The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-02-05
Congress.

WAsnISaroH. Jan. q. 1851
SENArE.-The Chair laid before the Senate a
report of the surveys made with view of supply
ing Washington city with pure water, with an es-
innate Of the probable cost of the work
Messrs Ewing and Dickinson presented peti.
tons from Ohio and New York, praying the estab-
lishment of a line OF steamers to Africa.
Mr.. Cooper presented petitions from merchants
OF Phi adelphla, in favor Of line Of steamers from
that. to Brazil.
Also argenumber of petitions for the modif.
cation o, the tariff Of 1876.
Mr. Mason presented the resolutions of the State
Legislature of Virginia, praying that further pro-
vision be made to satisfy Virginia military land
warrants
Mr.. Seward presented several petitions from the
State Of New York. in favor Of repeal of the Flu.
gitive Slave law. Laid on the table
Mr. Whtcomb presented the credentials of the
Hon. j. ID. Bright, Senator elect from Indiana, for
six years, from and after the 9TH of March, 1851.
Mr.. John Davis offered resolution, which lies
over, directing an inquiry into the e1pedienoy of
increasing the compensation given to Judge
Cranch, for trying appeals in patent cases.
- On motion by Mr.. Walker, the Secretary of the
Treasury was requested to communicate the quality
and val lue of all articles brought into the United
States for sale, under bond for expectation from
Canada, during the years 1849 and 80.
Mr. Benton called up the bill to make good to the
State OF Missouri the two per cent. fund which was
received from that State in the public lands sold in
that State.
After some remarks from Mr.. Clay, in opposition
TO The bill, 1t was laid on the table for the present
MIR. Mason moved, and the Senate proceeded m
the consideration of the bill to incorporate the
Union Gas Light Co., of Washington CITY,
MIR. Chase moved to make the directors of the
company individually liable for all debts contracted
while in Office
Mr.. Walker moved to make the stockholders in.
dividually liable to the amount Of their stock held
at the time the liability occurred.
After debate, Mr.. Walkers amendment was
agreed to, and the other rejected.
The bill was then ordered to be epprossed.
After debate, the bill authorizing the u S. Dis
trict Judge of Arkansas to appoint steamboat in.
spectors in that State, was taken up and ordered
to be engrossed for third reading.
The Senate then took up the bill to ascertain and
settle the private land claims in California.
The quesi n pending was on the substitute re-.
bill.
Mr.. Berrlet e,plained the bill reported by the
committee, ana supported it.
Mr. Benton denounced the bill reported BY the
committee as worse than any yet heard Of
Mr. Berrien replied, and, without taking any
vote, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE, OF REPREsENTATIvEs-Mr, Haralson.
OF Georgia, moved joint resolution, explanatory
OF the act granting compensation to all officers,
non commissioned officers and soldiers, who NAV
nave served three months in the army of the
United States, and directing that its provisions
shall be extended to all who have go served the
act alluded to referring TO persons who were en-
gagged in the service during the war, and the Sec
retary OF the Interior constituting its provisions to be
limited strictly to persons who served during the
actual existence of hostiities.
As the resolution could only be introduced with
the unanimous consent of the House, Mr.. Haral-
son, who was proceeding to explain his object, was
interrupted by an objection, and no action was had
on the resolution.
motion of Mr.. Bayly, to suspend the rules to
enable him to move a resolution making it the spe-
cia order OF the day for tomorrow, for the consid.
GRAFTON of five of the appropriation bills which he
enumerated, was lost the division being yeas ia,
nays 77--lhere not being two-thirds of the House
IN favor OF the suspension of the rules.
Mr. Johnson, OF Arkansas, moved that the rules
be suspended, to enable him to introduce resolu-
ton, making the harb0r and river bill the special
order of the day for Tuesday in next week, to be
continued from day to day until disposed Of and
the yeas and nays being ordered, there ll6 in
the affirmative and 70 in the negative. The mo-
tlon was therefore lost, there not being two thirds
In the affirmative.
Motions for suspension of the rules, with refer
ence Chiefly to the routine business Of the House,
were made and negatived. At length, Mr.. Bayly,
of Virginia, moved that the House 20 into com.
mittee of the whole on the slate of the Union
which was agreed to, lis to 43.
The deficiency bill again came up as the subject
ei discussion, and the manner in which clerks had
been appointed by the Secretary of War, for whose
remuneration the bill made provision was described
by Mr.. Dunham, Of Indiana, as being contrary to
law, and as the most impudent piece Of usurpation
IN the annals OF the Government; the appointments
having been made before the meeting Of Congress,
and when the clerks had no duty to perform.
1t was contended on the other hand, that if the
clerks referred to had been appointed without the
authority Of law, it was not without the authority
OF precedent, and the which had been passed
upon the conduct Of the Secretary of the Interior,
by Mr.. Dunham, was attributed to the circum-
stance of his being whig and the member from
Indiana democrat
Mr. Averett, of Virginia, spoke with some
warmth, of abuses in the Pension Office, and of
the practice which is becoming too prevalent, of
appointing persons to fill subordinate situations
under the Government, for the purpose of carving
out the views of heads ofidepartments. He insist
ed that one-half the clerks who are employed in
the Pension Office would be sufficient for the per.
formance OF all its duties and moved an amend.
ment that the sum of Sl2, 500, which the bill pro-
vides, be reduced to SS000
Mr.. Dunham, in reply to the motives which had
been attributed to him. discaimed being actuated
by political feeling; nor did he wish to throw any
obstacles in the way Of the due execution of the
law. He had alluded to a transaction which at
least ought to be inquired into and if it would not
bear scrutiny, it ought not to be sustained.
Mr.. Johnson, of Tennessee, was opposed to any
measure that would fetter the administration and
sailed the attention of the Committee to the fact of
clerks IN the departments being employed but five
hours IN each day instead of the time prescribed
"hou HC requested nlSnt Dc Iedu from
which it appears that the hours thus determined
upon, are from April to OctoberI ten hours, and du
ring the remainder of the year, eight hours every
day' exclusive Of Sundays and the 4th of July /;
ana from calculation which he had made, it an.
peared that the proposed increase of clerical aid
together with three more hours each day according
70 law' would be equal to seventy-six additional
clerks each year.
Mr. Bayy, of Virginia, thought this provision
merely had reference to the Department of the In.
terlor oet' after hearing the law read again, he
was satisfied that it had reference to the various
departments of State, and expressed a hope that
the law would be enforced. r' '''''
A good deal of running debate ensued as tn tho
salary OF the clerks in the Pension. Office, and nm
amendment to an amendment was carried provid.
ing that no clerk who has has been employed should
made by hr. Bayly, to give clerk 81 600 year
was lost ~~'N~ S'"''
Mr., Bowie, Of Maryland, proposed ,be, two of