The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-02
HOUSE OF REPREsEn TATIvEs.
The Senate did not sit to-day.

After the reading Of the journal,
Mr. THURSTON asked the unanimous consent Of the
House for permission 10 introduce resolution, which he
said looked the extnguishment OF the Indian title to
all that part of the Oregon Territory lying west OF the
summit Q. inc % loI ns OF the
some point east OF the Snow mountains and for creating
the officers to attend properly to Indian matters in that
agreed TO- would go 10 The COMMITTEES on Indian Affairs as
the basis OF their action that subject He hoped the
House would DO him the favor to agree TO il.
No objection being made, the resolution was read as
follows:
Resolved, That the Committee on Indian Affairs be in
sucted TO inquire into the expedency Of making appro
Vi 81 s
sad co%moe Sc further Instructed to inquire into s
propriey ofcreatng superintendent oflndian affairs and
BY the governor OF said Territory also that said commits
be further instructed inquire what number OF Indian
Of the Indians thereof and the propsicy Of
providing for the same by law. 4
Affairs. ' - - =
Messrs BOWLIN, SIBLEY, and CROWELL sue.
cessvey asked the unanimous consent OF the House o
permission to introduce bills Of which previous notice
had been given but objection being made to the appca.
ton OF each, leave was not granted.
Mr.. VAN DYKE moved that the House do now pro-
coed the election Of Chaplain. under the order pre-
Mr.. HAMMOND requested him to withdraw that mo.
ton for moment, TO permit him to present report and
resolution from the Committee on Engraving; and
The Clerk read the report and resolution frem the
Committee on Engraving, as follows;
In pursuance Of resolution heretofore adopted by this
House, the Committee on Engraving respectfully report
that they advertised for proposals for engraving and h-
ogrsphng the maps, drawings, views. &c, accompany
ing the Presidents message, in newspapers printed in
Boston, New York. Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Wash.
ngton, and that from the bids received they Of opn
ion that the whole may be published At cost OF from
$4,000 to. sisoOo The COMMITTEES, therefore, recon.
mend the adoption Of the following resolution:
"Rssoipsd, That the COMMITTEES Engraving be, and
they hereby authorized contract TOR engraving the
maps drawings, and views. accompanying the Presidents
sisoJc p' '' 80 - ''' ~ '-' '''' sum
Mr. HALL desired TO know the number OF maps 10 be
engraved under this resolution
Mr.. HAMMOND. The whole number OF maps. draw
ngs, and views accompanying the Presidents message,
they have been reported to The committee. is fy.fve
There thirty maps, most OF which are geological
maps OF the mineral lands in the northwest The draw
ings and views principally in illustration OF the coun-
try described by these maps. There few draw
ngs which were sent in with the reports from the War
The committee have net supposed that $4,000 will be
required TO pay for the WORK proposed to be contracted
Tor But they desired margin OF some $4,000 $780,
that they might make the necessary arrangements for
dividing the work. and having il completed in time for the
public printer. The committee, however, expect TO be
able 10 contract for this work al price which will be
Mr. JACOB THOMPSON would take this occasion Of
inquirng what bad become OF the maps OF the unsod
government lands in the different States which were 10
have been published under the order OF resolution OF
the last session, directing the COMMITTEES Public Lands
TO have the necessary drawings prepared at the General
Land Office II rumored that the engraving OF these
maps TO cost large sum. ~ !.
Mr.. HAMMOND knew nothing Of these maps This
was the first time he had served the Committee on En-
Cravings and far his attention had been directed only
10 the maps, the engraving and printing OF which il would
be necessary to order this winter.
Mr. MASON called for the reading Of the resolution.
Mr. HAMMOND suggested the propricty Of also sEain
reading the report of the committee and both were ac-
cordingly reported 10 the House second time
Mr. WINTHROP felt called on TO ask the attention of
the House 10 the fact that while in the 9th week
OF the session. II but just considering resolution 10
permit the COMMITTEES Engraving TO contract for the
preparation Of the plates TO accompany the documents
sent 10 the House with the Presidents annual message
There could be doubt from this and other facs (which
he saied that the delivery Of this important document to
the members would be delayed TO period at which il
would be comparatively useless when the public interest
in would be far less than at presentwhen indeed, II
would only serve TO ncumbef the mails then groaning
under the weight Of congressional matter usual
the close of session. tfe
appeared 10 him that this delay was in great meas-
ure the result OF the contract system. After few
marks TO show the Inconvenience which the adoption of
that system had brought upon the government Congress-
he was in favor Of letting the printing 90 into the hands OF
be necessary to insure the execution Of the public work
OF that description in proper time. He was not inds-
posed 10 permit his constituents TO obtain portion of this
engraving proposed BY the committee in advertising in
a Boston paper that they would receive bids from that
any city, for the execution OF the work but he