Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-05

can expeditions fitting out in her ports then
and then only will the Kings ratification be
delivered.
From the National HnteDigencer.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
HOUSE OF REPREsENTATIy
Monday, May 1.
Mr.. TYLER of Va. has obtained leave
of absence, on account Of the state OF
his health.
Mr.. Upham. Mr.. Jones Of Virgi-
MIA, and MIR. Barbour obtained leave
of absence on account of the state OF
their domestic concerns requiring their
presence-the first from this day, the
second from Wednesday next, and the
latter from Thursday next.
Mr.. Dickinson presented petition
of sundry merchants and traders. resi-
ding in various places in the interior OF
the State of New York and other states
praying that duty not exceeding ten
per centum may be imposed on all
goods at auction, which was referred.
Z Mr.. Street, from the committee on
pensions, reported without amendment
the Senate's bill s. for the relief of E.
benezer Stevens, and Austin l.. Sands.
&C. and the bill was referred to q
committee of the whole House.
Mr.. Silsbee, from the committee on
naval affairs, reported bill TO prevent
the commanders, ard other officers in
the Naval Service of the United States
from accepting of any present or emo
lumcnt of any kind whatever from any
King. Prince. or foreign state, and for
other purposes: which was twice read
and ordered to be engrossed for third
reading.
MIR. Silsbee from the same committee
also delivered in the following report
The Committee on naval AFFAIRS have, &C
cordng to order, had under consideration
resolution directing an inquiry into the ex-
pediency of so modifying the act establish
ing board of commissioners OF the navy, as
to make the secretary of the navy, for the
time being the presiding officer OF that board;
and also OF So limiting the tenor OF the COM
missions OF the members thereof, as to secure
the accommodating experience apd talents OF
our naval commanders in that department,
by periodical rotation in Office )" and sub
init the following report The act entitled
an act to alter and amend the several acts
for establishing navy department., by add
ing thereto board OF commissioners, pro-
vides that the board so constituted shall be
attached 10 the office otthe secrstnry of the mo-
Uy, and, under has superintendarce, shall dis
charge all the duties therein specified; and
that the record of their proceedings shall, at
all times, be subject 10 his inspection.
As it would be often announcement, and
sometimes impracticahle, for the secretary
of the navy, TO meet the board of commits
sioners, as their presiding officer, without
neglecting other and more important duties,
and as the secretary IS, by the Aforesaid act,
already vested with supervising and con-
trolling power of the acts and proceedings
of the board of commissioners, the commit
tee do not perceive the necessity OF such a
modification of the said act as is contempla-
ted by the first inquiry directed by the reso-
luton, or that the public service would be
benefited thereby.
The committee are the more disposed to
this opinion, from the consideration that the
limits OF jurisdiction between the secretary
and the board seem to be perfectly under
stood by each. and that no conflicting claims
exist between them on this subject.
The committee are not advised whether
ri of hn for tn
be constituent part Of the board, and at the
same time possessed of the control and su-
perintendance OF its proceedings, or merely
the presiding officer, with casting vote. In
the latter case, the benefit to be derived from
the superintendent OF one officer over others
under distinct responsibilities, as well as the
circumspection naturally resulting from such
responsibility. would be entirely lost. In the
former case the commissioners would be lit
tie more than advisory, and, in that proper
ton, bereft of responsibility.
In relation to the second enquiry directed
by the resolution, viz, "of So limiting the
tenor of the members Of the board of COM
missioners, as TO secure the accommodating ex-
penence and talents of our naval command
eis in that department, by periodical rota-
ton in Office, the committee beg leave to re-
mark, that the duties OF the commissioners
of the navy board are not merely such as ap-
pertain to mere naval officer, but extend 10
other and important subjects, with which
such officers cannot be supposed to be fa-
military acquainted; they relate not only TO
the contracting for. and procurement of, all
articles necessary for the armament, equip
ment, and provisioning of the public ships,
but also to the constructing and repairing OF
those ships, to effectuafe which objects, ia