The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-06
SENATE,

ana Ior the cuuchtlOu OF teachers 10
such knowledge among the people of the several
States.
RAILROAD TO THE PACIFIC.
p MIR. BORLAND presented the memorial Of Rob,
ert Mills, submitting to Congress his plan of
railroad from the Mississippi river to the Pacific
ocean.
MILEAGE OF DELEGATE FROM OREGON.
MIR DOUGLAS, from the Committee on Terri.
tories TO which had been referred the bill from the
House to regulate the mileage Of the delegate from
Oregon, reported the same back, and moved that il
be taken up; which motion was agreed to. The
bill was then considered, and was read third
time and passed
CONVERSATIONS OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD gave notice of a bill to re-
peal all laws giving compensation TO members of
Congress, and substituting new system of com
pensaticn.
STEAMERS TO CHINA.
MIR. MALLORY introduced a bill providing for
the establishment Of limo OF mail steamers from
California or Oregon 10 Shanghai, China, via the
Sandwich Islands. Referred 10 the Committee or
the Post Office and Post Roads.
THIRD READISG OF BILLS.
The bin granting land to Wisconsin to aid in the
construction oil certain railroads In that State.
bill granting pension to Jim Capers; and a
bill for the relief OF Ursula E Cobb. were severaIly
read a third time and passed.
MEXICAN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Mr.. SHIELDS submitted the following resolu.
ton, which was agreed TO:
ResolUtd, That the Secretary of War be instructed
10 report 10 the Senate what further provision, II
any, beyond what ia contained in the act Of March
). 1919, for the settlement of accounts connected
with the Mexican contribution money, is necessary
u authorize proper add Just compensation to be
made 20 persons not included in tie above act for
services connected with the collection, fe eping
and accounting for the slid money, or other ureial
services rendered in relation thereto
LANDS TO MICHIGAN ron RAILROADS
a., 49, Il T,fs G. f..
TO the consideration OF the bill granting land to the
State of Michigan, for the purpose of constructing
a railroad across the peninsula OF that State And
the same was amended 80 as TO conform in all its
provisions with the bills heretofore passed con
tanning similar grant, and then was ordered 10 be
engrossed for a third reading.
Inc senate, on motion by Mr., FELCH, then
took up the bill granting the right of way. and
making grant OF land 10 the State of Michigan,
IN trust for the Zlwaukie Grand Traverse, and
Mac kinaw Plank Road Company, in aid Of the
construction Of plank road from Ziwaukic, on
Saginaw river, TO Grand Traverse bay, thence to
the Straits OF Mackinaw.
i his bill had been reported from the Committee
on Public Lands with substitute, changing the
grant TO one directly TO the State and for the pur
pose OF aiding in the construction Of railroad in
stead OF plank road, from the points designated
This amendment was agreed 10; and the bill as
then ordered to be engrossed for third reading
AID TO THE COLLINS LisE.
The Senate then resumed the consideration of
the Deficiency bill, the question pending on which
was the amendment giving additional aid 10 the
Collins line OF steamers
MIR. HUNTER commented upon the terms Of
the amendment, and the difficulty which might
arise as TO its construction.
Mr.. BADGER said the amendment was easiiy
understood. IL proposed to make an allowance Of
S33 600 trip for the six additional trips and to
make up The difference hetween the present allow
ance aud s. 600 on all the trips since the fret Of
January last, and for the six months Of the fsc al
year ending June 30, 1852.
DIR HUNTER said that, in addition 10 the Gil
Inns line, toe Government bad Contracts with tho
Hayre and Bremen lines, and the three were 20 al
ternate with the CunaTd line. II The commentator
was 70 be increased for the one why no; do II for
the others lie understood the contract with the
bremen me would eslire IN few months; if so,
u vas possible they might claim the came com.
pensaton as will be gwen 10 the Collins line; or ii
the service Of the Collins line be ordered up 20
supply The place Of the Bremen line, there will lie
large increase oil the compensation 60 be paid
them. Tie considered that the Senate might rest
assured that II this amendInent should become the
law the compensation OF all these lincs would have
to be increased; ior bow could the compensation ol
one DC advanced without injustice 10 the others. ia
such case the annual expense Of these lines would
be over 81 500 go. The Cunard line did no, re-
ceive over $4,000 a trip, and it was proposed -
pay this line 8 80, 900 trip.
The whole expense Of Great Britain's lines Of
steamers, which now are in every ocean, and CT n
encircle the gobe, IL but ESO0, 900, or about Ss-
OOO,0OO; and Il 10 is proposed TO pay tbese three
lines. whose aggregate number Of irips do not
tIceed those Of the Cunard line, 3 $50 600
Mr.. RUSK stated that be was informed on good
authority that the allowance made 70 the CuBard
line was far beyond what the senator stated.
In answer 10 n question, be said bis informant was
Mr.. Livingstone. Of New York.
Mr.. HUNTER said he must decline accepting
Mr.. Livingstone es an authority. lie spoke from
the accounts "a exhibited in the British Pariia
rnsnt. III larger sums allowed the Cunafd
Inc, let the official documents be produced.
He examined in detsd the accounts Of receipts
from foreign postsges; and maintained that two
dollars had been paid by the United States TO the
way Of postsges. Aud yet they we're now asked to
increase the compensation, under The decisive hope
VI getting IL back from postsges.
lie denied that the United States derived any
stage from the Cunard line. All the United
States derived letters received by that line i tire
ihlsnd postage, an amount which would be re
ceived ia any case.
He commented upon the expenditures for the
support VI the vessels Of this line extravaganza
and unnecessarily large, and contrasted il Nth
estimate prepared for him by clerk ia the Dc
parimsnts.
lie considcrcd that an error bad been made in
that feature OF the contract requiring thee vcss l.
10 be adapted 10 war purposes. Had that been
omitted. the vessels could have been Constructed
at considerable less expense, and would have an.
swered just ~ well all the pr0ciioal purposes for
which they can now be Ussd. Should thi. line 20
down. and the GOvernm.n, Should advertise hr
seam vessels 10 carry the maii, they could be con
siruc Cd At lar less Expense Than the tOl ms
be aus this fea.urc II being adapted 10 war pur-
posss. which was useless, would not be adopted,
and the bos could be made ono self support ng
and eelfFus,ainiug.
Hc contended that these ssels could moi even
be adapted 20 war purpose. In cIsc # a war they
could be used for iransy orIing men, or mum ions
Of war, or conveying dcspat hes, or Other services
requiring speed; bur our present merchant steam
marine could supply all thst necessary for that
purpose. No sidc-padde steamer could b. used
for The general purposes Of war steamers. lie read
mfny authorities, both English and American, 10
show the superiority of the scrcw-propcler over
the side paddles in war vessels.
lie alluded 20 the system adopted in other coun
TREE Of placing the screw propeller in vcsscs.
lie thought IL likely that Of no distant day il
would be adopted in the smiling commercial
rine
lie thought it idle 10 attempt 70 build Up navy
by means Of establishing these lines Of steamers.
lie thoaght II more advisable TO apply the money
ior the construction Of steamers with the
propeller and OF the proper model for naval pur-
poses.
lie looked upon this proposition az nothing more
Than one to give bountes the proprietors Of tho
Collins line, TO enable them TO carry on a trade In
transportation Of freight and passen myers al rates
lower than ctuId he afYa 10,