Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-01-05
To ne House Of Representative. 9th. U. S.

of Ss ssS papers, In answer %a men resG,s,'0n
wAsHrNerox, Dec. 90, Is40.
The report is in answer to the call ofthe House
Tor all correspondence between this Government
and Grea, Britain, relative TO ony proceedings on
the part OF Grent Britain, which may have ten
ooney 70 interrupt our commerce with China; which
was read and referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, and ordered to be printed.
To the House Of Representatives. Of the u. S.
herewith transmit TO the House of Representa-
tives, Report fiom the Secretary Of State, with
accompanying paPers IN answer to their resolution
Of the 2ist inst M. VAN buren,.
wA'HISorOS, Dec. 9s, 1910.
The report is in answer to the call of the House
for oil correspondence with the British Government
and its officers agents, the subject ofthe burn
ing OF the steamboat Caroline, on the Niagara from
tier about two years ago. The message was read
and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs,
and ordered TO be printed.
Also, a letter from the Secretary of the Tre,su-
~, transmitting the information called for by the
House, IN relation TO the condition of the CUSTOM
BILE.
Also. a letter from the Secretary of State accom-
panied with the annual abstract of seamen register
ed IN the ports ofthe United States, during the year
ending 30th September, $780, in pursuance of the
act Of 2slh May 1896.
The following letter from John c. Ryes on be.
half Of Blair & Rives, Printers of the House
w N,
To the Hon. R. NJ. T. HUNTER. Speaker, Sc.
Sir: Il is known TO you and to the other men,
bers Of the House Of Representatives that F. p
clair and myself elected printers 10 the House
in January last. Under this election | expected
that all the printing for the House during the 26,h
Congress would be sent to us TO execute; and us
superintend that branch of our business engaged
men and provided materials sufficient TO do il with
at least the customary despatch.
was informed yesterday that the Clerk Of the
House had sent very large report TO the Stationer
OF the House 10 be printed by him, and that the
Stationer was actually ;rnling it. or having it trint-
ed.
Since received this information, have turned 10
the Clerks account for the expenditure of the contin-
gent fund for the last year, where fad that he has
paid other persons for printing, which, think, should
have been executed by the printers TO the House.
The persons engaged by me to work on Congress
siona documents exclusively have not been more
than three or four days in constant employment
since the commencement Of this session. There has
been some work for them every day, but not enouoh
to employ them the whole day. They are engaged
by the week, and VIC have to pay them whether
they work or not. Now, If the Clerk of the House
has the power TO have the Congress printing execu-
ted at other Offices when there has been no failure
at our office IN executing 1t promptly, | desire to
know 1t as soon as possible, SO that | may either
reduce our force or make some arrangement with
the Clerk TO get enough Of it 10 keep our hands en-
Ployed. The prices now paid 10 us by the House
in
money unless we can keep the hands which we
have engaged 10 do ITS printing constantly employ-
ed; and upon some kinds Of printing we sink mo-
ney when all our hands are EMPLOYED upon il
The Clerk and myself have had a controversy
about the bInding OF the House Documents which
i wish 10 bring before the House.
Soon. after the adjournment OF Congress- in july
last the Clerk sent word to me TO deliver the docu-
ments which we had printed to S. ID. Langtree to
bind. | refused 10 do IL. IL has been the invari
hIe eve | bpca
the manner Of executing the Congress printing
which is now l3 years, for the printer TO bind ali
the documents that he prints for Congress as prn-
ter.
time, he has invariably fitted up n 6indery as he
has printing Office. l had purchased a e.s-,
part OF the materials for the 6indns I'D mad eng g
uty OF the work before the Clerk sent me
word that he wished the documents hand
ed over 10 MIR Langtree 10 be bound The
correspondence between the Clerk and myself.
which L presume he has file, will fully
explain our controversy about the binding
wish Congress TO decide between Us as soon as
possible, 1t is necessary that the binding shou Id
be forwarded.
Respectfully, JOHN c. RIvEs.
Mr. ADAMS inquired whether the report OF the
select committee on printing at the last session had
been prnted7
Mr. DAVIS, OF Indiana. answered that both the
reports OF that committee had been printed
Mr. ADAMS. Were they printed during the
session.
Mr. DAVIS. They were; I ara certain Of it.
MrADAMS said he had not seen them. He
stated that this brought US TO matter about which
he had taken occasion few days ago TO complain
the difficulty of procuring any Of the documents
OF the last session. Here we had the whole expla-
nation. These gentlemen were al very near bro
theirs 10 one anotber-but it seemed that the mo-
ment any question came up IN which their personal
interests were concerned, they were not quite so
harmonious political objects.
Mr. WILLIAMS, OF North Carolina, moved 10
refer the communication to the Committee on Ac
counts.
MIR DAVIS, OF Indiana, moved TO refer il to a sc =
lect committee on public printing.
Mr. WILLIAMS then withdrew his motion.
Mr. MORGAN moved 10 instruct the select COM
mittee 10 inquire whether the Clerk is not interest
ed in the contracts with MIR Langtree.
Mr. REED moved TO amend the motion by adj
ding an inquiry respecting publishing the maps,
surveys SC. ordered by the House - the last ses-
sion.
MIR MORGAN accepted Mr. Reeds amendment
as a modification OF his instructions.
At the suggestion Of MIR BRIGGS, Mr. DAVIS
modified his motion for select committee, by slrik-
ing out the words "on public printing"
After few remarks from Messrs BRIGGS,
DAVIS, ADAMS, and NAYLOR-
At the suggestion OF Mr. ADAMS Mr. NOR
GAN withdrew his instructions TO the committee,
in order TO avoid the delay which Mr. Adams fear
co Wouio arse oy ulAlns up 81 Hldny inquiries To-
gcther.
The question was then put on Mr. DAvIs's motion
10 appoint a select committee without instructions,
and was carried, and the committee directed to
consist Of five members.
THE NAVY PENSION FUND.
The House resumed the consideration of the
motion pending before the House fqS several days
past that the vote adopting the amendment moved
by Mr.. Shepard OF North Carolina, to a bill max.
ing an appropriation for the benefit Of the Navy
pension fund.- which totally repealed the act Of the
81 Of March 1887, for the more equitable admin
jstration OF the Navy pension fund, be reconsider
ed.
The previous question was moved yesterday
by Mr. jameson; and when the Speaker was about
10 ascertain whether il was demanded by majori-
~ Of the members-
Mr.. ADAMS asked Mr.. Jameson 10 withdraw
his motion for the previous question, as an act OF
iusticeto enable him to reply 10 the gentleman from
North Cnrons, (Mr. Shepard)
Mr. JAMESON declined 10 do IL, because this
question had already occupied time enough, and
there was other important business which claimed
the attention the House.
Mr.. ADAMS said. then he hoped that the sense
of justice Of the House towards ono Of its members
would deter them from seconding the motion.
The House then divided on the motion for the
previous question, and there we're for II o. against
IL 6s.
And 80 the previous question was demanded.
Add the main question, that is Will the House
reconsider the vote on the amendment Of Mr. She.
plrd which repealed the act OF Sd Of March. 1897
Pension Fund7 was put, and was decided IN tbs