The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-22
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
STATE OF THE PUBLIC BUSINESS.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
STATE OF THE PUBLIC BUSINESS.
The SPEAKER called the attention of the House
to the accumulation of bills on his table, some of
them living over from the last session. If it be the
intention to act on them during the present
sion. they ought to be referred to the appropriate
committees; and this can be done only after call
ing the committees for reports for one hour in the
morning. The Chair had discharged his duty by
calling the attention of the House TO this subject.
MIR. BURT thought that the regular order was
calling the committees for reports
The SPEAKER replied, that the gentleman
correct, and that at the termination of the morning
hour the business the table could be disposed Of
Mr.. BURT said that committees were charged
with Senate bills of great importance 10 the public
service, which should be acted upon, and, there
fore, he trusted that the committees would be called
for reports.
Mr. BAYLY said In connexion with the state
ment which you have just made, beg to be in
dulged in few remarks concerning the state of
the business of this House. The Deficiency bill
has already been made the special order from day
to day until il 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 providing a
Board of Accounts have also been made special or
ders Each of these bills will take two days The
Importance of them will at any rate entite them to
SO much time for their consideration. Four days
have been set apart for the consideration of Terri
torial business, and day has been appropriated
| to the District of Columbia. We all know that
Mondays consumed in motions to suspend the
rules, and dies non far the business of the
House is concerned. There are five Mondays re-
naming. Thus the House will see that, of the
thirty five days of the session still remaining
enteen are beyond our control, and have only
eighteen days, excluding Fridays and Saturdays,
apart by the rules of the House for private bills,
left TO transact the business OF Congress not pro-
vided for in the special arders.
We have nine general appropriation bills, which
it is imperative duty to consider and pass and
the failure of any Of which would lead to great
embarrassment. These bills the Military Acad-
envy bill, the Revolutionary and other Pensions
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 appropriations are made amounting to
upwards of forty thousand dollars, and providing
for every department of the public service. They
ought to be carefully considered. But if every day
of the session which s not appropriated already be
given to the consideration of those bills, we can
give them but two days each, II we deprive private
bills OF Fridays and Saturdays, and less than one
if we do not.
duty to call upon the House, in the most earnest
manner, to make no more bills special orders,
cept the general appropriation bills, and that 1t
will sustain me on Monday next in making them
special orders. If il does not, II is certain that
some of those bills will fail, they will be passed
without due consideration After this statement,
if the Committee of Ways and Means is not sus-
tanned by the House, and the public business shall
| suffer, they must bear the responsibility, which
| will be a very heavy one.
| Mr. STANTON, of Tennessee, inquired whether
| II would not be power OF the House, by
mous consent, 10 refer the bills the Speaker q
\ table.
The SPEAKER replied that the regular business
was the call of committees for reports.
UNITED STATES COURT IN FLORIDA.
Mr. MEADE, from the Committee on the Judi
ciary, reported back the Senate bill concerning the
United States court in Florida and increasing the
salary of the Judge. He explained that the design
was to facilitate the transaction of maritime bust
ness of merchants residing on the Atlantic and the
Gulf of Mexico.
! Mr.. JONES moved that the bill be laid upon the
table, and the question being taken, it was decided
in the Degatye--yeas 80, nays 92-the Speaker
| vote making tie
| The morning hour having expired, the House,
| on motion of Mr.. STRONG, proceeded to the con-
sideraton of the business on the Speakers table.
| RELATIVE RANK IN THE ARMY AND THE NAVY.
| The SPEAKER laid before the House commu-
nication from the President of the United States,
made in compliance with resolution of the House
of Representative of July last on the subject OF
precedence in rank of officers of the army and the
navy, and their relative rank when they brought
| into co operation. The President states that he
convened board to consider the matter, and SUBJ
mts its report to the House for their action.
! Mr.. BURT said that the report was made in pur-
suaAoe Of resolution adopted during the last ses
| sion, at the instance of the Committee on Military
Affairs, and he moved that il be referred to that
| committee
Mr. STANTON, of Tennessee, asked for divi-
sion Of the report-one part to be referred to the
Committee on Naval Affairs.
| Mr.. BURT remarked that, if there should be a
division of the subject, there could be concert OF
| action between the two committees. The Commit
tee Military Affairs would consider il to be their
duty to consult the Committee on Naval Affairs II
| the Military Committee should conceive it to be
| unnecessary to recommend any Legislation, then
the gentleman would see that it would not be ne
cessary to refer The report to the Naval Committee
| Mr.. STANTON, OF Tennessee, said that the re-
4 ference was OF no great importance, and, the
Committee on Naval Affairs had enough to do he
would not object to the motion of the gentleman
| from South Carolina.
The report was then referred to the Committee
on Military Affairs.
| Several communications from Executive De-
partments were laid before the Houge and appro-
| priateIy referred.
POTOMAC INSURANCE COMPANY.
| The bill to renew and continne in force the char
| ter of the Potomac Fire Insurance Company of
Georgetown, was taken up 1t was returned from
| the Senate with amendment that tho stock
holders shall be individually liable for the debts of
the said corporation, " to amount equal to the
capital stock held by them respectively, provided
that the liabilities shall be confined to stockholders
when such debts we're contracted or liabilities in
CURED"
The question wne on concurring in this amend
ment of the Senate, when
Mr.. HALL said that it proposed to make the
stoc holders liable only TO the amount of their
stock. It defeated the object of the House, and was
perfect humbug.
| Mr.. INGE said that individuals were not will
w hhZaru tne WnOle oil tnClr property,
and that II the stockholders were TO be held liable
to an unlimited amount, they would not accept Of
the renewal OF the charter. This company had
been 10 existence Tor twenty years, and had met
all demands upon L. The persons who want the
charter extended are citizens Of Georgetown, and
have petitioned to Congress with this view The
subject oflability bad been under discussion in the
New England States, and additional liabilities have
| been imposed, but he aware Of no case in
which they went further than what was proposed
| by the Senate. The fire insurance companies
operate most bcneiically the poorer classes of
society. lie approved of imposing heavy liabilities
on banking companies, but in companies for insu-
| rance there should be wide discrimination.
The amendment Of the Senate was concurred i'm
yeas II, noes 57
A large number of Senate bills we're referred to
| the appropriate committees.
On motion of Mr.. JONES, the Housc-ayes 90,
noes 42-aid on the table joint resolution Of the
Senate, passed on the last day Of the last session,
nmendatory Of the Bounty Land act, and designed