inspectors of oil; and fourth, inspectors of tobacco, snuff, and cigars. The whole number of these four classes of officers, including special agents and general agents, amounts to about seventeen hundred. We get rid of the special agents and revenue agents, of which I think there are eleven general agents, ten under one law and one under another, and some forty-two or forty-four special agents provided for by the existinglaw. We also repeal the law providing for general inspectors, amounting to some two hundred and twenty-five in number, and provide, instead of the five hundred inspectors of spirits or thereabouts, that there shall be a gauger and storekeeper paid by the Government and under the reach and control of the Government instead of these inspectors of spirits who now belong to the distillery. The inspectors of oil are of course got rid of by the repeal of the tax on oil. There remain, therefore, none but the inspectors of tobacco, snuff, and cigars. All of them, sixteen or seventeen hundred officers, are got rid of, with the exception of some one hundred and fifty or two hundred who have been employed as inspectors of tobacco, snuff, and cigars by the substitution for them of supervisors of revenue, and not exceeding twenty-five detectives, who may be employed throughout the United States, and the gaugers and storekeepers under the control of the authorities of the United States.

Mr. ELDRIDGE. Will the gentleman inform the House how many in number the officers have been reduced by this bill?

Mr. SCHENCK. More than one half the number have been got rid of, I should say, and I think a very much better system has been adopted.

Mr. ELDRIDGE. Does the gentleman include in that the number who have been substituted?

Mr. SCHENCK. Yes, sir; after allowing for all the substitution I should say that the whole aggregate number will be less than one halt what it was before, the names and duties being in some degree changed, but the actual number largely reduced.

Mr. BECK. One other question. By section twelve of this bill it is provided that two dollars per day shall be paid by all distillers fermenting over twenty bushels of grain, and so on in proportion; and that any distillery that shall suspend work shall pay two dollars per day during the time the work is suspended. Now, is it intended that they shall pay two dollars per day whether they are running or

not?

Mr. SCHENCK. In regard to that matter we have agreed to adopt the language employed by the Senate, "except Sundays; they are not charged for Sundays. We also agree to the amendments of the Senate, and substitute the word "stopped" for the word "suspended." Now, if no other gentleman desires to catechise me any further, I will call the previous question.

The previous question was seconded and the main question ordered.

The question was upon agreeing to the report of the committee of conference.

Mr. ROSS. Can the question be taken separately upon the part in relation to the tax on banks?

The SPEAKER. It cannot; the report must be considered as a whole.

The report was then agreed to.

Mr. SCHENCK moved to reconsider the vote by which the report was agreed to; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table.

The latter motion was agreed to.

CONDITION OF PUBLIC BUSINESS. Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. I want to ask the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. SCHENCK] a question in view of the probable adjournment of this session, in which we are all so much interested. I would inquire of him what business there is now before the Committee of Ways and Means?

Mr. SCHENCK. The principal business before that committee of a public character is the funding bill, which has passed the Senate. We have bestowed considerable consideration upon that bill; and as the House referred it to us to-day, we hope to be able to report it back to the House in forty-eight hours with whatever amendments we may desire to have made to it.

PRINTING THE TAX LAW.

Mr. BECK. I would suggest to the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. SCHENCK] the propriety of moving that there be printed of the tax law a sufficient number of copies to inform the people of the country about the law.

Mr. SCHENCK. I think that is a very good suggestion. The report of the committee of conference having been agreed to by both Houses, it only remains for the President to sign the bill for it to become a law. I therefore move that twenty-five thousand copies of the tax bill, when it shall have been approved by the President, be printed for the use of members of this House, in pamphlet form, with an index, to be prepared by the clerk of the Committee of Ways and Means.

The motion was referred to the Committee on Printing under the law.

LAND OFFICE IN UTAH TERRITORY.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois. There is a bill upon the Speaker's table which will undoubtedly become a law. Some unimportant amendments have been made to it by the Senate. Those amendments ought to be concurred in for the purpose of putting the necessary appropriations in the deficiency appropriation bill, which is now in the Senate, and will be probably acted on there to-morrow. I ask unanimous consent to take it from the table for consideration at this time.

The SPEAKER, by unanimous consent, laid before the House amendments of the Senate to the bill (H. R. No. 202) to create the office of surveyor general in the Territory of Utah, establish a land office in said Territory, and extend the homestead and preemption laws over the same.

