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to whom was referred the bill (S. No. 529) || Kentucky is quite familiar with the facts, and
establishing rules and articles for the gov I presume can give the explanation better than
ernment of the armies of the United States,
reported it with amendments.

Mr. HENDRICKS, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the memorial of the Governor of Minnesota in relation to the university lands in that State, submitted a report, accompanied by a bill (S. No. 555) authorizing the allowance of the claim of the State of Minnesota to lands for the support of a State university. The bill was read and passed to a second reading, and the report was ordered to be printed.

Mr. POMEROY, from the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. No. 939) to provide for an American line of mail and emigrant passenger steamships between New York and one or more European ports, reported it without amendment.

Mr. RAMSEY, from the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, to whom was referred the resolution (H. R. No. 215) relative to the Louisville Bridge Company, reported it without amendment.

Mr. CHANDLER, from the Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. No. 542) for the relief of Thomas W. Ward, collector of customs at Corpus Christi, Texas, reported it without amendment.

Mr. CATTELL, from the Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the bill (S. No. 543) to provide for a further issue of temporary loan certificates for the purpose of redeeming and retiring the remainder of the outstanding compound-interest notes, reported it with an amendment.

Mr. WILLEY. The Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the joint resolution (S. R. No. 138) to appoint a board of examiners for claimants against the United States in the State of Nevada, have directed me to report it back and move its indefinite postponement.

Mr. STEWART. I hope that resolution will not be indefinitely postponed.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The report will be passed over, if objection be made to its

consideration.

Mr. WILLEY. I will change my motion, then, and simply move that the committee be discharged from the further consideration of the joint resolution.

The motion was agreed to.

Mr. WILLEY, from the same committee, to whom was referred the petition of John Lockwood, asked to be discharged from its further consideration; which was agreed to.

He also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the memorial of J. G. Bigelow and the petition of Julius W. Knowlton, asked to be discharged from their further consideration; which was agreed to.

ROBERT L. LINDSAY.

Mr. DAVIS. The Committee on Claims have had under consideration a joint resolution (H. R. No. 268) for the relief of Robert L. Lindsay. I am directed to report the resolu tion back to the Senate without amendment, and to recommend its passage.

Mr. DRAKE. I would ask the unanimous consent of the Senate to allow that joint resolution to be put on its passage now. I will state to the Senate that there are circumstances in the condition of this gentleman of very great urgency; and as the House has passed the resolution, and the Senate Committee on Claims has reported in favor of it, I ask the unanimous consent of the Senate to consider it now.

By unanimous consent the joint resolution was considered as in Committee of the Whole. It proposes to direct the Paymaster General of the Army to pay to Robert L. Lindsay, late of the fiftieth regiment Missouri volunteers, the full pay and allowances of a second lieutenant of infantry from the 3d day of August, 1864, to the 30th day of November, 1864.

Mr. WILSON. I desire some explanation of this resolution.

Mr. DRAKE. The honorable Senator from

I can.

Mr. DAVIS. I can explain it in a very few words. Mr. Lindsay was commissioned by the Governor of Missouri a second lieutenant in 1864. His commission bears date in July of that year. He proceeded very actively and successfully to raise a company, beginning some time in August. So soon as he raised his company he joined the service, and was in the battle of Pilot Knob, where he, with other oflicers, received the special notice and approbation of General Rosecrans for gallant ser vices. He had not an opportunity, in consequence of his being cut off by Price's army from the place where the regiment was, to muster in his company until after the battle, and until after he had raised his company and rendered this active and distinguished service for three or four months' interval of time, in which he asks to be allowed the pay of a second lieutenant. He simply asks to.be allowed that pay for the time he was actually in the service of the United States and doing gallant service, for which time he was unable to have his company mustered in by reason of the facts I have stated.

The joint resolution was reported to the Senate, ordered to a third reading, read the third time, and passed.

BILLS INTRODUCED.

Mr. POMEROY. I am charged with sev eral bills that have been for some time in my drawer, put into my hands by men from States that are not represented, the States of Alabama and Georgia. I have delayed introducing them because I thought it was due that those States should be represented here; and as there is now a hope that they will soon be represented I have thought I would introduce the bills so that they may be printed and lie over. Of course I do not expect any action on them until these States are represented. They relate to expired railroad grants and some local legisla tion that we cannot be as familiar with as the

Interior to rent rooms necessary for the speedy and convenient transaction of the business of the Patent Office; which was read twice by its title, and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

APPEALS AND WRITS OF ERROR.

Mr. TRUMBULL. I move to take up Senate bill No. 472, which has been reported from the Committee on the Judiciary.

The motion was agreed to; and the bill (S. No. 472) supplementary to an act entitled “An act to allow the United States to prosecute appeals and writs of error without giving security was considered as in Committee of the Whole. It proposes to extend the provisions of the act entitled "An act to allow the United States to prosecute appeals and writs of error without giving security," approved February 21, 1863, to writs of error, appeals, or other process in law, admiralty, or equity, issuing from, or brought up to, a circuit court of the United States.

Mr. TRUMBULL. The only provision of this bill is to allow the United States to prosecute appeals from the district to the circuit courts without giving security for costs. Is becomes necessary in revenue cases. It is very desirable oftentimes to have those cases taken from the district court by appeal or writ of error to the circuit court. As the law now stands security is required on the part of the United States. Of course it is difficult to obtain it, and improper that it should be required.

The bill was reported to the Senate, ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, read the third time, and passed.

THE CHIEF JUSTICESHIP.

Mr. TRUMBULL. I now move to take up House bill No. 861, relating to the Supreme Court of the United States.

The motion was agreed to; and the bill (H. R. No. 861) relating to the Supreme Court of the United States was considered as in Committee of the Whole.

