An act confirming the claim of Tobias Rheams to a tract of land granted to him by the Spanish government. An act to incorporate a fire insurance company in the city of Washington. An act limiting the time for claims being produced for lands authorized to be granted to the inhabitants of New Madrid, and had found the same to be truly enrolled: when, The Speaker signed the said bills. Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith. The House resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the bill to continue in force an act, entitled "An act relating to settlers on lands of the United States;" and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Desha reported the same without amendment. Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed and read a third time to-morrow. The House resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the bill for the relief of Benjamin Birdsall and William S. Foster; as also, on the bill for the relief of Frederick Brown, and on the bill from the Senate, entitled "An act for the relief of Ashael Clark;" and after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Smith of Maryland reported the said bills without amendment. Ordered, That the bill for the relief of Benjamin Birdsall and William S. Foster, and the bill for the relief of Frederick Brown, be engrossed and severally read a third time to-morrow. Ordered, That the bill from the Senate for the relief of Asha el Clark," be read a third time to-morrow. The House resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the bill to provide for erecting additional buildings for the accommodation of the several executive departments; also, on the bill making appropriations for the public buildings, and for the furnishing the Capitol and President's House; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Desha reported the said bills with amendments to each. The said amendments to the bill last mentioned were read at the Clerks table, and in part concurred in by the House. The question was stated to concur with the committee of the whole in their amendment to fill the blank in the bill attached to the following item, to wit: "for furnishing the Representatives, Chamber and Committee Rooms," with the sum of thirty thousand dollars; And being taken, It passed in the affirmative, Nay68. The yeas and nays being required by one-fifth of the members present, The question was then stated to concur with the committee of the whole, in their amendment to fill the blank in the said bill attached to the following item, to wit: "For furnishing the President's House," with the sum of forty thousand eight hundred and seventynine dollars. And being taken, It was determined in negative, Yeas.......................52, {xea... .90. The yeas and nays being required by one-fifth of the members The question was then stated to concur with the committee of the whole in their amendment to fill the blank in the said bill, attached to the following item, to wit: "For offices to the President's House," with the sum of nine thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven dollars. And being taken, It was determined in the negative. Mr. Taylor then moved to fill the said blank with 9,000 dollars, which motion was rejected by the House. Mr. Bassett moved to fill the said blank with 9,400 dollars, which was also rejected; and, Mr. Holmes, of Massachusetts, moved to fill said blank with 8,000 dollars; which was also rejected. Mr. Bassett then moved to strike out the said item. This motion was rejected; and, On motion of Mr. Colston, The said blank was filled with the sum of 7,000 dollars. Mr. Hitchock then moved further to amend the said bill by striking out this item, to wit: "For procuring materials, laying the foundation and other preparations for the centre bailding of the Capitol, one hundred thousand dollars." And the question being taken thereon; It was determined in the negative. A motion was then made by Mr. Wm. P. Maclay, further to amend the said bill by inserting after the words "Representative Chamber," in the second section thereof, these words; or so much of the said sum as he may deem necessary;" thereby restricting the expenditure of the sum appropriated for furnishing the Representative Chamber and Committee Rooms, to so much of the sum of thirty thousand dollars as the Speaker may deem necessary; And the question being taken thereon, It was determined in the negative. Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed and read a third timeto-morrow. And then the House adjourned. TUESDAY, April 7, 1818. Mr. Comstock, presented a petition of Matthew M.Nair; a petition of William Dolaway; and a petition of Alwin Bronson; respectively praying compensation for vessels impressed into the public service, in the late war with Great Britain, and which were never returned to them. Mr. Comstock, also, presented a petition of James Adams, praying to be indemnified against the damages recovered against hin for impressing vessels into the public service while acting as a major of militia in the army of the United States, which impressment he was ordered to make by his superior officer. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee of Claims. Mr. Hitchcock and Mr. Herrick, respectively, presented petitions of sundry inhabitants of the state of Ohio. praying that they may be permitted to make payments for lands purchased of the United States in such bank notes as may be current in the said state. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the committee on the Public Lands. Ordered, That the committee of Ways and Means. be discharged from the further consideration of the petitions of Benjamin Wells and John Wells, and that they lie on the table. Mr. Seybert, from the committee of Commerce and Manufactures, made reports on the petitions of sundry cork cutters, in the cities of New York and Philadelphia, and on the petitions of sandry manufacturers of paper hangings; which were read, and the resolutions therein contained were concurred in by the House, as follows: Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioners ought not to be granted. Mr. Sergeant, from the committee of Ways and Means, reported a bill for the relief of the widow and children of Jacob Graeff, deceased; which was read the first and second time and committed to the committee of the whole to which is committed the bill from the Senate, entitled "An act in addition to the act for the relief of John Thompson." Mr. Wilson, of Pennsylvania, from the joint committee for Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee did this day prescut to the President of the United States, the enrolled bills, the examination of which was reported yesterday. Ordered, That leave be given to withdraw the petition of William Brough. The House took up and proceeded to consider the bill from the Senate, entitled "An act to regulate the staff of the army;" and being amended, Mr. Desha moved further to amend the same by striking our 2 |