The amendments were read as follows:

On page 1, in line seven, strike out "shall" and insert have."

On same page, in line seventeen, after "land," insert of the United States."

On same page, in lines twelve and thirteen, strike out the words "to which the Indian title is or shall be extinguished."

On same page, in line ten, strike out "and" where it first occurs after the word "lands" and insert "of the United States."

The amendments were concurred in.

Mr. WASHBURNE, of Illinois, moved to reconsider the vote by which the amendments were concurred in; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table. The latter motion was agreed to.

ROBERT FORD.

Mr. SHANKS. I ask the unanimous consent of the House to take from the Speaker's table for consideration at the present time the bill (S. No. 550) for the relief of Robert Ford.

There being no objection, the bill was taken from the Speaker's table and read a first and second time. It appropriates the sum of $814 to Robert Ford, in full payment for his time and services as a teamster in the quartermas ter's department of the Army from May 1, 1862, to August 1, 1864.

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

Mr. SHANKS 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.

CONTRACTS PAYABLE IN COIN.

On motion of Mr. SCHENCK, by unanimous consent, the bill (S. No. 180) relating to contracts payable in coin, was taken from the Speaker's table, read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

SUITS AGAINST RAILROAD CORPORATIONS.

Mr. COOK, from the Committee on Roads and Canals, reported back a bill (H. R. No. 1423) to provide for bringing suits in the courts of the United States against railroad corporations where a portion of the line is in several States; which was ordered to be printed and recommitted.

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

The latter motion was agreed to.

PUBLIC DEBT.

Mr. LOGAN. I ask unanimous consent to report back from the Committee of Ways and Means, for consideration at the present time, the bill (H. R. No. 1416) making certain reg. ulations as to the public debt.

The SPEAKER. The bill will be read for information, after which there will be an opportunity for objection.

The bill, which was read, provides in the first section that no percentage, deduction, commission, or compensation of any amount or kind, shall be allowed to any person for the sale or negotiation of any bonds or securities of the United States disposed of at the Treasury Department or elsewhere on account of the United States; and all acts and parts of acts authorizing or permitting, by construction or otherwise, the Secretary of the Treasury to appoint any agent, other than some proper officer of his Department, to make such sale or negotiation of bonds and securities, are to be repealed.

The second section provides that all authority under any existing law to issue bonds, Treasury notes, or other interest-bearing obligations of the United States shall cease and determine. But nothing herein is to prevent the conversion of Treasury notes known as seven-thirties into the five-twenty bonds, nor the conversion of compound interest notes into the three per cent. certificates of temporary loan, nor the issue of bonds as subsidy to rai road companies, as provided by law.

The third section provides that the Secretary of the Treasury shall publish monthly a detailed statement of the public debt at the close of each month, in which statement all bonds and other obligations of the United States issued from the Treasury Department, payable after the year in which such statement is made, including the amount of seven-thirty Treasury notes convertible into five-twenty bouds, but not including the amount of subsidy bonds issued to railroad companies, are to be classed as the "funded debt;" the United States notes and the fractional notes issued for circulation as money, are to be classed as the "currency debt; the three per cent. certificates of temporary loans are to be classed as the "temporary-loan debt;" and all debt that is past due, or that will be payable within the year, stating the same in detail, are to be classed as the "matured debt," and the interest is to cease on such matured debt when it becomes due, and the same is to be paid on presentation at the Treasury. Such statement is also to contain the amount outstanding of subsidy bonds issued to railroad companies; and the amount of coin, the amount outstanding of gold certificates, and the amount of currency in the Treasury of the United States.

Mr. ELDRIDGE. I cannot understand that; it is too long, and I object.

Mr. LAFLIN. I wish to state that my colleagues, Mr. VAN WYCK and Mr. VAN AERNAM have been detained from the House to-day by illness.

HOMESTEADS TO ACTUAL SETTLERS.

