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Show FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS. The House. Washington, February 23. On motion of Forney, a resolution was adopted granting leave to the Appropriations Committee to sit during session of the House. Morrison, from the Committee on Ways and Means, reported the joint resolution directing the payment of the surplus in the Treasury on the public debt. Committee of the whole. Hewitt obtained leave to file the views of the minority. , . The report which accompanies the joint resolutions, says: On the 30th of January, 1886, as shown by the official statement of assets and liabilities of the Treasury of the United States, there was in the Treasury and U. , S. depositories, including, the amounts lield for redemption of U. S. notes, and not including 'minor fractional silver coin classed as assets not available, avail-able, tho sum of $179,639,862.21 in excess of all other liabilities than the redemption re-demption of said United States notes. It is believed that this sum is largely in excess of the sum required for the purpose for which it is held, and that a considerable part thereof should be applied to the payment pay-ment of the interest-bearing debt of the United States, now payable, to the end that the public moneys shall be used to lighten the public burdens, and not unnecessarily un-necessarily held to lure agents and representatives repre-sentatives of the people into improvident and wasteful expenditure. Weber, of New York, from the Committee on Railwav and Canals, reported the bill for the permanent improvement of the Erie and Osweeo canals, and to secure the freedom of the same to the commerce of the united States. Committee of the Whole. j Tucker, from the Committee on Judiciary, reported the bill providing that no person I shall be held to answer for any crime where- j of punishment may be the loss of life or liberty, except on presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in case3, arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public pub-lic danger. House Calendar. Ellsbury, of Ohio, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, reported the bill granting pensions to all invalid soldiers or their widows or children, who are dependent on their daily labor for support. Committee of the Whole. , . Buchanan, from the Committee on Claims, reported the bill for the relief of the survivors sur-vivors of ihe exploring steamer Jeannette,' and the widows and children of those who perished in the expedition. Private calen- j d!Van Wyck says the purpose of his land bill is to quiet the apprehension of settlers, who fear that some of the rulings of Commissioner-General Sparks may have the effect of cancelling claims which were taken in good faith under the laws as interpreted bv a former Commissioner. He proposes, therefore, to crystalize certain weU-recog-nized principles of practice into the statute. |