, as the committee are informed, brevetted a captain for gallant and meritorious services at Buena Vista, there is hardly room for doubt that the disease of which he died was directly caused by his service in the Mexican war, in the line of his duty.

The committee therefore report a bill granting a pension to the petitioner.

The bill was reported to the Senate without amendment, ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, read the third time, and passed.

JANE E. MILES.

On motion of Mr. VAN WINKLE, the bill (S. No. 299) granting a pension to Jane E. Miles, was read the second time and considered as in Committee of the Whole. It provides for placing upon the pension-roll the name of Jane E. Miles, of Somersworth, New Hampshire, widow of William D. Miles, late a landsman in the naval service of the United States, at the rate of eight dollars per month, from the 22d day of March, in the year 1865, to continue during her widowhood; the pension to be paid out of the naval pension fund.

The bill was reported to the Senate without amendment, ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, read the third time, and passed.

39TH CONG. 1ST SESS.-No. 168.

SARAH J. PURCELL.

late a sergeant in company E, seventeenth regiment West Virginia infantry volunteers, on the pension-roll, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence from the 27th of March, 1865, and to continue during her widowhood. The bill was reported to the Senate without amendment, ordered to be engrossed for a

On motion of Mr. VAN WINKLE, the bill (S. No. 314) for the relief of Sarah J. Purcell, was read the second time and considered as in Committee of the Whole. It proposes to direct the Secretary of the Interior to place the name of Sarah J. Purcell, widow of Charles W. Purcell, acting captain of artillery, on the pension-third reading, read the third time, and passed. roll, at the rate of twenty dollars a month, from the 27th day of September, 1864, to continue during her widowhood.

amendment, ordered to be engrossed for a The bill was reported to the Senate without third reading, read the third time, and passed.

RUTH ELLEN GRELAUD.

On motion of Mr. LANE, of Indiana, the Senate, as in Committee of the Whole, proceeded to consider the bill (S. No. 72) for the relief of Ruth Ellen Grelaud, widow of John H. Grelaud, deceased. Its purpose is to direct the Secretary of the Interior to place the name of Ruth Ellen Greland, widow of John H. Grelaud, deceased, late a captain of artillery in the United States Army, upon the pension-list, at the rate of the half pay proper he was entitled to at the time of his death, commencing on the 17th of August, 1857, and to continue during her life or widowhood.

Mr. LANE, of Indiana. The Committee on Pensions have made an adverse report on this bill, and I move that it be indefinitely postponed.

The motion was agreed to.

MRS. SALLY ANDREWS.

On motion of Mr. LANE, of Indiana, the Senate, as in Committee of the Whole, proceeded to consider the bill (H. R. No. 462) granting a pension to Mrs. Sally Andrews. It directs the Secretary of the Interior to place the name of Sally Andrews, of Buxton, York county, Maine, widow of the late Elisha Andrews, quarter gunner on board the Levetta Adams, on the pension-list of invalid pensioners, and pay or cause to be paid to her the sum of eight dollars per month during her widowhood.

The bill was reported to the Senate without amendment, ordered to a third reading, read the third time, and passed.

MRS. HARRIET B. CROCKER.

On motion of Mr. LANE, of Indiana, the bill (S. No. 326) granting a pension to Mrs. Harriet B. Crocker, was read a second time

and considered as in Committee of the Whole. The Secretary of the Interior is directed by the bill to place the name of Mrs. Harriet B. Crocker, mother of Henry B. Crocker, late a private in company G, one hundred and fifteenth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, on the pensionroll, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence from the 4th of October, 1862, and to continue during her widowhood."

The bill was reported to the Senate without amendment, ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, read the third time, and passed.

MRS. KATHARINE F. WINSLOW.

On motion of Mr. ANE, of Indiana, the bill (S. No. 327) granting a pension to Mrs. Katharine F. Winslow, was read a second time and considered as in Committee of the Whole. Its purpose is to direct the Secretary of the Interior to place the name of Mrs. Katharine F. Winslow, mother of Cleveland Winslow, late lieutenant colonel of the fifth New York Veteran volunteer infantry, on the pension-roll, at the rate of thirty dollars per month, to com tinue during her widowhood. mence from the 7th of July, 1864, and to con

The bill was reported to the Senate without amendment, ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, read the third time, and passed.

MRS. ABIGAIL RYAN.

On motion of Mr. LANE, of Indiana, the bill (S. No. 328) for the relief of Mrs. Abigail Ryan was read a second time and considered as in Committee of the Whole. It directs the Secretary of the Interior to place the name of Mrs. Abigail Ryan, widow of Thomas A. Ryan, Il

Mr. WILLEY subsequently entered a motion to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed.

MARGARET KAETZEL.

On motion of Mr. LANE, of Indiana, the bill (S. No. 329) for the relief of Mrs. Margaret Kaetzel, was read a second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole. Its purpose is to direct the Secretary of the Inte rior to place upon the pension-roll the name of Mrs. Margaret Kaetzel, widow of Nicholas Kaetzel, who was a civilian employed in the service of the United States at the arsenal at Columbus, Ohio, and that she be paid a pensi sion at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence from the 5th of April, 1865, and to continue during her widowhood.

