The republic., 1852-01-07
THIRTY-sECOND CONGRESS.
TUESDAY, January D, 1855
SENATE.
FIRST SESSION.

| Finance, ana ordered TO be printed.
And, on motion of MIR. HUNTER, ten thousand
additional copies OF the report ordered to be
printed for the use Of the Senate.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate communi-
mortal from the petty officers, seamen, and ma
| rines employed in the Pacific naval squadron,
| asking an increase of pay; which was. read and
referred TO the Committee on Naval Affairs
| IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHINGTON.
MIR. DOWNS presented the petition Of many
citizens OF Washington city, praying that that por-
ton Of Pennsy vania avenue lying east Of the Capt.
tol be paved and lighted.
A great many other petitions were presented.
rLooGIso IN THE NAVY.
Mr.. q WIN moved to take up the petition pray
ing the restoration Of hogging as punishment IN
the navy, which had been laid on the table on the
| motion Of the Senator from New Jersey. The sub
ject had been postponed till to-day.
Mr. BRIGHT said that the special order for to-
day the joint resolution providing for prnting
the returns of the seventh census. He would insist
| on the special order.
Mr. GWIN said that the Senator from New Jcr.
sey (Mr. STocKToN) desired to address the Senate
upon the subject and il was for him SAY whe thcr
| he satisfied to have it postponed.
Mr.. STOCKTON said that he was satisfied so
long the petition laid upon the table; but when
it should raise its head above the table then he
| was going to talk.
| MIR GWIN withdrew his motion.
| RETIRED LET FOR DISABLED OFFICERS.
Mr. SHIELDS introduced bill to increase the
| efficiency Of the army by providing retired list
| for disabled officers; which referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
| THE DESTRUCTION OF THE LIBRARY.
Mr. HUNTER, from the Committee on Finance
reported back the bill from the House making APP
preparations to meet the expenses incurred in con
| sequence of the late fire at the Capitol with an
amendment approPriating ten thousand dollars Tor
the purchase of books for the library, to be expend-
ed under the direction of the Committee on the Lii
brary.
The bill was considered, the amendment agreed
to- and the bill ordered TO third reading.
Subsequently the bill was read third time and
! passed
GOVERNMENT OF THE MARINE coRPs
| MIR. CLEMENS submitted the following resolu-
| tions, which lie
Resoired, That the Committee Military AT
fairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency
| of adopting separate code of regulations for the
| government of the marine corps OF the United
States.
BE ii further resolped, That said committee be
also instructed to inquire into the cxpedency OF
authorizing the President of the United States TO
appoint annually two cadets to the military acndc-
my, at w est Point, to be educated with view to
! appointment in the marine corps.
| Mr.. HUNTER submitted the following resolu-
! ton, which was agreed to-
| Resolued, That the Committee on Public Build
ings be instructed to inquire into the expediency
| of appropriating a sum, not exceeding -, to ft
up the document room, near the library, and part
of the adjoining passage, for the temporary recep-
| tion of the books OF the Congressional library.
PRINTING OF THE cENsUs RETURNS.
| The Senate then proceeded to the consider ton
of the joint resolution directing the Joint Commit
tee on Printing to contract with Messre Armstrong g
S Donclson for printing the returns OF the seventh
| census.
| MIR. BORLAND moved to amend the resolution
! by striking out the Joint Committee on Printing,
and inserting in lieu thereof the Secretary Of the
Senate and Clerk of the House Of Representatives
lie said that the duty OF making acontract for the
| public printing was one never contemplated by
The law establishing the committee to be perform
| ed by the committee. The labors now imposed up
| on that committee were arduous, and he could not
find IT possible for him TO attend to his other bust
ness and attend TO that imposed the commit tee
if this additional duty was now to be required OF
him. lie objected to it for another reason. Ii
would be a bad precedent. Ii would lead TO in J..
posing on Senator'S duty which should be per-
| formed by the ministerial officers OF Congress
The Clerk Of the House and Secretary OF the Sen
ate were the proper persons TO make these con-
! tracts in behalf OF Congress. he was in favor OF
the resolution, but though the duty ought not TO
be imposed on the committee.
Mr.. CASS thought the committee were the pro-
per persons to make the contract.
| MIR. BRIGHT said the effect Of the amendment
was to place this work in the same position OF all
other printing-to give il out TO the lowest bidder
The officers of the Senate and the House would not
take the responsibility Of giving the work out TO
any one at price greater than that OF the lowest
bidder. The committee could take the responsl-
| bilty Of giving fair price for the work. which
J would ensure its execution in a satisfactory man
| ner The amendment would have the effect OF
having the work done by the lowest bidder, the
other public printing was done, and Of course it
would be done in manner wholly unworthy OF
the nature Of the work.
Mr.. BoRLAND replied, the Committee on Pub
lie Printing had done all in their power 10 counter
act the evils resulting from the contract system.
They had been censurod by the Senate; what they
had proposed had been disapproyed by the Senate
and this was another reason why he was opposed
t.t hmm rprfh IA int " hat
Mr.. GWlN said that he could appreciate tho
motives OF the members OF the committee and TIA,
chairman in q, string that no duties be assigned
that committee other than those properly belong
ing to it, But other committees also were charged
with duties never contemplated coming under
=. their control The Committee Naval Affair,
were now. charged with the most important sub
ioct Of the transmission OF the public mails.
Mr.. BORLAND asked if the Committee Ma.
val Affairs were ever charged with the duty o
making contract for building ship or Tor carry
, / ing the malsg
Mr.. GwIN thought the labor Of the com
mittec in this would be very light lie wal
confident that the parties named in the resolution
would satisfy the committee, by means Of csti
mates, &c, of the nature and extent of the work
there would be but little difficulty in arriving
at the result.
Mr. CASs said lhat the printing Of the census
ret Irns an important matter. year aud
; half had clapsed since the census was taken, auC
not a single paper had yet reached the public eye
A similar thing could not be approhcndcd to hay,
occurred in any other nation. The Biennial Re
gster, which should have appeared on the desks o
the Senate at the commencement of the session
bad not yet appeared. lie thought the Commiste'
on Printing better suited TO make this contrac
than the officers of the Senate and House.
| Mr.. BORLAND could not understand why it ws
that by making the contract through the ofhccr
| Of the Senate aud House the contract 10 b,
given TO the lowest bidder, and il il made by
the committee il would not be so. How was il tha
the committee expected TO give more thar
would be given by the officers Of the two Houses
The Committee on Printing had performed tbc
. duty. No contract yet made for exec lting tn
, public printing bad been complied with by tn
contractor. They had all violated their contracts
BAD paper, and work badly executed, the re
suit OF giving the printing out by contract The
mttee had, by its chairman, rejected work cent NJ
To Congress because Of it's being open violation
Of the contract; and yet the Senate had oyerruls'
p the committee and had accepted the work. n
argued that the officers ofthe two Houses were boil
competent to attend 10 ths business; both had ha,
great experience in this business, and could d
better justice TO 1t than could the committee.
Mr. BRIGHT said that the reason Why plsc
ing this matter in the hands Of the officers Of tn
, two Houses would result in giving the work out Il
the lowest bidder wac that these officers would b.
governed entirely in fixing the price by the loves
amount which any would propose TO do tn
work at. They would not take the responsibilit,
, Of irving an advance on that price. Mr. b tbei