Mr. WASHBURN, of Indiana, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported a bill (H. R. No. 1433) to amend an act entitled "An act to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain," approved May 20, 1802; which was read a first and second time, ordered to be printed, and recommitted. Mr. WASHBURN, of Indiana, moved to

that instead of the revenue from that source increasing as the tax was increased the amount was materially diminished. My judgment then was that the tax was too high. It was too high to insure large revenue, and too high, having in view the interests of western people, where the larger part of the grain out of which spirits is or should be manufactured. I thought then that it should be reduced to one dollar per gallon. It was urged, however, by those having the subject specially in charge, that the two-dollar tax had not had a fair test, and the Government would be able to do better after the supply on hand when the tax was raised was used up, and by a heavy tax on spirits and tobacco other interests could be relieved. With these statements, and others of a similar character, those in favor of a high tax were able to keep it at two dollars. So we have gone on from year to year until the amount of revenue from spirits has run down from about thirty millions a year to $13,000,000; and there seems at last to be a conviction here, and everywhere else, that the tax will have to be reduced soon or we shall get no revenue at all from that source.

It is humiliating, sir, to be compelled to admit that we are driven to this point by the rascals in the country. And I very much fear, sir, that its reduction will not insure the honest collection of the tax that we shall agree upon, however stringent we make the law in providing for its collection.

The judgment of Congress now is to place the tax at fifty cents per gallon and require its collection at the still or distillery warehouse. We can do no less than try this plan and hope for good results. Fraud in connection with this interest must be stopped some how. Unless it is we had better repeal the law entirely and get back to the days of free whisky, and let the distilleries run.

But, sir, I desire to offer some suggestions touching this subject, showing the effect of high taxation of spirits upon the general economy and welfare of the country.

And, sir, I am glad to state that a gentleman of my own district, a man of wealth and business, and high character, and who has not been engaged in the business of manufacturing or dealing in spirits, has furnished me the facts and figures which I shall use in this portion of my argument. The greater portion of the distilled spirits which pays no tax is made in an illicit manner and with imperfect machinery. It is a well known fact that such a still, run in the dark and secret, cannot produce as great a quantity of spirits from a given quantity of grain as will the large establishment with perfect machinery worked in an open and scientific manner. The object of the dishonest man, secretly engaged in defrauding the Government, is to escape detection and get as much money in his pocket as he can quickly as possible. In his haste and fear he fails to get as much spirits from a bushel of grain as the large distiller can make; besides, the slops with which to fatten beef and pork running from the illicit still are an entire and absolute waste.

There is supposed to be made about seventyfive million gallons of spirits each year. It is estimated, I believe, that distilleries properly run can make about three and a half gallons of spirits from a bushel of grain. If this is so, in the manufacture of seventy-five million gallons of spirits about twenty-one and a half million bushels of grain would be consumed. It is not supposed that an illicit distiller could produce more than two and a half gallons from a bushel of grain. If so, in the illicit distillation of seventy-five million gallons of spirits thirty million bushels of grain would be consumed-making a difference of about nine millions in the amount of grain consumed; the difference being an entire loss to the wealth of the country. To this loss must be added the amount of slops thrown away. It is said the slops will make half as much beef and pork as the corn itself if fed to the animals, but if it will make one third as much then it is equal to a loss of over seven million bushels

of grain, making a total loss to the country equal to about fifteen and a half million bushels of grain, which, at the lowest calculation, would be worth, according to the ruling prices in the country, about twelve million dollars.

These figures are made upon the assumption that the spirits are all made in an illicit manner; the evidence is that the greater portion is so made. The exports of grain from this country during the year 1867 did not amount to more than ten million bushels. Thus it will be seen that the waste from illicit and fraudulent distillation of spirits amounts to more than all our exports of grain, and of course is felt by all who consume a bushel of grain or a pound of meat, and by all those who contribute in taxes to the support of the country.

Every honest business in the land demands that the distillation of spirits should be conducted openly and honestly, like other business conducted by honest men; that the taxes legally imposed upon such products should be paid, and that when paid it should find its way into the Treasury of the United States.

Mr. Chairman, I will not take up the time of the House longer. I trust this bill will become a law very soon, and that when it does we may hear of better results in the collection of the revenue from spirits and tobacco, and that we may soon be able to relieve entirely all the other branches of industry from taxation, and rely upon custom duties and tax on spirits and tobacco to pay the interest on the public debt and meet the current expenses of the Government.

PETITIONS, ETC.

The following petitions, &c., were presented under the rule, and referred to the appropriate committees:

By Mr. BLAIR: The petition of several officers of the regular Army, for continuance of increased pay upon the passage of Mr. SCHENCK's bill to fix and equalize the pay of officers, &c.

