The Wheeling Daily Register

CONGRESSIONAL

Washington, December 13.

Senate

The Secretary read a note from the Vice President stating that he would be absent for a few days, and, on motion of Mr. Frelinghuysen, of New Jersey, Mr. Anthony, of Rhode Island, was elected President pro tem.

Mr. Cragin, of New Hampshire, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, reported the House bill to provide for the construction of six steam sloops-of-war with amendments, and gave notice that at an early day he would call it up.

The Boston relief bill was then taken up.

Mr. Ferry, of Michigan, called for the yeas and nays upon his amendment to add lumber to the list of materials to be admitted free of duty. This exception had been made, he said, in the case of Chicago, and he wished to test the willingness of the Senate to put the East and West on the same basis in this matter of relief.

Mr. Wilson said that the Portland relief bill did not except lumber, and he thought this one ought not to do so.

Mr. Sumner said the question of putting the East and West on the same basis did not enter into this case, because the main reason given for excepting lumber in the western case was the fact that the neighboring lumbering districts in Michigan had been devastated by fire at the same time as Chicago, which did not exist in the case of Boston.

Mr. Edmunds, of Vermont, thought all the legislation of this character of very doubtful propriety. He explained, however, that he would vote for this bill without seeing any good reason why he should do so, but he hoped it would be made like the Chicago relief bill.

Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts, argued against the amendment and in favor of the relief legislation. The Chicago bill, he said, had saved the people of that city millions of dollars, not directly by the drawbacks granted, but by putting down combinations of speculators.

Mr. Morrill, of Maine, from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, reported a bill for the construction of a steam elevator in the Capitol; also the bill for the purchase of an additional site for the postoffice in Boston. After discussion, the bill was passed. The amount appropriated is $500,000.

Mr. Morton, of Indiana, presented the credentials of George E. Spencer, re-elected Senator from Alabama.

Mr. Sherman offered a resolution, which was agreed to, instructing the Committee on Finance to inquire whether the valuation of sovereign or pound sterling of Great Britain used in the Custom Houses of the United States and in the settlement of accounts between the two countries under the existing laws, corresponds with its true or intrinsic value as expressed in the money of the United States, and report by bill or otherwise.

Mr. Pomeroy introduced a bill to organize the territory of Oklahoma, consolidate the Indian tribes and carry out the provisions of peace with certain tribes. Referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Mr. Chandler introduced a bill to promote emigration to the United States, creating a bureau of emigration and providing for the comfort and protection of emigrants in many ways while aboard ship and after landing. Referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. Cragin, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, reported a substitute for the House bill authorizing the construction of six steam vessels of war. It authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to construct suitable steam vessels each carrying six or more guns of large calibre, to be built of iron or wood, provided they are built in whole or in part in private yards. Nothing is said as to an appropriation. Mr. Cragin stated that he would call up the bill next week.

The Boston relief bill was next taken up and after a lengthy debate was referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

At 4 P. M. the Senate adjourned.

House

Mr. Wood, of New York, from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, reported a bill authorizing the Attorney General to examine into and pay the claims of the New York, Sun, Mutual and other insurance companies for the loss of the bark Caldero, payable out of the Chinese indemnity fund. Ordered to be printed and recommitted.

Mr. Randall, of Pennsylvania, offered a resolution calling on the Postmaster General for information and correspondence touching the style, cost and contract for the postal cards ordered last session; also for information and correspondence touching the present contract for postage stamps, the change in the stamp adopted under such contract and the causes for it, and to what extent, if any, the Government is a loser when the present contract expires, and what steps, if any, have been taken for advertising for proposals under the law, both as to postal cards and postage stamps. Adopted.

This being private bill day, a number of private bills and claims were passed.

The House, at 12 o'clock, went into Committee of the Whole on the privilege calendar, Mr. Mercer, of Pennsylvania, in the chair, and took up the bill to reimburse the College of William and Mary, Virginia, $65,000, for property destroyed during the rebellion. This bill was up on several occasions last session, and was to-day discussed at considerable length. The vote was taken and it was adopted by 79 ayes to 71 noes.

The committee then arose and reported the bill.

The first question was on the adoption of Mr. Shanks' amendment that the college should be open to all, without distinction of race, color or previous condition of servitude. It was adopted—yeas 89, nays 76. The only Republicans voting against it were Messrs. Butler of Tennessee, Cobb of North Carolina, Pierce of Mississippi and Sargent of California. No Democrats voted for it.

The bill was then rejected, the vote on its passage being yeas 36, nays 126.

The Democrats were all found in the vote against it.

The House then took up the Senate's amendment to the House bill abolishing the offices of Assessor and Assistant Assessors of the internal revenue. All those that were veritable amendments were concurred in without question, the only remaining important one being that of the appointment of twenty-five Treasury Agents.

On motion of Mr. Dawes the House proceeded to consider the Senate amendments to the bill to reduce the offices and expenses of the internal revenue. All the amendments were concurred in except that which proposed twenty-five additional revenue agents. On this a committee was requested and Messrs. Dawes, Roberts and Beck were appointed as such committee on the part of the House. It was ordered that the session to-morrow be for debate only.

The House, at 4:10 P. M., adjourned.