The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-07-23
THIRTIETH CONGRESS-
FIRST SESSION,
Senate.
WARRINGTON, July 20, 1S4s.

WARRINGTON, July 20, ls4s
NAVAL BILL-ocEAN MAIL STEAMERS
On motion OF MIR. ArHERroN, the bill of naval ap-
preparations was resumed the question being on the
motion OF Mr. Niles to strike out the proposed aa-
vance pay to the ocean steamers and to reduce the
contracts from ten years to five years
Mr. NILES further set forth the reasons Of his mo-
ton
MIR. ATHERTos defe nded the BILL and the advance
pay proposed, and the contracts as they stand The
advance pay proposed would be peril city safe In
lien upon the ships As to the lessening contrasts
to five years that could not well be done We are
bound by the contract and by the law the steamers
too Of larger class than contracted for and viii
the purposes Of their construction ali the bet
ter; and, therefore, under some obligation TO
advance the proposed for the speedy
completion OF the ships He read several letters
the Secretary Of the Navy, recommending the sd-
vance pay as indicated in the bill.
MIR. ALIEN would ask the Senator what viii be
the aggregate annual expense Of all these lines
under the patronage Of the government? What win
be the aggregate expense for this year?
Mr. NILES rose to reply.
MIR ArHrRroN said, the expense of the shree lines
under the Of the Secretary Of the Navy, in
dicated in the bill (SS74,6oO). He appealed that
the greatest prudence and ssgacy had been exercised
by the Secretary Of the Navy in his selection Of the
contractors.
MIR NILrs, in reply to the Senator from Ohio would
state that the three lines included in this bill were set
down at fraction in the appropriation little short
OF SsOOOc0 the Bremen line would cost about $500
900; and for the line from Charleston to Havana,
$4,000; or sir, ] suppose may set down the whole
annual cost Of the system as follows
For the Bremen line Observation-Disclosures 100000
For the Liverpool line ................ 100000
For the line to Chagres ................ 100000
for tne line 10 oregon. AU,WW
For the Charleston and Havana line. $1,000
Total annual cost 81 $500 600
Mr.. ALLEN-That will be the aggregate
Mr.. NILEs-Yes,.sir that will be the annual aSgre
gate cost Of the lines when in operation. Mr. Mics
surprised that the chairman on finance, who
should always consider himselS the guardian Of The
treasury should found to have abandoned his pro-
per post here and standing out for these contractor
and SO far from the contracts being perms
nent, consider that they at the diere zion Of
ngress and regards the contract to Liverpool,
think am justified in the opinion from conversations
with him, that Mr.. Marshall of New York, who has
built tn best steamer that turned out,
think that he would give us the Liverpool line ut
$4,000 less that we have agreed to pay Mr.. Miles,
exhibited that this ocean system was nos wbss ne
had advocated in the outset. It had been passed
in very great hurry, on the last nigns OF we
session, and he had bad no time to examine u;
but supposed at the time that IL was ali right;
bvt subsequent examination had proved snAs ne was
entirely mistaken.
Mr. USpgRwoop-What does the government re-
ceye in pay ment for these investments! Any thing
but postage Do get any passage money or freight
OF what Is IL we receive In the way Of compensation
Mr. Nuys explained that there no other direct
than the postage for the carriage Of let
ters and papers IL never supposed that the
,eipks would be remunerative of the expe mixtures
he great object to advance the interests OF cur
.om merce 20 share in the advantages Of steam nav
'atlon with Great Britain u was to give start 20