Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, January 3.

Mr. Dwight Foster, from the committee of claims, made report on the petitions of James Betts, John Day, William Caldwell and John and Elizabeth London, which were against the petitioners, were twice read, and concurred in by the house.

Mr. Coit, from the committee to whom it was referred to report their opinion on the equity and expediency of extending the allowance made to the representatives of soldiers in the late army, who were slain by the enemy, to the representatives of those who died in the service, reported that no consideration of expediency or equity would justify or require the extension contemplated in the reference.

Petitions were presented from John Stadler, William Brown, and William Mackay, for compensation for their services during the war, which were severally referred to the committee of claims.

Mr. Swanwick, from the committee of commerce and manufactures, made reports on the petitions of John Jewell, Lewis H. Guillaum, William Uttick, jun. and John Hughes, for the remission of duties on merchandize destroyed by the late fire at New York, which were to this effect : " that it would be introducing a dangerous principle to the revenues of the United States, to grant relief in cases of this kind, which were more the objects of private insurance, than of public contribution." The prayers of the petitioners were therefore rejected. The house concurred. Mr. Swanwick, from the same committee, also reported on the petition of Jeremiah Cecil, and others, pilots within the Chesapeake bay, praying that a law might be passed to regulate uniformly the conduct of pilots throughout the United States, that though they did not conceive it necessary at present to pass a law to regulate the conduct of pilots throughout the Union, they thought it would be useful to pass a law for the regulation of the conduct of pilots in the waters of the Chesapeake, and recommended a resolution to that effect, which was agreed to, and referred back to the committee to bring in a bill.

Mr. Swanwick also reported on the petition of Bartholomew Sarazen, a sufferer by fire at Cape-Francois, that, during the present negociation with the French republic, no steps could be taken with respect to this and other petitioners to the same effect. The prayer was therefore recommended not to be granted, and the house concurred.

Mr. Griswold, from the committee to whom was referred the petition of Amos Axtell, praying to be put in possession of certain lands to which he professes to have a claim, made a report. The report was against the petitioner ; but, upon motion of Mr. G. Jackson, who was of opinion the petitioner was entitled to the lands in question, and that if a little time was given he could prove it to the satisfaction of the house, the decision upon the report was postponed to the first Monday in February.

On motion of Mr. Swanwick, so much of the report of the committee of commerce and manufactures as related to the petition of Aaron Sheffield, on the ground of new evidence being received, was re-committed to that committee.

The order of the day, on the report of the committee of ways and means on the subject of certain balances due from individual states to the United States, was entered upon, and a very long debate took place. After several attempts to get the business postponed, which were rejected, the house went into a committee of the whole on the resolutions as reported ; and, after some debate, the committee rose, and obtained leave to sit again.

Mr. Parker, from the committee appointed to wait upon the President of the United States with the resolution calling for information respecting the treaty with the dey and regency of Algiers, reported, that they had waited upon the President according to appointment, and had received an answer according to this effect : " That the President of the United States, before he had heard of the resolution, had directed the papers to be made out, and that when ready he would direct them to be sent to the house of representatives."

Mr. Harper said, that a report had been made by the secretary of the treasury during the last session of a statement of the Internal revenue of the United States, with an account of the collection of expence &c— He said it was a mere temporary order, but, as it was desirable information, he thought it would be well for the house to be furnished with a similar statement every session, he proposed a resolution to that effect, which was agreed to.

Mr. W. Smith from the committee of ways and means, made a report on the provision necessary for improving and effectually securing the internal revenues, recommending the abolishing of the tax upon spirits, in certain cases, and laying it upon the stills according to their capacity.

Mr. S. from the same committee, also reported, that having taken into consideration the subject of raising farther revenue, and the report of the secretary of the treasury thereon, they recommended the following direct taxes, viz.

A tax ad valorem on all lands with their improvements, with certain exceptions, including town lots.

Ditto on slaves, with certain exceptions.

The report was twice read, and after some opposition to the day as being too early from Mr. Craik, who wished to consult his constituents on this business, it was made the order for Monday next.

Mr. Blount laid a resolution on the table for the purpose of making some alterations in a law which respected the importation of goods into North-Carolina. Adjourned.