Mr. TRUMBULL. The Committee on the Judiciary reported an amendment, to strike out all of the House bill after the enacting clause and insert a substitute. The amendment only need be read.

representation from the States concerned. I
merely want to introduce the bills for the pur-
pose of reference and have them printed with
the distinct understanding that no action will
be taken upon them until these States are rep-
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The ori
resented. I ask unanimous consent to intro-ginal bill will not be read unless some Senator
duce these bills now, notice not having been
given.

No objection being made, leave was granted to introduce a bill (S. No. 556) to revive the grant of lands to aid in the construction of a railroad from Selma to Gadsden, in the State of Alabama, and to extend the time for the completion of said road, and for other purposes; which was read twice by its title, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

By unanimous consent, leave was also granted to introduce a bill (S. No. 557) for completing a direct and continuous line of railroad from Washington city to Mobile and other points South, creating a post route from Washington city to Mobile and New Orleans, thereby securing a more certain, speedy, and economical transportation of the United States mails, military stores, and munitions of war; which was read twice by its title, referred to the Com. mittee on the Pacific Railroad, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. RAMSEY asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave to introduce a bill (S. No. 558) to extend the limits of certain land grants in Iowa and Minnesota; which was read twice by its title, referred to the Committee on Public Lands, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. CHANDLER asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave to introduce a joint resolution (S. R. No. 150) relative to the payment of certain claims to loyal citizens of the United States; which was read twice by its title, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. WILLEY asked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave to introduce a bill (S. No. 559) to authorize the Secretary of the

calls for its reading. The words proposed to be inserted in lieu of it by the amendment of the committee will be read.

The words proposed to be inserted were read, as follows:

That in case of a vacancy in the office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, or of his inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve upon the associate justice of said court whose commission is senior in time until such inability shall be removed or another appointment shall be duly made, and the person so appointed shall be duly qualified, and this act shall apply to every person succeeding to the office of Chief Justice pursuant to its provisions. The amendment was agreed to.

The bill was reported to the Senate as amended, and the amendment was concurred

in. The amendment was ordered to be engrossed, and the bill to be read a third time. The bill was read the third time, and passed.

PORT OF DELIVERY AT CAMBRIDGE.

Mr. CHANDLER. I propose now, with the indulgence of the Senate, to go on with the bills of the Committee on Commerce. I move first to take up Senate bill No. 533.

The motion was agreed to; and the bill (S. No. 533) to establish Cambridge, in the State of Maryland, a port of delivery, was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole. By the bill Cambridge, within the collection district of Baltimore, is to be a port of delivery within that district; and a deputy collector is to be appointed to reside at the port of Cambridge, whose compensation is to be the usual fees of office and nothing more.

The bill was reported to the Senate, ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, read the third time, and passed.

MICHIGAN COLLECTION DISTRICTS.

Mr. CHANDLER. I now move that the Senate proceed to the consideration of House bill No. 198.

The motion was agreed to; and the bill (H. R. No. 198) to reestablish the boundaries of the collection districts of Michigan and Michilimackinac and to change the names of the collection districts of Michilimackinac and Port Huron was considered as in Committee of the Whole.

The first section proposes to extend the collection district of Michigan so as to embrace all the territory and waters of the State of Michigan lying west of the principal meridian and south of the latitudinal line dividing townships number forty-three from townships number forty-four, north of the base line of that State, excluding the territory bordering Green bay and including the island of Bois Blanc.

The second section provides that the collection district of Michilimackinac shall hereafter be called the district of Superior, and shall embrace all that part of the upper peninsula of the State of Michigan lying east of the principal meridian, all the islands in and bordering upon the St. Marie river, and all that part of the State of Michigan lying west of the principal meridian and north of the latitudinal line dividing townships number forty-three from townships number forty-four, north of the base line of the State, including the territory bordering Green bay, together with all the islands, waters, and shores of Lake Superior and the adjacent territory unto the head-waters of all the rivers and streams tributary thereto and within the jurisdiction of the United States.

The third section provides that the collection district of Port Huron, in the State of Michigan, shall hereafter be called the district of Huron.

Mr. HOWE. I have just had my attention called to this bill, and I wish to inquire of the Senator from Michigan if it proposes to annex the ports on the waters of Green bay to the Mackinaw district?

Mr. CHANDLER. No, sir; it does not. On the contrary, it enlarges the Green Bay district; gives a portion of the Mackinaw district to the Green Bay district. The districts are now so arranged that portions of the Mackinaw district are very inconvenient of access to Mackinaw. We propose now to divide them by the meridian line, and to add to the Green Bay district that portion lying adjacent to Green bay, and to give the whole of Lake Superior to the Mackinaw district.

Mr. HOWE. But I understood the Clerk to read "including the waters of Green bay" or "the territories bordering on Green bay," in describing the Mackinaw district.

Mr. CHANDLER. I ask that the bill be

laid aside informally until the Senator from Wisconsin can examine the map.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. It will be passed over informally if there be no objection.

Mr. CHANDLER subsequently moved to resume the consideration of the bill; which was again considered by the Senate as in Committee of the Whole.

Mr. HOWE. This is unquestionably meant to be right; but I think if the Senator from Michigan will listen to me for a moment he will see that an amendment of two or three words will prevent any misunderstanding about it. The district of Mackinaw is declared to include all the territory of Michigan west of the meridian. line, and north of the line between townships forty-three and forty-four, "including the territory bordering Green bay.". I propose to insert after the word "territory," in the tenth line of section two, the words "in said State."

Mr. CHANDLER. I will agree to that.
The amendment was agreed to.

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

COLLECTION DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA. Mr. CHANDLER. I move that the Senate proceed to the consideration of House bill No. 538.

