Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-04-10

up the bill on Monday next which question he should
demand the yeas and nays
CALIFORNIA REPRESENTATION
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration Of the
bill supplementary to act providing for the taking Of
seventh and subsequent of the United States
and to fix the number Of members of the House Of Repre-
sentatives and provide for their future superintendent
among the several States approved May 23, 1850
And after protracted debate in which Messrs BELL
WELLER, GWIN, DAVIS, BORLAND, BRADBURY,
DOWNS, UNDERWOOD, DAWSON, HALE, SHIELDS,
BADGER and others participated the Senate adjourned
without taking any question.
The SPEAKER stated that the first business in order
the consideration Of the bill Of the Senate to enforce
discipline and promote good conduct in the navy of the
United States, upon which the gentleman from Virginia
Mr.. BococK) was entitled to the floor.
Mr. BOCOCK inquired whether, if the bill should now
be informally passed over would be the first business in
order tomorrow morning
The SPEAKER replied in the affirmative y.
Mr.. BOCOCK said that the substitutes offered to
the bill had not yet been printed and was evidently
the disposition Of the House proceed other business
that BY unanimous consent
over informally
There being no objection, the suggestion was ac-
quiesced in. et
Mr. ALLISON moved that the House resolve itself into
Committee Of the Whole the special orderthe home
| stead bill which was disagreed TO-
Mr.. HEM, from the committee to which was re-
ferred the bill of the House granting the right OF way and
making grant of lands in aid Of the construction Of
the same back with sundry amendments.
Mr. H. remarked that, in reporting this BILL he would
Tor the present merely say that it bill OF great i'm
portance and particularly to the central portion of the
United States commencing Philadelphia and extending
IN connection with other roads, to the Missouri river 1t
was one for which all Pennsylvanans could VOTE even
without ten per cent tariff iron 1t conformed with
the other bills Of the nature reported by the Com
mttee on Public Lands and it not that the House
had determined to refer these bills to the Committee of
the Whole on the state Of the Union he would ask for its
passage at this time In conformity however with the
action of the House bills similar to this, he would
move its committal.
The bill accordingly committed.
DUTY ON RAILROAD IRON.
Mr.. ORR, from the Committee on Public Lands, re-
ported bill granting the right of way and making do
nation Of aporon Of the public lands to the State of
Florida for the benefit of the Atlantic Gulf and Central
Railroads and for other purposes which read once
Before the bill was read the second time f
Mr. HOUSTON asked the reading of the entire BILL with
aview Of making motion which it proper should
be made, if made at ALL
Mr.: ORR did not know by what right the gentleman
had obtained the foor He hoped he would allow the bill
to be read second time before he commenced dis
eussion.
Mr. HOUSTON did not propose to discuss the bill but
wished know of the gentleman from South Carolina
this bill contained sections aboshng duty upon railroad
iron?
Mr.. ORR replied that the gentleman would ascertain
whether such provision contained in the bill when
it should be read through.
Mr. HOUSTON said that if the bill did contain such
provision he proposed to make point of order and there
fore asked for the reading Of the bill before received its
second reading
Mr. ORR said that he would have objection giving
the information which the gentleman from Alabama de-
sired but certainly it very unusual proceeding for
gentleman rise and attempt to catechse member Of
committee before the second reading of BILL especially
when debate in order; for debate always ensued
after the second reading of bill.
Mr.. HOUSTON was not aware that he was acting i'm
properly He understood that there section in the
bill which proposed to abolish the duty railroad iron
If this true he would make the point of order that II
not competent for the Committee Public Lands TO
report such bill. -,
Mr. ORR said that if this the purpose OF the gen
teman he would that the bill did contain secuon
Mr. HoUsToY sn f rose ell to aa' question Of orerhat
it not competent for the Committee on Public Lands
to report bill to modify the duty upon art-
cles embraced in the laws Of the country His
point Of order predcated upon the rules The duty
of the Committee Public Lands prescribed in the
rules, follows: 1t shall be the duty of the Com
mttee Public Lands to take into consideration all such
petitions and matters things respecting the lands of the
United States shall be presented shall may come
in question and be referred them by the House and
to report their opinion thereon together with such pro-
positions for reeftheren to them shall seem expedient
Now, of the duties of the Committee Of Ways and
Means under the rule, to take into consideration all
such propositions relative TO the might be
ferred to them by the House These two rules clearly de-
fined the duties of each committee and it evident to
his mind that without the references Of this express subject
particularly and distinctly to other committee,
other committee than the Committee Of Ways and Means
could have charge Of it. The subject embraced in the
latter sections of this bill which had been referred
TO the Committee of Ways and Means and before
that committee, and the Committee Public Lands had
connection with it either under the rules Of the House
under any order of the House making such reference
He called the attention Of the Chair decision made
the first session Of the last Congress in the Of the
Homestead BILL which reported to the House by the
Committee Public Expenditures, when Il decided
that that committee had power to report such BILL
contained matters which had not been referred to that
committee either by the rules or by order Of the
House.
Mr. JOHNSON of Arkansas, thought that the result Of
the proposed by the gentleman at the head OF the
Committee Of Ways and Means would be very apparent a
glance. II the committees confined strictly and
directly the particular duties assigned to them under
the rules and permitted TO consider matters IN
cdenal those duties Of the highest Importance
to the nation could not be brought before the House
Suppose for instance, that the present Committee Oh
Ways and Means could not give any distinct proposition
this subject at all The consequence would pe that
House would be able 10 get this subject before y
for consideration and II this rule should be carried out
no osA.. ..~ss-r, however Important 70 the M
terests Of the people In his opinion, committee were
entitled to consider only those things which came d
recy and legim before il under the rules ou were
also entitled consider every thing which was
TO the subjects which they had under consideration Inc
result of the course proposed by the gentleman from Ala
bama would comprise system by which the whole OF the
important and national business which came before the
House would 60 to committee ana no otner commee
would be able TO act upon il at all
Mr. BAYLY Of Virginia, said that the reason for the
rule which prescribed that committee should report
upon anv subject which not committed to 1t either by
the rules or orders Of the House was that when commit
tees were called for reports il should not be in their power