The bill was reported to the Senate without amendment, ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, read the third time, and passed.

ISABELLA STRUBING.

On motion of Mr. LANE, of Indiana, the Senate, as in Committee of the Whole, proceeded to consider the bill (H. R. No. 434) for the relief of Isabella Strubing. It directs the Secretary of the Interior to place the name of Isabella Strubing, widow of private_Damon Strubing, deceased, late of company E, fortysixth regiment Pennsylvania volunteers, on the pension-roll, and pay or cause to be paid to her the sum of eight dollars per month from the 30th of May, 1864, and to continue during her widowhood, and in the event of her death or marriage, to the minor children of Damon Strubing until they shall have attained the age of sixteen years.

Mr. GRIMES. Let us hear the report in that case.

The Secretary read the report made by the Committee on Invalid Pensions of the House of Representatives. By the evidence in the case it is proved that Damon Strubing, the husband of the petitioner, when en route with his regiment, on veteran furlough, after having reenlisted, and while passing through Louisville, Kentucky, on the 2d of January, 1864, fell and broke his left hand. Having partially recovered the use of his hand he obtained permission from the surgeon who attended him to return to his regiment, which was then at Dalton, Georgia. Strubing, by direction of the lieutenant colonel of his regiment, whom he met on his way, reported to Surgeon James Bryan, then in charge of the United States general hospital at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Surgeon Bryan gave him a certificate showing that he was, by reason of the injury in his hand, unfit for duty, and also gave him permission to return to his home, at Reading, Pennsylvania. On the 30th of May, 1864, while riding in a train of the Pennsylvania railroad the train ran off the track and broke a number of cars. Strubing being one of the passengers had his leg badly shattered, and was also severely burned and scalded, from the effects of which he died in a few hours afterward. The Commissioner of Pensions declines to place the name of his widow on the pension-roll in the absence of a certificate from a commissioned officer of his company showing that at the time of his death he was in the line of his duty, which cannot be obtained. The committee are of the opinion that the case comes within the spirit and intent of the act granting pensions to the widows of deceased soldiers, and therefore recommend the passage of the bill.

The bill was reported to the Senate without amendment, ordered to a third reading, read the third time, and passed.

MARIA SYPHAX.

On motion of Mr. HARRIS, the bill (S. No. 321) for the relief of Maria Syphax was read

a second time and considered as in Committee of the Whole. It proposes to release and confirm to Maria Syphax, her heirs and assigns, the title to a piece of land, being part of the Arlington estate, in the county of Alexandria, in the State of Virginia, upon which she has resided since about the year 1826, bounded and described as follows, to wit: beginning at the intersection of the south line of said Arlington estate with the center line of a small run, said point of intersection being about one fourth of a mile from the southwest corner of said Arlington estate, running thence westerly along said south line seven chains and forty links; thence in a northeasterly direction, on a line making an angle of thirty-five degrees with the said south line, twenty-two chains and thirty-eight links; thence at right angles, in a southeasterly direction fifteen chains and sixty-seven links to the said south line of the Arlington estate; thence westerly along the said south line of the said Arlington estate nineteen chains and ninety-two links, to the place of beginning, containing seventeen acres and fifty-three hundredths of an acre of land, be the same more or less.

Mr. MORRILL. I should like to inquire of the Senator from New York, the chairman of the Committee on Private Land Claims, what are the grounds on which this bill is placed.

Mr. HARRIS. The person named in this bill is a mulatto woman. She was once the slave of Mr. Custis. Mr. Custis at the time she married, about forty years ago, feeling an interest in the woman, something perhaps akin to a paternal instinct, manumitted her, and gave her this piece of land. It has been set apart to her, and it has been occupied by her and her family for forty years. Under the circumstances, the committee thought it no more than just, the Government having acquired title to this property under a sale for taxes, that this title should be confirmed to her.

Mr. HOWARD. Will the Senator from New York be good enough to state in whom the title runs?

Mr. HARRIS. The title runs to this woman and her heirs.

Mr. MORRILL. That is satisfactory.

The bill was reported to the Senate without amendment, ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, read the third time, and passed.

HOUSE BILL REFERRED.

The bill (H. R. No. 596) to authorize the use of the metric system of weights and measures was read twice by its title.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. This bill will be referred to the select committee on that subject when appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate.

EXECUTIVE SESSION,

Mr. CONNESS. I move that the Senate proceed to the consideration of House joint resolution No. 77. It will not occupy a moment of time.

Mr. GRIMES. What is the title of it?

Mr. CONNESS. A joint resolution for the relief of Ambrose L. Goodrich and Nathan Cornish for carrying the United States mail from Boise City to Idaho City, in the Territory of Idaho. It will not occupy a moment.

Mr. GRIMES. This day was devoted, by an order of the Senate, to the consideration of pension bills, and there are a great many Senators not present who ought to be here when these questions that are now proposed to be taken up are called up. It seems to me that at this stage of the day we had better proceed to the consideration of executive business, of which we have a great deal to do; and I therefore make that motion.

