Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-07-17
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,

The House up consideration the bill granting
the right of way and portion of the pablo land the
States of Florida and Alabama to aid IN the construction
of certain railroads in said States the pending question
being upon the motion made by Mr. JONES' of Tennessee
when this subject last under consideration to refer
il TO the Committee of the Whole the of the Union
Mr.. CABELL, of Florida, called the attention of the
House the fact that the bill now under consideration
the first Of this knd originated As far
back 1886 bill of this kind reported the House
and passed the Senate and bad continued to receive the
favorable action Of that body from year year since that
period bat the fact of other gentlemen being more
in presenting their bills several Of them had been
passed and become laws. The bill provided for the
struction Of railroad from the town of Pensacola, in
Florida TO Montgomery Alabama, distance of one hun
dred and fifty miles gentlemen would refer the do
cuments this subject they would find that this part
cuar road had been recommended from time time by
the War Department absolutely essential to the pro-
lection Of the town Of Pensacola Between Pensacola and
the populou parts of Alabama and other sections Of the
country there wilderness Of sixty seventy
miles which separated that part Of Florida from the rest
Of mankind 1t had been deemed by the Department
would be from the report Of the engineer this
subject that in order TO give security TO the public works
at Pensacola II absolutely essential that
Of transportation should be afforded for troops and NUM-
tons Of war There were now no means Of protecting
Pensacola except by sea.
In the same bill provision was made for the construc-
ton of railroad the peninsula Of Florida from
some point on the Atlantic coast to point the
| Gulf Of Mexico The importance of this work as n
national must be obvious TO all and had claim
ed the consideration of the Government for a long
series OF years The expediency of constructing ship
canal across the peninsula Of Florida had occupied the
attention Of Congress- but had been deemed practical
ble The road now proposed would be substitute for
this canal Il passed, in his knowledge through
district Of country the lands Of which, without the
sructon Of this road would be worth five cents per
II pine and sandy waste and the construc-
ton Of this road would render IL valuable for its pitch
tar, turpentine, and lumber
The question then taken the motion to refer the
II n - ~uf4 Al WI.
Union, and it was disagreed TO: Yeas 70, nays 49,
REPRESENTATION.
| Mr.. McLANAHAN moved to reconsider the vote by
which the House referred the Committee Of the Whole
on the of the Union the bill Of the Senate supple
TO act providing for the taking OF the seventh
and subsequent Of the United States to fix the
number Of members Of the House of Representatives and
provide for their future apportonment among the several
States lie stated that he did not desire TO press the
motion now but merely wished il 10 be entered on the
port Of the Committee the Judiciary should be printed
It could be called up and acted upon.
PUBLIC PRINTING.
Mr. GORMAN called up for consideration the bill yes
terday reported from the Committee Public Printing
TO provide for the execution Of the public printing and
to establish the prices thereof and for other purposes
Mr.. GORMAN said that he would accommodate the
gentleman or any one else in the House IL this
question; but the public printing had been subject Of
discussion SO long, and the merits and dement's Of every
proposition had been discussed often that il
Ike new question. They had talked about II until II
nad become perfectly familiar the and the recol-
lection Of every body The rates and charges had been
the House since the FIRST report Of the committee
upon the subject Of printing The rates and charges orr
na reported to the House the as those
tanned IN TINS BILL and there could be no kind Of question
raised hat had not been raised no question discussed
that had not been discussed and consequently he could
not consent that the bill should 20 over until tomorrow
Mr. g. then proceeded to state the provisions Of the
Dill ne saio tnat inc hrst section provided for the
peal Of the act Of 3D. August 1896 the second section
provided for the election Of public printer the third
section established the prices and he would staehat the
were the same as those reported the House by
the Committee on Printing former occasion being
based upon Towers's estimate.
I Mr.. STANLY desired TO know what would become Of
the contract heretofore made between Donelson Arm
strong and Gideon Co for the execution Of such work
the contractor could not perform If the bin under CON
sideration should become law?
Mr. G0RMAN replied that IL the bill should become .
law, Gideon Co. and Donelson Armstrong had given