The motion was agreed to; and the Senate, as in Committee of the Whole, proceeded to consider the bill (H. R. No. 538) to extend the boundaries of the collection district of Philadelphia, so as to include the whole consolidated city of Philadelphia.

The Committee on Commerce reported the bill with an amendment, to strike out all of the original bill after the enacting clause, in the following words:

That the collection district of Philadelphia be so extended as to include within its boundaries the whole consolidated city of Philadelphia.

And to insert in lieu thereof:

That the port of entry and delivery of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is hereby extended so as to include within its boundaries the whole consolidated city of Philadelphia.

The amendment was agreed to.

The bill was reported to the Senate as amended.

Mr. CONKLING. I venture to ask one question about this bill. What is the occasion for it? Why are not the boundaries heretofore established satisfactory, and why is it necessary to change them now?

Mr. CHANDLER. I will state to the Senator that the collection of foreign duties has not included the whole city of Philadelphia. Since the district was first established the city has been enlarged, and there are large depots of oil up and down the river; and it is for the convenience of the commerce of the city to include the additions to the city of PhiladelThat is the reason. phia in one district.

The amendment was concurred in, and ordered to be engrossed, and the bill to be read a third time. The bill was read the third time, and passed.

BILL RECOMMITTED.

Mr. COLE. With the permission of the Senator from Michigan, I desire to move the recommitment of a bill to his committee which needs further amendment and revision. I move, therefore, that the bill (S. No. 247) to amend an act entitled "An act to provide for the better security of the lives of passengers on board of vessels propelled in whole or in part by steam, and for other purposes," be recommitted to the Committee on Commerce. The motion was agreed to.

D. H. MACDONALD.

Mr. CHANDLER. I now move that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Senate bill No. 361.

The motion was agreed to; and the bill (S. No. 361) for the relief of D. H. MacDonald, late acting United States consul at Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole. It directs the Secretary of the Treasury to pay to D. H. MacDonald, late acting United States consul at Cape Town, Cape of Good Hope, the sum of $587 67, in full pay for his services as acting consul.

I

Mr. HENDRICKS. I think that bill ought to have gone to the Committee on Claims. should like to know if there is any report accompanying it. It is a small bill, to be sure.

Mr. CHANDLER. There is a report from the Secretary of State, with a recommendation that the claim shall be paid, on file with the

papers.

Mr. HENDRICKS. I think it ought to go to the Committee on Claims.

Mr. CHANDLER. It was referred to the Committee on Commerce. This gentleman was sent out to Cape Town to take the place of a man who was neglecting and abusing the duties of his office. This man took charge of the office and performed its duties, and took charge of the archives and retained them during this short period, for which we have recommended that he be paid; but the other man contested his right, and until the action of the Department the one that we now propose to

pay performed the duties of the office, and the committee were unanimously of the opinion that he should receive the salary. It is but a small amount. The Clerk can read the recommendation from the Secretary of State to that effect, if the Senator desires it.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Does the Senator from Indiana move the reference of the bill to the Committee on Claims?

Mr. HENDRICKS. I think it ought to go to that committee; but it is so inconsiderable a sum that I will not make that motion if the report of the Secretary of State sustains the claim. The chairman of the committee asks that the communication from the State Department be read, and if that is satisfactory I am willing to accept it.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The communication will be read.

The Chief Clerk read as follows:

DEPARTMENT OF STATE. WASHINGTON, February 3, 1868. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 18th ultimo, inclosing a petition of D. H. MacDonald, esq., for compensation as acting consul at Cape Town, from the 17th of January, 1863, to the 9th of June of the same year, and requesting such information as may be in this Department relating to said claim.

In answer thereto, I have to inform you that considerable correspondence has taken place between this Department and Mr. MacDonald with reference to his claim, all of which it is not thought worth while to communicate, but which is at your disposal should your committee desire it.

On the 28th July, 1866, Mr. MacDonald addressed a letter to this Department with regard to his claim. On the receipt of that letter the matter was investigated, and the result of that investigation was an opinion that Mr. MacDonald's claim should be paid, but that an application must be made to Congress for relief. Herewith inclosed is a copy of the letter of this Department to Mr. MacDonald, dated September 27, 1866, in answer to his communication.

As further evidence in the case, I herewith send you a copy of a communication from Hon. Benjamin Pringle, dated at Cape Town, December 30, 1863, in which he expresses the opinion, after investigation, that Mr. MacDonald is equitably entitled to the payment of his claim.

The petition of Mr. MacDonald is herewith returned to you.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

WILLIAM H. SEWARD. Hon. Z. CHANDLER, Chairman of the United States Senate Committce on Commerce.

Mr. HENDRICKS. That is a very remarkable communication from a Department to establish a claim. I will ask the Senator having the bill in charge whether this person discharged the duties for the months mentioned in that letter?

Mr. CHANDLER. Yes, sir; he did. Mr. HENDRICKS. What was the other man doing?

Mr. CHANDLER. He was drunk. [Laughter.]

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

EVENING STAR NEWSPAPER COMPANY.

It is a

Mr. PATTERSON, of New Hampshire. I move to take up Senate bill No. 209. little bill reported in March last, which I should like to have passed.

The motion was agreed to.

Mr. CHANDLER. I move that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Senate bill No. 204.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from New Hampshire has interposed a motion to take up the bill mentioned by him.

Mr. CHANDLER. I submit that that is not in order. This day is devoted to the business of the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. PATTERSON, of New Hampshire. I ask the gentleman's pardon; I was not aware of it.

Mr. CHANDLER. I move that the Senate proceed

Mr. PATTERSON, of New Hampshire. I wish the gentleman would give way for a few moments. It will not take more than three minutes to pass this bill. It has been on the table since March last.

