Civil Appropriation for 1798.
On motion of Mr. Harper, the House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the report of the Committee of Ways and Means for providing for the expenses of the civil department for the year 1798, and the blanks being filled (except in a few cases, in which they were left in blank) according to the estimate which had been laid before the House, the committee rose, the House concurred, and the bill was ordered to be reported accordingly.
Thursday, January 18.
The Speaker laid before the House a communication from the Secretary of War, enclosing an estimate of the appropriations necessary for holding a treaty with the Cherokee Indians, which was in substance as follows:
| For three commissioners, ninety days, at eight dollars per day | $2,160 |
| Incidental expenses of do. | 360 |
| Secretary, at four dollars per day | 360 |
| Rations of two thousand Indians | 15,000 |
| Presents to the Indians | 5,000 |
| Stores for the commissioners | 2,000 |
| Incidental expenses | 1,200 |
| ——— | |
| 25,880 | |
| ====== |
This statement was referred to the Committee of the Whole to whom was referred the former Message of the President on this subject.
Persons Imprisoned for Debt.
The following Message, with the papers to which they refer, was received from the President of the United States:
Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:
A representation has been made to me, by the Judge of the Pennsylvania district of the United States, of certain inconveniences and disagreeable circumstances, which have occurred in the execution of the law passed on the 28th day of May, 1786, entitled "An act for the relief of persons imprisoned for debt," as well as of certain doubts which have been raised concerning its construction; this representation, together with a report of the Attorney General on the same subject, I now transmit to Congress, for their consideration, that if any amendments or explanations of that law may be thought advisable, they may be adopted.