The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-18

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SENATE.
MONDAY, May II. 1851.
DEATH or MRS. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
Mr.. MANGUM moved that when the Senate
adjourn to-day it be until two o'clock tomorrow,
TO give an opportunity for members Of the Senate
TO attend the funeral of Mrs. Adams, the respect
ed widow Of the late President j. q. Adams.
At the suggestion Of several Senators the mo-
zion was modified 10 adjourn over until Wednes-
day and agreed to.
SURGEONS FOR EMGRANT VESSELS
Mr.. BUTLER presented memorial and reso-
lutions of the American medical association re-
Gently in session at Richmond, Virginia, setting
forth tie deplorable condition Of emigrant pas
sengers for want Of medical attendance, and pray
ing Congress TO take suitable measures to have
the laws requiring emigrantships to be furnished
with competent physicians and surgeons to be
carried into effect
The memorial was referred to the Committee
on Commerce.
THE COMMITTEE ON ENROLLED BILLS.
On motion of Mr.. JONES, Of Iowa, the Chair
was authorized to appoint an additional member
of tho Committee of Enrolled Bills.
Mr.. BROOKE was appointed.
COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
bill TO change the mode of compromising members
Of Congress.
In offering this bill Mr. II. asked the indul-
eence OF the Senate to make u brief explanation
Of its purport and his objects in proposing It,
He said he designed soon to retire from public
life-pr0baby never to return; and IN retiring ne
wished TO make an effort to have his successors
in Office and all members of Congress properly
compensated for their services. Their present
compensation was not sufficient He proposed to
increase it. Under existing regulations, more
over, the amount Of compensation was very diff
ferent in individual cases, some receiving only 50
per day, while others received 500, and even as
high as $500 per day. lie proposed to equaize
their pay.
The first section Of his bill, therefore, provided
for The repeal of all existing laws from and after
the Sd Of March, 1852; SO that the bill was en-
tirely prospective in its operation, his object beng
to allow the people, through their representatives,
to pass upon 1t at the next session o' Congress
The second section proposed TO allow all senators,
representatives and delegates in Congress salary
Of ~, 900 each per annum. The old compensa-
ton bill made the salary al 500, which was not
enough The old bill also abolished their mile
age He had retained it, but had changed the
mode Of computing it. He had made 1t uniform
by directing the Secretary of the Treasury to as
certain the distance by latitude and longitude, and
compute the mileage accordingly. And In the
last section he had provided what he thought
would prove TO be an ttiectual remedy Tor ao-
senteesm. He had provided. that at the close OF
each session, every member should give an ac-
count Of the number Of days he had absented
himself from Congress, and that deduction of
$40 for each days absence should be made, except
in cases Of sickness.
The bill was read and ordered to be printed.
prsor urIONs.
Mr.. SEBASTIAN introduced joint resolu
ton respecting revolutionary pensioners, which
was read twice and referred.
Mr.. COOPER submitted the following resolu
ton, which was considered by unanimous consent
and agreed to-
Resolped, That the Secretary of the Navy be,
and is hereby requested, to communicate to the
Senate the report Of the engineer-in-chef of the
navy, Of the result of an experiment or expert
ments lately made by him to test the quality of
the various kinds of coal now in use in the navy
of the United States, together with any informa-
ton in possession Of the department on the sub
iect, not communicated in answer to the late call
Of the Senate.
BILLS PASSED.
The following bills previously ordered to en-
grossment, were then read third time and passed
A bill declaring the assent of Congress to the
State of Missouri to impose tax on lands here
after sold by the United States therein, from and
after the day Of sale.
A bill authorizing survey and estimate Of the
cost O canal basin at the terminus of the Chess
apeake and Ohio canal at Georgetown.
A bill granting the right of way and portion
of the public lands to aid in the construction of a
railroad from Wabash to the Missouri river.
THE DEFICIENCY BILL.
The Senate then resumed the consideration of
the bill to supply deficiencies in the appropriations
for the service of the current fiscal year.
Mr.. BERRIEN, being entitled to the aoor, adj
dressed the Senate in support Of the amendment
of Mr. BELL, modified, appropriating the sum
of 1885,, 900 to the payment of citizens of Ala
bama and Georgia for losses incurred by the dep
relations Of the Creek Indians in the years 1886
and '37.
Mr.. BELL then proposed slight amendment,
which was agreed to.
Mr.. CASS desired to submit some remarks be-
fore the vote on this amendment was taken, but
not being ready to proceed to-day,
On motion Of Mr.. HUNTER, the amendment
was passed over informally, and
Mr. BORLAND resumed and concluded his
speech in opposition to the Collins appropriation.