The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-01-18
TWENTY-E EIGHTH CONGRESS-,
FIRST SESSION
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY is, 1914.
SENATE.

m de upon the cuStOmnOuSe anu post OiuCc III
Charleston, South Carolina.
Mr.. BAYARD, memorial from citizens OF
Philadelphia, asking for a dry dock.
a a4.s POSTAGE. 5a Sas
Mr.. MERsICK presented the petition of citi-
zens Of Seneca Falls, New York, in reference to
a reduction of postage
Mr.. MOREHEAD presented numerous memo
rails, upon the same subject, from citizens of
Cincinnati, and remarked that he had carefully
examined them, and found among the names
many with whom he had personal acquaint-
ance. They were impelled by strong feeling up
on the subject, and he hoped that the committee
would consider these memorials.
Mr.. MERRICK could assure his honorable
friend from Kentucky that the committee had
been deliberately engaged upon this subject, and
he trusted they would be able TO mature their
report in a day or two.
Mr.. KING hoped it would not be out of place
to call the attention of the committee to the
ranking privilege, which was so greatly abused
that it required either 10 be entirely abolished or
greatly restricted.
Mr.. MERRICK thanked both the Senators
from Kentucky and Alabama for their sugges-
ton in this matter The committee had turned
their attention to this branch Of this subject, and
endeavored9to correct some OF the abuses OF the
ranking privilege but he begged leave to say that
an erroneous impression prevailed in reference to
this priyilege--its greatest abuse was not by the
two or three hundred members Of Congress,
Though he did not deny its abuse by them and
the departments but by the $4,000 deputy Post
masters scattered over the country. +s
Mr.. PHELPS presented the petition of VIM.
Rich asking compensation as clerk in one OF
the Departments. S@ 3 a@9is3t III
ID ts&i .sga REPORTS. ey a
Mr.. EVANS from the Committee on Finance,
reported House Bill for the relief of American
seamen abroad which was taken up and passed
without amendment ess s
Mr., JARNAGIN from the Committee on Pub
lie Lands, reported without amendment, the bill
in relation to the office Of Surveyor General Of
Ohio and Michigan.
Mr.. BAYARD gave notice of a bill to,establish
naval school Of instruction.
A bill to grant lands for improving the naviga-
ton Of Fox and Wisconsin rivers, was taken up.
Messrs. KING, WOODBRIDGE and WALKER
severally offered amendments to it, and the ques-
ton was on it's passage, when ii aa r.. sf 81
Mr.. HAYWOOD asked to whom it was pro-
posed to grant the lands. Every contract requir-
ed granter and grantee-there was no State of
Wisconsin, there was no incorporation to receive
the grant, the Territory Of Wisconsin could not
be grantee. On his motion the bill was post
posed until tomorrow.
On motion Of Mr.. BAYARD, the Senate went
into Executive session, 3 3ff 1.lg
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr.. ]. R. INGERSOLL presented resolu-
ton, which was adopted by the House, instructing
the Clerk to furnish members with the station
cry on hand in the Clerks Office at the current
prices. 80
Mr.. FRENCH, of KY, offered resolution,
which was objected to and laid over, instructing
the Committee on Pensions to furnish members
of Congress with papers on file in the Depart
ment, with the view Of having the same filed by
the Clerk Of the House of Representatives.
WESTERN RIVERS. t.s rs4is II
Mr.. WELLER, of Ohio, replied to the allega-
tons contained in the excellent speech of Mr..
Stewart yesterday, very briefly, by saying that
they were untrue, but wherein they were so Mr..
w. did not trouble himself to show. Remarking
that protracted discussion could do no good in
this matter, Mr. w. moved the previous question.
The previous question was seconded, and the
motion to reconsider prevailed by a vote Of 50
to n. s3 its
This motion having been carried, the original
resolution was before the House, to wit: sfa 3
"That the Committee Of Ways and Means be
instructed to inquire what sum of money will be
required to keep all the boats now in use, and
those in process Of preparation, designed to be
employed in removing distractions in the navi-
cation of the Mississippi river and its tributaries,
in constant active employment for the fiscal year
commencing OH the LIST July next" & i M
Mr.. SMITH, of Indiana, was sorry the resolu-
ton had been reconsidered, as he thought the re-
solution would lead to bill which would appro-
pirate all that the Government could afford The
estimate of the Department was $223,OOO for the
objects contemplated in the resolution Mr.. 5.
was in favor of a moderate system of internal
improvements He would vote tomorrow for
appropriations for this purpose. The Delaware
breakwater he said, had cost more than all that
had ever been expended upon the Western rivers,
and now was to be abandoned.
Mr. MORRIS, of Penn. said the gentleman
was mistaken; the Delaware breakwater was a
national work, and would not be abandoned.
Mr. SMITH continued, and condemned the
system of .log rolling" Legislation. ~
Mr. STEWART (who was not in his seat
when Mr.. Weller spoke) insisted that he could
prove every allegation made against Mr.. Van Blu
rem, and having done so, the brand Of untruth