Skip Skip PETITIONS and MEMORIALS. The PRESIDENT protempera. The Chair has received, and been requested to present to the Senate, a memorial signed by many dress makers in different parts of the U.S., praying for a modification of the present tax upon their business. They represent that so far as taxing their labor is concerned, though that would be onerous at the present time in view of their compensation, they would be willing to submit to that; but a tax of 6%. upon the materials, costly trimmings, c., that go through their hands purchased by their employers, makes an amount of expenditure on their part so large that their business, if the tax is continued, will be absolutely destroyed, and they beg that the tax on their manufactures may be repealed. This petition will be received, and referred to the ComFinance. Mr. GRIMES. I present a petition from Admiral S. W. Godon, acting rear admiral in charge of the Brazil s undron, and the other line and staff officers of the Navy attached to that squadron, who represent that the pay for naval officers was established free from tax, at a period when the currency of the country was gold and silver; that even at that time it was not more than sufficient to meet their necessary expenses and left them without the prospect of providing for old age or misfortune, that since that period the cost of the necessaries of life has more than doubled in many instances; that this increase of cost has been provided for in civil employment by a corresponding increase of salaries while the naval officers, compelled by the disfcipline of the Navy to preserve the appearance of officers at whatever cost, have been forced. in many instances, to incur debts and suffer family privations, which they have endeavored to conceal from the public during the rebellion, with the hepe that after its supipression either the cost of the necessaries O life would be reduced to its for iler amount, or that congress would, in their sense of justice, make an an addition to their pay as would enable them to maintain that appearance before their fellow citizens and the representatives of foreign countries when abroa which universal sentiment requires of all officers. They therefore pray that congress will in its wisdom and justice provide for an increase of the ay of the navnlpOfficers of the U.S. pI move that it be referred to the ComNavAffrs. The motion was agreed to. Mr. SHERMAN presented a communication addressed to him from the ComrAg, in relation to the subject of cultivating the China grass; which was ordered to be printed, and referred to the ComAg. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.