CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

" THE REPORTER or THE NEw-YoRK TRIBUNE.
{"character_count": 3452, "word_count": 572, "ccnet_language_score": [0.9506999850273132], "ccnet_perplexity": [1043.9000244140625], "fasttext_language": ["en"]}



WAsHINGroS, Monday, jan 81.


In the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. to-day,
Hon. OsMYN BAKER, Representative elect from
Mass. was qualified and took his seat.


Mr.. DOUGLASS of ILL., from the Committee on
Elections, made report on the validity Of the
claims to seats of the general ticket members.
1T argues at length the unconsttutIOnality of the
general ticket law and closes with a resolution
declaring the rights of those members to their
seats Mr.. G. DAVIS asked and was granted
leave to bring in d minority-report tomorrow.
The report was referred to the Committee of the
Whole on the Union and ordered printed 1t
will be taken up for consideration two weeks from
tomorrow, according to notice of Mr.. ELMER
Chairman of the Committee on Elections


This Committee have decided on Mr.. Gill
MER's case-in favor ofhs claim to his scat, by
the party majority, 6 to 3, (by which the above
report was also adoped,) and will probably report
tomorrow.


resolution eff Mr.. SLIDELL, of La, inquiring
of the Postmaster General as to the cause of the
frequent irregularities in the mail between this
and New Orleans, Sc, was adopted.


Petitions were presented from the States in or
der.


Mr.. GIDDINGs presented one from New York,
for the passage of law to punish officers of the
United States assisting in rcclalmng fugitive
slaves The SPEAKER decided this not included
within the 2lst rule, but admissible. Mr.. BLACK
appealed The appeal was laid on the table ::
Ayes ll3-noes not counted Mr. PAYNE Of
AIa raised the question OF reception. Mr. CAVE
JonSsoN moved to lay 1t on the table, (Which, If
carried, would exclude the petition.) Rejected ::
Yeas SIS, Nays 81. The question: Z" shall this
petition be received ?' was then negatired ::
Yeas S., Nays sc.


Also, one from New ork, asking, in case of
the annexation of Texas to give New York to
Canada. The question of reception, raised by
Mr., DRoMGooLE, was laid on the table.


Various other petitions were presented among
;shic,', one by Mr.. BEARpSLEy. met with some
obiecto. rs, and pending the question on the re-
ception. IN House adjourned.


In SFy,rr- among various others-tlr. BU-
cH.sAy presented petition from Philadelphia,
asking for the purchase OF the u S'a'es D"ii>
building for custom-l.'uSe.


Mr.. PuELps presented resolutions OF the nef-
mont Legislature, in favor Of the present tarlff


Mr. STURGEON presented resolutions OF tle Le-
g,slaturc Of Pa, against the construction oi
ondge over the Ohio, at Wheeling. o,


Mr. MERR,CK, Chairman OF the ios'.oilioe
Committee, presented bill on the suoec' o'
postage, embodying his own views, when a' i's
reQuest-in order to facilitate the deliberalon ahu
action of the Committee thereon-was ORDERED
printed, |, reduces the rates of postage to D ano
10 cents, abolishng the iranllng privilege eXcep'
to the President, Vice President and heads oil be'
partmcnts, and to certain limited extent 'c
Members of Congress and certain other Junction
ares; reduces the postage OF newspapers, nc:


The Tariff bill of Mr.. McDuFFIE with Mf
EyANs's report thereon, again came up; and Mr
Evans replied at length and with abllny an'
cearness to Mr.. McDuEFlE's propositions, de
tending the principles Of the present Tariff, citing
facts to show It's beneficial effects thus far, ant
the probability of It's still more successful opera
ton in future, &c. &c. Without concluding h,
gave way.


And the Senate, after an Executive session, ad
purned