The New York Herald

TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.

FIRST SESSION.

House of Representatives.

BY BAIN'S ELECTRO-MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.

Washington, August 17, 1850.

RESIGNATION OF MR. CONRAD.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from Mr. Conrad, tendering his resignation as member for the Second District of Louisiana.

THE PRIVATE CALENDAR.

Mr. Nelson moved that the House go into committee on the private calendar. Disagreed to, 45 to 71.

THE CIVIL AND DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATION BILL.

The House went into Committee on the Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation bill, and resumed the consideration of the clause making appropriation for the per diem and mileage of members.

Mr. McGaughey, (whig), of Indiana, moved to strike out the proviso to compute mileage by the route on which the mails are transported, and said this, if adopted, would introduce a rule so uncertain that it would be utterly impossible for members to tell how much mileage they are entitled to, as in the West the mail routes depend on the season of the year-the rivers sometimes being too low for navigation. The present law is best.

Mr. Toombs, (whig.) of Georgia, said that if the routes are changed in consequence of the season, the computation could be made accordingly.

Mr. Fitch, (dem.) of Indiana, moved to insert the nearest route.

Mr. Meade, (dem. of Virginia) wanted a direct line.

Mr. Nelson, (whig.) of New York, wished to compute mileage on the route by which the mail shall be transported from the Capitol to the residence of Senators, Representatives and Delegates, at the time of the commencement to the close of each session of Congress for which mileage is paid.

Mr. Stanton, (dem.) of Kentucky, moved to amend, by making it "usually travelled route."

All these amendments were severally rejected.

Mr. Cobb, (dem.) of Alabama. moved to compute by a "bee line." (Laughter)

This amendment was also rejected.

Mr. Campbell, (whig.) of Pennsylvania, asked that the amendment be again read. He understood that the gentleman said bee lue. This was a humbug. (Laughter.)

Mr. McGaughey's amendment was rejected.

Mr. Featherston. (dem ) of Miss., offered an amendment, that no member shall receive pay for absence from the House or the city, unless from sickness, or by leave of the House. His object was to correct a great evil. Members are absent for days and weeks at a time, and this should be established by legislation, or abolished. Gentlemen are in the habit of going away from here, either for business or pleasure. If they were deducted, it would secure a better attendance, and the House would not be so often formed without a quorum, and business would be facilitated.

Mr. Woodward, (dem.) of South Carolina, was for letting constituents take care of their own representatives. A distant representative has no right to interfere. The representative belongs to his constituents-let them supervise his conduct. If the law be made it cannot be executed.

Mr. Carter, (dem.) of Ohio.-I move that the per diem be deducted. (Laughter.)

The Speaker. - That is the amendment.

Mr. Carter.-Then I move to reduce it one-half.

Mr. Featherston modified his amendment to apply to members of both houses.

Mr. Carter advocated the amendment.

Mr. Vinton, (whig) of Ohio, said that the law was already sufficient, if executed. No member is allowed to be absent without leave of the House. This subject of mileage has often and for a long time, been agitated, and amounted to nothing.

He appealed to members to reject the amendments, and, in view of the length of the session already, proceed with the bill. The effort at amendment of this clause, was so much time lost.

Mr. Carter's amendment was rejected, and then Mr. Featherston's the latter by fifty-six to sixty-seven votes.

The clause remains as originally reported, namely:-

"Mileage to be computed on the route by which the mails are transported. No member residing east of the Rocky Mountains, shall receive more than one thousand dollars mileage for each session, and no member or delegate west of the Rocky Mountains, more than two thousand dollars. Constructive mileage prevented."

Mr. Johnson, (dem.) of Arkansas, moved an amendment, providing ten dollars additional for stationery. The allowance by law had given out, and members, he heard all around, have been purchasing from their own pockets.

A few words passed between Messrs. Barry and Thompson, of Mississippi, when the amendment was adopted-76 to 41.

The body then proceeded to other amendments, and a vote was taken, but no quorum voted.

The committee rose and the roll was called. A quorum being now in abundance the House again went into committee.

The committee, on voting, found itself without quorum twice more.

The roll called, the committee rose, quorum was reported, and the House again went into committee.

Mr. Schenck. (whig) of Ohio, offered an amendment, namely, " that for the purpose of enabling the clerk to furnish members of the present Congress, who have not yet read them, such books as were furnished to members of the twenty-eighth, twenty-ninth, and thirtieth Congress, that twenty seven dollars be provided. This shall not be construed to authorize the reprinting of any of the books."

proposing an appropriation of six dollars to each new member, in lieu of the books.

Mr. Jones, (dem.) of Tennessee, moved a substitute, This sum would be the aggregate of seventy-five thousand dollars, and it would be better to appropriate the money, that members might select books more valuable, for themselves.

The amendment but there were only four votes in its favor.

Mr. Vinton said the books have been sold over and over again by members, and nothing further should be done than to distribute those on hand. He had been importuned over over again to tell his books.

Mr. McClernand. (dem.) of Illinois.-Does the gentleman charge the fact of members selling the books of his own knowledge?

Mr. Vinton-I know it, and can prove it; and this is sufficient. I made no accusation against any member.

Mr. McKissock, (whig) of N. Y., said that members should place the books in the libraries in their districts, where the public can see them. Congress should buy them until the trade shall cease.

Mr. Giddings, (freesoil) of Ohio, offered proviso that the books shall be marked or stamped in an ineffaceable manner, on the cover or title-page, with the name of the member receiving it. (Laughter, and cries of "That will do.") There should be no objection to that. He wanted to prevent the abuse of public confidence.

Mr. Giddings' amendment was adopted.

On motion of Mr. Jones the amount was increased to $80,000.

Mr. Parris stated that but fifteen hundred of the American State papers were printed; yet fifteen hundred and sixty were distributed. Bookmongers bought them for a song, and sold them to the government for six or seven dollars.

Mr. Schenck said that a man who would sell his books was little better than one who would commit petit larceny.

Without disposing of the subject, the committee rose, and the House adjourned.