Mr. CONNESS. I think that is very unkind in the Senator. This joint resolution has been considered by one of the standing committees of this body. It is a House resolution. It was first passed by the House, after being considered by a committee of that body, who made a report upon it. It then came to this body, and ||

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was considered here by one of the standing committees of the Senate and reported by it. If the Senator desires that no other business shall be considered to-day, and is in a hurry to adjourn, and will put it on that groundMr. GRIMES. I have this to say in the estimation of the Senator there is nothing in this resolution, or very little; but if he had been here as long as I have, he would have discovered that on the same claim and in the same manner we have passed little bills intended to appropriate money for the carrying of the mails, that, in one instance, in a case at Louisville, amounted to $1,500,000 before we got through with it; and in another case, on the upper lakes, where we supposed at the time we passed the bill, it only amounted to some eight or nine thousand dollars, it amounted to between one and two hundred thousand dollars. I do not know anything about the merits of this resolution, and I do not feel at this time as though I was capable of undertaking such an investigation as I would wish to make into it, after the experience I have had on this subject.

Mr. CONNESS. The Senator is very much frightened by his experience on this subject. I am very sorry that a bill of the kind described by him ever passed this body while the Senator, usually so watchful, was in his place. I should not think that such a bill could possibly pass his vigilance. But I beg him to believe that this resolution does not contain a claim for $100,000, nor any respectable fraction of that sum. The parties who performed the service are here, and have been waiting patiently and anxiously. The services have been long performed and paid for by them. The resolution simply authorizes the Postmaster General to pay as much as he shall find and ascertain to be their due, after it has been fully and completely investigated. The committee recommend an amendment which relates to a

similar claim already passed by this body, but not yet acted upon by the House of Representatives, I believe. Now, although this day has been devoted to pensions, certainly nearly all the Senators are in their seats, and there is sufficient time-for it is not yet half past three o'clock to examine this resolution. I hope we shall proceed with it. It will not occupy a moment of time.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from lowa moves that the Senate proceed to the consideration of executive business.

Mr. CONNESS. I hope that motion will not be carried under the circumstances.

Mr. WILSON. Will the Senator from Iowa

withdraw it for a moment?

Mr. GRIMES. Vote it down if you do not want an executive session.

The motion was agreed to; there being, on a division-ayes 14, noes 13; and, after some time spent in the consideration of executive business, the doors were reopened.

COMMODORE THOMAS TURNER.

Mr. HENDRICKS. I ask the Senate to take up Senate bill No. 251, for the relief of Commodore Thomas Turner.

The motion was agreed to; and the bill was read a second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole. It directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay to Commodore Thomas Turner $6,741 out of any prize money in the Treasury, in full for his claim to share in the prize money realized upon the condemnation and sale of the vessels Cherokee, Aries, and St. John.

Mr. HENDRICKS. I will state that upon this subject there is a difference between the court at Boston that ordered the condemnation of these three vessels and the Department, the court holding that the commodore is entitled to his prize money, and the Department not so holding. The committee think he ought to have the prize money along with the rest of the officers.

The bill was reported to the Senate without amendment, ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, read the third time, and passed.

FRANCIS A. GIBBONS.

On motion of Mr. WILLIAMS, the Senate, as in Committee of the Whole, proceeded to consider the bill (H. R. No. 386) for the relief of Francis A. Gibbons. It directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay the sum of $563 19 to Francis A. Gibbons, being money paid by him for property purchased at a quartermaster's sale in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, on the 15th of February, 1863, under the direction of Colonel Belger, assistant quartermaster, which was not delivered to the purchaser.

The bill was reported to the Senate without amendment, ordered to a third reading, and was read the third time.

Mr. TRUMBULL. I should like to know what that case is. Is there a report?

Mr. WILLIAMS. There is a House report accompanying the bill. The bill has already passed the House.

Mr. TRUMBULL. Will the Senator explain what it is?

Mr. WILLIAMS. I will simply state that Mr. Gibbons purchased at a quartermaster's sale, in the city of Baltimore, a certain number of bushels of damaged corn. He paid for the corn before its delivery, and when the corn was measured out to him there was not as much corn as he had purchased and for which he had paid by $500. The proof is clear and conclusive on the subject. He has paid to the United States $500 of money for which he received no equivalent. He simply asks the Government to pay him back that amount of

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On motion of Mr. HOWE, the Senate, as in Committee of the Whole, proceeded to consider Stevens, a Stockbridge Indian, to enter and the bill (S. No. 309) to authorize Samuel purchase a certain tract of land in the Stockbridge reservation, Wisconsin. The bill au thorizes Samuel Stevens, a Stockbridge Indian, to enter and purchase the tract of land known in the county of Calumet and State of Wiscon as lot No. 126, in the Stockbridge reservation, sin, under the "act to authorize the issuing of patents for certain lands in the town of

Stockbridge, Wisconsin. and for other pur poses," approved March 3, 1865. It also directs the Commissioner of the General Land Office, upon the entry and payment therefor, to cause a patent, in due form of law, to be issued to Samuel Stevens, in conformity with the act above mentioned.

amendment, ordered to be engrossed for a third The bill was reported to the Senate without reading, read the third time, and passed.

Mr. FESSENDEN. I move that the Senate adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; and the Senate adjourned.

