The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-23
THE REPUBLIC.

Mr., HOUSTON remarked that the resolution did
not ask for an appropriation, nor authorize any
contract. y merely proposed that the two CON
mttees shall contes, aud report the resalt OF their
deliberations TO the House.
Mr.. RICHARDSON was perfectly sensible 70
what was said by the gentleman. He was familiar
with the practice heretofore. Reports are brought
in by joint committees, and appropriations follow
expenditures involved for public buildings. They
should have fair proposition, that gentlemen may
vote with full knowledge Of the facts. He 70.
pestsd. We hHve butldings enough.
Mr.. WOODWARp said he was In favor OF the
resolution. Efforts have been made for the last
twenty years to afford better accommodated II
never should have been delayed = single day II
was impossible for men TO debate and practise
good manners, for members will not be quiet when
they cannot hear II 10 an unmannerly hall. A
stranger would suppose, that at the time Of the
construction Of the hall there not such
science ~ acoustics known. IL was not, how
ever, q hall; II was cavern, mammoth
cave. Mon speak In all directions. and In no di.
rcction. Count the substances, the pillars, &c,
throwing the voice right and left; and that absurd
dome only enables the Speaker 10 hear. II 10 20
constructed ~ to converge the voices the speak
er's car, az though members were deaf and dumb.
1t would save five times the Of the hall. in five
years, II members could hear. He was certain, the
defect remedied, that unjust claims would not get
through. he would reconstruct the hall II II cost
five millions Of dollars, and the country would be
gamers in money and morals, for he insisted that
listening without hearing IL deinoraliIing. lie did
not care whether this was to become the hall OF
southern or OF . northern coniederacy; he WAS Ia
favor OF new hall under any circumstances, and
he trusted that the pccuniafy consideration would
have no effect
Dir. WHITE asked whether the resolution could
not be informally laid aside. Gentlemen did not
Mr. WOODWARD. We can't hear word.
The SPEAKER said that the conversation
too loud in the hall, and requested genteiaen to
preserve order.
Mr. WHITE understood that the Senate had
passed joint resolution, which had not been read
appeared TO him that the resolution should be be-
fore the House, before they were called upon To
act
MIR. HOUSTON said that this was not Joint re-
solution. The Senate could not authorize the Com
mittee Public Buildings Of the House TO act with
theirs II was merely notification that they had
empowered their committee TO act with ours
Mr.. THOMPSON, of Mississippi Have they
specified the objecE
Mr.. HOUSTON. II is such as have indicated.
The SPEAKER said that the resolution came up
in regular order, and that by unanimous consent il
could be laid aside.
MIR. WHITE moved to postpone the further con-
sideration of the resolution until Monday next; but
the motion was not agreed to.
MIR. STANTON, of Tennessee, said that this was
simple proposition, that the Committees on Pub
lie Buildings of the House and the Senate should
act jointly Certainly, by the passage of the
luton the House did not commit itself to any pro-
position; and therefore, far the proposition it.
self was concerned, he could objection to it,
He concurred in the remarks Of the gentleman
from South Carolina. Public sentiment and expe-
rience had condemned the chamber unfit for
Legislative purposes; and it was important and in
dispensably necessary that better accommodations
should be provided, in order that the public bust
mesa should be transacted properly and with ia
cilty. He often could not hear what WINS going
on. Even the remarks of gentlemen sitting near
him inaudible. If he went into the area, the
haffa 10 Estan he call led To nrder n he
came into the aisle he driven back; and fire.
quently he must remain ignorant Of the business,
unless he broke the rules He had a privilege to
hear well as to occupy a seat in the hall.
The resolution of the Senate then agreed
to-
Other bills and resolutions on the Speakers table
were disposed of and
The House then adjourned.