The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-09


be filled committees filled, are those vacancies
which arise during the term for which the senator
elected and that when vacancy OF another sort arises,
vacancy from the expiration OF the term of a senator,
that vacancy becomes, in sense original appoint
ment devoving upon the presiding officer. So that ii
seems TO thar It is plain, from this act that the
cancy referred to in this is one which should be
filled by the presiding officer alone.
The senator from Missouri has raised an objection TO
this resolution, as having the effect 10 declare by resou
ton the meaning OF this act There to be OBJ
lection TO this course, and will suggest whether If
desire exists upon the part of the presiding officer that
the Senate should express its views of this matter, the
end could not be reached by the Senates declining to act
upon the appointment am myself opposed 10 voting
f.r resolution of this sort, and at the same time
filled by the presiding officer. and there seems be
ntnaton OF contrary opinion from any one who has
spoken.
the resolution by yeas and nays, the yeas 49, nays
7, as follows:
YEAs-Me'srs; A'chison, Badger Baldwin, Berrien.
Greene. Hale, Houston, Jones, Mangun, Mason. Miller
ance, Surgeon. Underwood Upham. and Wales-s2
NAYS-Messrs; Benton, Dickinson, Hamlin, Hunter
Norris, Rusk, and Turney-7.
So the resolution adopted, and
The VICE PRESIDENT named JAMES ALFRED PEARcE
regent OF the Smithsonian Institute
ELIGIBILITY GENERAL SHIELDS.
Mr.. WALKER submitted the following resolution !;
which was considered and agreed to-
Resolred That the select committee to inquire into the
eligibility OF hon seat In senate
the United States be authorized send for persons and
papers, and call TO their aid person authorized to adj
the committee may deem proper and procure the
proper auhentcaton OF any papers or records which the
committee may at any time have before 1t relating to the
subject-mater under its consideration.
Mr. WALKER then submitted paper IN relation to
the sublect-matter mentioned IN the above resolution;
which was referred to the select committee.
VENTILATION THE CHAMBER.
Mr. WALKER asked for the consideration OF the fol-
lowing resolution submitted by him during the last ses
sion of Congress:
Resolved That, until otherwise ordered. the Secretary of
Senate pay John STRIVING for his services in vent
ting the Senate Chamber during the session, allowance
exceeding the pay of messenger together with
dollar a day for assistant
Mr. BADGER inquired whether the resolution had
been offered since the commencement OF the present
sion OF the Senate'
Mr.. WALKER said that it was not in fact a resolu-
ton but an authority TO pay for this service which had
been provided tor IN no other way.
Mr. HUNTER understood that it was to pay for the
ventilation of the chamber out OF the contingent fund.
He believed that the parties were entitled to It, and hoped
Mr. BADGER have not the least objection to the
resolution; but if il were resolution offered al the last
Mr. WALKER will offer it now, sir, as an original
Mr. HALE | understand this cannot be acted upon
without unanimous consent simply want 10 IN
qulre whether this resolution included the assistant.
Mr.. WALKER. Certainly
Mr. HALE Then have no objection to its adoption.
division being called for,
Mr. HALE said that the Senate had had the work, and
Mr. DAVIS of Mississippi suggested that the action of
The Senate OF character to which the obleC-
ton of the senator from Missouri would apply. He
looked upon this as legislative action
MIR. HUNTER. | understand this is not general APP
propation Ii an appropriation out OF the contingent
fund for the purpose OF paying one OF our officers We
have much right to appropriate money from that fund
during the executive session as at any other time This
proposition requiring the of the other
House. II is no legislative proposition.
Mr. DAYTON inquired what was the character OF this
ventation
Mr.. RUSK. | think this is a wrong time, and this is
the wrong manner, to make Appropriation. This pur
ports upon its face to be appropriation for
heretofore rendered There is too much of that thing
about this Capitol sr-oo much of it altogether. We
do not know whether these services wanted not
We do not know whether they have been of any benefit
TO the Senate AT the close OF the session we are called
upon pay for services for which contracted
think this whole business ought to be changed think
when anything is necessary to be done should first
make contract, and then may know, when pay
it, what it is for and that we have received the benefit
oil 1t. AS to this, | know nothing about it, do not
know whether it has been of any service not. know
that some arrangements which have been made so far
from being servceable, have proved to be positively in
furious, and allude particularly to the gas arrange
mens Under such circumstances, am opposed to the
resolution.
Mr.. WALKER. | will, as briefly as possible, explain
the character of this service and the in which
IS conducted. There is, perhaps, machinery about the
Senate chamber, OF the existence OF which all the
tors not All around upon the floor will be
observed openings Now, sir, from these openings in
the floor there pass tubes, which are carried up to the
dome. There also tubes from the dome which
carried down, and which unite in large trunk air.
passage, where the air is discharged in heated
There IS an opening in the top OF that room through
which the air escapes in consequence OF the vacuum
casloned by the furnace, which is also in that room
The service rendered to keep up fire there, that the
ar may be heated and sent out at the opening the top
oil the room, and that the may be constantly filled
by the impure air of the Senate chamber.
My impression is, that if we should stop up these
nues OF exit for the impure air. should very be
able to appreciate the benefit resulting from this system
OF ventilation. We find that have sat here for many
hours IN succession day after day. without being dscom
NODDED by uncomfortable atmosphere and not having
been put to the inconvenience OF impure atmosphere
we are less able 10 appreciate the benefit we enjoy
During the whole session of Congress Mr.. Skirvlng
and his assistant have been acting merely under the
thoriy of the Vice President. 1t becomes ques
ton whether those who have to dsburse the contingent
fund shall lay their hands upon il pay for this service
or not know that if Mr. Skirving and his assistant
are not paid in this way, they will get no compensation
for their services for the last winter This to
IRON the contingent fund, which the Senate has the
sole disposal If It's right to pay it, the Senate ought to
say my opinion Ii 1t is wrong, should refuse IT.
Mr. BENTON. This is a resolution for the payment
of money, and, according tc the rules. goes through
many forms bill There is no difference between a
b and resolution when comes TO paying out money
II that had not been the rule, the Senate would have
been exceedingly shallow-guaIng bills with three
several readings upon three several daysif they had
then left an open door by lowing resolutions to be
passed to the effect without these readings, and
explicit against paying money out of the contingent fund
OF any other fund, IN this way. Such resolutions are
put upon a footing with bills. This is the rule
Every bill shall receive three readings previous to its
beng passed and the President shall give EACH
whether it be the LIST. %, Sd which readings shall
ma a.