The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-20
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

i
The Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
| The SPEAKER laid before the House testimony
forwarded TO him in the contested election case
from the State OF Iowa; which was referred To the
PACIFIC RAILROADS..
| Mr.. FULLER, from the Committee on Printing,
reported in favor of printing five thousand copies
extra OF the report from the Committee on Roads
and Canals. setting apart portion Of the public
struct railroad TO the Pacific ocean. The docu-
ment will make hundred and thirteen pages,
and the cost OF printing the extra number five hun
dred dollars
Mr.. BOWLIN, of Missouri said that he intended
to review this extraordinary bill, and the amount
OF public domain which it proposed to give away,
and the effect and object of thus giving away the
public lands; and the nature and character Of the
resolutions of State legislatures, under which gen
tlemen act. in granting lands enough for the forma
ton of mighty empire He asserted that the bill
proposed to establish the most gigantic scheme Of
morrow Mr.. Whitney will laugh you to scorn. It
is peculiarly framed bill, giving Congress not the
weight of a straw.
Gentlemen will recollect that the struggle against
the former Bank Of the United States resulted in
the fact that foreign capital controlled the currency
OF the country. The capital of that institution
thirty five millions of dollars, in the hands of TWEEN
! ty four persons But here are ninety seven and
hall In the hands OF one man. with liberty to assign
| to those who may give him the most money. For
eign capital would be likely to go into this stock,
as naturally as water finds its level. Power was
| to be conferred on Mr.. Whitney, such as would en-
able him to possess influence the western
States, and he was to be furnished with the means
| to make the road. The lands to be forever
cepted from taxation, too, and the power of this
Government Is pledged that the States hereafter to
come into the Union shall not tax this property;
yes, new guarantee is given, in violation of the
Constitution. The act is forever irrepeaable. If
ne (Mr; 3D. wanted bill cloaking a corporate
power, he would look for the man who drew up
this one; so well is it calculated to deceive the pub
lie eye. Whitney, under this bill could command
the Government to extinguish the title TO Indian
lands. The bill did not originate with the Commit
| tee on Roads and Canals. They only inserted one
section II was nothing but republication of that
which had been printed in pamphlet and circu-
lated broadcast in the country.
The gentleman urged other objections and when
he had spoken an hour,
Mr.. ROBINSON obtained the floor.
Mr.. BAYLf requested the gentleman to give
way for moment, that he might make motion.
Mr.. ROBINSON inquired whether, il he yielded
the floor now, he would have il tomorrow.
The SPEAKER replied in the affirmative.
MIR. ROBINSON then gave netce that he would
reply to Mr.. BowLIs, and show that the remarks OF
that gentleman were baseless, unfounded, and
puerile throughout
number of Executive communications were
laid before the House. ordered TO be printed, and
/ Mr.. McCLERNAND, from the Committee ON
Foreign Affairs, reported back the Senate BILL to
carry into effect the convention between the United
States and the Emperor of Brazil and it
terred TO the Committee of the Whole on the stat.
OF the Union and made the special order for Thurs
day next
Bills were received from the Senate and appro-
priately referred.
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole on the state Of the Union-Mr. BoYD in the
chair-and proceeded TO the consideration Of the
bill to supply
Deficiencies
In the appropriations for the service of the fiscal
year ending the thirtieth of June, thousand
eight hundred and fifty.
Mr. BAYLY said that this protested TO be bill
70 supply The deficiencies of appropriations for OBJ
jects already authorized by law He had 10 aug
gest, most earnestly, that gentlemen would not
undertake to go into the general subject of debate,
which viii come up on the California message,
when this subject shall have been disposed Of. II
was an appropriation bill which ought TO pass. He
gave notice that If there should be any attempt TO
enter into discussion Of the California or slavery
question, he would make points Of order; but he
hoped ne would be saved from doing 50, and that,
by general concurrence, the debate would be con
hned strictly to the bill before the committee
The bill was frst read through, and then by sec
Mr.. JONES moved to strike out the ammonia.
ton for messenger in the office Of the First Comp
troller, and, after few remarks from him and Mr..
BAYLY, the question was taken, and decided in the
neggstive-ayes 80, noes not counted.
airy of the chief clerk having been read
Mr. HAMPTON moved amendment, pro-
yiding for the salaries of the other clerks from the
sth OF March. ls49, 10 the 30th Of June. 1880
Si4,oo5 g. He said that the act creating the De
partinent made no provision for clerical force but
only for chief clerk. II was therefore necessary
Tor the Secretary TO employ FIVE or six additional
oIerk . ior he purpose OF organizing the Depart
mcnt. Not ono dollar had been appropriated for,
or received by, the clerks; and the question was,
whether Congress will take care Of these gentle
men, or compensate them for IL.
Mr.. NlNTON remarked that the act directed
transfer Of clerks from the Treasury Department 10
that OF the Interior, 10 discharge similar duty but
there being none whose duties were transferred, IL
became necessary for the Secretary TO employ such
Mr.: McLANE, Of Maryland, raised a question
OF order, and read portion Of the S1st rule, which
says that ono appropriation shall be reported in
any general appropriation bill, or be in order
amendment thereto, for any expenditure not pre-
yiously authorized by law The law, he said, re
fused to provide clerks for the Department, except
by transfer, and yet in the face Of this the Sccre-
tary employed additional clerks The amend
ment Of Mr.. HAMPTON, he contended, was not in
order
Mr.. vINTON called the attention Of the gentle
man TO tho fact that he had only read the first part
OF the rule, and not the last which says that such
appropriations shall be in order or the continRen-
Government
The CHAIRMAN decided the amendment TO be
in order
Az the instance Of Mr.. HAMPTON, n letter was
read from the Secretary Of the Interior in relation
70 the affairs OF the Department, together with the
list of the names Of the additional clerks their sew
eral duties and salaries.
Mr.. HAMPTON said that il must be manifest.
from these papers, that the appropriation was ne.
cesary The Indian bureau, the Land Office, and
The Patent Office, tho Penitentiary, and other mat
.ers' were transferred TO the new Department He
had no idea Of spreading a net TO catch the small
hsh, and letting the large ones go through he had
no idea OF muzzling the OK that treadeth ont his
neighbor's corn. Some Of these clerks have been
employed late at night for the last twelve months
and now there was a refusal TO pay them.
Mr. BAYLY said that the bill creating the de
partment provided for the appointment ola Score.
tary, or head, and two bureau officers, with their
chief clerks so far from contemplating an in.
crease OF clerks, precisely the the case
II was declared that there would be merely dis
tribuhon OF business, that the service would be
moro efficient, and that there would be smaller
rather than larger force; and the law expressly
provided that the clerks in charge of business
should be transferred with the business. The Sec.