S. 3. Joint resolution authorizing Commander Edmund O. Matthews, of the United States Navy, to accept a gilt teapot from the Emperor of Siam. H. R. 56. Joint resolution relative to reservoirs to promote the navigation of the Mississippi River. The Vice-President signed the four enrolled bills (S. 192, S. 315, H. R. 1526, H. R. 2115) and the two enrolled joint resolutions (S. 3, H. R. 56), and they were delivered to the committee to be presented to the President of the United States. Mr. Butler submitted the following resolution for consideration : Resolved, That the Committee on Privileges and Elections be, and hereby is, instructed to inquire forthwith and report, as soon as may be, any threats, promises, or arrangements respecting existing or contemplated accusations or criminal prosecutions against any Senator, or any other corrupt or otherwise unlawful means or influences have been, in any manner, used or put in operation directly or indirectly by M. C. Butler, one of the Senators from the State of South Carolina, or by any other Senator or other person, for the purpose of influencing the vote of Senators on the question of discharging said committee from the consideration of said M. C. Butler's credentials, or the other question, at the late session of the Senate; and that said committee have power to send for persons and papers, and to sit during the sittings of the Senate. Mr. Conover reported from the committee that they this day presented to the President of the United States the following enrolled bills and joint resolution : S. 192. An act providing for the printing and distribution of the Biennial Register. S. 315. An act authorizing the changing of the name of the ship Samuel G. Reed. S. 3. Joint resolution authorizing Commander Edmund O. Matthews, of the United States Navy, to accept a gilt teapot from the Emperor of Siam. A message from the President of the United States, by Mr. Pruden, his secretary: Mr. President: The President of the United States this day approved and signed the following acts and joint resolution: S. 192. An act providing for the printing and distribution of the Biennial Register. S. 315. An act authorizing the changing of the name of the ship Samuel G. Reed. S. 3. Joint resolution authorizing Commander Edmund O. Matthews, of the United States Navy, to accept a gilt teapot from the Emperor of Siam. Ordered, That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives thereof. A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Adams, its Clerk: Mr. President: The President of the United States has notified the House of Representatives that on December 10, 1877, he approved and signed the following act: H. R. 1279. An act authorizing binding of documents for members of Congress. On December 14 he approved and signed the following acts: H. R. 1532. An act to provide a method for the settlement and adjustment of the accounts of the attorney of the United States for the Dis trict of Columbia. H. R. 1746. An act for the relief of the sufferers by the wreck of the United States steamer Huron, and for other purposes; and On December 15 he approved and signed the following acts and joint resolutions: H. R. 1526. An act to provide for deficiencies in the appropriations for the service of the government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878, and for prior years, and for other purposes. H. R. 2115. An act relative to the burial of the officers and others of the United States Navy who perished by the wreck of the United States steamer Huron, and for other purposes. H. R. 56. Joint resolution relative to reservoirs to promote the navigation of the Mississippi River. H. R. 48. Joint resolution in relation to the International Industrial Exposition to be held in Paris in 1878. H. R. 58. Joint resolution fixing the date on which the payment of the twenty-one clerks to committees of the House of Representatives, who are paid during the session only, shall begin. H. R. 59. Joint resolution authorizing payment of employés of the House of Representatives their salaries for time served by them during the present session of Congress without having taken the oath prescribed by law. On motion by Mr. Thurman, The doors of the Senate were closed, When Mr. Hamlin submitted the following order; which was agreed to: Whereas a misunderstanding having arisen between the Honorable Roscoe Conkling and the Honorable John B. Gordon in the course of the executive proceedings of the Senate of yesterday, and mutual understandings thereon having been arrived at, as set out in the following paper, it is Ordered, That said paper be entered at large on the legislative journal of the Senate. "During an executive session of the Senate held yesterday, words were uttered both by Senator Gordon, of Georgia, and by Senator Conkling, of New York, which were mutually felt to be unkind and offensive. Reports of the incident appear in the papers of this morning which are inaccurate and unjust to both speakers. Upon a careful inquiry as to what was said by each speaker and what was understood to be said by the other, it is certain that the first offensive words were inspired by an honest misunderstanding of what had been innocently said by the other speaker. One harsh remark provoked another, as too often happens, but all that was offensive was the outgrowth of misapprehension. Since such was the fact, we, who are mutual friends of both Senators, are of the opinion that it is due alike to the Senate and the speakers that whatever was felt to be unkind or offensive in the remarks of either should be treated as if never uttered, and, we are now authorized to state, are mutually and simultaneously withdrawn. On motion by Mr. Oglesby, "H. HAMLIN. "M. W. RANSOM. The Senate proceeded to the consideration of executive business; and After the consideration of executive business the doors were opened, and The Senate adjourned. THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 1878. Mr. David H. Armstrong, from the State of Missouri, attended. The following message was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Pruden, his secretary: To the Senate of the United States : I transmit herewith a special report upon the subject of forestry by the Commissioner of Agriculture. The documents submitted with this report accompany message to the House of Representatives. R. B. HAYES. EXECUTIVE MANSION, December 13, 1877. The message was read. Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Agriculture and be printed. The bills (H. R. 119, H. R. 694 and H. R. 1487), last received from the House of Representatives, were read the first and second times, by unanimous consent. Ordered, That the bills H. R. 119 and H. R. 694 be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and the bill H. R. 1487 be referred to the Committee on Claims. Mr. Matthews presented the petition of William H. Nessle, praying compensation for extra services rendered the United States; which was referred to the Committee on Claims. Mr. Matthews presented the petition of William R. Fee, of Cincinnati, Ohio, praying an extension of his letters patent for improvements in cotton-seed hullers; which was referred to the Committee on Patents. Mr. Grover presented a resolution of the Board of Trade of Portland, Oregon, in favor of an amendment to the bill providing for an extension of time for the completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad; which was referred to the Committee on Railroads. Mr. Grover presented a petition of citizens of Oregon, praying that one of the termini of the Northern Pacific Railroad be established at Astoria, at the mouth of the Columbia River, and that said railroad be extended thereto within three years; which was referred to the Committee on Railroads. Mr. Withers presented papers in relation to the claim of Maria B. Wolfe for compensation for property destroyed by United States troops during the late civil war; which were referred to the Committee on Claims. Mr. Eaton presented a petition of citizens of New Haven, Connecticut, praying the coinage of silver dollars of 420 grains, standard silver, to be made a legal tender for sums not exceeding $20, except in pay. ment of private contracts for gold and the bonded debt of the United States; and the establishment of an international commission to fix the relative value of gold and silver in foreign and domestic exchanges; which was referred to the Committee on Finance and ordered to be printed. Mr. Grover presented a resolution of the Board of Trade of Portland, Oregon, in favor of appropriations for the erection of light-houses on Tillamook Head and Sand Island, in the Columbia River; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce. Mr. Mitchell presented a petition of citizens of Oregon, praying an extension of the time for the completion of the main line of the North ern Pacific Railroad, and for the transfer of the north-branch grant to the Portland, Salt Lake and South Pass line; which was referred to the Committee on Railroads. Mr. Bailey presented the petition of William L. Nauce, of Tennessee, praying payment of balance of compensation claimed to be due him for the use of his property by the United States authorities during the late civil war; which was referred to the Committee ou Claims. Mr. Grover presented a petition of citizens of Oregon, praying an extension of the time for the completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad; which was referred to the Committee on Railroads. Memorials, remonstrating against any action concerning a revision of tariff duties until after it shall have been ascertained by official inquiry that such action would best promote general prosperity, were presented as follows: By Mr. Dennis: A memorial of citizens of Maryland. By Mr. Cameron, of Pennsylvania: Ten memorials of citizens of Pennsylvania. By Mr. Eaton: A memorial of citizens of Connecticut. By Mr. Kernan: Three memorials of citizens of New York. By Mr. Thurman: Three memorials of citizens of Ohio. By Mr. Cameron, of Wisconsin: A memorial of citizens of Wisconsia. By Mr. Edmunds: A memorial of citizens of Vermont. By Mr. Randolph: Two memorials of citizens of New Jersey. By Mr. Howe: Four memorials of citizens of Wisconsin. By Mr. Hereford: A memorial of citizens of West Virginia. By Mr. Davis, of West Virginia: A memorial of citizens of West Virginia. By Mr. Windom: A memorial of citizens of Minnesota. By Mr. Dawes: Three memorials of citizens of Massachusetts. Petitions, praying an amendment to the Constitution prohibiting the several States from disfranchising citizens of the United States on account of sex, were presented as follows: By Mr. Kellogg: A petition of citizens of Louisiana. Ordered, That they be referred to the Committee on Privileges and Elections. Mr. Conkling presented a petition of the Alaska Gold and Silver Mining Company, praying the protection of persons engaged in mining in Alaska Territory from the hostilities of the natives, and that that Territory be attached to the division of Oregon for all judicial purposes; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Conkling presented a petition of citizens of Oswego, praying an increase of compensation in salaries of letter-carriers; which was referred to the Committee on Post-Offices and Post-Roads. Mr. Ferry presented a petition of citizens of Michigan, praying the repeal of the bankrupt-law; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Matthews presented the petition of E. W. Metcalfe, praying to be indemnified out of the Geneva award for the loss of the ship Delphine, alleged to have been destroyed by the rebel cruiser Shenandoah; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Dawes presented a petition of a committee of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, praying an appropriation for securing a more suitable site and a more commodious and substantial edifice for the United States Naval Observatory at Washington; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. Mr. Thurman presented a memorial of the Chamber of Commerce of Cincinnati, Ohio, remonstrating against any modification of the act of December 17, 1872, in relation to the construction of bridges across the Ohio River; which was referred to the Committee ou Commerce. Mr. Voorhees presented a petition of citizens of Massachusetts, praying the restoration of the silver dollar of 412 grains to full legal-tender power in the United States, and that its coinage be made as free in all respects as the coinage of gold; which was referred to the Committee on Finance. Mr. Eaton presented a memorial of the New Haven Engineering Society, praying the introduction of the metric system of weights and measures; which was referred to the Committee on Finance. Mr. Cameron, of Pennsylvania, presented a resolution of the Chamber of Commerce of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in favor of the erection of certain public buildings in that city; which was referred to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds. Mr. Cameron, of Pennsylvania, presented a petition of the Susquehanna Canal Company and the Tidewater Canal Company, praying compensation for the loss of their bridge over the Susquehanna River, near Columbia, Pennsylvania, burned in 1863 by order of the United States authorities; which was referred to the Committee on Claims. Mr. Dawes presented a resolution of the Boston Board of Trade, remonstrating against the passage of any law whereby the silver dollar shall be made an unlimited legal tender until the principal nations of Europe shall concur in a general remonetization of silver, and praying that present legislation upon the subject of coining may be limited to the promotion of negotiations with other powers for universal bimetalism; which was referred to the Committee on Finance. Mr. Cameron, of Pennsylvania, presented a memorial of the Columbia Bank, praying compensation for the loss of the bridge across the Susquehanna River, burned by order of the United States authorities in 1863; which was referred to the Committee on Claims. Mr. Howe presented papers in relation to the application of Angeline Raish to be allowed a pension; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions. |