The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-31
THIRTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
SENATE.
MONDAY, August 30, 1852.

On motion of Mr.. GWIN, the Senate resumed
the consideration of the bill making appropriations
for the support OF the navy of the United States
for the year ending June 30, 1883. ...... ..Fr..
The committee reported in favor Of striking out
the following provision: And hereafter no appoint
ment OF midshiPman. actiag midshipmsn, or pupil
at any naval school in the navy, shall be made, un
lees recommended by the member of Congress re.
presenting the district In which the applicant re-
sides, IN the same manner that cadets at Wost
Point are now appointed and that the Secretary Of
me Navy required to report to this House,
at It's second session, the number and names OF ap-
Po1ntnents to the naval school which have been
made, and the district and State whence each one
comes and the number OF vacancies then existing
at said school, with the Congressional district
which may be entited to supply them, and state
ment OF the order in which the remainder of the
Congressional districts shall be entitled to supply
all future and accrung vacancies, 30 far it may
De determined by existing law, or by circum-
stances.
MIR UNDERWOOD opposed the striking out
de considered the provision as merely putting the
appointments to the naval school on the same foot
ing as those of cadets to West Point.
MIR HUNTER said this provision in the bill
to change the whole system Of appointments, and
there was not time to investigate II. Under the
bill no appointments at large by the President
could be made.
MIR GWIN was in favor Of striking the provi-
son out.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD said that if there we're any
aelects "a this provision, they could be remedied
MIR. BADGER was in favor of striking it out II
gave the whole power OF appointments to the navy
to members Of the House Of Representatives. 1t
excluded the Senate and the President.
Mr.. DAWSON was in favor Of striking out the
provision. 1t would have the effect Of giving the
whole appointing power to the navy to members
oi the House of Representatives, and required the
President to appoint whoever should be nominated
by the member of the House.
Mr. SEWARD said he would vote for striking
cut; and If that were agreed to, he would move to
SORT vrof.p Shntt ,kch
ally make ten appointments at large, and the
others shall, as near as may be, be appointed one
from each Congressional district. ~
After fusther debate, the provision was struck
Mr.. GWlN. from the Committee On Naval At
talis, reported a large number Of amendments,
amongst which were the following:
To Increase the salary OF the Superintendent of
the Naval School at Annapolis to 8 $50 year.
Adopted.
Amendments increasing the appropriations for
construction and repairs, &C., at the several navy
yards at Boston, New York, Philadelphia, w ash.
ingtou, Norfolk. Pensacola, and Memphis, nearly
double, in order TO make them conform to the c.
Inmates of the Department. All adopted.
The salary of chaplains in the navy when wait
ing orders was fixed at = 200; and when on duty
S. 800 year.
An amendment directing the completion of a
war steamer for harbor defence under the contract
with X. l.. Stevens, OF New York, was adopted.
An amendment directing that the double. acting
steam condenser for supplying vessels W 18th fresh
water should be applied to the am-vessels of the
navy, was after considerable debate agreed to.
Al amendment appropria,ing 800, 900 for the
purcbase of a site, and the construction of navy
yard and depot on the bay of San Francisco, Cali
tornia. Adopted.
An amendment directing the completion OF the
contract for the construction Of the basin and rail-
way in connection with the dry dock in California,
was debated at length, and rejected-yeas l9,
nays25.
An amendment appropriating $lOO, 900 for the
purchase or construction of suitable vessels, &c,
Tor of the route pursued by whalers
and merchant vessels in China seas, Behring
Straits, Java seas. sc. Adopted.
CIVIL AND DIPLOMATIC BILL.
MIR. HUNTER, by unanimous consent made
report from the Committee of Conference on the
disag reeing the Senate amen uments to the
Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation bill; which
was adopted.
NAVAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
The Senate resumed the consideration Of the
Naval bill.
Amendments providing for increase of the
medical corps OF the navy and Of the prlvates of
the marine corps, were offered, debated, and with
drawn,
Mr.. HAMLIN moved an amendment allowing
the Public Printer for the next sixty days to our.
chase the paper for the public printing and charge
the same at cost priceg which was agreed to.
Mr.. RUSK moved amendment authorizing
the Postmaster General to contract for keeping an
boat on the Potomac for the purpose of keeping
the mail connection open during the winter, at a
cost not exceeding $4,000. Lost.
Mr.. HALE moved amendments to the bill, that
all naval appointments shall hereafter be for a term
OF years; and that midshipman shall be pro.
NOTED TO the rank of lieutenant until he shall
have served at sea period Of eight years; both of
which were lost.
Mr.. PEARCE moved to amend the bill by strlk.
ing out the third section, which is as follows:
SEC g. And be it further enacted, That il shall be
lawful for the Presldent OF the United States To ap-
point commanders in the navy, we'll as captains
for chiefs of the bureaus of navy yards and DOCKS
and .; ordnance and hydrography, and of con.
struction, equipment. and repair.
Mr.. PEARCE said there were over sixty cap
tains i'll the navy, and it was not to be supposed
that out of them there could not be selected off
cers competent to be placed at the head of these
three bureaus.
Mr.. BRIGHT was in favor of the section; he was
opposed to confning the President to a selection
from any particular rank; he ought to be permit
ted TO select from any rank where merit could be
found.
The question taken, and the motion to strike
out prevailed-yeas D, nays 20.
The bill was then reported to the Senate and all
the amendments made in Committee of the Whole
were concurred in.
Mr.. BADGER moved amendment to autho-
rize the Postmaster General to have an ice boat
placed on the Potomac river during the winter TO
keep the mail communication open.
Mr.. BRIGHT moved amendment for a like
boat from Cincinnati to Louisville. After debate,
both were rejected.
After further proceedings, the bill was read
third time and passed.
EXECUTIVE CONCENTRATIONS.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate a report Of the
Secretary of the Interior, made in compliance with
resolution OF the Senate, respecting the printing
binding, aud advertising executed for or by order
of that Department.; which was ordered to lie on
the table and be printed.
Also, report of the Acting Secretary of the
Treasury, showing the pay mems made to General
Winfield Scott and General Franklin Pierce re.
spectively, as required by resolution of the Sem
ate which was ordered TO lie the table and be
printed.
Also, report from the Acting Secretary Of the
Treasury, communicating, in compliance with
resolution of the Senate, statement of sums Of
money paid TO persons claiming the same under
the act OF s,h OF August, 1886, as duties illegally
exacted; which was ordered to lie the table and
be printed.
FRAUDS ON THE REVENUE.
MIR. JAMES submitted the following resolution,
which was laid ever.
Resolped That a select committee, to consist of
five members, be appointed by the President pro
tempore, who shall be empowered to cit during the
recess, at such times and places they may deem
necessary, and to examine under oath such per.
sons as may be required, and generally to invest
gate the mode and manner Of i'm portations Of mer