The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-05-13
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The exciting session of yesterday was sue
ceeded by calm opening to-day.
The journal having been read, Mr.. CAMP
BELL, of s. c.. as Chairman of the Committee
on the District of Columbia, called up the spe-
cial order OF the day, the three days next follow
ing that on which the tariff bill was disposed Of
having been set apart for District business. a
motion had been made to reconsider the vote set
ting apart the time named, and Mr. Y. moved TO
lay this motion on the table
Mr.. DUNCAN called for the yeas and nays,
and the House, by a vote of S3 to 70, laid the mo-
ton to reconsider on the table,
Mr. CAMPBELL then moved that the House
resolve itself into Committee of the Whole.
Mr.. J. r. INGERSOLL was called to the
Chair
Mr.. CAMPBELL moved to take up the bill
for extending the charters of the District banks,
but it was urged that this bill was now under con-
sderation in the Senate, and the motion was lost.
Mr. C. then moved to take up the bill providing
for the Insane Asylum. The bill was read, and
also a communication to the Chairman of the
Committee, urging the Importance and justice Of
its passage.
Mr.. RATHBUN, of N. Y, moved to strike out
the clause providing for the salaries OF three In
spectors Of the Asylum, $3.50 each per annum.
Mr. r. fortified his motion by making an array of
District, from 1900 to 1912. He had yet 10
learn why his constituents had not as much right
to call on the Government to make their roads as
the people of this District.
Mr.. CAMPBELL replied. The argument
about past expenditures had nothing to do with
the question in hand As to the constitutional
scrupes of the gentleman from New York, he
knew that neither Pennsylvania Avenue, or the
Insane Asylum, go n0mine, was to be found in
the Constitution, but it did not follow that this
expenditure, as well as others of like character,
could not be properly made.
Some gentlemen had told him that they would
vote for this bill, if they believed it well adapted
to the object proposed. He had conversed with
an intelligent gentleman of this city, DR.. Sewa,
who had visited nearly all the Asylu Of this
description in this country, and many Of those in
Europe, and who assured him that this was
among the best designed he had ever seen.
Mr.. C. urged the passage of the bill with much
warmth of feeling, but was evidently too much
exhausted by his recent sickness to say all that
he desired
Mr.. ELMER, of New Jersey, advocated the
amendment. He thought the proposed salaries
for the attendance Of men once fortnight
Mr.. Chiffon said it was twice week
Well, twice week-it was entirely too much
tously elsewhere.
Messrs. SEVERANCE and THOMASSON
said they were paid for in their States
Mr.. WHITE, of Kentucky, after defending the
bill itself, entered into an extended defence Of
the District interests.
Mr.. PETIT, of Indiana, defended the bill,
and promised to vote for it. but did not agree
with the reasoning of Mr.. White.
Mr.. KING, Of Massachusetts, found fault with
the building designed for the Asylum, and affirm
ed that it was altogether insufficient for this pur-
pose.
After some further debate, Mr. Rathbun's
amendment prevailed.
An amendment was adopted appropriating $4
per week for the support of each lunatc, and
limiting the whole amount to be expended to
$4,000 per annum.
The bill was then laid aside to be reported to
the House.
The next bill taken up was one to regulate
arrests on mesne process.
Mr.. HALE moved to amend it so as to abolish
Imprisonment for debt
Mr.. Chiffon opposed the amendment.
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee, supported it, and
while he was speaking, motion was made that
The committee rose, reported progress and the
House adjourned.