The daily union., 1852-09-16

and reduced 70 system ooJrcuoh
there made 10 The plan proposed Why, that gentle
have mol had time 10 examine IT, II may be that II
would have been better 10 have examined ~ bui AZ was
well suggested by the senator from Maryland, lSr.
PEARcE who preceded NE, you are about 10 encounter
the short session, and you will have very little time TO
arrange any great matters OF this sort The whole sys
TEN cannot be carried out then You have only three
months; therefore, il strikes now is The time 10 enter
upon the system. L has been carefully prepared II Is
before you and think we would better adopt IT,
Mr.. HAMLlN, do not wish 10 say anything more
this subject All desire is that the Senate should
vote upon the question
Mr. MALLORY Ii had perused the work alluded
TO by the honorable senator from South Carolina should
perhaps have come to the same conclusion that he has
should have felt constrained. however, TO have exam
ined the work connexion with other evidence upon 'e
same subject which is file in the Treasury Department
have no objection ton the contrary an aeeueuy ~
favor of-improvng, rather systemizng the plan OF
lighting the coast. know the system Is defective, but
have yet to learn that any of the mariners OF this coun
Try. or OF ANY other commercial people who ilade WIN
coast As to this work OF nearly eight hundred pages
senators will have opportunity between this and The
ne III session, give full and thorough examination.
Mr. DAVIS. There is nothing more true than the
remark made by the from Florida, he took his
seat that the complaints against the present system do
not come from the navgaors They spring up IN Wash
iogon. They made here by men who have no con.
with navigation Now, aln not surprised that my
worthy friend from South Carolina Mr. DEsAUssURE,l
ii he really believes all the statements which are con-
tanned in that book he to do, should be led 10
the conclusion that he adopts. But, sir can all that IS IN
that book be true' Is il possible that the lights in this
country should be in such condition as they are repre-
sented there and yet give reasonable degree OF salts
factory to the public As far recollect in all that
book there is not thing the present system that the
board approves Of read il with some care and aen-
on and astonished at the declarations made in il
for while will deny that there defects in H. yet
in sy stem like this which has stood than half
century, 10 find no one thing oappoye OF IN It is little
extraordinary. hold that the report Is an unfair, un-
just, and an exaggerated statement OF facts. say this
with all due Difference and respect 10 the gentlemen who
put their names to that report suppose some other
persons collected the Testimony which they present-it
not obtained from their own observation; 1t has
been derived from other and they have been mis-
led as 10 the fscs.
wish TO add word as 10 economy. My worthy
friend from South Carolina thinks there greater econo-
my in the lens system, simply because il burns less OIL
Now, you may go TO the department. and find that there
has never been lenticular light introduced which has
not $4,000 independent OF the structure and Ian
which is put You put the greater part of your
lights into operation for some $4,000 or 1000 Now,
economy TO be considered at all in the United States
and do not know that II isthe system which we pur.
sue recommended by its economy and that is OF
the apologies for its deiects for whatever else may
be said OF the administration OF this department, il
has always been economical and always adopted views
with prudent regard TO expenditure. There may be
imperfect lighthouses. know there are But on the
other hand, there good houses There may be imper-
feet reectors. On the other hand, there good
Electors and all reectors may be made with suta-
BILE form--wlh form that is mathematically correct.
And when they properly adjusted they good lights
they are good lights, and they the public pur-
pose at much less expense. Many gentlemen can
certainly understand when say that the economical
comparisons in the report are made with lamps that
light the whole horizon They presuppose tina, you
10 lie bit the whole horizon When you lenses, you
have but one lamp; and whether you want to light one
same quantity OF light. But every reflector has its own
light. and yon diminish the redecors, you diminish
the quantity OF oil consumed The board do not suffer
that to come into the omparison and the effect to
mis- Saahu m thatu Mt fhufth xphn suh
ect ought TO be scrutnzed with and carried out
with careful and just consideration to expenses and
it should not be taken up and crowded down throals
the very last days OF the session. it is pro-
posed TO do. The bill which established the board that
has made this report brought in here last year,
under such emergency that you could not read
the title OF IT, and II was passed, upon hasiy vote,
without reading. Then II took TO rapidly
as he could 10 The other house. TO get IL there that IL
might be signed in time. That is the way this board
was created and II IS now proposed 10 continue II In
much The same way. am opposed 10 il; but | not
opposed TO good or improved system of lights.
Mr.. PRATT asked for the yeas and nays the amend
Mr. HOUSTON. have a great respect for the opn
ions OF the senator from South Carolina. Amongst
others, he has given US one that this bill Is defective
lie has examined II thoroughly and perused the authority
upon which il is based and he says II is reflective Now
we ought not hastily to commence an important system
which is acknow wledged to be detective which is lead
10 great expenditure OF money. We should make it
perfect TIE fact that board Of olicers competent for
the purpose, should have reported favor OF measure
connends il TO my respect and investigation, but not to
my support or TO its adoption IN the Senate. entertain
due respect for the opinions OF others; but il are 10
constitute boards or the shaping out OF subjects for this
body TO adopt, would better, the first place. and
save trouble, invest them with power TO declare them as
edcs, and become ourselves the registering power alone
III have right 10 do any thing, have right TO in.
vestigaie the recommended by boards ] must
confess that many instances the reports OF boards do
not commend subjects to my favorable con Iteration
much respect may have for the gentlemen composing
them am not always disposed 10 adopt their reports
because their opinions may be moulded BY what is called
here outside pressure.
II is but this moment that the civil and diplomatic
bill was finally passed in the House OF Representatives
by single vote owing, perhaps, to obnoxious amend
ment introduced into II upon my motion That seems to
me 10 augur something TO the Senate That that bin
should be passed by single vote and that the casting
vote OF the Speaker, speaks something Of most extra
ordinary character.
As the honorable senator from Florida has said, we
shall have ample opportunity for investigating this enof
volume between this and the next meeting OF Con
gress, during the session and then we will be
enabled 10 vote understsndngly upon the subject instead
OF adopting il now; when / viii venture TO say two
senator's OF this body have not had the opportunity Of
comparing the testimony collected by these gentlemen and
endorsed by their opinion, with the evidence of most
vertabe character registered in the fifth auditors Office
For Ibis reason cannot vote for the measure, but will
vote Tor the amendment oi the committee
The question being taken by yeas and nays, resulted
yeas IL, nays 2s, as follow
yEAS--Messrs Brodhead, Clarke, Davis Dodge OF Wis.
consn Hele iamlin Houston, James, Mallory, Mangum,
and Mler-lt
NAYsMesrs. Badger. Bsyard, Borland, Bright Brooke
sure Dodge Of Iowa, Downs Felch, Fish, Gwn Hunter,
ones Of Iowa. Mason, Norton Pearcs Pratt Rusk Spfu
ance, Touoey, Wade, and Weler-2s
So the amendment was rejected