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

Resolved, That in view of the almost complete absence of woods and forests in the interior regions of the continent, and of their paramount importance in the settlement and occupancy of the country, the Committee on Public Lands be directed to inquire whether a system cannot be devised whereby the planting of woods and forests may be encouraged in regions destitute of timber by liberal donations of public lands in alternate sections to individuals or corporations, and the reservation of the adjoining sections by the Government at an increased price, as in the case of railroad grants; the lands so granted, or a proportional part thereof, to be planted with trees adapted to the climate and the needs of the community.

COINAGE, WEIGHTS, AND MEASURES. Mr. KASSON, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution:

Resolved, That three hundred extra copies of the

report on a uniform system of coinage, weights, and measures be printed for the use of the committee making the report, and one thousand for the use of this House.

The SPEAKER. This resolution will be referred, under the law, to the Committee on Printing.

PROTECTION OF THE FRONTIER.

Mr. BURLEIGH, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill to provide for the better protection of the frontiers of the United States and Territories thereof; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

PREVENTION OF KIDNAPING.

Mr. WILSON, of Iowa. I ask unanimous consent to report from the Committee on the Judiciary, for consideration at the present time, Senate bill No. 132-an act to prevent and punish kidnaping.

The SPEAKER. The Clerk will read the bill, after which the Chair will ask for objections, if any.

The Clerk read the bill, which provides that if any person shall kidnap or carry away any other person, whether negro, mulatto, or otherwise, with the intent that such other person shall be sold or carried into involuntary servi tude or held as a slave; or if any person shall entice, persuade, or knowingly induce any other person to go on board any vessel or to any other place, with the intent that he or she shall be made or held as a slave, or sent out of the country to be so made or held, or shall in any way knowingly aid in causing any other person to be held, sold, or carried away, to be held or sold as a slave, he or she shall be punished, on conviction thereof, by a fine of not less than five hundred nor more than five thousand dollars, or by imprisonment, not exceeding five years, or by both of said punish

ments.

The second section provides that if the master or owners, or person having charge of any vessel, shall receive on board any other person, whether negro, mulatto, or otherwise, with the knowledge or intent that such person shall be carried from any State, Territory, or district of the United States, to a foreign country, State, or place, to be held or sold as slave, or shall carry away from any State, Territory, or district of the United States any such person, with the intent that he or she shall be so held or sold as a slave, such master, owner, or other person offending shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five thousand nor less than five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment not exceeding five years, or by both of said punishments. And the vessel on board which said person was received to be carried away shall be forfeited to the United States.

There being no objection the bill was ordered to a third reading, and was accordingly read the third time and passed.

Mr. WILSON, of Iowa, moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed; and also moved to lay that motion on the table. The latter motion was agreed to.

BRIDGE AT ROUSE'S POINT.

On motion of Mr. HULBURD, by unanimous consent, Senate bill No. 316, to establish a post route from West Alburg, Vermont, to Champlain, in the State of New York, and for other purposes, was taken up from the Speaker's table and considered.

The bill was read. It declares the railroad bridge at Rouse's Point, connecting the Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain railroad and the Vermont and Canada railroad, a lawful structure, to be known as a post route, and in place of the present float it authorizes the construction of suitable draws.

Mr. LE BLOND. That bill, I believe, has not been before the proper committee. It contains a very important feature, and I think it had better be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. HULBURD. If my friend will allow me, I will state that this has been before the

Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, and examined by them, and they are willing that it should take this direction. I will likewise state that there is great urgency for the passage of this bill, inasmuch as these men must either renew the float at once or put in a draw, and it is necessary that they should know what to do.

Mr. LE BLOND. I do not understand that this bill comes into the House from the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. They may possibly have examined it, but they have not given in a report on the measure.

Mr. ALLEY. I will say for the information of the gentleman that this bill was carefully considered by the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads in the Senate, and passed the Senate unanimously. It has been referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads in the House, and was partially considered in that committee, and the judgment of the committee was expressed favorably in regard to it.

I will say further that it is deemed by the parties in interest to be of great importance that the bill should pass at the present time. It will be sometime before our committee will be called, and I told the gentleman from New. York [Mr. HULBURD] that our committee would have no objection to its passage. That is the position so far as the committee is concerned in regard to this bill.

Mr. LE BLOND. I withdraw my objection. The bill was ordered to a third reading, and was accordingly read the third time and passed.

Mr. HULBURD moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table.

The latter motion was agreed to.

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

REFORM SCHOOL IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

The SPEAKER stated that the regular order of business was the call of the committees for reports of a private nature, the pending question being upon the bill reported from the Committee for the District of Columbia by Mr. BALDWIN, being House bill No. 379, to establish in the District of Columbia a reform school for boys.

Mr. BALDWIN. I propose now to state briefly the reasons for reporting this bill, to explain some of its provisions, and to ask for a vote upon the amendment proposed by the committee.

