The daily union., 1852-05-14

IA usthsr Al the time OF proposing the snsndmsnt, or
sauy in COMMITTEES ON Naval Affairs have cared. Bat
- ssatleman here could have been msled because The
sent 10 the Naval Committee BY the Secretary OF
~ Navy furnishing the estimate desired IRON that de-
uameni OF the amount which wouia oe necessary 70 IN
iss upon ihe face OF il hatit IS written in TO
iler from the committee, IN which The committee had
themselves resolved 70 x upon this additional compen
,ioo as proper sum. That appears distinctly upon
,S lace Of the Secrelarys letter We did not think il
', III necessary TO inquire OF the Secretary of the Navy
- Postmaster General what amount OF additional eom-
snsaon should be made. We di not think II matter
" snv importance what might be the opinion OF these
oaeeis except that opinion might guide US in coming
~ correct conclusion. We had the materials of coming
10 thai conclusion ourselves and all iheIeioe that we
had occasion TO refer TO an executive department for,
va, 10 ascertain automatically, with view to the state
oIe,ispg appropriations, what additional TO
he pad these people 10 carry out their contract with
~ increase which we thought reasonable to allow.
My friend from Missouri complains OF two things
6r that the committee has not made report, and in
mi report set forth the upon which they pro-
osed 10 allow the addition, and the grounds upon which
Ssv had asceraned the amount which they proposed to
hs allowed. Now, suppose we had made report, how
youd nv friend have been better satisfied than he is
now Awriiten report would have expressed but one
noon and judgment; and the value Of that opinion and
Judgment would have depended either upon the conf
dence reposed in or upon the value and effect of The
evidence or facts which stated in support OF them
has the benefit of opinion in that amendment He
has il in the express declarations have made upon this
floor and am 1 10 suppose that my honorable friend
would have had respect for them if they had been
wualr S,'so On paper Than when expressed verbayl
But again suppose we bad made written report, upon
what would we have founded our esmates' Why, they
must have been founded upon what we thought was the
hes! evidence upon which we could act. Wesny friend
repudaes that He says, in order to ascertain the
actual expenditure upon which this Collins line is main
tained we should have called in persons skliu in such
han anwtoJ n nth ~ fInn
bers az The company, to the agents and officers of it,
for the purpose OF ascertainlng these matters.
Well, then. il is very PLAIN that no report that we
could have made would nave overcome tne dlmcnlties
because one Of the committee and he entertain rrecon
cable opinions as to what was the true source from
which reliable evidence was TO be derived We suppose
opinion esmateist only secondary means OF
ascerainng the cost of such establishment; and we
suppose that the most direct and most reliable 10
guide judgment upon such question is the evidence
OF those who superniend the expenditurewh0 keep
account and who therefore, know what, in point Of
fact TO maintain the expenses OF the establish
menL That evidence We have5-the evidence OF man
who has no more interest in this line than the senator
from Missouri or myself-a man who is employed to
keep the accounts which show outlay, and which ex-
hibt the actual receipts OF the company We have his
evidences and would be extremely glad TO know,
this is not satisfactory, whether my friend would have
been satisfied with the opinions OF persons who conec-
ured what the expenses were, and who had no means
Of ascerianng what received nor what expend-
eL Uur CdBe tnen, was very simple one. we aScer
tanned that there average cost OF nearly SIT 900,
and ascertaned thought, that the company might
abe to maintain the line, looking TO appreciation of
things hereafter, BY adding, not $4,000 which had been
lost but sum little less than $4,000, and that sum.
therefore, we proposed 10 allow.
Now. that the real difficulty in this mat
ter lies not at all in the want Of evidence The evidence
is here and TO any man who is willing to be convinced
it'll satisfactory. But the difficulty lies in gentlemen
starting back because the sum OF money is large. That
st.
But my friend had another objection. He was one OF
hose he said who, in voting appropriation desired
to know how much he was going TO vote. He wanied TO
know what the was. Well, surely there can be no
objection made 10 the commi,iee upon that point The
certainly put down. with very much clearness oi
description, ihrlv three thousand dollars per trip for
iwsnty-slx trips per annum
Mr. GEYER. The gentleman will pardon me- 1t is moi
hat did mol know what the sum was. but that they
Wed an increase of compensation upon the ground that
ane would not support itself with the present rate OF
anpensation; and 1 asked then, that whenever am
oing for appropriation, the amount OF which |
know, ii should be asceriained that is justified by the
aclsha, ii is reasonable and proper tina. il should be
voted
Mr. BUTLER, Gn his seat Why was i, ss3, 3,ooOi Tha,
Mr BADGER. Then misunderstood my friend and
! lake it back again.
Well then, we have this appropriation and the gentle
wishes 10 know the reasoDableness of it, All have
say is II he is not satisfied with The evidences OF
an average loss OF $1,000 ip if he still believes there
no loss upon trip. OF course he will vote for addi-
maintain this line without increased allowance, the
s3,750 cannot be too much, when the loss heretofore
has been an average OF $1,000 trip That is the state
nsnt.
However, do not intend to go into renvestigaiion OF
this case only wanted TO show that in what had been
done by the Naval Committee we acted thought, in
he best mode to bring this subject fairly and fully before
The Senate. Nothing has been kept back.
Now, word TO the subject being brought forward
hon the Committee Finance Ii occurred 10 the Com
nee Naval Affairs that il the Senate and House
cured in raising this compensation. the necessary result
Voad be that there would be deficiency this hal
afsservce; and this company daily pressed
with large calls for money beyond their receipts, and
were asking and earnestly entreang Congress furnish
relief speedily, II they intended 10 furnish ii at all in
d that, If Congress did not furnish relief they might
throw themselves upon justice and generosity 10 re.
ease them from this runous contract il was due TO
hem, II due 10 the justice and magnanlmy OF the
government II due to own fair and frank deal
hg that should propose this question al once upon
hls bill, in order that the gentlemen who associated
hs enterprise might know the fate to which they
Der Of both these committees brought this subject forward
tne Iommtse on Finance, and they agreed 10 report
me amendment That is the state OF the case. y.
hh hoSk. hope the senator from Florida lMr.
MALLORY will withdraw his amendment. The navy is
ppofled by appropriations out of the treasury directly
ns line. under the contract is supported in the same
nahneI-by dec appropriations out OF tie treasury b
nW But the money for the support OF the Post Office
pePMment comes out OF the revenues OF the depart.
neh by law. Now, does the senator desire 10 throw
os contract, the payment of which comes out OF the
eaury Just the naval support does uhere is no re-
Tonsbty whatever upon the naval fund.- because that
zones out OF the treasury,) upon the Post Office hope
e does not, and that little reflection will induce him
withdraw the amendment do not approve OF this
t because think the government OF the United States
oound 10 maintain the postal arrangements OF the coun
sno ought TO make appropriation out OF the treasury
Du.mey donot do H. Tbeyreqnre the department 10 sup.
tho "A