In the
Senate, yesterday, the proceedings were opened with prayer by
the Rev. J. L. Burrows, of the Baptist Church.
Mr. Maxwell, of
Florida, presented the credentials of his colleague,
the Hon. James M. Baker, re elected to the Senate for six years.
Mr. Clark, of
Mo., entered a motion to reconsider the vote by which was rejected the bill providing for the return to the Trans--
Mississippi of persons captured there and paroled or exchanged in the
East.
Mr. Dortch, of
N. C., presented the proceedings of the 37th N. C. regiment, reenlisting for the war.
On motion of
Mr. Dortch, a seat in the Senate was tendered to
Gen. Braxton Bragg.
House bill to authorize the payment and mileage of members of the second Congress of the Confederate States, was reported favorably from the Judiciary Committee and passed.
From the same committee were reported adversely the bill to prevent trading with the enemy; the bill to authorize the
Confederate District Courts to issue writs of
mandamus and
quo warranto; and
House bill to facilitate the collection of claims of deceased officers and soldiers.
House bill to authorize the impressment of meat in certain cases, reported favorably by the Judiciary Committee, was considered and passed.
House joint resolution construing the act increasing the compensation of the department clerks, to include soldiers detailed for clerical duty at
Richmond, was considered and concurred in.
House joint resolution of thanks to
McGowan's brigade, the
Pedee Artillery,
Pogue's Artillery Battalion, for re-enlisting for the war, were severally considered and concurred in.
House amendment to Senate bill to amend the act regulating furloughs and discharges from hospitals, was considered and concurred in.
On motion of
Mr. Sparrow,
House bill amendatory of the act to put an end to the exemption of persons who have heretofore furnished substitutes, was informally laid over.
Senate bill in relation to the qualifications of State tax collectors, was considered and passed.
Senate bill to repeal the act authorizing the
President to confer temporary rank and command, for service with volunteer troops, on officers of the Confederate army, was taken up, and pending its consideration.
On motion of
Mr. Semmes, of
La., the Senate resolved into secret session.
The
House met at 11 o'clock, and was called to order by the
Speaker.
Mr. Lyons, of
Va., offered a joint resolution explanatory of the "Act to lay taxes for the common defence, and to carry on the war," approved April 24th, 1863, so as to exempt from taxation the daily wages of detailed soldiers and other employees of the
Government, where such wages do not exceed $1,000 per annum.
Passed.
Mr. Lyons also offered a resolution to authorize the
Speaker of the
House to employ one page, at a salary of one thousand dollars per annum.
Considered and adopted.
Mr. Foster, of
Ala., introduced a resolution to instruct the
Committee on Military Affairs to report upon the bill referred to them increasing the pay of non-commissioned officers and privates.
The resolution was not agreed to.
The
House then, on motion of
Mr. Barksdale, took up the bill to regulate the compensation of the
Public Printer.
It provides that in lieu of the prices heretofore paid, the
Public Printer shall be allowed 30 per cent. upon the actual cost of all printing, composition, press work, ruling, and binding.
The bill was passed.
On motion of
Mr. Lyon, of
Ala., the
House then went into secret session, with a view to receive the report of the committee of conference on the currency and tax bills.