Mr. CHANDLER. I have more than twenty bills to pass, and if I give way to the Senator I must give way to others.

Mr. PATTERSON, of New Hampshire. I will help the gentleman to pass the whole lot if he will let this pass through.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The bill taken up on motion of the Senator from New Hampshire will be read. It is the only one in order. It could be passed three times over while Senators are talking about it. [Laughter.]

The Senate, as in Committee of the Whole, proceeded to consider the bill (S. No. 209) fo incorporate the Evening Star Newspaper Company of Washington. It proposes to create and declare Crosby S. Noyes, Clarence B. Baker, Alexander R. Shepherd, George W. Adams, and Samuel H. Kauffmann, and their associates and successors, a body corporate and politic by the name and style of the Evening Star Newspaper Company of Washington, for the purpose of carrying on the business of printing and publishing at the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia, with the usual powers and privileges of a corporation. The capital stock of the company is not to be less than $100,000, nor more than $200,000, in shares of $1,000 each.

The bill was reported to the Senate without amendment.

Mr. HENDRICKS. I do not know that the Senator will be content with the amendment that I propose, but it is to add to the last section that the stockholders shall be individually responsible for the indebtedness of the company to the extent of the par value of their

stock.

Mr. PATTERSON, of New Hampshire. I have no objection to that.

Mr. CHANDLER. I move that the bill under consideration be laid aside for perfection, and that the Senate proceed with the business of the Committee on Commerce. I move the postponement of this bill until to-morrow.

Mr. PATTERSON, of New Hampshire. I hope that will not be done. It will not take two minutes to dispose of it.

Mr. CHANDLER. Let me go on. Mr. PATTERSON, of New Hampsire. Let us pass this bill through, and then we can take up your bills.

Mr. CHANDLER. I make the motion that it be postponed until to-morrow.

The motion was not agreed to.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The amendment will be reported.

Mr. CHANDLER. If the amendment is prepared, I have no objection.

The CHIEF CLERK. The amendment is to add to the last section the following:

And that cach stockholder in the said company shall be individually liable for the debts of the company to the extent of his stock at its par value. The amendment was agreed to.

The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed.

SURGEON OF MARINE HOSPITALS.

Mr. CHANDLER. I now move that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Senate bill No. 204.

It pro

The motion was agreed to; and the Senate, as in Committee of the Whole, proceeded to consider the bill (S. No. 204) to provide for the appointment of a supervising surgeon of marine hospitals of the United States. poses to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to appoint a competent surgeon at a salary of $ per year, payable monthly, to be styled supervising surgeon of United States marine hospitals, whose duty it is to be, under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, to inspect and superintend the administration of the marine hospitals of the United States now in use or that may hereafter be erected.

The Committee on Commerce reported the

bill with two amendments. The first amendment was in line three, after the word "that," to strike out the words "the Secretary of the Treasury be authorized and directed to appoint" and to insert the words "the President of the United States shall nominate and appoint,

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Mr. SHERMAN. It only provides for one supervising surgeon.

Mr. COLE. As I understand it, it is intended to provide supervising surgeons for all the marine hospitals.

Mr. CHANDLER. No; one supervising surgeon for all the hospitals.

Mr. HENDRICKS. It provides for the appointment of one surgeon, who shall have general charge of the whole of them.

Mr. COLE. I did not so understand the bill.

The CHIEF CLERK. The title of the bill is: "A bill to provide for the appointment of a supervising surgeon of marine hospitals of the

United States."

Mr: CHANDLER. It is only one officer for all of them.

Mr. COLE. Very well.

COLLECTION DISTRICT IN OREGON. Mr. CHANDLER. I now move that the Senate take up Senate bill No. 153.

The motion was agreed to; and the Senate, as in Committee of the Whole, proceeded to consider the bill (S. No. 153) to establish a collection district in the State of Oregon. It provides that all that part of the State of Oregon lying south of Cape Perpetua, embracing all the waters, islands, bays, harbors, inlets, shores, and rivers therein, shall be a collection district, and shall be called the Umpqua district; and the port of entry for the district is to be at Coos bay, and a collector for the district is to be appointed, whose salary is to be $1,500 per annum, and who is to perform the same duties as the collector for the other collection district in the State.

The Committee on Commerce reported the bill with amendments. The first amendment was in lines five and six, to strike out the words "shall be a collection district and shall be " and to insert "is hereby separated from the collection district of Oregon, and shall be, and hereby is, constituted and created a separate collection district in said State, and the same shall be."

The amendment was agreed to.

The next amendment was in line eleven, after the word "appointed" to insert the words to reside at said port of entry."

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The amendment was agreed to.

The next amendment was in lines thirteen and fourteen, to strike out the words "the same duties as the collector for the collection district in said State" and to insert the words "all the duties and be subject to all the responsibilities devolving by law upon collectors of customs."

The amendment was agreed to.

The bill was reported to the Senate, as amended, and the amendments were concurred in. The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed.

GEORGE WRIGHT.

Mr. CHANDLER. I now move that the Senate proceed to the consideration of House joint resolution No. 246.

The motion was agreed to; and the Senate, as in Committee of the Whole, proceeded to

consider the joint resolution (H. R. No. 246) directing the Secretary of State to present to George Wright, master of the British brig J. and G. Wright, a gold chronometer, in appreciation of his personal services in saving the lives of three American seamen, wrecked at sea on board of the American schooner Lizzie F. Choate, of Massachusetts.

The joint resolution was reported to the Senate, ordered to a third reading, read the third time, and passed.

CHANGE OF NAMES OF VESSELS.

Mr. CHANDLER. I move that the Senate proceed to the consideration of House bill No. 1120.

