The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-27
The SPEAKER. Docs il come frop the Com
miuee on Naval Affairs
Mr. HOLMES. Yes, sir.
The letter was then read, as follows:
NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington City,


NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington City,
January IA, 1886.
Sra: | have the honor TO inclose for the informa-
ton Of the Naval Committee of the House OF Keep
resentatiyes copy of a report made to this depart
ment by Commodores Morris, Warrington, Crane
and Shubiek in reference to the necessity and man.
ner Of Increasing the navy -,
The resolution Of the Senate committee having
been somewhat more specific in its inquiries than
| that Of the House committee, the nclosed copy VIII
be found more detailed in It's statements Than thai
which had the honor to transmit to you during the
| last week.
Very respectfully E ESTse; BANCROFT.
Hon. l. Z. HoLMEs, &c, &c.
The SPEAKER. How does the gentleman pro-
pose TO dispose Of this letter.
Mr.. HOLMES. move that il be laid on the
table, and printed.
Strong objections were made, especially to the
Mr.. HOLMES. 1t is due to the secretary that it
MIR. CHAPMAN. Not at all; il is a private
communication from the Secretary Of the Navy.
Mr.. @. w. JONES demanded the yeas and nays
on the motion OF Mr.. HoLaEs, but withdrew the
demand. . .H
The SPEAKER. The motion to lay on the table
is not debatabls.
Mr.. BURT. am aware of ii. ! do no, rise to
debate. .. .t........ .....
The SPEAKER. What does the gentleman do
siTel
Mr.. BURT. wish to inquire whether this
communication embraces also the eommun canon
from the Secretary ofthe Navy to which il refers
The SPEAKER. The chair knows Of no mo-
ton to print anything except what is before u'e
House. . = . =. "a
was NOT laid on the table, nor ordered to be printed
And no action was taken upon IL.
rHE NATIONAL DEFEscrs- STILL,
MIR. T. B. KING rose and said: have been d.
recied, Mr.. Speaker, by the Committee on Naval
Affairs, to make a verbal statement in relation to-
Mr. G. s. HOUSTON, (interposing) That is
not in order as report from a committee. OBJ
ject Il is matter which the gentleman endeayored
yesterday to cast upon this House, and which the
Mr. /. E. HOLMES. The committee have in
structed the gentleman TO make report, and he is
now about TO do so.
The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Georgia
(Mr. KRol is entitled TO the floor II he has any
thing 10 present TO the House which is legiumately
in the nature Of a report from committee.
Mr.. KING. have not endesyored to cast upon
this House anything which IL improper TO
bring before it, nor to DO any act which was not in
perfect conformity with the views Of the committee
OF which am member.
Mr.. CHAPMAN. rise to point Of order.
point Of order.
Mr.. CIIPMAN. It is this: That il is not pro-
per for committee TO make verbal report to the
House.
The SPEAKER. The Chair is disposed to think
that any report from a committee, whether verbal or
in writing, is in order. 1t is not customary to make
verbal reports but the Chair knows OF rule Of the
House that prohibits them.
Mr.. KING. ! will detain the House only few
moments. The committee on Naval Affairs thought
it was due to ITSELF in consequence Of the message
which transmitted to the Senate two or three
days ago by the President Of the United States, TO
make statement to the House setting forth the
reasons why IL had brought forward no measures 10
provide for the increase Of the naval service Of the
country. II is simply to exonerate themselves from
any censure on the part Of this House, the coun
try, that the committee desire to make this state
ment.
The President of the United States, in his annual
message of December last, recommended in general
terms increase OF the naval force Of the country,
and especially of the steam branch Of It. But no
estimates from the Navy Department, embracing
any views in relation to such increase, sent To-
The estimates from the department for the repairs
and increase Of the navy were precisely -
Mr.. @. s.. HOUSTON, (interposing) Irise to
point Of order.
MIR. KNo] will suspend his remarks The gentle.
man from Alabama (Mr. HoUsrosl will state his
point Of order.
Mr.. HOUSTON 1t is this: Whether !; is no,
in the power Of the House to make an order requr-
ing the Committee on Naval Affairs to submit their
report in writing so, make that motion.
The SPEAKER. The Chair is disposed to
think that the gentleman from Georgia Mr. KNc
cannot make, in the form OF an official report, YER
bal statement; because every report from COM
mttee must be presented in some such tangible
form as to be the subject-matter Of any motion
whether to lay on the table, to commit to postpone
indefinitely, or any other metion-which may be
submitted in relation to it.
Mr.. KING. have paper here from the Secre-
tary Of the Navy which propose to
The SPEAKER. The House may give the gen.
teman leave to proceed, il thinks proper, but the
Speaker is Of opinion that without such leave, the
gentleman cannot make his statement; because it
presents basis for the action Of the House, for
motion to print, which is universal motion with
reports of committees.
Mr.. HOUSTON. Then object to the gentle
mans proceeding.
Mr.. KING. | hold in my hand communica-
ton from the Navy Department, of the 9th Of jan
uary last, which l ask may be received as part of
the report which am instructed to make.
The SPEAKER, Isita report from committee I
Mr. BR GdR Eaops SSlsc. y, to the reading
the gentleman present this "a the report Of commit
The SPEAKER. The Chair has already asked
that question.
There wa: grea, confusion in the hal . ".
b. Mr.. MCKAY rose to inquire II the morning hour
had EXPIRED Dr."
h The SPEAKER said il had expired
Mr.. MCKAY moved that tho House resolve itself
into Committee of tho Whole on the state Of the
Union.
Mr.. DANIEL hoped the House would not put
aside the regular orders Of the day,he private cal
er,dar. .
Mr.. KING inquired whether it was in order for
the gentleman from North Carolina [Mr McKArl
to submit this motion, when he (Mr. Ky was on
the foorp .E" ..a .'rA.a" 'stE{ .i''' -'
The SPEAKER said, that whenever the morning
hour had expired, it in order to make any mo-
ton, no matter what report or what business was
pending at the time. "aa lg~ ttga IT,.
Mr., KING. had not yielded the floor to the
gentleman to make any motion. .@a a.# aa.
The SPEAKER. The gentleman had ceased to
address the chair 1a.. 'f" a. ne
Mr.. KING. For the moment had ceased,
whilst sent communication to the clerks table to
be read But had not yielded the floor.
Mr.. Mckay. As understand that there are yet
many members who wish to make reports from