The
Senate met yesterday at 11 o'clock.--The President
pro tem. was, on motion of
Mr. Johnson, of Ark, authorized to appoint an additional page for the Senate.
Mr. Clay, from the Military Committee, reported a bill to provide for retiring officers of the army, which was passed by a vote of ayes 15, noes 8.
The bill authorizes the
President, upon the recommendation of any General commanding a department or an army, to discharge from the service any officer of the
Confederate States army, or of the Provisional army of the
Confederate States, who has no assignable command or duty, or who is incompetent or inefficient, or who may be absent from his command or duty without leave.--The second section declares that the provisions of the first section shall not be held to apply to officers who have become disabled by wounds or disease contracted in the line of duty; but the
President may retire such officers upon full pay during the war, or may assign them to such post or other duty as they may be able to perform.
The Senate proceeded to consider the bill to provide and organize a
general staff of the army, to serve during the war, sent back from the
House with amendments.
The
House amendment, to wit: to give the
medical director on the staff of a General "the assimilated rank, pay, and allowances of a colonel of cavalry," was concurred in, and the bill, as amended, was passed.
Mr. Wigfall, of
Texas, offered the following resolution, which was agreed to:
Resolved, That the
President be respectfully requested to inform this body whether
A. R. Lawton has since the 10th of May, 1863, been receiving the pay and allowances of a
Brigadier General, and, if so, under what law; and whether
Col. J. B. Gordan, of
Alabama, lately confirmed as
Brigadier General to command
Lawton's brigade, was not on or before the said 10th of May, 1863, appointed to the command of the brigade as the successor of
Brigadier General Lawton, and, if not, by what authority he was appointed.
House joint resolutions of thanks to
Gen. B. D. Forrest, and the officers and men under his command; and to
Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, and the officers and men under his command, were referred to the Military Committee.
A number of
House joint resolutions of thanks to various regiments and batteries that have re- enlisted for the war were concurred in.
On motion of
Mr. Semmes the Senate resolved into secret session.
The
House met at 11 o'clock, and was opened with prayer by
Rev. Dr. Minnegerode.
Mr. Jones, of
Tenn., called up the motion entered by him yesterday for a reconsideration of the vote by which the
House agreed to the Senate amendments to the appropriation bill, with a view to offer an additional amendment, making appropriations for the increase of the salaries of clerks for the conscription service, and for repairs and additions to the
Treasury building, amounting in the aggregate to $5,250,000--$4,868,000 of which is for the conscription service.
The vote was reconsidered and the amendment adopted.
Mr. Staples, of
Va., from the
Committee, reported back the bill granting a special copyright to
W. J. Hardee and
S. H. Goetzel, for
Hardee's Rifle and Infantry Tactics, with an amendment from the Senate striking out the clause in the bill prohibiting it from having a retroactive effect.
The
House refused to concur in the Senate amendment, and retained the clause alluded to.
Messrs. Hartridge of
Ga.,
Staples of
Va., and
Hanley of
Ark., were appointed managers on the part of the
House to insist upon its amendments to the impressment bill disagreed to by the Senate.
Mr. Barksdale, of
Miss., from the
Committee on Printing, reported a bill to fix compensation for the publication in the public gazettes of the acts of Congress, including the acts of last session already published.
An amendment was submitted to authorize the
Attorney General to contract for the publication of the laws on the best terms possible; but in no event at rates exceeding the ordinary prices paid for printing by private persons.
The amendment was agreed to, and the bill read a third time and passed.
Mr. Barksdale also reported from the same committee a Senate bill to provide for the payment to
George P. Evans & Co. their claim for printing the report of the special investigating committee on the Navy Department, which was passed.
Mr. Jones, of Tenn, reported a bill to authorize the payment of mileage and salaries of members elect to the Second Congress of the Confederate States, which was considered and passed.
The
House passed a Senate bill, reported from the Military Committee by
Mr. Hilton, of Fla, to provide for the issue of certain bonds for payment to the
Florida and
Alabama Railroad Company, of the
State of Florida.
Mr. Miles, of
S. C., reported a bill from the Military Committee to aid any State in communicating with, and perfecting records concerning its troops, which was considered and passed.
Mr. Miles also reported back from the same committee a bill entitled an act to promote the efficiency of the cavalry of the Provisional army, and to punish lawlessness or irregular conduct in any portion thereof.
After discussion the bill was indefinitely postponed.
On motion of
Mr. Gartrell, of
Ga., the
House went into secret session.
