The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-08
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.

and Means reported bill for the oriifcaions OF the
country.
Whole, with instructions. The Speaker decided that
the instructions were not in oIder From this deci-
sion appeal was taken, and the yeas and nays or
dered upon IT, Appeal negatived.
Mr. GlDDINGS from the Committee on Claims,
reported resolution 10 employ clerk for that Com
mlttee.
Mr. LEWIS WILLIAMS objected TO the resolu-
lion. The rule adopted forbade the action of Com
mitiees any subject not embraced in the Presidents
Message. This Committee could therefore have no
occasion for the employment Of Gle k.
The CHAIR decided the report to be not in order
MIR. q. withdrew the resolution.
Mr. WISE from the Committee on Naval Affairs,
reported bill making appropriations for naval ord
nance ana 10, other purpose Referred 20 the Gum
mlttee of the Whole on the state ofthe Union.
Mr. KING from the Committee on Naval Affairs
reported bill making appropriations for the support OF
home squadron. Referred to the Committee Of the
Whole on the state of the Union and, after some
conversation two thousand copies of the bill and
the accompanying reports ordered to be printed
Mr.. WILLIAMS, from the Committee on Mile
age, reported resolution authorizing the purchase Of
a Get o maps, to enable that Committee TO estimate
correctly the distances OF the residences of members
Mr.. ANDREWS, of Kentucky objected to the
expense The maps in possession othe draughts-
man OF the House. now receiving salary OF III ,ooO
He thought he ought TO furnish the Of the maps
gratis.
MI w Williams IN TWO or three reJolnders,
stated the facts. The " hole cost of the of maps
needed was $75 There were now none Of the kind
in possession Of the House. The draughtsman last
year loaned to the committee the of of maps,
without charge by which the committee, in their
port, enabled TO the nation an expense OF
5000 by reduction of mileage.
Mr. ANDREWS said he understood from the
Chairman of the Committee on Post Offices and Post
Roads that that Committee had a set of maps, which
might be borrowed by the Mileage Committee
Al IIAI =
to limit the expense absolutely S75 by the resou-
ton-which was accepted by MIR. WILLIAMS,
MIR. SNYDER moved the yeas and nays.
Mr.. STANLY and Mr., MORGAN observed
that it would cost s75 to take the yeas and nays.
Mr. SNYDER insisted on the yeas and nays being
taken.
On the question Of seconding the call for yeas and
nays only four members voted for it. So the yeas and
nays were not ordered
The resolution was passed by large majority.
MI. TRUMBULL, by leave, presented remon-
STRANGE, numerousy signed from Hartford, Conn,
against the passage of retrospective bankrupt law
Referred to Committee on the Judiciary.
MIR. TOlAND, by leave, presented petition of
the Philadelphia Board of Trade, for National Bank
Referred to the Select Committee on the Currency
Mr.. UNDERWO GOD, by leave, presented the peti-
ton of Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen of George
town for alteration of the laws limiting their urisdc
ton. Referred to the Committee the District OF
Columbia.
Mr. flIIMOhE moved TO 90 INTO COMMITTEE oil
the Whole on the state of the Union lie withdrew
his motion, however, at the request of Mr.. WARES
who presented his resolution according to notice
yesterday olimt every speaker in Committee of the
Whole 10 hour.
Mr.. WISE suggested that it might be well to amend
so as to liant each speech TO- fifteen minutes !! That
would be long enough for some gentlemen.
The question was taken by yeas and nays, and
the resolution was then passed-Ayes l0S, noes II.
Mr.. WARREN Immediately moved reconsidera-
ton, and upon that moved the previous question
which was ordered and the reconsideration then
negatyed.
On motion of Mr. FILLMORE, the House then
resolved itself into Committee of the Whole on the
state of the Unon--Mr. Briggs in the Chair.
Mr. UNDERWOOD moved TO take up the bill re-
ported from the Committee the District of Columbia,
making provision for pauper lunatics.
Mr.. FILLMORE moved to take up the bill from the
Committee Ways and Means authorizing loan of
$l2O00000
A iter conversation, the Committee voted by
large majority to take up the bill making increased
provision for the support of the pauper lunacs of the
District of Columbia.
MIR. U NDERW GOD stated the facts in the case
MIR. ROOSEVELT gave history of the building
of the Lunatc Asylum of the State of New York.
He regretted that he had not copy of the New York
statutes, that he might give the details at large
lie opposed the bill.
Mr.. WELLER was in favor of reform and re-
trenchment in all things, but would not begin by re-
fusng charitable provision for the unfortunate beings
deprived of their reason by the God of Heaven, and
thrown upon the charities of Congress the local
legislature Of the District. He had voted for the APP
preparation Of 50 600 last session he would vote for
the proposed increase of SO 500.
Mr.. 5 rEENROD opposed the bill
MIR. UNDERW GOD replied to tho objections
made.
Messrs MALLORY, SERGEANT, BROWN
of New York, RANDALL, OF Md. and PROFFIT
debated the question at length,
The bill then was ordered to be reported to the
House.
The bill from the Committee on Ways and Means
authorizing the President of the United States to
borrow S2 900 600 for eight years at per cent on
the credit OF the United States, was then taken up
Mr.. WISE inquired why the President of the U
81 and not the Secretary OF the Treasury, vested
with the power of making the loan
Mr. FILM ORE said that he had examined all
previous bills of similar object and character and had
found that the President of the U. 5. the person
authorized to exercise the great discretionary powers
connec,e ed with the undertaking OF loan. The com
mltce had been governed both by previous usage and
by the natural proprety OF comforting this high dis
cretionary power the highest Executive officer of
the Government,
After some dcsuItory debate Mr. FILLMORE
took the hooi with minute statement OF the grounds
OF the report. There deficiency in the rreasu.
y represented by the Secretary of the Treasury in
his report calling the attention of Congress to this
point. A detailed statement of the items es-
senal or important. The most important, however
were,he Treasury notes falling due,-the balance of
expenses oftaking the xth Census, the Civil List
the Military service, including suspended works on
fortifcations,-the Naval seryicc,--the Public Debt.
On this last itcn he observed that though the report
had gone abroad that the National Debt has been paid
of IN President Jackson's Administr alton, there was
a considerable amount Of outstanding claims of credl.
tors under loans An additional item the expense
Of this extra session. The appropriation already made
for this purpose had already exceeded the estimates of
the Secretary, and he feared that with all the other
than excessive
He then reviewed the estimates of receipts These
were
The Treasury notes authorized the Customs, lin
which important reductions had taken place under the