Congressional.
In the Senate,
Mr. Barnwell, of
South Carolina, from the
Committee on Finance, reported a bill fixing the pay of
Senators and Representatives at $2,500 per annum, and mileage at 30 cents per mile; the
President of the Senate, when acting as such, to receive the pay of the
Vice President; and the
Speaker of the
House to receive double the pay of any other member of that body.--The bill was amended, on motion of
Mr. Oldham, of
Texas, by striking out $2,500 and inserting $3,000; and further amended by providing for the deduction from the pay the amount of each day's absence without leave, and passed.
The pay of the officers of the Senate was fixed as follows:--
Secretary, $2,500 per annum;
Assistant Secretary, $1,000; two Clerks, $1,500 each; Sergeant-at-Arms, $2,000; Doorkeeper, $1,500; Assistant Doorkeeper, $1,200--each payable quarterly, in advance, and Page $1 per diem.
A message in waiting from his
Excellency, the
President, by his
Private Secretary, was received, and the Senate resolved itself into Executive session.
In the House of Representatives, yesterday, a resolution was introduced to adjourn the sessions of Congress on the 31st March, and was laid on the table.
Mr. Smith, of
Virginia, offered a resolution authorizing the
Committee on Postal Affairs to take such action as to modify the law and exclude from the number of military exempts all clerks in post-offices, as well as certain postmasters in charge of minor offices.
The resolution was referred.
Mr. Peter, of
Virginia, introduced a bill to continue in office
Major and
Brigadier Generals of the Provisional Army, which was ordered to be printed, and made the special order for Monday next.
Mr. Peter also offered a bill for the suppression of drunkenness, which was ordered to be printed.
The
House had also under consideration the bill for the destruction of cotton, tobacco, and other property, as reported by the Military Committee, which passed by year 71, nays 11.
The bill reads as follows:
‘
A Bill to Provide for the Destruction of Cotton, Tobacco, and other Property, when the same shall be about to fall into the hands of the enemy.
’
The Congress of the Confederates States do enact, That it shall be the duty of all military commanders in the service of the
Confederate States, to destroy all cotton, tobacco, or other property that may be useful to the enemy, if the same cannot be safely removed, whenever, in their judgment, the said cotton, tobacco, and other property is about to fall into the hands of the enemy.
Mr. Miles, from the
Committee on Military Affairs, offered a resolution instructing the
Committee on the Judiciary to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill for the compensation of all loyal citizens whose cotton, tobacco, and other property may be destroyed by the military or by themselves, to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy.
The resolution was agreed to — year 61, noes 19.
Mr. Swan, from the Military Committee, reported a bill for the regulation of passports, as a substitute for a bill referred to the committee.
This bill provides only for the supervision of passports by the
Secretary of State, in the case of persons leaving the
Confederate States.
Mr. Foots reported back a bill from the
Committee on Foreign Affairs for the appointment of Commissioners to attend the
World's Fair, in
London, on 1st May next:--He asked it be laid on the table and the committee discharged from its further consideration.
Mr. F. also reported a resolution asking information of the
President, concerning the presence of certain foreign ships of war in Hampton Boards, and their objects, if not incompatible with the public interest.
