Monday, April 12.
An engrossed bill for the relief of Theodosius Fowler, was read the third time, and passed.
The House went into Committee of the Whole on the bill for the relief of Paul Coulon, which was reported without amendment, and ordered to be engrossed and read the third time to-day.
Mr. S. Smith, from the committee appointed, presented a bill for the relief of Lewis Tousard; which was read twice and committed to the Committee of the Whole for to-morrow.
Mr. Clay, from the committee appointed on the seventh instant, to examine and report on the state of the office of the Clerk of this House, made a report: which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.
The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the bill to provide for the establishment of certain districts, and therein to amend an act, entitled "An act to regulate the collection of duties on imports and tonnage," and for other purposes; and, after some time spent therein, the committee rose and reported several amendments thereto; which were severally twice read, and agreed to by the House.
Ordered, That the said bill, with the amendments, be engrossed, and read the third time to-morrow.
The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the report of the Secretary of State, of the seventh instant, to whom was referred, on the nineteenth of January last, the memorial of Fulwar Skipwith; and after some time spent therein, the committee rose and reported two resolutions thereupon; which were severally twice read and agreed to by the House, as follows:
Resolved, That provision ought to be made by law, for the payment of four thousand five hundred and fifty dollars, unto Fulwar Skipwith, (which sum was advanced by him to the United States,) with an interest of —— per centum, from the first of November, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five.
Resolved, That provision ought to be made by law, for compensating the said Fulwar Skipwith, for his services from the first of November, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six, to the first of May, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine, at the rate of —— dollars, per annum.
Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in pursuant to the said resolutions; and that Mr. Dawson, Mr. Van Cortlandt, and Mr. Stanton, do prepare and bring in the same.
The House then went into Committee of the Whole on the report of the committee of the twenty-second of January, on the petition of Sarah Fletcher and Jane Ingraham, referred to them on the tenth of December last, and, after some time spent therein, the committee rose and reported several resolutions thereupon; which were severally twice read, and agreed to by the House, as follows:
Resolved, That it is expedient to grant to the widows and children, as the case may be, of the officers, seamen, and marines, who were lost at sea, on board the ship Insurgent and brigantine Pickering, lately in the service of the United States, four months' pay of their respective husbands or fathers.
Resolved, That it is expedient to provide by law for the payment of five years' half pay to the widows and children, as the case may be, of such officers in the naval service of the United States as shall be slain in battle, or die, when in the actual line of their duty.
Resolved, That the widows and children of those officers who were lost at sea in the ship Insurgent and brigantine Pickering, shall be entitled to this provision.
Ordered, That a bill or bills be brought in pursuant to the said resolutions; and that Mr. Eustis, Mr. Goddard, and Mr. Stanton, do prepare and bring in the same.
An engrossed bill for the relief of Paul Coulon was read the third time and passed.
Mr. S. Smith, from the committee appointed the ninth instant, on the part of this House, jointly, with the committee appointed on the part of the Senate, "to consider and report what business is necessary to be done by Congress in their present session, and when it may be expedient to close the same," made a report thereon; which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.
The House went into Committee of the Whole on the bill for the relief of sick and disabled seamen.
Mr. Eustis moved to strike out the first section which forms the moneys devoted to the above object into a general fund, to be applied according to the discretion of the President, instead of suffering it to remain, as heretofore, applied to the particular ports, (or those in the vicinity,) from which the moneys are derived.
This motion was supported by Messrs. Eustis, Mitchill, and Dana, and opposed by Messrs. S. Smith, Milledge, Davis, Macon, and Huger.
The question was then taken on striking out the first section, and lost; when the committee rose, and reported the bill with amendments.