By Mr. FERRISS: The petition of certain officers of the Army, for the continuance of increased pay.

By Mr. GARFIELD: The petition of officers of the Army, for the passage of the bill known as General SCHENCK'S pay bill.

Also, the memorial of Joseph W. Burke, protesting against the admission of John B. Callis as a Representative in Congress from the fifth district of Alabama.

By Mr. HUBBARD, of West Virginia: The petition of William M. Simpson, of Wood county, West Virginia, asking that his name may be placed on the pension-roll.

By Mr. POLAND: The petition of Foster & Tower, praying relief on account of error in contract for furnishing crucibles to Navy Department.

IN SENATE.
THURSDAY, July 16, 1868.

Prayer by Rev. E. H. GRAY, D. D.

On motion of Mr. WILSON, and by unanimous consent, the reading of the Journal of yesterday was dispensed with.

HOUSE BILLS REFERRED.

The following bills and joint resolutions from the House of Representatives were severally read twice by their titles and referred as indicated below:

A bill (H. R. No. 1420) directing the Commissioner of Pensions to proceed to hear evidence and determine the right of W. H. Cox,

Since the close of the war, notwithstanding the enormous expenditures incurred in paying off and reducing the Army, notwithstanding the fact that we have reduced the public debt $100,000,000 a year, and have paid in bounty to the soldiers millions of dollars annually, and to the pensioners millions more, and have paid the interest on the public debt, and raised money necessary to support the Government, yet we have every year light-deceased, late a sergeant in company F, secened the burdens upon the people by the modification of the tax laws. The first year after the war closed we repealed taxes which had amounted to $60,000,000; the next year $40,000,000, and this year we have already relieved the people by the repeal of taxes which last year amounted to $90,000,000. We might still go further, and still have a surplus, after meeting all just demands due, to be applied in discharge of the principal of the debt.

Mr. Chairman, with all the burdens for the last few years resting upon the people they have gone forward enjoying a reasonable degree of prosperity. With a little encouragement, by wise and prudent legislation a degree of prosperity will soon prevail all over the land, which will double the aggregate wealth of the nation and enable us to provide for the payment of the debt without oppressing the business of the people. Then let us adopt such a policy as will produce such results.

Mr. BROOMALL addressed the committee on general political topics. [His remarks will be published in the Appendix.]

Mr. PAINE spoke on the New York Democratic convention, its candidates and platform. [His remarks will be published in the Appendix.]

Mr. GARFIELD, Mr. BUTLER, of Massachusetts, Mr. PIKE, and Mr. STONE addressed the committee on the taxation of the United States bonds. [Their speeches will be published in the Appendix.] Mr. STONE, before concluding, yielded to

Mr. VAN HÖRN, of New York, who moved that the committee rise.

The motion was agreed to.

The committee accordingly rose; and Mr. VAN HORN, of New York, having taken the chair as Speaker pro tempore, Mr. CULLOM reported that the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, having had under consideration the Union generally, had come to no resolution thereon.

And then, on motion of Mr. CULLOM, (at ten o'clock, p. m.,) the House adjourned.

ond regiment Pennsylvania artillery, to a pension in the same manner as if he was still living, he having died of a disease contracted while a prisoner of war at Andersonville, Georgia, and if found to be entitled to a pension, then the same from the time of his discharge till death, to be paid over to his father, Charles D. Coxto the Committee on Pensions.

A bill (H. R. No. 541) making appropriations for the service of the Columbia Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb, and establishing additional regulations for the gov ernment of the institution-to the Committee on Appropriations.

A joint resolution (H. R. No. 296) giving the assent of the United States to the construction of certain wharves in the harbor of Oswego, New York-to the Committee on Commerce. A joint resolution (H. R. No. 342) for the restoration of Commander Greenleaf Cilley, and Commander Aaron K. Hughes, United States Navy, to the active list from the retired list-to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

A joint resolution (H. R. No. 343) to admit free of duty certain statuary-to the Committee on Finance.

A joint resolution (H. R. No. 341) for the relief of Z. M. Hall-to the Committee on Commerce.

