The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-06-16

Mr.. BERRIEN remarked that the amendmsnts,o
the Senate-6rst, changing the ratio, and secondly
providing for fractional representation-had been
non-concurred in by the House. These points were
80 fully discussed by the Senate render il
what improper to offer any observations at this time
and therefore would merely submit to the Senate
motion that they insist on their amendments to the
bill.
Mr. BUCHANAN called for division of the
question: first the ratio because he would vote on
insisting upon that but could not 80 vote upon the
second.
Mr.. KING suggested that the amendment pro-
vldng for fractional representation was first acted
upon and adopted by the Senate it would be proper to
take the vote on insisting upon it.
Inc question was accordingly TAKEN and the Se-
nate insisted upon the amendment-yeas "a, nays 10,
follows:
YEAS-Messrs Bates, Berrien, Choate, Clayton.
Crafts, Cuthbert, Evans, Fulton, Graham, Hender-
head, Phelps, Porter, Sewer, Tailmadge Walker,
White Wilcox, Woodbridge. and Young-N.
NAYs-Messrs. Allen, Archer Bagby, Barrow,
Benton, Buchanan. King, Linn. Miller, McROberts,
pan, Williams, Woodbury., and Wnght-l0.
The question was next taken on insisting on the
second amendment, viz striking out 50, and IN
serting 7O68O and it decided in the Affirmative
Yeas 30, nays IA, As follows
YEAS-Messrs. Archer, Bagby Barrow, Bayard,
BerrIen, Buchanan, Clayton, Conrad, Crafts, Cuth-
BERT Evans, Fulton Graham, Henderson, Linn,
McRoberts, Mangum, Merrck, Miller, Phelps, Por-
ter, Preston, SEWER Smith, of Indiana, Sturgeon,
Talmadge, Walker, White Williams, and Young
30.
NAYS Messrs. Allen, Bates, Benton, Choate,
Huntington, Kerr, King, Morehead, Smith, of Con-
necticnt Tappan, Wilcox, Woodbridge, Woodbury.,
and Wright-l4.
The Senate then insisted on its amer dment fixing
the number of Representatives to which each State
would be entitled under ratio of 10, 66O.
So the Senate insisted all its amendments here
tofore made to the Apportionment bill, and it was
again sent back to the House.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the
Navy Appropriation BILL
The question pending striking out the fol-
lowing provso of the House to the clause appropri-
ating 81 900 for the pay of commission warrant,
and petty officers and seamen, amended by the
Senate to read as follows:
Provided, That, until otherwise ordered by Con-
gress part of this any future existing appro-
praton, shall be applied to the payment OF any of-
GERS in the Navy appointed after this date beyond the
number In each grade now IN service.
IA debate ensued in which Messrs CHOATE,
SEWER, BAYARD WALKER, CUTHBERT,
HUNTINGTON, BUCHANAN, WOODBU-
RY, PRESTON and MOREHEAD participated.
message received from the House Of Repre-
sentatives stating that they had passed bill to extend
for limited period the present laws for laying and
collecting duties on impOrts.1
Mr.. EVANS expressed the hope that the Senate
would now proceed to take the vote striking out
the proviso they admonished by pressing
sdeations to observe the greatest despatch and he
| called for the yeas and nays which were ordered
Mr. BENTON remarked that he had little to say
and if ii the desire to take the vote this afternoon
he would proceed with his remarks.
Mr. EVANS again observed that it was desirable
they should proceed with all proper despatch The
House had changed their rules with view to dispose
of business with rapidty; and therefore the Senate
should endeavor to legisate with somewhat equal
pace.
Mr.. BAYARD also urged speedy action upon the
bill. The officers of the Navy had not received
dollar for six weeks, and he had letter from an Off
Ger in commission, stating that he had received no
money for that length of time and was living
dit from day to day.
MIR. BENTON said that, if the Senator desired to
take the vote this evening, he, for his own part, was
ready to acquiesce.
Mr., CUTHBERT thought that they ought not to
urge the measure with such extreme haste They
ought to have full elaboration, to insure which tl
bill would only be delayed but day or two.
MIR. EVANS said that the bill had been for two
days before the Senate how much longer it would
be discussed, he did not know. He could read COM
munications from tho Navy Department, dated as
far back February and March, saying that former
appropriations were exhausted, large arrearages
were due, and that there not dollar on hand.
A letter had just been placed in his hands, stating
lHClC WCAC UCAduuS dBdulSl Iuc DcI'dItAuCLt,
which could not be met until the bill was passed;
and therefore it was Of the utmost Importance to
push the bill
Mr.. CUTHBERT remarked that as the bill in
voved SO many considerations, it seemed to him that
they ought not to pass it through in hurry The
bill for the settlement of the accounts of Sas Deane
aPpropiating some 10000 occupied four five
days; but this bill proposed to appropriate millions,
and they had had it under consideration but days.
when the Senator proposed TO dispose of it without
time IN Innk InfO ha aft
connected with it!
Mr.. ARCHER had designed to make some
marks, but he would willingly abstain from doing
under the suggestion that speedy passage ofthe bill
had been desired by the Department. But it was no
reason why he should force q sim lar course the
Senator from Missouri; and to extend to that Sena-
tor that courtesy which the Senator had hesi-
taed to extend to Others he would that the Sc
nate DO adjourn.
Mr.. BENTON thanked the Senator, as he had
proposed to grant more than he (Mr Benton) had
asked.
Mr.. EV ANS would not resist the desire of the Sc
nate postpone the further consideration of the BILL
but he would ask that three short letters from the Sc
cretary of the Navy be read. He would call the at
tentOn of Senators to their dates that they might
see what the condition ofthe Department and iss
and he woald suggest that they would come prepared
tomorrow get through with the bill speedily
possible
The letters were read The first is dated the 26th
of February, 1912, and invites the attention of the
Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means to
the fact that most of the appropriations for the sup
port of the naval service nearly exhausted,
entirely so, and requests him to bring this state of
things to the notice of Congress at the earliest day.
The second letter was dated the 7th of April, and
states that since the letter Of the Goth of February,
the Secretary has been obliged to call on the Presi-
dent of the United States, by virtue of the act Of
1894 to direct transfers from such appropriations
which will bear it, to be expended upon works
which cannot be neglected without serious detri-
ment to the public service. There is no APP
which will bear further trans