The motion was agreed to; and the bill (H. R. No. 1120) to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to change the names of certain vessels was considered as in Committee of the Whole. It proposes to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to change the name of the yacht W. W. Abell, owned by James Lloyd Greene, of Norwich, Connecticut, administrator of the estate of Benjamin D. Greene, late of Norwich, deceased, and John Jeffries, jr., of Boston, Massachusetts, to that of Ethel; and also to change the name of the yacht L'Hirondelle, owned by James Gordon Bennett, jr., of the city of New York, to that of Dauntless, and to grant these vessels registers in these respective names, they being pleasure yachts only, and not engaged in commercial or other business.

The bill was reported to the Senate, ordered to a third reading, read the third time, and passed.

EVANSVILLE MARINE HOSPITAL.

Mr. CHANDLER. I now move that the Senate proceed to the consideration of House joint resolution No. 44.

The motion was agreed to; and the joint resolution (H. R. No. 44) relating to the sale of the marine hospital at Evansville, Indiana, was considered as in Committee of the Whole. It is an authorization to the Secretary of the Treasury to sell the marine hospital at Evansville, Indiana, to the highest bidder, for not less than $10,100, who will keep the same for hospital purposes.

The joint resolution was reported to the Senate.

Mr. SHERMAN. That resolution seems to be unusual in fixing the price at which the sale shall be made. I ask the Senator from Michigan on what basis this price is fixed?

Mr. CHANDLER. The joint resolution has passed the House of Representatives upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Treasury. It is desirable that the building should be kept open as a hospital, and certain benevolent individuals have agreed to take it at the price named and keep it open.

Mr. SHERMAN. But the price being fixed, and no provision made for a public sale, it looks like an arrangement. However, as the Senator is satisfied that it is all right, I shall not object.

Mr. CHANDLER. Both the House committee and the Senate committee were satisfied. The joint resolution was ordered to a third reading, read the third time, and passed.

R. P. PARROTT.

Mr. CHANDLER. I now move that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Senate bill No. 303.

The motion was agreed to; and the bill (S. No. 303) for the relief of R. P. Parrott was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole. It proposes to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to pay to R. P. Parrott the sum of $12,198 35, in full payınent for building an iron light-house at Cape Canaveral, in the State of Florida.

Mr. MORRILL, of Vermont. I should like some explanation of the bill.

Mr. MORGAN. In 1860 the Government made a contract with Mr. Parrott to build a light-house at Cape Canaveral, Florida. In February, 1861, Mr. Parrott suspended the

work at the request of the Government. The papers were presented some two years ago, and referred to the Light-House Board by the Committee on Commerce, and all the facts stated by Mr. Parrott were proved to be correct. Upon a report of the committee, based on the action of the Light-House Board, the Senate at that time passed a bill for Mr. Parrott's relief. The measure is recommended by the Light-House Board and by the Secretary of the Treasury, but not to the full amount he claimed. The letter of the Secretary of the Treasury is very short, and I will read it:

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, April 2, 1866. SIR: Your letter of the 16th ultimo, with inclosed memorial of R. P. Parrott, of Cold Spring, New York, praying an increased appropriation for building an iron light-house at Cape Canaveral, Florida, having been referred to the Light-House Board, I now have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of their report under date of 31st ultimo, in which is recommended that relief to the extent of $12,198 35 be granted to the memorialist; which report and recommendation have my concurrence.

I am, very respectfully,

H. McCULLOCH, Secretary of the Treasury. Hon. Z. CHANDLER, Chairman Committee on Commerce, Senate United States.

The papers are somewhat lengthy, and I suppose it is not necessary to go through them. The facts are that the work was suspended at the request of the Government, and afterward constructed when the cost of materials was very greatly increased after the war was over. It is for that that this bill is here.

Mr. CHANDLER. This bill was passed by the Senate during the last Congress.

Mr. MORGAN. Passed unanimously two years ago.

Mr. MORRILL, of Vermont. Is there a written report?

Mr. CHANDLER. There was in the last Congress. The papers are voluminous; but the committee agreed unanimously in favor of the claim. It is a very just claim.

Mr. MORRILL, of Vermont. I merely desire to inquire whether this bill makes an allowance for the increased cost of building the light-house over the contract price, or whether it is according to contract? Has there been any prior allowance, and are the committee aware of how much that allowance is in excess of the contract price?

Mr. MORGAN. This is for the enhanced price of materials caused by the postponement by the Government. Mr. Parrott was ready to go on with the work, but during the war he could not go on with it. When he did go on

with the work it cost him this addition to his contract price, and it is proposed to pay him for it, as the delay was caused by the action of the Government.

Mr. MORRILL, of Vermont. Then this is no part of the contract, but in excess of the contract?

Mr. MORGAN. In excess of the contract for the enhanced price of the materials caused by the postponement at the request of the Government.

Mr. MORRILL, of Vermont. I ask the Senator from New York whether he himself is satisfied that it is right?

Mr. MORGAN. I am entirely satisfied. Mr. MORRILL, of Vermont. Has the Senator examined the papers?

Mr. MORGAN. I have examined them fully.

Mr. TRUMBULL. Is there a report of the Light-House Board in the case?

Mr. MORGAN. The report of the LightHouse Board is in the papers, and can be read if desired.

Mr. TRUMBULL. I should like to hear that report read if it is not too long.

