The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-20

Affairs, reported bill accompanied by a report)
TO provide for the construction of twelve more war
steamers, and one iron lrgate
The bill having been read twice by its title,
Mr.. KING moved that the report be read.
Objected to.
And then, on motion Of Mr. KING, the bill and
report were referred the Committee of the Whole
on the state of the Union, and ordered to be print
ed, and the drawings 10 be Autographed.
civil AND DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATION BILL.
On motion of Mr.. MCKAY, the House sesolyed
itself into Committee Of the Whole on the state Of
| the Union, (Mr. BowLR of Mssourin the chair, }
and proceeded TO the consideration ofthe bill making
appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses
OF government, for the year ending Both day of
| June l847 and for other purposes.
On the suggestion of Mr.. MCKAY, and by unan-
mous consent, the reading Of the bill was dispens-
ed with, and it was taken up by items.
The following item being under consideration,
"For compensation of the clerk and meteorologist
in the Office Of the Surgeon General, $4,000"
| Mr. HUNGERFoRD moved to amend il by stri.
| king out the words "and meteoroogist," and redu-
cling the sum appropriated from $1,000 to g, 600
And Mr.. HUNGERFORD submitted, as ques-
ton of order, TO the Chair, whether the appropria-
ton must not under the 6lst rule Of the House. be
stricken out inasmuch az il was an appropriation
| for an object not authorized by law.
Mr.. DRoMGooLE suggested that if the appro-
priston was improper, there was but one mode OF
i getting IL out, and that TO vote IL out
Mr.. HUNGERFoRD asked that the slst rule
1 might be read.
And il was read a. follows
mo appropriation Issll be reported in such general s.
preparation bills Of be In order amendment thereto
Tor any expenditure not previously authorized by Law
unless in continuation Of appropriations for such public
works and objects already in progress and for the
eontngs for carrying the several departments
| the government
Mr.. MCKAY said that this item made provision
for the salary fthe clerk in the Office Of the Surgeon
General and an appropriation of $4,000 for the sal
| airy of Doctor Espy (who was known TO all the
members) for making meteorological obsery atoms
Il During the two last years, the COMMITTEES Of Ways
and Means had declined TO report the appropriation
| for that salary, but the House had inserted it,
The Committee Of Ways and Means therefore had
taken the action Of the House at the two last ses
sons as an instruction to put this appropriation in
| the bill, and had done He allowed that
there express law to authorize it; it was on
ly under the sanction given 10 by former appro.
priations, made in the manner he had indicated
that it had been inserted. Personally he had no
choice in the matter; the committee could act as il
pleased.
The CHAIRMAN now suggested to Mr.. Hun.
oERvORD that he had submitted his motion in rather
a singular form.
Whereupon Mr.. HUNGERFoRD waived the
point so far concerned the question in the form
in which he had put il TO the Chair, and confined
. himself strictly TO the motion TO strike out.
Mr. ADAMS here put an inquiry to Mr.. Me
KAY, which led to some conversation between the
two gentlemen.
Mr. MCKAY stated that these observations had
formerly been made under the direction Of the sur.
geon general, by officers Of the army. IL only
within the last four or five years that Mr.. Espy had
been employed as clerk.
Il Mr. ADAMS was understood to submit that the
occupation a useful one, from which public
benefit had been derived. He also understood
to submit that the fact Of former appropriations
having been made was authority for this lie
hoped the amendment would not prevail, and he
indicated amendment to read: "for continuing
meteorological observations, 81, 600"
A brief conversation took place between Mr.. C.
J. INGERS0LL, and Mr.. MCKAY
Mr. S. JONES said that, according to the 6lS
rule (Which had been ready no such appropriation
was in order in this bill. And it was wholly unim.
portant whether the appropriation had heretofore
been made or not. There was no law authorizing
the employment Of such person, and the rule de.
cared that no appropriation should be made except
for objects authorized by law. They could raise
storm here without the assistance Of Mr.. Espy
4 They need not pay him for meteorological observa
. TONS or for raising storm, which they could raise
themselves we'll as he could.
| A voices And Snakeh rain tool
, Mr.. JONES Yes, and make it rain too
Some conversation followed on a point of order
-
JOKES submitted, was out Of order.
/ Mr. STANTON said that the Slst rule had been
referred to, showing that this appropriation was
out Of order. But it would be seen, that the rule
did not forbid an appropriation in general appro
priation bill which was in continuation of appropria.
tons previously made for works or objects already
| in progress IL was clear that these meteorological
observations already in progress, and that ap.
i preparations had heretofore been made for them II
was clearly proper therefore, that the appropriation
should be made 1t mattered not whether the APP
preparation was made in the form proposed by the
Committee of Ways and Means, or by the gentle
man from Massachusetts,, Mr. ADAMS. in either
case, was proper, and from the importance ofth
object) he believed it ought to be made.
Mr.. HARALSON now called upon some mem.
Der (more familiar with such matters than himself)
to state, of what practical benefit these observations
had been, or probably would be to the country.
| This question led to very long scientific debate
in relation to the theory Of storms, the Baconian
philosophy, and the utility or inutility Of Mr.
Espy's researches &c; which participated in
by Messrs STANTON, JOS. R. INGERSOLL
s. JONES, G. S, HOUSTON, HUNGERFORD
THOMPSON, HARRISON, JOHN A. ROCK.
WELL, ADAMS, RATHBUN, and ISAAC E.
HOLMES.
Mr. MCKAY explained that these observations
were instituted at the time Mr.. CALHOUN was at the
head of the War Department. Four years ago
Tor the HIST utHe, provision nau Deen lnuo-
duced in the appropriation bill for extending and
rendering more complete the meteorological obser.
vations at military posts under the direction of the
encouragement, $1,000. Of this 81, 900 had
been applied in the employment of Mr.. Espy. Any
gentleman who had curiosity on the subject, would
find, on reference to the Blue Book, that that was
the amount paid to him.
II Two years ago. when he (Mr Mckay had be.
come a member Of the Committee of Ways and
Means, this estimate submitted A ma jority
fthe committee determined not to put it in the bill
because there was no authority Of law. This course
was pursued at both sessions Of the Congress. But
the House had determined otherwise. Provision
had been made and he had regarded this as clear
expression of the opinion of the House that these
observations should be continued under the direc-
ton Of Mr.. Espy. or the value of his services he
(Mr. Mex. was no Judge Originally he had been
opposed to the APPROXIMATION. Individually, he still
was opposed to it. But members of the Com
mittee of Ways and Means, he had merely &C.
quiesced in its introduction into the bill
Il He did not think that anything would be gained