Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-12-23
TWEEN TIETH CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
WEDNESDAY,, December u, 1928.
IN SENATE.

Mr.. Chambers presented memorial on the
SUBJECT OF French Spolations, and moved that
'nat, and all the memorials on the subject, pre-.
sented at the last session Of Congress he referred
TO the Special Committee appointed a, this session;
which was agreed to.
Mr. NOBLE, alter few explanatory remarks,
submitted the following resolution; which was
considered and agreed to.
hesoiued, That the Committee on Pensions be
instructed TO inquire into the expedency Of 50 "a
mending the Pension laws that Congress may be
enabled to place such applicants for pensions on
the list as shall be found entitled to the privilege,
win Pronptness, and to do justice to such appi-
The following resolution, yesterday submitted
by Mr. Kane, was taken up, for consideration:
Resotred, That the Committee on Roads and
Canals be instructed to inquire into the expedien-
cy oil authorizing the issuing Of certificates re-
ceivaole IN payment tor public lands in the State
oil Illinois, for the purpose OF repairing and i'm
proving the road from Vicennes in Indiana, TO ST.
Louis in Missouri
Mr.. Benton offered the following amendment;
which was agreed to:
" And also, for like issue of certificates. re-
ne wable in payment Of public lands, in the State
OF Missouri. for improving the great Western
mail route from st. Louis to Liberty in Clay coun-
ty, in said State.''
MIR. Hendricks offered the following amend
ment; which was also agreed To-:
g And TO enquire into the expediency Of an ap.
propria,ion lin money scrip, receivable in pay
ment for public lands) for the purpose of improy-
ing the mail road from Louisville TO viucennes.''
The resolution, as amended, was then adopted;
and Mr.. Hendricks withdrew the resolution offer
ed by him yesterday.
The resolutions yesterday submitted by Mr..
Prince and Mr. Eaton, were then severally con-
sdered and agreed to.
message ola confidential nature, was receiv.
ed from the President ofthe United States, and
laid on the table.
Agrceably to notice, Mr.. Dckerson asked and
obtained leave TO introduce a bill TO provide for
the distribution Of part of the revenues OF the
United States among the States; which was read,
and passed to a second reading.
Mr. Hayne, from The Committee on Naval AZ
fairs, reported a bill for the relief Of Susan Deca-
tur and others. This bill provides that 100000
dollars shall be appropriated, and divided in rata
Bile proportions among the surviving captors of the
Philadelphia frigaie, and the heirs of those who
have deceased: Of which the proportion 10 be g
ven to the heIs OF Commodore Decatur is fixed at
$3l ,OO01 The bill was read, and passed to Sc
cond reading.
Mr. HayDe, from the same committee, reported
bill to amend an act, entitled - An act for the
better organization the Medical Department OF
the Navy;" which was read, and passed to Sc
cond reading.
The resolution yesterday reported from the
Committee on the judiciary relative 10 the distri-
button of Jefferson's Manual, SC was, after having
been aipended,by providing that five copies Of each
work, should be deposited in the library, of Con.
gress agreed 10.
The bill " for The relief of sundry persons who
have lost property by the depreda,ons Of certain
Indian tribes" and the bill .. restricting the loca.
ton ofcertain land claims i n the Territory of Ar
kansas, and Tor other purposes" were seyerally
read a third time, and passed.
On motion Of Mr.. Eaton,
The joint resolution changing the mode of elect
ing printer, which was yesterday laid on the ia
bic, was taken up.
Mr. Eaton observed, that he owed some eypla-
nation to gentlemen for the course he had taken in
| regard 10 the resouton under discussion. Some
| gentlemen had preferred the reference Of the
| matter TO a Committeeman he prefer cd another
CONSOLIDATE should be considered by the Sc
| nate, and for this plain reason, that when duty
is 10 be performed by the Senate which requires
information to be obtained which ii is to act,
the matter is referred to Committee, to ascertain
and report that information; but this matter, said
he, contains but one principle, and that il, whe-
ther the printer OF your body shall be chosen by
majority or plurality of votes. II was simple
proposi ion, one on which he entertained no
doubt, and he had believed that no gehtIneman
would hesitate Tor moment in agreeing 10 its
| rectness. The resolution of 1919, contained thi,
| principle, that the Printer Of Congress should be
elected by plurality Of votes. His object was TO
make that election determined by majority; and
| in his observations OF yesterday, he had repeated
This possible case, that there might be five or six
candidates for the printing, each one having bis
friends aud in this way officer might be foist
ed upon this body, who was not the choice OF it,
lie contemplated no farther change Of the resolu-
ton OF 1919, than the one he had just mentioned
merely to make the election Of the officer depend
upon majority Of the Senate; and under these cir
cemstanccs, 1t was that the gentleman from Rhode
| Island had proposed amendment, which con-
templates putting out the public printing TO the
lowest bidder; for he could see no other motive fol-
| advertising. The gentleman had said that II was
not the object of his amendment TO give the print.
ing to the lowest bidder but he would put tito the
| gentleman himself, where was the propriety Of
calling upon printers to furnish their proposals, il
there was no intention to give the work TO him
| who bid the lowest. II the prices established
by the resolution of 1910, were deemed by the
| gentleman too high, why not institute en-
quiry! But, said he, il is by means fair
inference that the prices too high; at least
we have heard no objection made to them for
the last nine years iie recoected that when
he first came into the Senate, gentleman by
the name of DE Kraft was the contractor, ana
the work was done ia an exceedingly careless
| manner; indeed, In more than one instance, The
| Secretary had to 20 out aud engage another prn
| ter 10 do that which had been neglected-Noy
Sir, said he, from the experience | have had,
| am not prepared 10 90 back 20 the old conlrac
| system. The evils OF IL had been fully demon.
strated, and it was in consequence Of the difficult
ties experienced under IL, that the present manner
oiputhng out the Congressional printing was adopt
| cd. he prices established by the resolution
| OF 1919, and the manner Of executing the
work, were established under the sanction anC
with the benefits OF the experience OF gentle.
man who was himself printer, aud who return.
cd TO his vocation alter he had ceased 10 be roen.
Der Of this body. With regard TO the economy o
the plan proposed by the amendment, ie took II 10
lie the truest economy. 10 pay tfe public officers
so well 10 enable them to perform the work en-
trusted 10 item in proper manner and not, by
having the work done ehespIy, to have such a.
may now be found in the public library Chra,
ness alone he considered the worst OF all kinds q