Mr. MORGAN. I send that report to the desk to be read.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The paper will be read if there be no objection. The Chief Clerk read as follows:

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE LIGHT-HOUSE BOARD, WASHINGTON, March 31, 1866. SIR: The memorial of R. P. Parrott, referred by the Senate Committee of Commerce to the honorable

Secretary of the Treasury, and by him to the LightHouse Board for report, having been duly considered the following is submitted:

The memorialist on the 17th December, 1860, contracted with the United States, through a proper agent, the engineer secretary of the Light-House Board, for the iron work of a first-class light-house, to be erected at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Upon the breaking out of the rebellion, the Government desiring to suspend operations upon that coast, as well as to avoid the disbursement of money at a time of great stringency, inquired of Mr. Parrott upon what terms he would suspend the work. On the 5th February, 1861, he submitted a letter from which he gives an extract in his memorial. This letter contained two distinct propositions, the first of which was accepted by the Government in a communication of which the memorialist gives a true copy, as ascertained by comparison with the records in this office.

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In accordance with this proposition the United States has paid Mr. Parrott the sum of $12,603 68, erroneously stated in the memorial at $12,500.

In this connection it may be proper to give a statement of all the bids received from parties who desired to have the original contract. They were as follows: Gage, Warner & Whitney, Nashua, New Hampshire, $69,600; James Bogardus, New York, $65.756; People's Works, Philadelphia, $63,800; Denio & Roberts, Boston, $57.000; J. G. McPheeters, St. Louis, $55,521 87: Globe Locomotive Works, Boston, $55,000; William Adams & Co., Boston, $52,932; Pusey, Jones & Co., Wilmington, $49,500; Henry Steele & Son, Jersey City, $47,440; Atlantic Works, Boston, $45,000; William M. Ellis & Bro., Washington, $15,000; J. P. Morris & Co., Philadelphia, $45,000; Hittinger, Cook & Co., Charlestown, Massachusetts, $44,900; Hazlehurst & Co., Baltimore, $39,000; Ira Wrim, Portland,

Maine, $39,556; Trenton Locomotive and Machine Manufacturing Company, Trenton, New Jersey, $39,450; Poole & Hunt, Baltimore, $35,550; Knapp, Rudd & Co., Pittsburg. $32.000; J. Morton Poole & Co., Wilmington, $31,985; R. P. Parrott, Cold Spring Foundry, $28,000.

The following fasts appear from this statement, namely:

There are four bids, each of which is more than twice the amount of Mr. Parrott's.

There are nine more, each of which exceeds one and a half times the amount of Mr. Parrott's bid.

If the amount asked for by Mr. Parrott to reimburse him for the loss he must suffer by the completion of his contract be added to his original bid, the amount will be $40,517 84. There are only six of the original bids which are less in amount than this, notwithstanding the low prices of labor and materials at that time, and three of these six are only a few hundred dollars less.

The board has taken pains to ascertain from manufacturers the present prices of labor and materials, and an estimate, based upon the lowest prices given, shows that the total amount required to complete the work is $27,594 67.

By the terms of his contract Mr. Parrott is bound to complete the work for $15,396 32; which, deducted from the amount of the estimate, leaves a balance of $12,198 35, which is the amount Mr. Parrott will lose unless Congress affords relief.

The board therefore respectfully recommends that relief to the extent of $12,198 35 be granted to the memorialist.

Very respectfully,

W. B. SHUBRICK,

Chairman.

Hon. HUGH MCCULLOCH, Secretary of the Treasury. The bill was reported to the Senate, ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, read the third time, and passed.

CONSULAR CERTIFICATES.

Mr. CHANDLER. I move now to take up for consideration Senate bill No. 442.

The motion was agreed to; and the bill (S. No. 442) to amend section one of an act to prevent and punish frauds upon the revenue, and for other purposes, approved March 3, 1863, was considered as in Committee of the Whole. It proposes to amend the act to prevent and punish frauds upon the revenue, to provide for more certain and speedy collection of claims in favor of the United States, and for other purposes, approved March 3, 1863, by adding to section one thereof the fol lowing additional proviso:

And provided further, That in case of goods, wares, and merchandise imported from a foreign country adjacent to the United States, the declaration in this section hereinbefore required may be made to, and the certificate indorsed by, the consul, vice consul, or, commercial agent, at or nearest to the port or place of clearance for the United States.

Mr. MORRILL, of Vermont. I desire to ask the Senator from Michigan what the pur pose of this bill is, and what evil it is intended to remedy?

Mr. CHANDLER. I will answer the Senator very briefly. This applies solely to countries adjacent to the United States. It is customary for farmers and others not conversant with the law to cross over into Canada for the purchase of animals, or for the purchase of a particular kind of seed barley or seed wheat.

They will go perhaps one hundred miles from the nearest port of entry at which they propose to import the goods without the knowledge that it is necessary to have a consular certificate from the consul at the place where they made the purchase, and great inconvenience has been experienced in that regard. The bill applies as well to the State of the Senator from Vermont as to the State of Michigan. It applies all along the frontier. The bill is to remedy that inconvenience. A farmer purchasing a horse, for example, would have to go back perhaps one hundred or one hundred and fifty miles to get a consular certificate, when the certificate of the consul at the port nearest the port of entry of the United States would do just as well. It applies simply to this case, and is meant to remedy that one inconvenience.

The bill was reported to the Senate, ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, read the third time, and passed.

LEGISLATIVE, ETC., APPROPRIATION BILL. Mr. ANTHONY. I offer this resolution, and ask for its present consideration:

Resolved, That one hundred and fifty additional copies of House bill No. 605 be printed for the use of the Senate.

This is the legislative, executive, and judicial appropriation bill, of which there are no copies left. The resolution has received the assent of the Committee on Printing.

The resolution was agreed to.

Mr. RAMSEY submitted amendments intended to be proposed to the bill (H. R. No. 605) making appropriations for the legislative, executive, and judicial expenses of the Government for the year ending the 30th of June, 1869; which were referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. HARLAN submitted amendments intended to be proposed to the bill (H. R. No. 605) making appropriations for the legislative, executive, and judicial expenses of the Government for the year ending the 30th of June, 1869; which were referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and ordered to be printed.

