The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-05-15
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

HOUSE VI REPhESEN IAll VEo.
Mr.. DAWSON on leave, presented resolu-
tons of the Legislature of Louisiana, in relation
to the navigation Of the Red River; referred to
the Committee of the Whole.
Mr.. CAMPBELL submitted resolution.
which was adopted, that all debate on the bill
to amend the CHAR err of the City of Washington,
should close al half past twelve this day.
MIR. C.. then asked the Speaker what was the
condition of the District Bank bill brought in
from the Senate; and the SPEAKER explained
how the said bill was among the third class OF
business on the desk-the first being Executive
communications, the second, House bills amend
ed by the Senate, and the third Senate bills 1t
could only be reached by vote oil two-thirds
In order to get at the bill now, MIR. G. moved
reconsideration of the vote by which it was or
dered to a second reading. Mr.. G. made some
comp amt of the methods resorted to in order to
destroy this bill by sort of indirection.
MIR. CAVE JOHNSON toak the remarks OF
Mr.. c. (perhaps rightly enough) to himself and
got into passion, saying, "if the remarks were
made for him, it was not true-and II they were
meant for others, lie says what | believe amt
true"
Several gentlemen called Mr. j. TO order.
Mr. CAMPBELL said he had made no charges
against the member from Tennessee, and the
member from Tennessee, in turn, said he was
satisfied.
Mr.. BURKE move to lay the motion to re-
consider on the table, and the yeas and nays were
called The motion was rejected by ga to ~.
| Mr.. Campbell's motion 10 reconsider prevail
| ed, and the Bank bill was then read second
| time, and referred to the Committee OF the
Whole.
The House then resolved itself into Commit
! tee, MIR. J. r. neersoll in the Chair, and resum-
ed the consideration of the
CHARTER OF WASHINGTON CITY.
This bill gave rise to protracted debate upon
the proposed qualification OF voters. Some were
for unrestricted, universal suffrage-some for a
property tax-others for poll tax.
Messrs. Chiffon, ATKINSON, CAMP
| BELL, and others took part in the debate, winch
closed at hali-past H.
The pending amendment, giving the right OF
suffrage to every one whoha attained majority,
resided year in the District and paid poll
tax of IS cents, was adopted.
The bill, very long one, was then read. occu-
plying nearly an hour and employing two clerks
| IN the task.
A motion was made by Mr.. Chiffon, to
strike out all after the enactng clause, and insert,
| with some notifications, the charter prepared by
the citizens of Washington themselves. The
| motion was rejected.
A motion was then made, and agreed to, that
| the people OF Washington should decide within
thirty days Wnether they VIII accept TINS charter
| or not.
The bill was then laid aside, aud Mr.. CAMP
BELL moved to take up the Senate bill to extend
the charters of the District Banks.
| Objections were made, and the committee were
| divided upon the proposition, first without quo
rum; and secondly, by vote of 66 to 60, de.
cided not to take up the bill
Mr. CAMPBELL then moved to take up the
bill to improve Pennsylvania avenue.
This agreed to by 65 to 48. The bill APP
propriates, altogether, $4,000, of which $2S,00C
| is for the avenue.
Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON moved to reduce the
latter sum to $4,000, and the proposition was
debated at some length, but was finally rejected
and the bill laid aside to be reported to the House