The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-01-02

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
BOUNDARY on MISSOURI.
! Mr. EDWARDS, ia accordance with previous no.
tce asked and obtained leave TO Introduce Dill de-
claring what is the northern boundary OF The state oil
! Missouri which Was read twice and referred TO The
Committee on Territories.
NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.
| On motion Of MIR. BRIGGS, twas resolved, uia''
when the House adjourn il adjourn 10 meet on
| Tuesday next.
| MUSIC DUTY FREE.
| MIR. J. II. INGERSOLL, from the Committee oil
| WAYS and Means, reported bill to remit TO NE a-
reetors churchwardens, and yestrymen OF 81 refers
! Church, in South Carolina, tho duty on chime oil
bells which was read twice, and committed to The
! Committee Of the Whole.
SURVEY or BLOCK ISLAND.
| Al, WILLIAMS, of Connecticut, from the Com
mittee on Commerce, reported joint resolution au-
thorizing the Secretary OF the Treasury 10 cause
.,rvev 10 be made Of Block island with view to
proyde for the shelter Of vessels and approprating
five hundred dollars for this purpose and the resolu-
ton was read twice and committed to the Committee
! of the Whole
GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
Mr.. FILLMORE, from the Committee Of Ways
and Means, reported bill making appropriation for
the civil and diplomatic expenses of the Government
for the fiscal year ending the 30lh Of june 1914
which was read twice, committed to the Committee
of the Whole on the state of the Union, and ordered
to be printed.
ADVERTISEMENT OF TONNAGE.
Mr. KENNEDY, of Maryland, remarked that
I a L. tl. Last nt
mportance-he meant the bill to alter the mode of
admeasuring the tonnage of ships vessels employ
ed in the merchant service OF the United States and
| he hoped that the House would indulge him by taxi
ing up this bill, as there was now no great pressure
| of business before them.
| [Cres Of " Agreed, -" agreed.nl
The bill then read and the question being
! stated its engrossment
| Mr. KENNEDY Of Maryland, said that this bill
was reported by the Committee of Commerce last
session, in obedience to call made on the commit
tee through a communication from the Treasury
Department, inclosing letter from Foster Rhodes,
a naval constructor at the present time. The sub
! iect had been brought to the consideration Of the
country in various forms, before il was presented to
the deliberation Of Congress and they may have OBJ
served in the newspapers and other periodicals fire.
quent discussions on the propriety OF changing the
mode Of measuring the tonnage of vessels. The
mode now in use adopted as long ago as the first
of September 1889, and which was anaog, us to the
British method at that time and was very well cal
culated to the purpose but, IN consequence
of the many changes which had since taken place in
ship building, some other mode Of admeasurement
should be adopted.
objected to the second section, Gin relation to The ad-
measurement of the tonnage of steam vessels and
moved that il be stricken out.
Mr. CUSHING said that when he perceived that
this bill was to operate on the great shipping interests
Of the country, TO compel total change in the mode
Of constructing coastng vessels and others, although
he did undertake to say that the bill ought not to
pass, he did say that the subject required
4 mature reflection the part of the House
and he trusted that they would not on half
an hours discussion permit its passage at this time,
but allow the bill to be laid over for the purpose OF
giving them an opportunity tn compare the opinions
of gentlemen of practical knowledge with the inen'
! ton of the measure proposed.
! Mr.. KENNEDY, of Mary land, observed that eve
~ ship-bulder would say that the present mode OF
measuring vessels was erroneous and that they might
well guess 10y looking at the rigging as to depend
upon it. If merchants would build their vessels in
whatever form they pleased all that the people ask
ed was, that the tonnage should be ascertained by a
correct rule.
Mr. WILLIAMS of Connecticut, was in favor OF
the BILL because the present mode Of ascertanng the
tonnage of vessels very unequal and uncertain.
Mr.. CUSHING moved to postpone the further con-
sidreation of the bill for fortnight
I MIR. McKEON hoped that the gentleman from Ma
ryland would LET the bill pass until Monday two
weeks, so that gentlemen may call to this subject the
attention OF persons interested.
! Mr.. KENNEDY, of Maryland, said that he would
agree to Tuesday week.
MIR. CUSHING observed that that would scarcely
give them time.
\ MIR. KENNEDY remarked that report on this
subject published nine months ago, together with
a map showing the different forms and construction
Of vessels and distributed throughout the country.
The further consideration Of the bill finally
postponed until Tuesday, the 10th instant.
TAX on BANK NOTES AND GOLD AND SILVER
i PLATE.
MIR. BEESON submitted the following resolution
viz:
Resolved, That the Committee of WAYS and NJ, ans
be instructed 10 inquire whether il would be expedi
ent in lieu of the "articles of very large and unyer
sal consumption proposed for taxation by the
Secretary OF the Treasury in his letter Of the 18th
instant and in aid of the operations of the mint and
constitutional currency TO report bill laying taxes
on bank notes Of denominations similar to gold
and silver coins, and on gold and silver plate.
Objection being made to the reception Of the reso-
luton,
Mr.. BEESON moved suspension Of the rules
but the motion did not prevail-yeas rs, nays lOl.
FOREIGN ArrMRs-THE UNITED STATES, CHINA,
AND THE SANDWICH ISLANDS
Two messages in writing were received from the
President Of the United States through his private
Secretary John Tyler, jr
Mr.. GIDDINGS moved that the House proceed to
the orders Of the day.
MIR. CUSHING sub nted that the first business
was the disposition Of the Executive communion
tons.
The messages having been read,
|, Mr.. CUSHING moved that the messages and ac-
companyng documents be referred to the Committee
on Foreign Affairs, and be printed. And he begged
leave TO say single word upon the subject.
MIR. ARNOLD objected
n M. CUSHING said that he was in order
Mr.. ARNOLD rose to privileged question:
However,
Mr.. CUSHING said that the message proposed Ia
the House two subjects. The first was that the Uni
ted States recognise the fact Of the independence and