Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-12-20

lie would, however only remark that he did moi
comprehend, If Congress did not possess the constu-
tona power to improve the navigation of n stream,
how the power to do could hc acquired. by first
establishing port of entry upon the stream. AS to
the present resolution he thought there could be
objection to it. lie voted last year f.; the bill making
the appropriation To improve the Wabash and he enter
tanned no more doubt about the constitutional power of
Congress to do than he did of the power 10 construct
breakwatcr at the mouth of the Dcaware-to erect
iorihcations-to improve Boston harbo the harhors
IN Lake Erie. He had scruples whatever about It.
He thought last year that the people oil Indiana had clas
and therefore he voted for the bill And If the honorable
gentleman thought he had any prospect of obtaining
the passage OF law tor the purpose he would support
again. He (Mr. W. thought there was no reasonable
prospect of long the councils nation
subject
| MIR. Upton made few other remarks after which.
| the resolution adopted.
The Senate then proceeded TO the special order of the
day, which was the election of
CHAPLAIN.
The I'd ballot resulted follows:
Messrs. Hatch 22, Perry 9, Slccr z Upton I lIiyby
| l. Sargent j, Stockton l, Brook I--i3.
Mr. Hatch having received majority of all the bal
lots given, was declared duly elected Chaplain for the
present session.
The resolution submitted yesterday by Mr. Hen
drcks relative to certain post roads, and submitted
by Mr. Ipton relative to improving the harbor Trail
Creek, adopted.
On motion of Mr. Benton the resolutions submitted
by hm relative to an alteration of the Constitution
ordered to be printed and made special order
Of the day for Monday next
Mr.. Clay moved that the bill introduced by him, to
distribute for limited time the proceeds of the sales of
public lands among the several States be taken up and
made the order OF the day for Tuesday the Both in
| slant
The Senate then adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Tuesday, December I6
MIR. Polk from the Committee of Ways and Means
reported the following bills:
bill regulating the deposites of the public money of
the u States in certain local banks;
bill to repeal much of the act entitled "An act
transferring the duties of Commissioner of Loans the
Bank of the United States and abolishinc the Office of
Tho Rank off hnI
States to perform the duties of Commissioner OF Loans
for the several States;
bill To authorize the sale of the Bank stock of the
United States.
The said bills read twice. and on motion of Mr.
Folk, their further consideration postponed and
they were made the special orders of the day for the first
Monday in January.
| Mr.. Polk, from the same committee reported bill
making appropriations for the payment of revolutionary
and other pensions of the United States, for the year
1888; which was read twice, and committed to Commit
! tee of the Whole.
Mr.. Johnson, of kentucky, from tho Committee on
Military Affairs, reported the!ioowing bills which were
| read twice and committed, viz
bill for the better organization of the corps of To-
biographical Engineers;
bill providing for the gradual of the corps of
Engineers, and for other purposes,
And bill to authorize the appointment of additional
pay masters;
MIR. Johnson, from the same Committee, reported
bill extending the time for issuing military land warrants
TO the officers and soldiers of the Revolutionary Army
which was read twice. and directed to be engrossed for
| u third reading.
Mr. White, from the Committee on Naval Affairs re-
ported bill authorizing the enlistment of boys in the
naval IVA service which was read twice and committed.
The following resolutions, submitted yesterday were
| taken up and agreed to:
| BY Mr.. McKim:
| Resoired That the Secretary of the Treasury be d
eced 10 have assayed the Mint of the United States
all foreign gold and silver coins now in circulation
throughout the United States, and to furnish this House
with statement of the quantity ofine gold and silver
contained in each of said coins and their current value
at the Mint agreeaby the law passed at the last ses-
sion oil Congress- regulating the value gold and silver
/
BY Mr.. Thomas, of Maryland:
ReSotred That the Secretary of the Treasury be- and
he Is requested, to communicate this House any
formation he has received obtain concerning the
official proceedings of the Government Directors in the
Bank OF the United States
| BY Mr. Mercer:
ResOlred, That the Secretary of the Treasury be d
rected to lay before this House copy of any contract
winch may have been made since the last session of
congress- Tor the construction Of bridge the Po
tonac, within the District of Columbia and an estimate
OF the probable cost of the same according the
of such contract.
The following resolution, submitted yesterday by Mr.
| Fulton, was taken up:
Resolced That 5000 copies of the sProceed;ngs md
Discussions of the French Chamber of Deputies on the
subject OF the treaty between France and the United
States be printed for the use of the members of this
| House.
After short explanation by Mcssrs E. Everett, Full
toi and Foster, the resolution amended by striking
Out ooOo ana inserting 10000; when it agreed to-
| On motion of Mr. Wilson
Resoioed That the Committee Roads and Canals
be instructed TO inquire into the expedency directing
an appropriation to be made for the improvement of the
| Monongahola river, from Middletown in virginia to
Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania
! On motion of Mr.. Loyal
heS0iced, That the Committee on Invalid Pensions in
CURE into the cxpedency of granting TO the heirs
legal representatives of Josiah Hopkins seaman who
was wounded on board the United States soop of war
Hornet, during the late with Great Britain
OF pension to which he entitled from the 23d March,
| 1919, to the 9TH September, 1888
| On motion Of Mr.. Allen, of Virginia,
hesoSea That the Committee on the Judiciary be in
sructed to inquire into the expedency of changing the
time OF holding the United States Court for the west
ern district of Virginia, at Ciarksburg.
The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the
Secretary OF the Treasury, in response resolution of
the House of the 18th instant calling for information in
patents to lands in the State Of louisiana which was
| laid the table
joint resolution directing the Secretary of State TO
compile and cause TO be printed Annual Register of
all persons employed in the civil and military service of
the United States, read third time and passed.
The Joint resolution granting the right of way through
the public property at Harper Ferry the Potomac and
winchester Rail Road Company, read a third time
and passed
On motion of Mr.. Wntmough the House resolved it.
/ self into Committee of the Whole (Mr. Briggs i'm the
Chair the bill TO equalize and regulate the pay of the
The amendment reported to the by ie Select Com
mIttee to whom the bill had been rc-committcd (which
amendment proposed to strike out the original and
sert in lieu thereof bill to regulate the pay of the Ma
/ Wy of the United States
Mr. Harper offered amendment TO that part Of the
amendment which fixed the compensation of the senior
Captain, when commanding squadron, s. 800 per
mum, so as TO make the allowance 81 800.
Mr. H. thought the bill calculated paInper and com
Pensatc too highly the higher grade Of officers, while
many OF those IN subordinate station compc
tenty provided for, and went at some length into the
i cuhip