The reasons for reporting the bill seem to us very conclusive and urgent. There is in the District of Columbia no suitable provision for the confinement of juvenile offenders; nor is there any such provision for the confinement of older offenders as is demanded by our civilization. There is nowhere probably greater or more pressing need of such an institution than within this District. An act of Congress approved March 3, 1865, sought to make provision for juvenile offenders by authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to contract with the managers of State institutions for their confinement and support. The Secretary sought diligently to carry out the purpose of that act, but after a faithful effort he failed to make the provision which the bill required. I believe he made one contract for the confinement of a few offenders, and that was all he was able to accomplish, the managers of State institutions being unwilling to make contracts, or finding something in their charters to forbid it. He then turned to the officers of the Guardian Society, and urged them to prepare such an institution on the tract of land known as the "Government farm." They proceeded to do it, and through his aid the Secretary of War transferred to them and deposited on the Government farm for their use a large amount of lumber from abandoned hospitals. They proceeded with the work and expended about five thousand dollars raised by private subscription to establish the institution required. They erected a large building capable of ac

commodating some fifty or more inmates; but from lack of funds they could not complete their operations. The officers of the Guardian Society then petitioned Congress for an appropriation, and their petition was referred to the Committee for the District of Columbia. They asked for means to enable them to carry out their object; and this was favored by the Secretary of the Interior. A reference to this matter can be found in the report of the Secretary of the Interior to the present Congress.

On considering that petition, and consulting with these gentlemen and with the Secretary of the Interior, it seemed to the committee wiser and better to take this property and project out of the hands of private parties and establish in the District a public reformatory institution in the usual way, with a board of trustees. It seemed the only sure way to have a suitable institution for juvenile offenders established here without great expense, there being already from fifteen to twenty thousand dollars' worth of property that will all be transferred to the trustees to be appointed. This is in accordance with the wishes of the society, and it has the cordial approbation of the Secretary of the Interior. By assuming an outstanding debt of about fifteen hundred dollars the arrangement can be made, and the bill now reported to the House aims simply, in its provisions, to carry out this policy, to establish such an institution, which can be done at small cost to the Government and to the municipalities of the District; and there will be a saving of a great amount of property which must go to ruin if this is not done. There is nothing but this in the provisions of the bill. All that the bill proposes is to make provision for the establishment of this institution. It contains nothing else.

I will now ask that the amendments to the bill reported by the Committee for the District of Columbia be voted upon by the House; and I will say, as preliminary to that, that the proposed amendments aim principally to correct errors made by the printers or in transcribing the bill for the printers.

Mr. DAVIS. I wish to inquire if there is not now an institution of a precisely similar character existing in this District under a charter from Congress for the same purposes.

Mr. BALDWIN. There is such an institution, the Guardian Society of the District of Columbia, and it is that institution which has presented a petition to this Congress; it is that institution with which the Secretary of the Interior and the committee have dealt in this matter. The officers of that society cordially approve the bill. I have here a statement from the officers of that institution showing their accordance with and approval of this measure. Mr. DAVIS. Having been a member of the Committee for the District of Columbia, I desire to say that I have been informed by one of the officers of this society that the passage of this bill would conflict with their rights under their organization.

Mr. PLANTS. I do not know if it would be in order at this time to make a motion in reference to this bill. But I am advised by persons interested in the Guardian Society, already incorporated by Congress, that this proposed bill comes in direct conflict with their interests. There is a Guardian Society already in existence here who had expended some ten or twelve thousand dollars before they were incorporated, and they were incorporated about 1862. They have now before the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, as I am advised, a bill asking some slight amendments to their act of incorporation, embracing substantially the provisions of this bill.

The gentleman from Massachusetts, [Mr. BALDWIN,] I understand, announces that it was by the assent or agreement of this Guardian Society that this bill has been brought in. I do not know what the facts may be in this case; but I am informed by persons belonging to that society that that is an entire mistake; that only one or two dissatisfied individuals who once belonged to the Guardian Society,

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but who have broken away from it, are now acting in opposition to it.

As the bill in relation to that society is now before the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, I would much prefer that action on this bill should be delayed until that committee shall report, or what would probably be better, that this bill be referred to that committee for its consideration. I think it would be unjust to the existing society, that has already expended twelve or fifteen thousand dollars in pursuance of this same object, to supersede it by another corporation for the same object. I am not advised fully of the position of the two proposed institutions; but I have been requested by some of the officers of the Guardian Society to make this statement to the House when this bill came up for consideration.

Mr. BALDWIN. I will repeat the statement I have already made; that we had before us the memorial from the Guardian Society for an appropriation. And we had a consultation with Mr. Harlan, the Secretary of the Interior, and with the agents of the Guardian Society in regard to the appropriation. And it is with the sanction of the Secretary of the Interior and the officers of that society that we have proceeded in this matter. I hold in my hand a communication from the officers of that society approving this bill. I cannot suppose that the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. PLANTS] has had any communication with the members of that society, or with more than one gentleman who was formerly an officer of that society, but at its last organization was left off as secretary of the society. There can be nothing clearer than that we are dealing with that society.

Mr. WELKER. I desire to say one word in reply to the suggestion made by my colleague [Mr. PLANTS] in relation to this Guardian Association. There was a corporation of that kind, a private corporation, that undertook to take charge of the same class of criminals that is provided for in this bill. This private corporation has met with many difficulties in carrying out the objects of this organization. They have had quarrels among themselves, and we have had both parties before the Committee for the District of Columbia while this measure was under consideration. I have no doubt that one of the parties has made the suggestion to my colleague which he has placed before the House, but the other party acquiesces fully in the passage of this bill.