WAGON-ROADS IN DAKOTA.

A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. MCPHERSON, its Clerk, returned to the Senate, in compliance with its request, the bill (H. R. No. 650) to amend the act of March 3, 1865, providing for the construction of certain wagon-roads in Dakota Territory, with the amendment of the Senate thereto.

Mr. FERRY. I move that the bill just returned from the House of Representatives be recommitted to the Committee on Territories.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The vote on the passage of the bill must first be reconsidered.

Mr. FERRY. I ask that, by unanimous consent, that reconsideration may be had.

The vote passing the bill was reconsidered by unanimous consent. The vote by which the bill was ordered to a third reading was also reconsidered, and the bill was recommitted to the Committee on Territories.

SALE OF SHIPS TO BELLIGERENTS.

Mr. CHANDLER. I move to take up for consideration Senate bill No. 94.

The motion was agreed to; and the bill (S. No. 94) declaratory of the law with regard to the sale of ships to friendly belligerents was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole.

By this bill, in order to remove all doubt with regard to the existing law, it is declared that nothing contained therein shall be construed to render it illegal to sell or charter a vessel or steamer built within the United States, or purchased from the United States, to any foreign Government at peace with the United States, or to any subject of such Government, although the vessel or steamer be wholly or in part prepared for war, if the transaction is simply commercial, with no intent on the part of the seller or charterer to participate in any bellig. erent act; and the vessel or steamer, while in transitu, is to be in no respect exempted from the law of contraband.

Mr. TRUMBULL. This is a very important bill. According to my recollection it changes the present law, which has stood on the statutebook perhaps for forty years, prohibiting the sale of vessels that may be turned into vessels of war. One of our difficulties during the ⚫ recent rebellion grew out of the fitting out of vessels in Great Britain, which were sold to the rebels, and armed after they had passed out to sea frequently. I did not know that this bill was coming up this morning; but a bill somewhat similar was at one time before the Committee on the Judiciary, and my recollection is that it was not thought best to recommend its passage at that time. Perhaps the Senator from New York [Mr. CONKLING] will remember about that. This is a bill that proposes to authorize the sale of vessels which may be turned into vessels of war, and is in contravention of the policy of the Government, I think, ever since its foundation. The Senator from Massachusetts [Mr. SUMNER] more particularly represents our foreign affairs, and if he is satisfied with the bill I do not propose to interpose any further objection than to call the attention of the Senate to it as a very important change in the law, which may possibly involve us in difficulties with friendly Powers hereafter in the event of foreign wars.

Mr. CHANDLER. If Senators will read the proviso they will find that this bill is very carefully guarded. It has been carefully prepared. The proviso is:

Provided, That the transaction is simply commercial, with no intent on the part of the seller or charterer to participate in any belligerent act, and that the vessel or steamer, while in transitu, is in no respect exempted from the law of contraband.

Thus it will be seen that the bill is very carefully guarded. It has been petitioned for, I believe, by all the vessel builders on the Atlantic coast-certainly by all in New York. My friend from New York [Mr. MORGAN] will, I think, remember that the petition to which I refer was signed by every vessel builder in New York. I think the whole vessel interest has applied for the passage of this bill.

Mr. CONKLING. Will the Senator be kind enough to state to us what the law is now, as he understands it, and then the change made by this bill, and the extent of the change?

Mr. CHANDLER. The law, as it now is, is a little mixed. It is governed more, perhaps, by usage than positive statute. This is declaratory of what the law is and shall be construed to be. The law lies now as much in the usage of nations as in definite statutes. The object of this bill is merely to define what the law is and shall be hereafter construed to be. Mr. CONKLING. A mere statute of construction, then?

Mr. CHANDLER. Yes; that is, the bill says the law shall be construed so and so. It is declaratory of the law with regard to the sale of ships to friendly nations. That is all. I think the bill ought to pass. It is certain that the ship-builders of the United States want it to pass.

Mr. CONKLING. Mr. President, if the effect of this bill were to be, and we could have that assurance, to measure to the other nations of the earth precisely what is meted out by them to us, I think it ought to pass; but it relates to a very complicated and delicate subject, to one which, in the House of Representatives, has been considered elaborately by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and which is embraced within memorials and bills that have several times been referred here to the corresponding committee of this body. I had no expectation that such a bill was to come at any time from the Committee on Commerce, and certainly no expectation that we were to consider it this morning. My impression is that it is a jump in the dark. I submit to the Senator from Michigan that if he is going in this present bill to press the subject upon the attention of the Senate it would be well to allow it to stand over to the end that we may consider it a little and take it up hereafter. My impression is, as I said before, that the subject-matter belongs appropriately to the Committee on Foreign Kela

tions. It is not a thing by itself; it is one link in a chain a good many links in which need to be burnished; and whenever we take up the subject at all, I think it should be more completely and more intelligently than we can do it now, and certainly in a bill so brief as this. I do not wish, however, to interpose any objection to the bill; I make my remark in the nature of a suggestion to the Senator, that I think he had better let it stand over or else send it to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Mr. CHANDLER. I have no objection to its standing over, but I will simply state a fact that has just come to my knowledge. This bill was drawn really by the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations as a substitute for another measure, and is very carefully guarded. I state the fact to show that it has certainly had the attention of the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, and it is, as we think, very carefully guarded. But if the Senator from New York desires that the bill shall lie over I shall not object. I would sug

Mr. MORRILL, of Vermont. gest an amendment to the chairman of the Committee on Commerce that I think will obviate any further difficulty, and that is to insert in the proviso a clause requiring the transaction to have the approval of the Secretary of State.

