The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-02
made into the contract for building the wings Of the Pat
ent Office building; but 4ssys.a.ss .st
Mr. WALLACE calling for the regular order Of bust

made into the contract Tor building the wings Of the Fat
Mr. WALLACE calling for the regular order Of bust.
The SPEAKER announced the first business 10 order
10 be- the joint resolution in relation 10 the use oil waller
roed hemp in the United States navy reported back from
The Committee Naval Affairs. with an amendment. on
the Goth instant which came up on motion Tor is rel
erence to the Committee OF the Whole on the state oil the
Mr.. STRONG said / regret that the motion to refer
this resolution TO the COMMITTEES OF the Whole on the
state OF the Union prevents me from full discussion OF
lis merits But, as the motion has been made, am in
favor OF its adoption must not be forgotten that when
this resolution was reported by the COMMITTEES on Naval
Affairs another also reported, directing the Secretary
Of the Navy TO into contract with George w Bill
lngs for the purchase OF American water roed hemp
This last resolution was referred to the Committee OF the
Whole and now we asked TO pass this, which il
utterly inconsistent with the one already referred. For
Il the Secretary OF the Navy i directed TO purchase in
open Market wherever he may please All the hemp needed
ire none will remain to be furnished BY Mr. Billings, il
conirac, should be awarded 10 him. The House should
know the facts connected with this transaction. In
is4s joint resolution was passed, authorizing the
NAVY Department to contract for all the American water
rotted hemp needed Tor the navy tor period Of ve
at price not exceeding $24l per ton, which was
the average price before that lime paid Tor foreign hemp
Under this resolution the Secretary OF the Navy adver
sed for proposals In answer TO these proposals. various
bids were made in accordance with the terms OF the adj
veriisement the bidders graduating the PIECES asked
the hemp needed during the first year. less SUN for the
hemp needed the second year. and so on reducing the
price from year TO year during the entire period George
W. Billings the lowest bidder, and therefore, in &C.
cordance with every principle OF law, OF Justice and OF
good faith, was entitled 10 the contract Instead, how
ever Of awarding it 70 him. the Secretary OF the Navy
submitted the to the Attorney General and that OH
Ger returned opinion now on file among the records OF
the government that the bid OF Mr. Billings was Illegal
because the prices asked during the different years
graduated and the bidder had not calculated the average
extraordinary opinion 20 come from the chief law
officer OF the government Sir there is not gentleman
in this House, whether he be lawyer not who would
date aeh nm nnntnp Nm ata
good one argues the Attorney General because imposes
upon the Navy Department the necessity OF calculating
what the average price would be during the ye years
calculation which should have been made by the
bidder In other words. and IN plain English. if man
bid at public sale twenty dollars for horse the bid
Illegal because imposes npon the seller the labor Of
the Secretary OF the Navy refused award the contract
to Mr. Blingss and the subject brought before this
House. The Commttee on Naval Affairs, TO which il
was referred, was, as understand, unanimously OF
opinion that the position OF the Attorney General was
untensbs, that Mr. Billings was entitled TO the contract
and that in good faith it should have been awarded to
him. They therefore reported resolution directing the
Secretary Of the Navy so to award it AT the time
they reported the resolution before The first has
been referred g ne COMMITTEE q the whole and TINS
should be considered and acted upon together and
the one has been referred the other should have like
reference S az not interested nor are ny consa
good faith towards ali those who have dealings with il
s fam esy $ & ans s ss
contract should be awarded to him. To refuse on the
authority Of such opinion as the one OF which have
Ds he
purchase all the hemp needed from whatsoever he may
choose, would be an unworthy. subtsr(uge. 4 trust
we shall NOT BY is passage reader the government Just
" obnoxious the charge of having violated that fah
which is due to every citizen with whom il may have
Mr. MOREHEAD. at some length, advocated immediate
action upon the resolutions, alleging that their reference
10 the Committee Of the whole the state Of the Union
would prevent their enactment Ia time TO permit them TO
answer the purpose for which they were designed He
aso objected to connecting with them the claim OF p
va,e individual Geo " Bilisgso Is proposed BY the
insisting according Mr. M that il should be adsdi
Gated in The Legislation OF Congress upon these resoiu
u M GERRY sad Mr.. Chairman, desire to offer some
observations in explanation Of the sabiectmatter now
before the House, and to give few Of the reasons why
think the motion refer the Committee Of the Whole
thai the action Of the majority Of the Committee on Naval
Affairs, according to my understanding, was the result OF
the impression that their action would be compromise
Of the questions in controversy satisfactory 10 all parties
and am surprised at the taken by the gentleman
from Kentucky, Mr.. MoREHEAD.
The committee unanimous in the opinion, 90 far
as understand, that the contract which has been with
held from Mr. Billings by the Secretary OF the Navy
should OF right have been awarded to him upon law and
in justice They were Of the opinion that the reasons
gwen fOf WunuOulhx tue ConudCt Wefr usuuicicn Dut
majority Of the committee anticipating opposition to
insructng the Secretary TO fulfil hrs contract with Mr.
Billings in good faith, and 10 quietly dispose Of the whole
NATTER concluded 10 divide the contract and TO give
half OF il TO Mr. Billings. and leave the Secretary to
make purchases for the other half as proposed by the
resolutions now before the House. But minority OF
the committee would not give their consent to this dvis
ion Of the contract They arded the contract be-
longing to Mr. Billings, as matter OF right and would
consent to waive his right although groundess OPP
position might be urged against it, AID IN pursuance OF
this opinion they have laid upon your table amInory re-
port But il appears that the report OF the majority OF the
committee unsatisfactory to the gentleman IRON Ken
lucky II otherwise, why this opposition 10 allow these
resolutions TO 20 TO the Committee Of the Whole House
The report and resolutions before the House, and the
reports and resolutions the memorial OF Mr. Billings,
should all be considered together IN my judgment the
reports and resolutions on the memorial OF Mr. Billings,
il either entitled 10 Preference should receive the
earliest action Of this body Pass these resolutions. and
shall be told that there Is no necessity or propne-
~ passing or considering either OF the other two sets
Of resolutions; for the Secretary OF the Navy will have
supplied the department with all the hemp required be-
fore shall reach those resolutions already referred 70
the Committee OF the Whole. Now sir, wish to call
The attention OF the House 10 the resolution oil Congress-
passed lS44 and in pursuance oil which the Secretary
advertised for proposals. The resolution Is In these
words:
That the Secretary or the Navy be- and he Is hereby,
authorized II In his opinion viii be advantageous 70 the
public interest make for term not exceed
Ing live Tor the purchase OF American waterotted
hemp for the United States Provided, The
hemp and at price not exceeding the avergs price or
such hemp for the last five years; the Inspection aud de-
livery &c be at the place OF purchase"
Now, sir, the Secretary BY virtue OF the authority
and every man in the country had opportunity to
hrnxv inh b,d Mr. Billlnqe among othCrs. did 40