The
Senate met at 12 o'clock M. on yesterday,
Mr. Hunter, of
Va., in the chair.
The Senate went into secret session for a few moments, and the doors being opened the
Committee on Claims asked to be discharged from the further consideration of Senate bill to facilitate the settlement of the claims of deceased soldiers.
The bill was laid on the table.
The Military Committee were discharged from the further consideration of the bill to so amend the Conscript act as to exempt from military service the necessary officers of steamboats engaged in Government transportation.
Mr. Sparrow, from the Military Committee, reported a bill to authorize the appointment of Quartermasters and Assistant Quartermasters and Commissaries and Assistant Commissaries in the Provisional army, in certain cases, Laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
The Judiciary Committee were discharged from the further consideration of the resolution of inquiry into the expediency of reporting a bill for the suspension of the writ of
habeas corpus after the expiration of the present law, and of providing by said bill that the said suspension shall continue till the close of the next session of Congress.
The Joint Committee on Impressments were discharged from the further consideration of the bill to provide for the impressment of the
railroad iron, equipments, and rolling stock of railroads when the same shall become necessary for the public defence, and to make further provisions for the efficient transportation of troops and military supplies.
Senate bill, with
House amendments, to provide for the prompt publication of the laws of Congress, was considered and passed.
Senate bill to provide supplies for the army, and to prescribe the mode of making impressments, was taken up and considered by sections.
Pending the discussion of this bill the Senate resolved into secret executive session, and soon after adjourned.
House of Representatives.--Prayer by
the Rev. Dr. Doggett, of the
M. E. Church.
The Speaker laid before the
House sundry communications from the
President, transmitting certain estimates of the amount required for the support of Government, which were referred and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Chilton, of Ala, from the special committee to investigate the charges against
W. R. W. Cobb, member elect of the
House from the 2d Congressional District of
Alabama, reported that the charges of disloyalty were sustained, that it was manifest that he was living in complicity with the enemy, and that it would be improper to allow him to take a seat in the
House.
A resolution accompanied the report, declaring the seat vacant, ordering that his name be stricken from the roll, and requesting that a writ of election be issued by the proper authority to fill the vacancy.
After debate, in which the report of the committee was opposed on the ground of insufficient evidence, it was re-committed, with instruction to take testimony during the vacation, and report next session.
On motion of
Mr. Hilton, of
Fla., a resolution was adopted limiting all speeches to twenty minutes, and allowing no member to speak more than once on each question.
Mr. Foote, from the special committee on pay and mileage, reported back Senate bill to double the compensation and mileage of members, with amendments, making it applicable to the first year of the second Congress,
and including the officers of Congress in its provisions.
Passed — ayes 45, noes 37.
The bill reported from the Military Committee to authorize the
President to contemporary rank and command upon officers of the Provisional army assigned to special service, was taken up as unfinished business.
It was amended and passed.
Mr. Miles, from the Military Committee, reported back a Senate bill to authorize the appointment of ten additional military store-keepers.
Passed.
Also, Senate bill to provide for the appointment of fifty additional artillery officers for ordnance duty.
Passed.
Also, Senate bill to provide for the compensation of detailed men, with an amendment by way of substitute, which proposes to give them the pay, allowances and rations of a soldier, with additional allowances for extra work.
Passed.
Also, Senate bill to furnish transportation to officers of the army and navy, while traveling under orders, with an amendment which allows them ten dollars a day in addition to transportation in kind.
Passed.
Mr. Marshall, of
Ky., from the Military Committee, reported back Senate bill to promote the efficiency of the cavalry service, and to punish lawlessness in any portion thereof, with an amendment.
The bill was debated until 3 o'clock, at which hour the
House took a recess until 8 o'clock P. M.