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore laid before the Senate a report of the Secretary of War, communicating, in compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 3d instant, information in relation to the condition of the appropriation for the publication of the medical and surgical history of the war; which was referred to the Committee on Printing.

PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS.

Mr. SUMNER presented a petition of officers of the United States Army, praying an increase of compensation; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia. Mr. WILSON presented two petitions of officers of the United States Army, praying an

increase of compensation; which were referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia.

Mr. NYE presented a petition of Robert B. Riell, captain United States Navy, praying to be allowed the retired pay of his present grade; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.

Mr. RAMSEY, from the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, to whom the subject was referred, submitted a report, accompanied by a bill (S. No. 622) to authorize the construction of bridges across the Ohio river. The bill was read the first time and passed to a second reading, and the report was ordered to be printed.

Mr. RAMSEY. I ought to state that there are certain blanks in that bill; but the committee instructed me to report it at this time in order to have the report and bill printed, with a view subsequently to the recommitment of the bill to fill those blanks.

Mr. DAVIS, from the Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the petition of John A. Wilcox and the memorial of Asa Price, asked to be discharged from their further consideration; which was agreed to.

Mr. CATTELL, from the Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the bill (S. No. 621) authorizing the Manufacturers' National Bank of New York to change its location, reported it without amendment.

Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN, from the Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. No. 834) for the relief of Hon. George W. Bridges, a member of the Thirty-Seventh Congress, reported it without amendment.

Mr. HOWE, from the Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. No. 1322) for the relief of Major F. F. Stevens, assistant paymaster United States Army, reported it without amendment.

He also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. No. 1365) for the relief of Captain Thomas W. Miller, reported it without amendment.

He also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. No. 1366) for the relief of Captain A. G. Olivar, reported it without amendment.

Mr. VAN WINKLE, from the Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. No. 39) authorizing the Commissioner of Internal Revenue to adjust the accounts of Mark Howard, reported it without amendment.

Mr. MORRILL, of Maine, from the Committee on Commerce, reported a bill (S. No. 623) for the registration or enrollment of certain foreign-built vessels; which was read and passed to a second reading.

He also, from the Committee on Appropriations, to whom was referred the joint resolu. tion (H. R. No. 325) relative to the pay of the chief clerk in the office of the Sergeant-at Arms of the House, reported it without amendment.

Mr. MORGAN, from the Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred a resolution of a meeting of citizens of Cincinnati, in relation to the carriage of passengers in steamships and other vessels, submitted a report, accompanied by a joint resolution (S. R. No. 162) to regulate the carriage of passengers in steamships and other vessels. The joint resolution was read and passed to a second reading, and the report was ordered to be printed.

Mr. COLE, from the Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the petition of Caleb Lyon, praying to be relieved from liability for the loss of certain money stolen from him on the night of December 13, 1866, while on his way to Washington city to settle his accounts as Governor of the Territory of Idaho, asked to be discharged from its further consideration; which was agreed to.

Mr. WILLEY, from the Committee on Claims, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. No. 1820) for the relief of L. Merchant & Co., and Peter Rosecrantz, reported it without amendment.

Mr. ANTHONY, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the joint resolution (H. R. No. 332) authorizing the appointment of examiners to examine and report upon the expediency of discontinuing the navy-yard at Charlestown, Massachusetts, and uniting the same with the yard at Kittery, Maine, reported it with an amendment.

Mr. RAMSEY, from the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, to whom was referred the joint resolution (S. R. No. 104) relating to the ocean mail steamship service between the United States and China, authorized by act of Congress, approved February 17, 1865, reported it with amendments.

Mr. TRUMBULL, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom were referred the following message, resolutions, memorials, and petitions, asked to be discharged from their further consideration; which was agreed to:

A message of the President of the United States, communicating, in compliance with a resolution of the Senate, information in relation to instructions issued to General Pope and General Meade on their being assigned to the command of the third military district;

Resolutions of the Legislature of Kansas in favor of a change of the jurisdiction of the United States courts pertaining to the Indian country south of Kansas, from the State of Arkansas to the State of Kansas;

Resolutions of the constitutional convention of Texas, in favor of the transfer from the military commander of fifth military district to that convention of the power and authority to appoint and remove registrars for ascertaining and recording the qualified voters of that State; and

A petition of citizens of Alexandria, praying the passage of the bill to repeal an act entitled "An act to retrocede the county of Alexandria, in the District of Columbia, to the State of Virginia," and for other purposes.

