Mr. SCHENCR. In behalf of the comRetrenchment I do not wish to be very tenacious about this matter, but I cannot see that the proposition which I have made is in any respect improper. After this bill was reported by the ComJudiciary, this House concurred with the Senate in raising a joint select committee; consisting of 3 Senators and 5 members of this House, to which, by express provision and description of the service in which that committee was to be engaged, they intrusted the authority of considering and reporting upon this whole matter. This justifies, at least, the motion that I have made. The select committee, although it may be inferior to the ComJudiciary, think that from the testimony taken by them during the recess, they obtained some light for their guidance to enable them to legislate wisely and well upon this subject. They may be mistaken in their views. There may be a difference between their views and the views of other gentlemen upon this subject; but a bill of this kind ought to be very carefully prepared. The select committee took up this subject at its 1st meeting this session; they were engaged in its consideration this morning, and they have determined to take up the subject again tomorrow, when they hope to complete it. In the course of this work we have considered 5 or 6 bills on this subject now pending in this House and the Senate, endeavoring out of the whole to select whatever was good, whatever was best expressed, and by a combi nation of the matter which seems best, to prei. a bill which shall meet the approval of oth the House and the Senate. "We have endeavored to discharge our duty according to the instructions of the 2 Houses. It is said now that this bill is as good as it can be made and ought at once to have the action of the House, and yet at the same moment we are told that it is defective and that several amendments have been prepared and will be offered to it, and then, the chairman of the ComJudiciary tells us, it will be perfect.