The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-09
IN CONGRESS- OF THE U. STATES.
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 8. 1919,

Thirttsth Congr --Asc ond Session.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY s. 1919
SENATE.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS.
The VICE PRESIDENT lail before the Senate a re-
mort from the Secretary Of the Navy in compliance with
resolution of the Senate. showing the amount of ex
psndures for the freight Of provisions. clothing, small
stores and other supplies for the squadron the Pacific
aso for transporting seamsn for year which was
read and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs
Also, report OF the Secretary of the Treasury. made
in compliance with resolution Of the Senate, showing
the expenditures and results OF the United States coas.
surveys which reierredt to the Committee on Finance
and ordered to be printed.
MEMORIALS AND PETITIONS.
Mr. DIX presented the memorial Of Austin Packard
and Others inventors asking amendment OF the patent
laws The memorial sets forth that the protection which
the present patent system promised but has been
the productive industry of the United States, BY indu
cling number of inventions which have given to brute
matter the faculty Of labor, thereby elevang the sta-
dad Of human enjoyment and transferring man from the
director Of AUTOMATIC machinery; the memorial re-
ferred to the Committee on Patents.
Mr.. UPHAM presented the petition Of citizens of
Washington county, Vermont. asking thai uniform
rate Of postage Of two cents be established and that
newspapers periodicals. and other printed matter may be
duced to one recent sheet and for the entire abolition
Of the franking privilege; which was referred 10 the
Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.
Mr. HOUSTON presented the petition OF merchants of
Charleston. South Carolina, asking legislation on the
tonnage duties levied upon vessels coming from Old
Spain 10 the United States via the West Indies.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
Mr. DAVIS of Mississippi, from the Committee on
Military Affairs to whom was referred much OF the
Presidents message as relates to the transfer Of vessels
from the War to the Navy Department reported joint
resolution 10 transfer transport vessels from the War
the Navy Department; which was read and ordered to
second reading. sn
The reading having been called for, il was read, as
follows:
Re.oVd &c. Tha. the Secretary OF War be- and is here
by authorized and directed in conformity with the
endaiioD contained in his annual report transfer
the Navy D,psmen. such transport vessels belong
ing the War department as in his Judgment will pro-
Mr. BREESE, from the COMMITTEES on Public Lands,
reported bal, giving the consent Of Congress to the
State Of illinois improve the navigation Of the Des
nois; which was read. and passed to second reading
Mr. RUSK. from the Committee on Military Affairs. to
whom referred the petition Of James Foy ami others,
asking 10 be allowed bounty land made unfavorable
report on the same; which ordered to be printed
with the gaariermaster's letter relating to the case;
whom were referred the following House bills:
An act for the relief Of Jesse sutton;
An ae. Tor the relief Of Robert B. Mitchell;
reported back the same without amendment
Mr. B. also, from the same oomnittee, to whom was
referred the bill from the House for the relief OF Lowry
Williams, made an adverse report on the same which
MI ATHERTON. from the Committee on Finance. 10
whom were referred the following House bills:
An act making appropriations for the support Of the
army for the yeaf ending the Both June, 1850;
An act making appropriations for the payment Of navy
pensions for the year ending the 30th June, 1850;
reported back the same without amendment.
POINT ISABEL PORT OF ENTRY. IA
Mr. DIX from the Committee on Commerce, to whom
was referred the bill to establish the collection district of
Bazos de Santa Jago in the State Of Texas reported the
same with an amendment
On motion by Mr. DIX, the Senate proceeded to the
consideration Of the bill as in committee OF the whole,
and amendment being made, il was reported TO the
Senate.
que why Point Isabel had been selected as the proper
place Tor the custom house f.
Mr. DIX said he would state. for the information OF
the gentleman that Point Isabel 1 ~, oeem nxsa upon
peared to be the most suitable places but he knew nothing
about the locality OF the place, except from the descP
hons nc ma seen and nsi %a q ce dep
Of water than the passage below and on that account
the point selected was supposed TO be the proper place ior
The custom house The island q Brazos Pc ss
Mr. FO0rE inquired Of the senator from New York il
the selection OF Point Isabel was not sustained by me-
Mr. Dix i'C IT IS ''I Ia. also BEEN by the
MI DAVIS Of mississippi said he had seen the memo.
Of The place AID net to very well understood
The entrance to Point Isabel, Immediately past the
Brazos al which goods landed during the war
where goods were landed and then taken across by land
to Matamoras. It made the depot from winch the
United States sent provisions up the Rio Grande for her
troops, and there more, az much water az the
bar than there is al the Brazos island Nothing ABOVE
schooner could enter the harb0r at Point ISABEL Az
though the water low sometimes at Brazos ana mere
dangers that place. yet it had better be protected
BY wall than 10 have custom house 81 Point isa-
bel In did he think Point Isabel proper place
for the location Of the custom. house. ..,
Mr.. RUSK said he had taken pains to ascertain the
facts in the for be knew there was some dthcuy
the custom house He had found to favor Brazos
another Point Isabel. and another the mouth OF the Rio
Grande. The information which he had received IRON
the citizens there pretty much a. had been
ed to the Senate There was this difficulty about the
Braz0s island: was unsafe place, beng frequently
overAowed The Mexican custom hoase was there, al
first long time ago and owing to the TACT that the vei
overlooked there the custom house was removed "a
Point Isabel majority OF the citizens at Point Isabel
had sent memorials to the Senate representing Point lsa
bel as the most proper place for the location o. the Gus
tom.house. A considerable Town was growing w al
Point Isabel which additional reason Tor select
ing that point. -
There another thing which rendered it important
that Point Isabel should b selected the place. and
that because many goods would be entered there
He had addressed note TO the Secretary OF the Treasu
ny, who informed him that from the best information be
could gather on the subject Point Isabel the best
place Tor the ocation of the custom house.
Mr.. WESTCOrT made an inquiry in regard to the
navigation Of the Rio Grande.
Mr. RUSK said that ships could sometimes enter THE
mouth the river and sometimes they could not Some
times there eight nine feet water IN the channel
and other times there bat four or i've ieet The
only necessity for anything at the mouth OF Inc rver was
that vessels could 80 round there and smngge goods ~
on the Mexican side, and then bring them into the UNI
fol avuifh mt ovin dni