The idea is, that it is better not to have two private corporations to take charge of the juvenile offenders who may be convicted by the courts, but to consign them to a public institution. And upon considering these quarrels, we deemed it best that there should be a bill providing a public institution for that purpose, as better subserving the interests of the District of Columbia in that respect than either branch of this divided Guardian Association that the gentleman speaks of.

Now, as I understand it, the regular officers of the Guardian Association acquiesce fully in what we propose to do by this bill. The minority of that association, who failed to get control of the Guardian Association, do object to this bill, and make this representation: that great injustice will be done by the passage of this bill. But the regular representatives of this Guardian Society have appeared before the committee, and acquiesce fully in the bill we have reported. And therefore I hope this bill will pass.

Mr. PLANTS. I wish simply to state to the House that I know nothing whatever about this controversy. I was approached by a gentleman who represented himself as one of the trustees of the Guardian Society which was incorporated, who made the statement to me which I have laid before the House. I have understood from him that their act of incorporation was now before the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, they asking for some slight amendment to it. And all I have

asked was that this bill should be passed over until that committee can report. I am not prepared to take sides upon this question, if there is any quarrel or controversy at all, for I know nothing about it.

Mr. BALDWIN. The reasons for the passage of this bill are extremely urgent. We have had the fullest consultation with the Secretary of the Interior in regard to this matter. He recognizes the importance of the institution, and approves in the most cordial and emphatic manner the bill we have now before us. I call the previous question.

The previous question was seconded and the main question ordered.

The amendments reported by the committee were read, as follows:

First amendment:

In section two, line four, strike out"two" and insert "one;" so that the clause will read:

One of whom shall be nominated for appointment by the mayor of Washington.

The amendment was agreed to.

Second amendment:

In the same section, after the word "Georgetown," insert the following:

One by the levy court of the county of Washington. The amendment was agreed to.

Third amendment:

In the same section, line thirteen, after the word "years," insert the words "to be determined by the President."

The amendment was agreed to.

Fourth amendment:

In section four, line eight, strike out the word "sanction" and insert in lieu thereof the word" approve." The amendment was agreed to.

Fifth amendment:

In the same section, line six, insert after the word "Interior" the words to fix the salaries of said officers subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior."

The amendment was agreed to.
Sixth amendment:

In section five, strike out the words, "satisfactory to them" and insert "to be approved by the board of trustees.'

The amendment was agreed to.
Seventh amendment:

"$4,500," the second blank by inserting "$1,000," the third blank by inserting "$500."

The amendment was agreed to.
Seventeenth amendment:

In the same section strike out all after the word "Interior" in line twenty-five to the word "collect" in line twenty-seven, and insert the following:

Shall secure an assessment of taxes in such delinquent city or county sufficient to cover the amount required, and the expenses of collecting the same, and appoint a collector who shall.

The amendment was agreed to.

The bill, as amended, was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time; and being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time and passed.

Mr. BALDWIN moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table.

The latter motion was agreed to.

SALES AND GIFTS IN THE DISTRICT. Mr. WELKER, from the Committee for the District of Columbia, reported back House bill No. 564, to annul the thirty-fourth section of the declaration of rights of the State of Maryland so far as the same applies to the District of Columbia.

The question being on ordering the bill to be engrossed and read a third time,"

The bill was read at length. It provides that the thirty-fourth section of the declaration of rights of the State of Maryland, so far as the same has been recognized and adopted in the District of Columbia, be repealed and annulled; that all sales, gifts, and devises, prohibited by the said section or any law passed in accordance therewith, shall be, when hereafter made, valid and effectual.

Mr. THAYER. As this may give rise to extended debate, I make the point of order that it is not a private bill. It will of course shut out the private business if it gives rise to debate.

Mr. WELKER. I understand the bill is in order under the call from the Committee for the District of Columbia.

The SPEAKER. Private bills relate generally to individuals or corporations. May's In the same section, line six, strike out "to" and Parliamentary Practice states that private bills

insert "by."

The amendment was agreed to. Eighth amendment:

"are for the interest of an individual, a public company or corporation, a parish, a city, a county, or other locality." It must not be a

In section eight, line two, after the word "guilty," general bill in its enactments, but "a bill for

insert in a court in the District of Columbia." The amendment was agreed to.

Ninth amendment:"

In the same section, line eight, after the word "guilty," insert "in a court in the District of Columbia."

The amendment was agreed to.

Tenth amendment:

In section nine, line two, insert after the word "years" the words "residing in the District of Columbia."

The amendment was agreed to.

Eleventh amendment:

In the same section, lines nine and ten, strike out "for such a term or time as in his judgment the case requires," and insert "there to remain for such a term or time as the trustees may deem best." The amendment was agreed to.

Twelfth amendment:

In the same section, line five, after the word "governed," insert "them."

The amendment was agreed to.
Thirteenth amendment:

In section twelve, line thirteen, strike out the words "in writing."

The amendment was agreed to.

Fourteenth amendment:

In section thirteen, lines five and nine, strike out "these" and insert "the."

