The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-09
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,

al the usual nOur the House Vailed 10 order.
After prayer and reading of the journal
Mr. JONES from the COMMITTEE of Ways and
Means reported bill making appropriations for the
support of the army for tho year l64l which was
twice read and referred to the Committee Of the Whole
on the state of the Union, and with the accompanying
documents ordered to be printed.
Petitions presented by Messrs. CHINN, RA-
RIDDEN and GRINNELL.
Mr. FILLMORE asked leave to Introduce bill ito
regulate the taking Of testimony in cses of contested
elections and for other purposes !" which refer
red to the Committee Elections AID ordered to be
printed.
Mr.. DAVIS, Of Indiana, presented an amendment
which he should offer to bill for tie support of the
army, md moved il be printed; whish was carried
MIR. CHM gave notice Of I'LL III relation to
lands In Louisiana that he would ask leave to intro
duce at some futuIe day.
Mr.. THOMPSON, of Miss, according to previ-
notice, asked leave TO Introduces bill in relation
to the Choctaw Indians which was referred to the
Committee on Indian Affairs and ordered obe printed
Mr.. LEONARD from the Committee an Public
Buildings to which referred certain matters In
relation to the falling of the chandelier REPORTED in
compliance with the resolutions of investigation. The
Committee had entered in the affair. The Clerk in
pursuance of the order of the House had entered into
written contract with Messrs Hooper & Co. of
Boston, Mass, to manufacture chandelier. Vhe
committee had come to conclusion that the provisions
of the contract had been fully complied with. They
considered the fall of the accidents over which
there was control. The materials Of the chande1
ler very severely tested before its suspension
{ A letter introduced and read from the manu-
facturers to the Committee Public Buildings, stat
ing that they had taken the necessary precautions for
safety in the construction of the chandelier &c. The
whole weight thousand one hundred and
eleven pounds, sc. &C.,
The committee further reported that there had been
no money paid on it. That the remaining materials
were worth $400, which the manufactures would take
back; and they recommend strict compliance with
the contract and that the Clerk pay the balance, de-
Quoting ss400.
Mr.. BRIGGS moved the adoption of the report, and
that it be printed; which was carried
Mr.. VIM. COST JOHNSON moved a suspension
of the rules that he might report providing for
the relief of the lunacs of the District of Columbia
He sure that the House would not be five minutes
n the consideration oft. He moved that the House
90 into a Committee of the Whole on the considera-
tim of the bill.
M, CALVARY MORRIS hoped that the House
would consent at once to take up this bill. He was
sath6ed, after having visited the prison where they
wereconfned, that the subject demanded the immedi-
ate attention of the House, and of every benevolent
individual
Thsqueston the suspension of the rules was
then put and carried--whereon, at the call of the
Speaker,
Mr.. WILLIAMS, of N. c. took the chair and the
House resolved itselfint Committee of the Whole
on the following bill
BE IL enacted by the Senate and House of Reprseen-
tatipes Of the United States Of America in Congress
assembled That the marshal ofthe District Of Column
bia be- and he hereby authorizedo send TO the luna
tic asylum, in Baltimore, all such unatic persons
are now confined in the jas of Washington and Alex
andria counties and all such may hereafter be
mtted lunatics by order of the circuit criminal
courts and that pay the expenses of their removal
and ofheiT maintenance in said un and be allowed
for the in the settlement of his accounts at the
Treasury of the United States.
MIR. CUSHING begged for little information on
this subject He confessed he did not understand the
matter.
In the first placewhy the corporation ofthe city Of
Washington did not take care other own paupers
Secondly what right paupers may be confined in
the common jal2 Hewould ask if there be no aims
house where they might be received if paupersif not
paupers why their relatives not called for their
if this bill be to transfer to the United
States the charge of the lunatics of Washington
Mr.. w. COST JOHNSON in reply said, that
the unatics were placed with the paupers because
would be at the manifest peril of the personal safety
of every pauper. The peril of the paupers would be
the same as of the citizen, they allowed their
liberty in the streets.
Then, in relation to the city corporation of Wash
they have not built lunatic asylum
For the same reason that the State of Maryland has
never done so till within the last two because
they had not the means-and to employ physicians
and give these Iunatcs all that is necessary in order
reason The physician had reported to him that many
of these lunatcs would, many of Them have been
covered before, but in their moments they were
depressed with the idea that they confined in the
same room with the culprits those who steal and COM
NIT every outrage on society They placed there
because there was other place where they could be
put.
He had letter in his hand from the Superinten-
dent Of the Lunatic Asylum at Baltimore, stating
that they would receive the unatcs of the District at
a moderate compensation. The State of Maryland,
previous to the erection of her Lunatic Asylum, was
in the habit of sending her lunaucs to Philadelphia
and he hoped that the Congress of the United States
would feel an interest that these lunacs should not
at large. Common sympathy calls that these pro-
visions should be adopted.
Mr.. CUSHING made another inquiry. He would
not yield TO the gentleman in compassion or in desire
that all proper means-all legal and just means
should be taken for the benefit of these individuals.
But he DESTROYS to know whom the RESPONSE
bty of assisting and providing for them truly rested
And another inquiry he had asked why these per-
sons were confined in Jail The answer was, that In
the poor house they would be dangerous to the per-
sonal safety Of the paupers He desired to know why
the city of Washington can not make provision for
their confinement in the poor house well as in the
Jail. He was told that among these lunatcs were in
dviduals kept in that Jail without the common sup
plies necessary for life lying the stone floor He
desired still further information this point, and to
know by whose fault 4 is, that these persons are in
this state of misery and destituton2
Mr.. w. c. JOHNSON would give an explanation
He was told that the Corporation of the City Of
Washinoton furnishes two dollars per week for the