Congress, yesterday.
In the
Senate Tuesday,
Mr. Semmes introduced a bill to authorize the issue of 8 per cent. bonds or certificates of stock in certain cases, which was referred to the
Committee on Finance.
A joint resolution, introduced by
Mr. Henry, relative to the navigation of the
Mississippi river, was placed upon the calendar and ordered to be printed.
A bill, introduced by
Mr. Wigfall, to facilitate transportation, what referred to the Military Committee.
The Committee on Claims were discharged from the further consideration of a communication from the
Attorney General, transmitting reports upon certain claims on file in the Department of Justice.
The bill to amend an act to establish the
Bureau of Indian Affairs, was taken up and passed.
In the
House, the
Speaker announced as the committee on the part of the
House, on the disagreeing vote of the two Houses on the exemption of mail contractors:
Messrs. Cheston of
Alabama Holt of
Georgia, and
Atkins of
Tennessee.
The Senate bill entitled "An act to increase the strength and efficiency of heavy artillery for coast defences" was taken up. This bill had received the sanction of the two houses, but was sent back by the
President, with his reasons for not approving it. The question was, 'Shall the bill pass, the
President's veto to the contrary notwithstanding?', On this question the ayes and noes were had, with the following result — ayes 22, noes 59.
The bill to amend the act to provide for the increase of the
Quartermaster and Commissary Departments, reported from the Military Committee, was taken up and, with slight amendment, passed by the
House.
[The bill amends the present law so as to authorize the appointment, in the above departments, at posts or elsewhere, of soldiers who have been discharged from the military service.]
The
House then resumed the consideration of the bill to provide for holding elections for representatives in the Congress of the Confederate States in States occupied by the forces of the enemy; but without final action upon the bill, the
House, at 3½ o'clock, took a recess till 8 P M.
During the evening session the
House took up the Senate bill to authorize an increase of compensation to route agents, and to increase the per diem allowance to special agents of the Post Office Department, which was agreed to.
Senate bill to establish a preferred trail across the
Mississippi river, was also taken up and passed.
The consideration of the bill to provide for holding elections for representatives in the Congress of the Confederate States, was resumed, and after some discussion was postponed until the second Monday of the next session of Congress.
A motion to reconsider the vote postponing the bill was agreed to by the following vote — ayes 31 noes 30.