The amendment was agreed to.
Fifteenth amendment:

In section sixteen, line seven, strike out "Treasury" and insert "Interior."

The amendment was agreed to.

Sixteenth amendment:

In section sixteen fill the first blank by inserting

the particular interest or benefit of a person or persons." As an illustration, a pension bill for the relief of a soldier's widow is a private bill, but a general bill granting pensions to any class of such persons as a class instead of as individuals is a public bill. This appears to be a public bill.

Mr. WELKER. I ask the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. THAYER] to withdraw his objection. It will take but a moment. I can explain the whole matter in a word to the sat isfaction of the House.

Mr. THAYER. I withdraw the objection, reserving the right to renew it if lengthy debate arises.

Mr. WELKER. Under the bill of rights of the State of Maryland, adopted in 1776, there is a provision which renders void all bequests and devises of property, real or personal, for the use and benefit of religious denominations or benevolent purposes of a religious character. In the organization of the District of Columbia that part of the law of Maryland was not annulled in the part of the territory originally comprised of the State of Maryland, and to-day in the District of Columbia no person has any right to make any gift, devise, or bequest to any religious denomination for benevolent or religious purposes. The object of this bill is simply to remove that provision of the law so far as the District of Columbia is concerned.

The occasion of the introduction of this bill, or a special reason for it, is that a gentleman desires to leave a gift of this character for the benefit of a church, and on examination of the laws of the District 'his counsel has advised him that he cannot make any such gift. The

purpose of the bill is to repeal that law. demand the previous question.

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Mr. JENCKES. Will the gentleman allow me to make an explanation? Since the bill of rights in the constitution of Maryland was in force that State has adopted another constitution. Would it not be proper to refer to the date of that first constitution in which this clause is contained?

Mr. WELKER. By an act of Congress in 1801 this provision of the law of Maryland was incorporated as the law of the District of Columbia, so that it is in force notwithstanding the abrogation in Maryland.

Mr. JENCKES. I suggest the insertion of the date of the constitution in which the clause is contained.

Mr. WELKER. It refers to the thirty-fourth section of the bill of rights. That I deem sufficient, because there is but one bill of rights in that State.

Mr. JENCKES. There is another constitution containing a declaration of rights which consists of more than thirty-four sections.

Mr. WELKER. I will then ask consent to insert a reference to the bill of rights adopted in 1776.

The amendment was accordingly made. The bill was then ordered to a third reading; and it was accordingly read the third time and passed.

Mr. WELKER moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

The latter motion was agreed to.

NATIONAL SAFE DEPOSIT COMPANY.

Mr. INGERSOLL, from the Committee for the District of Columbia, reported back, with an amendment, Senate bill No. 177, to incorporate the National Safe Deposit Company, in the District of Columbia, with a recommendation that it pass.

The bill was read. It constitutes A. R. Shepherd, William S. Huntington, S. P. Brown, G. W. Riggs, Nathaniel Wilson, G. H. Plant, and others, a body politic and corporate by the name and style of the National Safe Deposit Company of Washington.

The second section provides that the capital stock of said company shall consist of a sum not exceeding $200,000, divided into two thousand shares of $100 each, and that so soon as one fourth of the shares have been subscribed for, and twenty-five dollars per share paid at the time of subscribing, and the balance secured to be paid, then this company shall be competent to transact all kinds of business for which

it is established.

The third section provides that the corporators shall open books of subscription for the capital stock of this company at such time and in such suitable place in the city of Washington as they may think proper, and shall receive the installments on the stock of said company provided for in section second, and shall deliver the money so paid to the board of directors so

the business relating to such deposit, and safe keeping or preservation of all such articles or valuables as may be deposited with said company, and also to invest the capital or funds of the said company, or such money or funds as may be deposited with said company for that purpose, from time to time, in the public funds of the United States, or in any stock or property whatsoever, and to dispose of the said stocks, money, and property in such manner (not contrary to law) as to them shall appear most advantageous to said company.

Section six relates to dividends.

Section seven relates to rules and regulations for the management of the affairs of the company.

Section eight provides that nothing herein contained shall be taken or construed to give the corporation hereby created the power to issue or circulate as currency any bill, note, token, or evidence of indebtedness of its own creation.

The amendment reported by the committee is as follows:

Provided, That each stockholder shall be held individually liable for all debts and liabilities of said corporation to the extent of double the amount of stock so owned by said stockholder.

The amendment was agreed to; and the bill, as amended, was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time.

Mr. RANDALL, of Pennsylvania. I would like to know exactly what this is. It is a bank, if I understand it, and if so why not bring it under the operation of the banking law?

Mr. INGERSOLL. It has no powers of a bank. The bill follows the provisions in relation to the charter of like institutions in New York and Massachusetts. It simply incorporates certain individuals into a body-politic with power to erect a building, put therein iron or fire-proof safes, to receive on deposit bonds, title papers, jewels, and other valuable things, and hold them in safe keeping for the owners for such time as they may desire and at a stipulated price to be agreed upon by them.