He also, from the same committee to whom was referred the resolution (S. R. No. 10) proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, reported it without amend

ment.

He also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill (S. No. 37) attaching the Indian territory to the State of Kansas for judicial purposes, reported adversely thereon, and moved its indefinite postponement; which was agreed to.

He also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. No. 2) to repeal an act entitled "An act to retrocede the county of Alexandria, in the District of Columbia, to the State of Virginia," and for other purposes, asked to be discharged from its further consideration, and moved its indefinite postponement; which was agreed to.

He also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. No. 480) in relation to the pay of grand and petit jurors in the District of Columbia, reported adversely thereon, and moved its indefinite postponement; which was agreed to.

He also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. No. 145) in relation to the district court of the United States for the northern district of Ohio, reported adversely thereon, and moved its indefinite postponement; which was agreed to.

Mr. SHERMAN, from the Committee on Finance, to whom were referred the following resolutions, memorials, and petitions, asked to be discharged from their further considera tion; which was agreed to:

A memorial of the Chamber of Commerce of Charleston, praying that the building known as the post office may be rented to them for the purpose of establishing a public exchange and reading room;

A memorial of J. Sumner Powell, praying a loan of $2,000 to be secured by a lien on a farm;

A petition of Samuel Bullock, of Georgia, praying that he may be allowed to distill spirits for medical purposes;

A petition of Little & Dana, woolen man

ufacturers, praying to be relieved from internal revenue taxes now charged against them and remaining due and unpaid;

A resolution instructing the committee to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill to provide new bonds to take the place of the five-twenties as they mature;

Resolutions of the constitutional convention of Georgia in favor of a loan of $100,000 by the Government to the South Georgia and Florida railroad; and

A resolution of the Senate directing the committee to inquire into the expediency of repealing all laws imposing taxes on income and manufactures.

He also, from the same committee, to whom were referred a bill (S. No. 480) to provide for the change of name or location of national banking associations, asked to be discharged from its further consideration; and a bill (S. No. 154) to provide for the issue of gold in place of legal-tender notes, and to facilitate resumption of specie payment, moved their indefinite postponement; which was agreed to.

He also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the joint resolution (H. R. No. 225) respecting national banks in liquidation, asked to be discharged from its further consideration; which was agreed to.

He also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the joint resolution (S. R. No. 141) requiring the Special Commissioner of the Revenue to act as Superintendent of the Bureau of Statistics in the office of the Secretary of the Treasury, asked to be discharged from its further consideration, and moved its indefinite postponement; which was agreed to.

He also, from the same coinmittee, to whom was referred the bill (S. No. 493) providing for a reduction of the rate of interest on the public debt, asked to be discharged from its further consideration, and that it be indefinitely postponed; which was agreed to.

He also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. No. 387) to fix the compensation of the United States depositary at Chicago, asked to be discharged from its further consideration, and moved its indefinite postponement; which was agreed to.

He also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the petition of James F. Joy, praying such action as will give him the possession of the marine hospital and grounds at Chicago, Illinois, purchased by him under act of Congress, asked to be discharged from its further consideration, and that it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary; which was agreed to.

Mr. SHERMAN, I am also directed by the same committee to report back the joint resolution (H. R. No. 337) continuing the refining of bullion in the Mint of the United States and branches. This is already disposed of by an amendment in one of the appropriation bills. I move its indefinite postpone

ment.

The motion was agreed to.

Mr. SHERMAN. I am also instructed to report back a bill (H. R. No. 788) to regulate the appraisement and inspection of imports in certain cases, and for other purposes, with an amendment.

Mr. MORRILL, of Vermont. I desire to say in behalf of the minority of the Committee on Finance that when the bill comes up they will ask leave to make a minority report.

Mr. MORGAN. I would like the chairman to state that the committee are divided.

Mr. SHERMAN. The amendment reported is by a majority of the Committee on Finance.

COMMERCIAL LAWS EXTENDED TO ALASKA. Mr. CHANDLER. The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. No. 619) to extend the laws relating to customs, commerce, and navigation over the territory ceded to the United States by Russia, to establish a collection district therein, and for other purposes, have had the same under consideration, and directed me to report it back with amendments, and recommend its passage. I