Mr. DRIGGS. I was informed by an honorable constituent of mine that this General Baker is building a 1st class hotel in the city of Lansing, the capital of my State, but notiu my district. I know but very little of this general Baker except as to his connection with the War Dept. For some very mysterious reason t iis gentleman acquired a remarkable power in the Government, or at least in one branch of it, and exercised this power for many months during the progress of the war. ButI have been unable to discover in what consists the great merit of this gentleman which entitles him to receive nearly one quarter of the whole amount awarded. The award made by the War Dept is, in my opinion, just. Under that award the privates will receive their equitable share. The Gentfrom NewYork has said that the privates who assisted in the capture of Booth and his associates had nothing to lose; that General Baker and Lisutenanteolonel Conger had all the responsibility, had everythin to gain or lose. LertainlyI should think t cy had everything to gain if we adopt this report. If this bill passes in the shape reported by the committee, it will, in my judvment, inflict a great outrage upon all the privates, most of whom aided at least as muc as Baker did in the ca are of the assassins. Baker was in the city 0 Washington at the time. These privates had as much at stake in the work they undertook as he had. Sir, I can see no justice, no propriety, in the award which the committee propose shall be made. It seems to me there must be some mysterious influence at work I cannot tell where; nor do I make any personal charge in reference to any gentleman; but it must be obvious, I think, that a great wrong is about to be perpetrated if the House should adopt the report of the committee. One word in regard to Lieutenant Colonel Conger, and I am done. He is really a noble, high toned gentleman, and I should have been better pleased if he had been awarded about 10,000 dollars. I think he was really the active man in the whole affair. In regard to General Baker, I know nothing personally; but, as I have before remarked, [cannot see that he has rendered such services as to entitle him to nearly one quarter of the whole amount awarded. I shall vote against the bill as it now stands; and I hope that my amendment will be adopted.