Mr. WILSON, of Iowa. I want to ask the gentleman from Illinois, as this is a somewhat

lengthy bill, whether this incorporation is not to be substantially a bank of deposit? It occurs to me, from the reading of the bill, that this incorporation will be clothed with power to do business as a bank of deposit. I understand the last clause to provide that they shall not have authority to issue notes to circulate as money; and that, I understand, is the only limitation in the bill on their powers as bank

ers.

Now, if that is the character of the bill, I think it had better be printed, so that we may

examine it.

Mr. SPALDING. How would this company differ from the bank here that exploded the other day?

Mr. INGERSOLL. I have this to say that there is no authority in the bill allowing this company to pay interest on any deposit; it may receive bank bills, bonds of the United States, or anything else that the owner is willsoon as they shall be appointed and prepared ing to pay a certain price to have kept safely.

to receive the same.

Section four provides for the election of officers.

Section five provides that the president, vice president, and directors of said company shall be, and they are hereby, authorized and empowered to receive and keep on deposit all such valuables, gold, silver, or paper money, bullion, precious metals, jewels, plate, certificates of stock, or evidence of indebtedness, deeds or muniments of title, or other valuable papers of any kind, or any other article or thing whatsoever, which may be left or depos ited for safe keeping with said company, and shall be entitled to charge such commissions or compensation therefor as may be agreed upon, and for the complete preservation and safe keeping thereof shall construct, erect, lease, or purchase, such fire-proof and burglar-proof building or buildings, vaults, iron, or composition safes, or other means which may become necessary, and generally to transact and perform all

But if there be any fear that the company may exercise the powers of a bank, I will move as an amendment, that they shall not receive money on deposit. That is not the intention. I will move to add this proviso:

Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the said corporation to pay interest on deposits of money, securities, or any other property deposited with it.

Mr. HUBBARD, of Iowa. Are they authorized to discount notes and bills of exchange? Mr. INGERSOLL. They are not.

Mr. WILSON, of Iowa. It does seem to me that the provisions of this bill are too broad, and I hope it will not pass.

Mr. SPALDING. I think the bill had better be referred to the Committee on Banking and Currency.

Mr. WILSON, of Iowa. Is there any express language in the bill confining the operations of this incorporation to the District of Columbia?

Mr. INGERSOLL. There is nothing in the

bill which gives them a right to exercise their powers outside of the District of Columbia.

Mr. WILSON, of Iowa. I submit to the House that if there is no language in the bill restricting the operations of this company to the District of Columbia they may establish themselves in any State throughout the country. I take it that the House would hardly be willing to establish an incorporated company of that character, and I suggest that the bill be amended.

Mr. INGERSOLL. I differ with the gentleman on that point, but I will offer this as an addition to my amendment, to save any question of this character.

And provided further, That the operations of this company shall be confined to the District of Columbia.

Mr. RANDALL, of Pennsylvania. I desire to know whether, if the motion for the previous question shall not be sustained, it will be in order to move to refer this bill to some committee for further examination.

The SPEAKER. If the previous question shall not be sustained, a motion to refer the bill will be in order.

Mr. RANDALL, of Pennsylvania. Then I hope the House will not sustain the previous question, and that the bill may be referred to the Committee on Banking and Currency, so that the effect of the bill may be thoroughly known.

Mr. EGGLESTON. If these parties can receive this property on deposit, and have a right to sell it, what is to prevent them from charging such rates as the parties depositing may agree to pay? It amounts to establishing a pawnbroker's shop, to be legalized by Congress.

Mr. INGERSOLL. I will say in answer that the company have no right to dispose of any article deposited with them except upon an agreement made with the depositors.

Mr. WILSON, of Iowa. I would ask the gentleman if all pawnbrokers, in disposing of the articles left with them, do not have an agree ment with the parties as to the mode in which the property shall be disposed of, and if this bill does not provide by law that this company shall do what pawnbrokers usually do.

Mr. INGERSOLL. I must decline to yield any further. I will say in reply to the gentleman from Iowa that I never had any dealings with pawnbrokers, and know nothing of their mode of doing business.. There is nothing in the bill but what is legitimate and proper. has passed the Senate, and I have proposed amendments limiting the business of the company, and giving further security to depositors.

It

Now, with the explanation that has been made, if the House is not willing to second the call for the previous question then they can vote it down. I have answered as many questions as I deem necessary.

Mr. HOOPER, of Massachusetts. I would ask the chairman of the Committee for the Dis

trict of Columbia [Mr. INGERSOLL] if there is anything in this bill that prohibits disbursing officers of the Government from depositing public funds in this institution.

Mr. INGERSOLL. No, sir, there is not. I suppose that the disbursing officers of the Government are controlled by the statutes and the orders of their superiors, and not by the provisions of this bill. There is no prohibition in this bill against disbursing officers putting their public funds in this institution, any more than there was in reference to their depositing in the Merchants' National Bank of this city.

I move the previous question. If the House do not desire to second it, they can vote it down. Mr. RANDALL, of Pennsylvania. I hope the House will vote it down.

The question was taken; and upon a division there were-ayes twenty, noes not counted. So the previous question was not seconded. Mr. RANDALL, of Pennsylvania. I move that this bill and the pending amendment be referred to the Committee on Banking and Cur

rency.

Mr. HENDERSON. I would like to ask

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