The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-22
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
TUESDAY, January 81, 1856

TUESDAY, January 81, 1851.
The SPEAKER called the attention of the
House to the bills upon his table. Some OF them
having been there since the last session. If il
was intended to act upon them, it was now time,
and the only way to effect that object was to call
for reports for committees; after which the matter
on the Speakers table would be in order.
Mr.. BURT, stating that reports Of committees
were the regular order Of the day, called there
for, and spoke of the importance of immediate ac-
ton upon certain Senate bills now before COM
mittees.
Mr.. BAYLY said, in CONNECTION with the
| statement which you have just made, | beg to be
INDUCED in few remarks concerning the state Of
the business OF this House. The deficiency bill
has already been made the special order from day
10 day until it is disposed of. We will not be able
to get through with that bill in less than three
days. The New York mint bill, and the bill pro-
viding board of accounts, have also been made
special orders. Each Of these bills will take two
days. The Importance Of them will, at any rate,
entitle them to as much time for their considera-
ton. Four days have been set apart for the con-
sideration Of territorial business, and one day has
been appropriated to the District Of Columbia.
We all know that Mondays are occupied in mo-
tons to suspend the rules, and are g dies non"
far the business Of the House is concerned.
There are five Mondays remaining. Thus the
House will see that Of the thirty five days of the
session still remaining, seventeen are beyond our
control, and We have only eighteen days, Gnclud-
ing Fridays and Saturdays set apart by the rules
Of the House for private bills left to transact the
business Of Congress, which not provided for
in the special orders. We have nine general APP
preparation bills, which it is our imperative duty
to consider and pass, and the failure of any one
of which would lead to great embarrassment.
These bills are, the military academy bill; the
revolutionary and other pension bill; the navy
pension bill; the Indian bill; the post Office bill the
fertilization bill; the army BILL the navy bill, and
the civil and diplomatic bill. In these bills, APP
preparations are made amounting to upwards Of
forty millions Of dollars, and providing for every
department of the public service. They ought to
be carefully considered. But il every day Of the
session, which is net appropriated already, is Civ
give them but two days each if we deprive private
bills of Fridays and Saturdays, and less than
five do not.
Under these circumstances, feel it my duty to
call upon the House in the most eai nest manner,
to make no more bills speeial orders, except the
general appropriation bill and that il will sustain
me on Monday next in making them special
ders. If it does not, it is certain that some of
those hills will fail or they will be passed with
out due consideration. After this statement, II
the Committee on Ways and Means is not sus-
tanned by the House, and the public service shall
suffer, they must bear the, responsibility which
will be very heavy one.
Mr.. JAMES THOMPSON, under instructions
from the Committee on the Judiciary, made an
adverse report in the case Of John Frazier and
J. Read. Agreed to.
Mr.. JAMES THOMPSON, under instructions
from the same committee, asked to be discharged
from the further consideration Of the petition Of
Eli Wilkins. Carried.
Mr. MEADE from the same committee, asked
leave be discharge from the further
Of the petition Of the Indiana delegation for divi-
sion Of that State into two judicial districts.
Agreed to.
The papers in the above cases were laid on the
table.
Mr. MEADE from the same committee, re-
ported the Senate bill increasing the salaries Of the
district Judges Of Florida, and providing for writs
of error and appeals from said courts
Mr.. MEADE moved that it be put upon its
passage, and addressed the House, giving as the
reason for the proposed increase of salary Of the
Judge of the eastern district, the vast business
annually transacted at Key West. The services
we're Of nature to require the highest legal ab-
ty. Its nearness to Cuba, and the dangerous
| navigation Of the coast, along which pissed the
commerce between New York and New Orleans,
were also urged reasons for enlarging the
SALARY. Mr.. NJ bore witness to the high charac-
ter Of the present Judge, and maintained the pro-
priety Of giving him compensation adequate to his
services, and proportionate to that allowed other
district Judges.
Messrs. JoNss, HALL, CARTER, and HARALsoN,
briefly opposed the proposition Tor an increase OF
salaries, while Messrs. CABELL, GRinNELL, and
KNo Of New Jersy, advocated it.
Mr.. G.. w. JONES moved to lay the bill on
the table, which motion was lost by the casting
vote Of the SrEAxER. The morning hour having
now expired,
Mr. STRONG moved privileged question,
which was to proceed to the consideration Of the
business upon the Speakers table. Carried.
A message was received from the President re-
hating to rank precedence, and command among
officers Of the army and navy respectively, and of
relative rank between said officers when brought
into cooperation. The message was accompan-
led by the reports Of "a board Of officers selected
from each service, and by bills. The message
also stntts, that there il disagreement relating
to relative rank between officers Of the army and
navy, but should Congress make no decision re-
latng thereto it is hoped that the bills regulating
rank, precedence and command in each grade
may receive the sanction Of Congress.
Mr.. BURT moved the reference OF the subject
to the Committee on Military Affairs. and for the
printing Of the message and accompanying docu-
mepts.
Amer some conversation between Mr.. Buar
and Mr.. r.. II. SrANroN, a. to the proprety Of
dividing the reference, the question was put upon
Mr.. BURr's motion, and il was agreed to.
Several executive communicated transmitting