The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-21

DER euspens1O0 oil the rules, was agreed to--re-
questing the Secretary of the Navy 10 inform the
House what action has been taken by him with
ference to the act OF the last session. making appro
priation for the construction OF dry dock in San
Francisco, CALIFORNIA; and whether, in his opinion,
a dry dock sufficient for all the purposes of the
navy cannot be constructed for sum much less
than the appropriation aforesaid And that the Sec
rotary be requested to suspend further proceedings
in the construction OF the same
CADETS.
Mr.. DUER asked, but did vot obtain leave. To
introduce a resolution, directing the Committee on
Military Affairs to inquire into the expectancy of
increasing the number of cadets in the Military
Academy at West Point
GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILLS.
MIR. BAYLY moved that the rules be suspended,
to enable him to move that the following
bills, viz: making appropriations for the support
of the military academy for the payment of revo-
lutionary and other pensions; far the payment of
navy pensions; making appropriations for the
current and contingent expenses Of the Indian De-
partment, and for the service of the Post Office De-
partment, for the Both June, lS52-be made spe-
cial order for tomorrow, and to continue such
from day to day, until finally disposed OF.
Objection being made
Mr.. BAYLY moved a suspension Of the rules. but
the motion was disagreed to.
RAILROAD IN OHIO, IspIANA, AND ILLINOIS.
bIr. DISNEY moved, but the House refused TO
suspend the rules in order to make the bill grant
ing the right of way for line of railway through
the States Of Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio, special
order for the 2Sth instant, and continue from
| day to day until disposed of.
THE FRIeATE CONSTITUTION.
Mr.. GRINNELL asked leave to introduce reso-
luton, instructing the Committee on Naval Affairs
| to inquire into the propriety Of authorizing the
| Secretary of the Navy to continue in commission
for service the frigate Constitution to re-
| build her whenever found to be necessary.
The House refused to suspend the rules to, en-
| able Mr.. GRISNELL to introduce the resolution
FARMS TO THE LANpLEss.
MIR. JOHNSON, of Tennessee, asked the unani-
1
ing homestead for every head of familya spe-
cal order II should have one days or two hours
consideration least. He trusted that there would
be no objection as he did not wish TO consume the
time of the House in moving suspension of the
rules.
Mr.. yINTON objected.
NJ JOHNSON moved suspension of the rules;
and the question being taken it was decided in the
negative-yeas 92, nays 100.
NICARAGUA TREATY.
Mr.. McCLERNAND asked, but did not obtain
the consent of the House to offer the following re-
solution, viz:
Resolped, That the President of the United States
be requested to communicate to this House, if not,
in his judgment, incompatible with the public in
terests, any information in his possession relative
to difference OF opinion, II any, between the Gov
ernments of the United States and Great Britain,
concerning the construction of the convention lately
entered into by said Governments; also, any in
formation in his possession relative the reported
difficulties in and upon the coasts of Central Anne
RIGA.
BOUNTY LAND LAW.
On motion of Mr.. ROBINSON, the rules were
suspendcd-yeas ISL, nays Bland the House pro-
ceeded to the consideration of the bill to the
prompt execution of the act approved September
IS, 1850, "grantng bounty land to certain officers
and soldiers who have been engaged in the mill
tary service of the United States"
An amendment, heretofore offered by MIR. Nc
CLERNAND, was pending, emitting registers and
receivers of land Offices to demand and receive for
their services in locating military bounty land war
tn he otfne
fee at the rate of twenty five cents for each forty
acres located-the fee hereby allowed to be in
lieu and in discharge OF any similar fee already al
lowed by law, provided that the salary and perqui-
sites shall in exceed the Of three thou
sand dollars per annum each.
This morning that gentleman enlarged his amend
ment, by adding clause with reference to the time
for locating land warrants, and explained the same.
Mr.. JONES said that it was not his intention to
inf1ict speech on the House upon the bill pend
ing-prepared by select committee and designed
to facilitate the execution of the Bounty Land law
passed during the last session. It was in all
spects such as he would have drafted, what 9TH
ers would have drawn up; but he satisfied that
the committee had given to the subject the nvesti
cation and debcration which it required, and they
had reported bill which, he was satisfied, was as
good as it could be made in the House, after gen.
eral debate and propositions to amend it. The day
would be consumed, the House would adjourn, and
the bill would go over to the Speakers table, which
would operate as an indefinite postponement of it,
MIR. JOHNSON, of Tennessee, (his colleague Civ
ing way for that purPose) gave notice of an amend
ment
Mr. JONES said that the indications were clear
that if additional amendments were to be offered
and voted on, and attempts made to perfect the
BILL the House would not be enabled to get through
with it. He was satisfied that it good and
perfect as the House could make it. In order to
whether they inclined 10 dispose of it, and
to make the act of last September effective he
moved the previous question
The House refused to second the demand-ayes
40, noes 76.
Mr.. WILLIAMS, member of the select COM
mittee, explained its action, and gave notice of
amendments which he intended to offer to the bill
of which he was in favor.
Mr.. MORTON defended the Commissioner of
Pensions from a reflection of Mr.. ROBINSON that
that officer deficient in courtesy and fidelity,
and bore testimony to his efficiency and usefulness
Mr. MARSHALL said that the bill proposed to put
into the Pension and the Third Auditors Offices
sixty one additional clerks, at aggregate of
SET, TAO per annum. He complained Of delay in
transacting business in the Third Auditors office,
although nine new clerks were added last year. II
the addition now proposed be added, the cases Of
the six hundred and sevcnty-six thousand persons
entitled to bounty lands would not be disposed of
while any one of the members now here remains in
public life. He advocated, as the most efficient
means of promptly executing the law, that copies
OF the musterrolls be multiplied by their publica
ton in the newspapers, that every claimant
may know whether he be entitled 10 bounty. lie
preferred to spend the money in this way; not in
the employment of additional clerks, which wac
merely an attempt on the part of the Executive Go
vernment to increase their patronage.
MIR. GORMAN expressed his opinion that the ef
fciency of the Pension office is not what it was
under the former Commissioner, for the reason that
the present officer thus far necessarily ignorant
of the business Of the bureau, having been only
short time in office. This was the secret, and the
centre of the complaint The Commissioner has
the intelligence, but not the experience, proper for
a prompt discharge of duty. He (Mr. CO. had
been informed that, up to this morning, one hun
dred and sixty four warrants have been issued
He advocated the passage of the bill, and an in
crease OF clerical force, to be employed under pro-
per regulations.
Mr.. THOMPSON, of Pennsylvania, briefly ex-
planned an amendment which he intended to offer,
when he gave way for motion to adjourn.
MIR. ROBINSON said that, if the bill should go
over to-day, it might be lost. He therefore pro-
posed that ii be made a special order.
Unanimous consent was necessary, but this was
not given.
And the House adjourned.
PETITION PREsENTED UNDER THE RULE.
By Mr.. REED: The petition Of Majors Rim glandand
Logan, and others, officers and soldiers of the OF
1872, for additional bounty land in consideration of
81 Il