The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-06

time for which he was elected. be appointed to any
civil office under the authority ofthe United Saes
whereof shall have been increased, during such
| time; and no person holding any office under the
United States shall be a member OF either House
during his continuance in office"
For q better understa nding OF this question, II
should be stated that a rumor prevails that late
| M mber of the House has recently been appointed
Commissioner tJCtina
| The CHARM an decided that il was not for him
| to decide whether the law was constit utional or
not; that q matter for the Judiciary; and he
| therefore overruled the point
| The amendment OF Mr.. BAyLy was then agreed
| to-
| kAsrERN BRANCH pRIDGE-THE PEOPLE OF the DIS
| TRIcT OF COLUMBIA.
| Mr.. BOWIE offered an amendment, appropri-
atng 3d. 90 for the repair Of the two bridges over
tie Eastern branch. lie earnestly pressed this
aue nd,nent. showing that those structures are in
| a dangerous condition; but the question having
| been taken, ii was rejected.
| MIR. STANTON. Of Ky. offered an amend
| ment, appropriating 5 500 for the same oh
jet; and ths, too. was disagreed to- after remarks
| by that gentleman in its favor, and by Messrs.
| JONES, Of Tennessee, and FlCkLlN in opposi
| ton.
MIR. JOHNSON, Of Ark, proposed an amsn nd
ment, appropsia,ing $4,000 for the repair Of the
bridges, and requiring the Secretary Of the late
rioc to report to the House at the next session. or
during the ensuing Congress. In the course OF his
| remaI ks he alluded to the memorial addressed TO
Congress by clerks in the Executive Depart
| ments, asking for an increase Of pay in conse.
quence of the exorbitant price Of market produce.
Complaints in relation to this sub ect were heard
all around Boarding house keepers, it WAS known,
say they can make nothing. One reason for the
scarcity Of produce 10, that supplies are cut of for
the want Of communication with the opposite
| shore.
Mr. SHELTON. What use are these bridges to
| the nation?
Mr.. JOHNSON, Of Arkansas. None on the face
of the earth, unless il ID desired to starve three
| IA % Laughter |
| Mr.. SHELTON said he wns opposed to the prin-
| ciple Of making such opprn pra,ons. The people
| Of the D!ctrict have been flching from the United
States 10 pave their streets. build their bridges,
| and light their city.
M. JOHNSON, Of Arkansas Task how
| Mr.. SHELTON. BY appropriations out Of the
public treasury. What right exsts FOR putting
| the fingers into the pockets of The psopI, Of the
country for the parti uar advantage OF the people
| uf the District Of Columbia? II they arr starving
for want OF bridges, let item build their own, as
| the people oi New jersey and other States do.
| Mr.. JOHNSON, of Arkansas, desired 10 answer;
| but he was loudly called 10 order, the gentleman
| who occupied the floor refusing to yield
| Mr. SHELTON resuIocd The gentleman said
cient pay for board. Well, then, you are doing
\ q grevous wrong to thosc people by feeding
them and making them paupers. Let them keep
their own streets and bridges in repair and supply
the markets by their own industry, and then they
| will rise superior to the condition OF paupe's. The
more you feed the people here the more you may
| MIR, STANTON, of Kentucky, moved to amend
| the amendment, by increasing the amount to
| $6,0O0 because the sum Of " 500 was not sufti
| cent for the repair Of those bridges. lie read a
| brief paragraph from an official report TO show
| what disposition he's heretofore been made OF the
| money voted for this purpose. and then said: The
| gentleman from New Jersey tells the House hat
the people Of the District Of Columbia ought 10
make their own BRIDGE. So they did, and the
| community were taxed for passing over them; but
Congress interposed. and passed a law saying the
rights Of those citizens shoud not be intcrfered
with, and appropriated sun to build new bridge
parallel with these two bridges. The corporations,
therefore, driven to the alternative Of giving
up their privileges, or having their rights destroy.
| ed by the erection of new bridge between them,
free Of toll. Talk about the people being paupers!
| In the name of God, does not the gentleman know
something ut the location of the scat Of govern
| menR The General Government has fifteen
twenty millions of public property h're, on which
il does not pay one dollar OF tax! Let the people
! tax this property as they do their own, and they
would be content with the money thus collected.
| and leave you alone You get your property pro-
| tected by the fire companies and the police, and
the 1ssns and yet you do not pay
| seventy five cents in the hundred dollars. The
Commissioner Of Public Buildings. in his report.
says that the hridges wero old and nearly worn out
| whom they were purchased.
| Mr. SMART opposed the amendment. saying
| that ten milIions Of dollars have been expended
here in the erection Of public buildings, and in the
{" the pubI's grounds. He thought
i
| Mr. JOHNSON, Of Arkansas, replied to
marks made by Mr.. SKELToS, and spoke Of the
| gentleman Jumping on the District. aud ut'ack king
i when good is soug ht to be done to tn. Govern
ment by providing for an easy sound, and safe
! conn,xivn Of this District with the adjoining
| States-a connection by means of brdg,s, over
! Hhich money OF the GOVERN is transported,
| ana the intercourse with the Departments facili.
tated. During the session Of Congress, the popula-
| ton here almost double, and in the recess the
city isalmost a blank. and nearly makes mans
| heart die out with dullness. The gentleman says
that we should have more respect than to make the
citizens paupers, and look to Government for
their living; but how does New Jersey support its
State government: Why. che levies tax
through the State, to support her Government.
The CHAIRMAN The gentleman is not in
| order.
Mr.. JOHNSON Sir! Laughter ]
e1 Ht skr,roN vii, on,v odd an. word il
reply TO the question. how VIC support ourselves
| We support ourselves with our own hands-by our
own honesty and industry That is the way.
| Mr.. JOHNSON, of Arkansas. A good idea. I
did not say. however. you did not
| MIR. SHELTON replied 10 Mr.. STA NroN, of Ken.
! lucky, remarking that the gentleman said the
| Government did the peoI lie wrong by taking from
them the possession Of these bridges. Ii Govern
ment assumed
Mr.. STANTON, of Kentucky wish to state
| a fact.
MIR. SHELTON wanted no fact. Having done
| this wrong and committed this outrage, he was
opposed to further wrong and outrage, and there.
fore 1t wac time the bridges should be surrendered
| The gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. JoHNsoN)
assigned as reason for the repair of the bridges
that the public treasure passes over them. He
| (Mr SKELroS) had no fear at all that the public
money would not ct away fast enough without
| the bridges. He objected 70 the Government un
dertaking the repairs Of this town.
Without disposing of the subject before it, the
committee rose, with prospect of reporting the
| bill from committee to morrow
| RECEIVERS THE PUBLIC MONEY.
On motion OF Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee, the
| Houee referred to the Committee of Ways and
Means the Senate bill to provide compensation for
UGH persons as may be designated by the Secre-
tary ofthe Treasury to receive and keep the public
money, under the fifteenth section OF the act oil
August 6, 1916, for additional service required.
The House then Adjourned.
| PETITIONS, ETC.
BY Mr.. SCHERMERHORN: The memorial pl
Hubbcl and Pattep, and others, of the city Of New
York, for the passage Of act for the better pro
lection of the lives Of passengers board of steam
| boats. Referred to the Committee o! Commerce
BY Mr.. ALLEN. Of Illinois: The petition of
James Dickey and many other citizens. Of Gala
tin county. Illinois asking Congress to establish
| mail foute fFum Sha ~ neetOwn along ne rniddIo