The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-28
Tmemtp=SRnenth Congress.
SECOND SESSION.
IN SENATE,

| Nlr. BA AhD presented memorial IToIn McI-
chants and traders of Philadelphia, asking that such
a tariff may be adopted the exgencies OF the Go
| vernment require, which they conceive will have
| tendency to regulate the currency Of the country
| Mr. CHOATE presented petition from citizens Of
Boston, praying for the erection of fog bell, to be
rung by the action of the tide.
| Mr. HUNTINGTON presented memorial from
Woodstock, Connecticut, asking Congress to resist
any attempt which may be made for the admission OF
Texas into the Union.
| MIR. BUCHANAN presented memorial of three
individuals engaged in the manufacture OF wire IN
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania who state that after the
final reduction Of the tariff to twenty per cent, every
wire mandatory in the United States will be obig-
ed to suspend operation and they, therefore, ask for
protection against foreign competition.
Mr.. WRIGHT presented the petition of Charles
Kohler, praying remuneration for services in Florida
| in 1889 and 1910.
Mr. WOODBRIDGE presented a petition from
citizens of Lima, Michigan, asking Congress to esta.
| blsh such tariff as will enable the Government to
put the country in state Of defence, and, at the
same time, protect American industry.
MIR. BENTON, from the Committee on Military
Affairs reported bill for the relief of Mary W..
Thompson.
Several other reports were made from committees,
which will be noticed when they up in THERE or
| der on the calendar.
On the motion of Mr. WOODBURY., it was
Resolped, That the Secretary of the Treasury re-
port to the Senate the extent to which new books
have been opened in his Department since the 4th of
March, 184l, for keeping the public accounts sepa-
rate, from that date, and copy of the orders given
and circulars issued in relation thereto, in respect
to the returns by discussing officers OF their expendl-
! lures since said date, or the demands accruing
snce if keeping them distinct from those which ac-
crued before And that he further report what has
been the result of opening any such books and CIV
ing directions concerning the above matters being
kept sepa ate and what appears, from the new books
otherwise, to have been the amount OF expendi-
lures since the 4th Of March, lS41. to the 4th Of
March, 1912, and those in the year previous, set out
separately, not only in the aggregate but under the
several heads of CIVIL military, and naval Also, to
state the amount of demands accruing from the Attn
of March, 1841, to the 4th of March, 1872 if in his
| power so to do
HALLS RIFLE.
The bill for the relief of the legal representatives
| of John H. Hall was taken up for consideration:
Mr.. KING said that these individuals had not the
slightest claim to compensation from the Govern
ment. Mr.. Hall was employed at sixty dollars per
month"; and received dollar for each of the rifles
manufactured as well as fee of nine thousand dol
lars for the machinery constructed under his super
intendence and the whole amount which was paid
to him during the time that he employed by the
| Government, up to 1897, was $29, 5S3 80. There
were not dozen officers who would say that this
rifle ought to be manufactured for the Of the
my, as it was far inferior to the common musket for
| all practical purposes.
Mr.. ARCHER remarked that the Engineer and
Ordnance Departments were favorably impressed with
| the utility of the Invention, as were also the two
composed of the first officers OF the army and
practical armorers-which were appointed TO examine
it. and on the foundation of the reports of these two
boards, the War Department had rendered favorable
opinion
Mr. WRIGHT said that the manufacture of these
arms by this Government commenceda at period ante
rior his entering the Senate which in the fall OF
1887 1t came to his knowledge at that time that one of
the first perqusites to each member of Congress was
Halls rifle. One was sent to his room but he had
no use for ii. He desired TO be informed by the MEM
bers of the Military Committee whether these rifles
had been put to practical test in the service. They
had a war going in Florida, and he wished to
ascertain whether these arms had been put in the
hands of the military in that Territory, elsewhere
and practically and favorably tested tie was aware
that boards of officers had reported very much IN favor
of the invention, but his own impression was that all
idea of its utility had long since passed away, and
is rm was considered nerior to the common musket
and he could not vote on this bill until he learned
whether the utility of this arm had been in any way
tested and become possessed Of information to the
disposition of the rifles, for which the Government
had paid from the commencement OF the connection
of the Government with this patent. He wanted to
know, Also what proportion of rifles had been given
to persons not connected with the military service
| Mr. BENTON, as old member Of the Military
Committee, said that they had always made favorable
reports in relation to this matter the information
received from the Department of War With re-
gard to the inquiry of the Senator from New York,
to whether this had been made use OF success
| fully or not, he not prepared to answer now
but if the bill should be passed over, the information,
no doubt, could be obtained
| Mr.. PRESTON remarked that Hairs rifles had
been used IN the Florida war, and there was hardly
one company that had not been furnished with them
They had also been distributed among the States IN
proportion to the number manufactured, and South
Carolina had received her share. In 1885 the Cher
of the Engineer Department expressed his OPINION
that HALLS rifles possessed decided superiority over
all other small arms and were the best extant; but,
since that PERIOD the result of the experiment attain
ed by board of officers not 50 favorable How
ever the rifles were considered of great utility by
many who had used them.