Mr. FERRY. What good would that do? Mr. CHANDLER. I think that complicates it without doing any good.

Mr. FERRY. It would give the Secretary of State control of all that kind of commerce: Mr. CHANDLER. I think the bill is suf

ficiently guarded now. If it be the pleasure of the Senate to pass it we may as well do it at once; if not, let it go over.

The bill was reported to the Senate, ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, read the third time, and passed.

GREAT BRITAIN AND ABYSSINIA.

Mr. CHANDLER. I now move to take up Senate joint resolution No. 69.

The motion was agreed to; and the Senate resumed the consideration of the joint resolution (S. R. No. 69) to preserve_neutrality between the Government of Great Britain and the king of Abyssinia.

or quantities, on which an abatement for damage is claimed, and such application shall be made in such form, and be sustained by such proofs, as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe.

The third section makes it the duty of the inspectors, or other officers of the customs, under whose supervision any merchandise imported from foreign countries is unladen, to keep a particular account of all packages and parcels of such merchandise which may exhibit any appearance of damage during the voyage of importation, and to note the same in books kept and the returns made by them; and the day on which the unlading of any vessel is completed is to be deemed and taken to be the date of the landing of all merchandise imported in such vessel, from which the ten days may run, within which the owner or importer is allowed to make claim for damage.

It is provided by the fourth section that no abatement of duties on account of alleged damage during the voyage of importation shall be made in respect to any merchandise which has passed into the custody and control of the owner or consignee; but such packages and parcels of merchandise as exhibit, on landing, appearance of damage, may, at the request of the owner or consignee, be deposited in any public or bonded warehouse, or other suitable place, to be designated by the collector, or other chief officer of the customs, there to remain at the risk and expense of such owner or consignee, until the damage, if any, shall have been ascertained and appraised.

The fifth section provides that merchandise entered for warehousing, and deposited in public or bonded warehouse, may be examined by the owner or consignee, under such general regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe, to ascertain if such merchandise has sustained damage during the voyage of importation; and in respect to merchandise sent to public warehouse by the collector, or other chief officer of the customs, for examination and appraisement, pursuant to law, the appraiser is to report to such collector, or other officer, if the same has sustained damage, and the amount thereof; and if it shall be proved that such damage was sustained during the voyage of importation, it shall be allowed

Mr. CHANDLER. I move that the joint in the liquidation of the duties, as if applicaresolution be indefinitely postponed. The motion was agreed to.

DUTIES ON DAMAGED MERCHANDISE.

Mr. CHANDLER. I now move to take up for consideration Senate bill No. 76.

The motion was agreed to; and the bill (S. No. 76) providing for the abatement of duties on merchandise damaged on the voyage of importation was considered as in Committee of the Whole.

The first section provides that merchandise, which may have sustained damage during the voyage of importation, shall be entitled to an abatement of duties in proportion to the damage so sustained; but no abatement of duties for damage on any merchandise shall be allowed unless claim therefor shall be made by the owner or consignee within ten days after the landing of the same, nor unless it shall be proved to the satisfaction of the collector, or chief officer of the customs of the port into which the merchandise is imported, that the damage alleged was sustained after the merchandise had been shipped from a foreign country destined for, and previous to its landing in, the United States. The damage, in all cases, is to be ascertained and appraised by the officers of the customs charged with the ascertainment and appraisement of the value of merchandise imported from foreign countries.

The second section provides that before any order for the ascertainment and appraisement of damage alleged to have been sustained during the voyage of importation shall be granted by the collector, or other chief officer of the customs, the owner or consignee shall make application to such collector, or other chief officer, specifying the description of the merchandise and the number of packages, parcels,

tion had been made for abatement by the owner or consignee in the manner and within the time herein before required.

Mr. MORRILL, of Vermont. When this bill was up for consideration on a previous occasion I gave notice of an amendment, which is printed in the form of two additional sections. I will merely state that they have received the approval of the Treasury Department, and the chairman of the Committee on Commerce has no objection to them. I now present these sections and ask that they be read. The Chief Clerk read the amendment, which was to add to the bill the following sections:

SEC 6. And be it further enacted, That no abatement of duties for damage shall be made in respect to the articles of merchandise hereinafter enumerated, namely: anchors and parts thereof, beeswax, barilla, bells for churches, bituminous substances in a crude state, bones and bone tips, brimstone,camphor, crude; chalk, clay, unwrought; cocculus Indicus, corn, coral, unmanufactured; cork-tree bark, emery stone, flints and flint stones, flour, grain, grease, guns of all kinds, horns and horn tips, India-rubber in all forms, manufactured or unmanufactured; iron and steel in all forms, manufactured or unmanufactured; ivory, unmanufactured; marble and stone of all kinds, urmanufactured and unfit for use unless manufactured; marrow, meal, metals of all kinds, pure or in composition, in the crude state, or in bars, pigs, blocks, or sheets, or old and fit only to be remanufactured, and ores of metals; all mineral substances in a crude state, nux vomica, natron, ochres and ochry earths, when dry; oil, paving stones, pitch, plaster of Paris, unground; pumice stone, rosin, sal ammoniac, spirituous liquors, sponge, tallow, tar, crude; teeth of animals, wine, wood of all kinds, unmanufactured, including dyewoods in the stick, and timber and lumber of all kinds, split, sawed, or hewed.

SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That no abatement of duties for damage, except from breakage, shall be made in respect to the following-named articles, namely: busts, casts, statues, and ornaments of plaster; castings of iron and iron vessels; china, porcelain, stone, and earthenware, composed wholly of earthy or mineral substances; glass, glassware, and all articles made wholly of glass; liquids of all kinds

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