The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-11
L E. HOLMES, FARAN, ATKINSON, RATH-

OF the Committee Of Ways aud Means could ind
law by which the office was authorized, the House
"hsn the bill should come there, might refuse TO
concur with the committee in striking out.
Mr.. MCKAY acceded to the suggestion,
And the committee having adopted il, the item
was stricken out.
The following item being under confederation
For provisions including transportation, eoOpsrags and
hundred and twenty Weight dollars"
Mr.. WOODW0RTH moved an amendment au-
thOrizing the Secretary Of the Navy to purchase
provisions for the use Of the navy which were per-
ishabei in their nature, and not subject to compet-
tons, at such prices, and in such manner, he
should deem for the best interests Of the service Re
jseisd.
Mr.. d. P. KING moved an amendment, by way
of premise, that spirit ratlons should be allowed
and that the Secretary Of the Navy be authorized
and directed TO make Communication therefor IN mon
ey Agreed TO-
Mr.. MCKAY, for the reasons already stated by
him, moved TO amend the item by striking out the
same and inserting Eight hundred and sixty-nine
| thousand seven hundred and twenty-five dollars. "
| agreed 10.
| Mr.. STANTON from the Committee on Naval
| AlaIrs) moved an amendment "for computing and
publishing, under the direction Of the superntend-
en Of the Observatory, Of the American Nautical Al
manac, to be calculated for the meridian Of Wash
| ington Ave thousand dollars"
Mr. s. explained the amendment.
Mr.. |. E. HOLMES briefly advocated it,
Mr. J. r. lNGERSOLL briefly advocated the
amendment
Mr.. ADAMS referred to the nautical almanacs OF
other countries and the vast importance Of them;
and briefly urged the policy of preparing and pub.
| fishing one in this country-an American almanac.
After word from Mr.. THOS. b. KING,
Mr. STANTON further briefly urged the amend.
ment.
Mr. BROCKENBRoUGH opposed it.
| Mr. SAWYER had no objection TO the compiling
and publishing almanac proposed, but he
found from the Blue Book there 81 officers at the
Observatory in this city, with aggregate salary
Of $50 900 They were thus sufficiently paid, and
should perform this work without additional appro-
priaton.
| MIR. STANTON explained, that from the nature
Of their duues--some being Obliged to set up
every clear night IN the year. for the purpose OF
making ooseryatons-the number Of these officers
was no greater than was indispensable.
| MIR. SAWYER further opposed the proposed APP
| preparation, and yielded for explanations TO Mr. T
B. KHG and other gentlemen.
| The conversation was further continued by
Messrs. ATKINSON, STANTON, and JOS. J
MCDOWELL.
| Mr.. MCDOWELL moved to strike out the words
computing and" and to reduce, so as TO aPPropri.
| ate sum mot exceeding $1,000"
Mr.. T. B. KING hoped the amendment would
| not be adopted
The question was taken on the amendment to the
amendment, and the vote was, ayes IS, noes 65-
| no quorum voting
Tellers were asked and ordered and the vote was
again taken-resultng, ayes 49, noes 6i-no quo
| rum still.
Another count was taken, and there appeared
ayes 81, noes Ga quorum.
So the amendment to the amendment was lost
The question recurring on the amendment Of MIR
STANTON
Mr.. S. JONES moved to amend it by reducing
| the amount TO $4,000. Rejected.
| Mr.. BR0CKENBROUGH moved TO amend so a,
To appropriate "for publishing the observations Of thu
American Observatory at Washington, $1,000"
Mr.. B. briefly advocated the amendment III,
desired to see the observations published, bu
| thought it unnecessary to 60 on and make new
| almanac.
| Further conversation occurred between Messrs
JACOB THOMPSON, T. B. KING, STANTON
THURMAN, DRoMGoOLE, P. KING, and S
| JONES
| Mr.. THURMAN suggested an amendment to the
original amendment Of Mr.. STANTON, to add pro
viso, that no part of said shall be paid as
compensation TO any person now receiving a salary
| from the government
| Mr. STANTON accepted this amendment, ant
modified his original proposition accordingly.
The amendment of Mr.. BRocKENBRoUGH to tn,
| amendment was lost
The question recurring the modified amend
ment of Mr.. STANTON was taken, and decided il
| the affirmative, ayes SO, noes Sc.
| 80 the amendment was agreed to.
| Mr.. J. DAVIS moved to strike out the following
For pay Of storrkeeper and inspector Of tim
Der clerk to the yard two clerks 10 commandan clerk tC
| $50" F' ~
| Mr.. MCKAY briefly opposed it, stating that these
were offices provided for by law and now necessary
| in consequence of the with Mexico. He gave
notice of amendment he should offer applicable e
| the wards generally which he thauOht would
| the views Of the gentleman from Mississippi.
| MIR. DAVIS, on this suggestion, withdrew the
amendment.
| Mr., MCKAY moved an amendment to add at the
close Of the appropriations for the support Of the
civil establishment at the navy-yards a proviso that
the Secretary of the Navy be authorized, when in
his opinion the interests Of the public service will
permit it, TO discontinue any of the civil officers the
navy-yards, and discharge the keepers Of the maya.
zines, and require their duties to be performed by
| others.
MIR. J. R. INGERSoLL inquired if the gentle.
\ man offered this amendment by order of the Com.
mittee of Ways and Meansi
| Mr.. Mckay replied that it was offered on his in.
| dividua motion
| Mr.. INGERSOLL said the Committee of Ways
and Means had rejected this very amendment This
| was most unfortunate moment to strike in any
mode at the interests and feelings Of those who are
| called upon to serve their country. We were now
in an actual state Of war, and this not the time
| to make these reductions.
| Mr. MCKAY said it was not proposed to make
an absolute reduction of these officers. The amend
men only delegated to the head of the department q
discretionary power to make these reductions in case
the interests of the service would permit. He refer
red to letters from Com. Warren and other officers
to show the probable practlcabty of some of these
reductions.
The question being taken, the amendment was
| agreed to.
The item
"For granite gun skds and road graveyard 81 1872
connected with navy-yard at Kittery, Maine, }
being under consideration
Mr.. WENTWORTH moved to strike out the
item for road to graveyard. He wanted to know if
the strict conStructionists in the House, who denied
that there was any constitutional power for the Cum
berland road and for clearing out harbors in what
part OF the American constitution they find this
power for building road to a graveyard A
Taught
The committee propoundcd the question: when
Mr.. WENTWORTH withdrew the motion, re-
marking that it was not make in earnest but to sug.
gest its propriety to gentlemen who were so pecu.