The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-12-24
BY THE SOUTHERN MAIL.
Washington.


Passage OF the Appropriation Biii-The
Coast survey-Remova OF Mr.. Hassler-
| the Oregon TerritOry-Philadelp hia
Custom House, Sc.
Congress has at last done something by way of a
beginning to the session. The House to-day passed
the Appropriation Bill for six months, ending July
l. 1913, after striking the $50 600 for the Coast
Survey.
Alter the Journal was read bill was passed,
changing the name of the ship West Chester to
that OF the ship Atlantic similar bill had already
passed the Senate. Some other unimportant mat
tiers came up and were passed ever, when Mr.
FILLMORE OF ~ Y. moved that the House resolve it..
| self into Committee Of the Whole, and take up
the Appropriation Bill, and that all debate thereon
cease at O'Clock. This reference TO the celebra-
ted gag law caused some discussion, but the motion
finally prevailed. Mr.. BURNELL, OF Massachusetts,
had the floor this subject and he spoke nearly an
hour on the Importance OF the Coast survey to the
whole country. He was perfectly willing also that
an appropriation should be made for thorough sur
vey OF the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and means
taken for clearing out all the snags. He referred
also to the fact that nearly 600 lives had been lost on
our coast this winter since the LIST of November, and
insisted that the yearly appropriation of 100000 for
surveying this coast would save more than five or
ten times that sum annually in vessels and mer-
chandize, now wrecked and lost for want of good
charts great deal OF this. too. was Western pro-
| duce, and the Western men were as much ne-
rested in the matter as those at the North and
East.
MIR. MALLORY, of Va, then took the floor in con-
cluslon OF the debate on this subject. He went over
pretty much the same ground that the opponents OF
Mr.. Hassler did on former debate which you pub.
shed, and he read letter OF Hasslers in answer to
some inquiries by the committee, wherein the old
said af,,rol hat he fh H.
was an insult tor the committee to send an engraver
| in whom he had no confidence, to examine his
work the letter was otherwise very respectful
His speech, like all speeches the same side par.
took too much of violent personal antipathy to Mr.
Hasser than desire for the general welfare of the
county. Two O'Clock arrived, and cut short his
remarks Down went the chairman's hammer as
a signal that the debate was closed.
IT was intensely amusing then to see the asonized
efforts OF many members to make speech on the
| subject, or on some amendment thereto. I should
at once with outstretched arms and eyes towadsth
| Chair, many moving about in hot haste, ready to
explode with "a very few remarks"
"A MEMBER-Mr Chairman, Mr.. Chairman
RISE sir, to say, sir, that l. for one, sir, do not
sir. do not rise, SIR"
CHAIRMAN-The gentleman will please to take his
seat the committee will come to order. [Thump,
thump, thump, went the mallet]
ANOTHER MEMBER-Mr. Chairman, can't say
CHAIRMAN-No, sir, you can say nothing Laugh
ter] all debate has closed. Do you offer amend
ment?
ANorHER-Yes, I've got an amendment, laugh
| teri, and wish to say.
CHAIR-oend 1t up, sir. and say nothing about 1t
[aughter.]
ANorHER-.Mr Chair, can't give reason for
what Pm going TODD?
CHAR-No, sir, that's out of order [laughterl
MEMBER-lln an under tone]-That's deviish
hard.
ANorHaR-Mr. Chairman, l have an amendment
ANoTHER-And, Mr.. Speaker, I've got an amend
ment which wish
ANoTHER-I offer, sir, the following amendment
that the sum which this House, under the circum
stances
Several MEMBERS" Oh" " No." "order." emo
debate" send W the amendment
A MEMBER-I shan't do il unless Pm allowed TO
explain why send it,
Several LocoFoco MEMBERs-"No explanation"
-" no debate, '-"question," " order,' "you've
put the gag on US, and nowyou shall be governed by
A MEMBER-Mr Chairman, what is the question
after all! [Great laughter]
CLERK-The motion is to strske $4,000 and in
sert $40 900 for the Coast Survey.
MEMEER-Well, then, move tostrike every thing
IN Mxssns e y.whst, the whole Bill,
Mr. GwINN-No, to strike out the whole $50 900
SEVERAL VoIcEs-Oh, no, no; something is due
the men for the work done. You must pay your
honest debts
laughter] mean for this survey.
Then there was generel confusion for few mo-
ments, majority Of the members rising at once all
trying to talk, and no one able to hear word
Thump, thump, went the mallet, The COMMITTEE
will please come to order" "Order," order"
Question" Members still moving about
CHArR-ls the committee ready for the question?
Gentlemen, as many
MEMBsR-Mr. Chairman, move--[ Laughter.]
MEMBER-Mr Chairman, Imove the hon. gentle
man sits down, [Great lauehterl
MEMBER-Gilmer, say SO 900 instead of $4,000
MEMBER Strike ii all out.
SEVERAL. transformations question
MIR. GILNER-I am willing that the question be
taken on inserting $4,000 instead Of s5O,OoO
CHArRMAN-ls the committee ready for
VoIcE-Ayes and noes. (Great aughter.1
MEMBER-You can't do it.
SEVERAL VocEs-Divide divide! Tellers! tel
lers! lTelers were appointed
CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, those in favor of the
amendment, will please pass between the tellers
Then there was general rush down to the foot of
the clerks desk, and some members calling out to
others. come, come along. and vote for striking
OUT and turn the old cuss out" and general laugh
ing: Elghty-two were announced, and cries of
close VOTE" sits carried" "yes," enc" and so
Gu.
CHAm-Those opposed to the amendment will
please pass between the tellers.
Then came another rush, and more attempts to
drag proseytes into the political estrom between
the tellers AT last 63 noes were announced amid
laughter and great noise.
The CHAIR announced that the amendment to
strike out $4,000 and insert $4,000, was carried
=, MI. Gw siSS =. up q1cklyl0Now sir,
move 10 stIlke the whole out (CrleS OF "Oh. mo-.
eyes," "go it," "no," foolish !. stick to It.
Gwinn," "shame," "go the whole figure" and
the members mostly laughing and joking each
other all round.
Tellers were called the same scene was enacted
over again, the members seeming to think il high
joke, and laughing heartily as they passed through
the tellers, like schooboys playing at thread-my-
needle. The result of this division was, ayes 7S,
noes69. So the whole was stricken out.
1t may be breach of privilege to cav 80,
but If this is not the most reckless and ridi-
culous movement ever made by foolish men,
should like 10 see one more. To stop an mpor-
ant work like the Coast Survey, after it has p,o-
crossed for ten years in the hands of one of the
most able mathematlcans that ever lived, and one
OF the most accurate surveyors man able to
teach every member OF Congress- man that Knows
more of mathematics than all the Congressman put
together; and man, Mr.. Wise very Justly argued
whom all the scientific men that have been consult