The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-04-28

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autumn il being deemed by the Postmaster General and
the Secretary Of The Navy highly important for national
purposes that the amount OF service Tor the Collins line
should be increased they entered into arrangement
with the propretoTs OF that line 10 have the additional
service which they thought necessary The propIietors
agreed TO do H. and The risk as TO Congress authorizing
what had been done believing that they would either pay
them increased OF compensation pro rata CON-
pensatlon for the additional service We also learn from
report OF the Postmaster General that he recommended IN
his report at the commencement OF the session that this
arrangement which he had made with the concurrence OF
the Secretary OF the Navy should receive the sanction OF
Congress, land that adequate compensation should be
made for IT,
Now, in the practice OF the government all the appro-
pTiaon bills originate IN the House oil REPRESENTATIVES
we originate nothing here Aud told that while
we originate nothing, propose no addition 10 an
appropriation bill which the House OF Representatives
have thought proper Introduce and send here though
ourselves approve OF CONDITIONAL made by
the head OF departmentthough thai head OF depart
menl recommends TO 10 conrm and carry into exc
cuon. and though the proper head OF department COM
municaes TO US the amount OF money necessary to &C.
compish that object Now, would be extremely glad
10 know what would be the condition OF the Senate, to
which they would voluntarily reduce themselves by such
Interpretation OF that rule that Is II not manifest
that should have little else TO do at any time OF the
session, when appropriation bill comes up, than simply
pass what the House OF Representatives think proper to
send us, without addition and without consideration!
Suppose this amendment is lett for general appropria-
ton bill, what will be our condition then What has
been condition Tor the last two sessions OF Congress
II is in the recollection OF every member OF this body
The appropriation bills up here within the last two
three days of the session we get them up for con-
sderation and Then always warned by the chair
man OF the Committee on Finance that he is assured by
gentlemen OF the other house that i the Senate put any
amendments upon the bills they will be lost And we
have thus been excluded practically from that jurisdlc
lion and authority which the constitution gives US over
general appropriation bills Such will be the at this
session Five months OF the session have now passed
away. and this is the only appropriation bill, believe
which we have received from the House do not know
that they have passed any other and Judging OF the future
by the past, may very safely conclude that three
months more will pass away before we will receive any
more appropriation bills from the House. =
Now, II the Senate has given practical exposition
OF It's construction of this rule, still we cannot. with
just regard 10 dignity and authority give the
exposition which the senator from Arkansas Mr. BoR-
land now desires 10 have gwen.
But then, that is not the case, as the Char he's IN
formed us The Senate have, and over again. since
the adoption of that rule, considered coming within
the meaning OF an estimate required to make an amend
men IN order, estimates called for by individual senators
upon their responsibility. Now told that we
must retrace that We have tied ourselves with cords
| We must now manacle ourselves with rive,s OF iron
We have narrowed our discretion by voluntary act OF
our own and now told 10 give such an lnerpre-
taon 10 that narrowing rule to take from US all dis
cretion.
Why, sir what en,itle estimate TO be considered
coming within that rule il this does not' The pro.
ceedng is founded upon recommendation in the annual
report by the head OF department IL meets the sane
ton OF another department The estimate is called for
by the action OF committee OF this body charged with
the subject; and upon that basis the amendment is
ported BY the Committee on Finance Yet we are now
told that we have no authority to consider It, II So Mr..
President the that rule is Tescinded the better.
II so, the do something 10 vindicate
ihoiy upon the subject the better If so, the sooner We
relieve the Senate from the degrading position in which
we have placed ourselves, the shall consult
what we owe to ourselves, and what we owe 10 the
country.
pray you, sir. is this rule stringent thaa at
the last session of Congress and the session before Ii
is the same rule No word has been added 10 it, and no
word taken from it, What il meant then il means now
he hp
extremely sorry to the Senate unsee what they
then so wisely determined. The purpose OF that rule
not at all TO prevent anything from being brought TO
the consideration OF the Senate which justly and
fairly and properly subject Tor consideration. II was
TO prevent the spontaneous movement oil individual sena
tors in bringing forward upon their own responsibility,
measures requiring appropriations founded upon no action
the executive departments OF the government. IN pursu
ance OF no law and furnished with estimates That
was what IL was intended TO do, and nothing else.
doubted the propriey of il within those limits. was
sorry il proposed by the senator from Virginia. Mr.
HUNTER was then, and am now willing 10 trust the
| Senate. am not willing by rule OF my own, TO lie my
own hands 10 prevent from doing upon proper
occasion what believe to be right hope, at all events
we shall not now give 10 this rule so stringent an inter
probation will make IL so mlscheyous as II would be-
come By the Interpretation now sought to be attached
| 10 II.
Mr. HAMLIN think that, il this question stands
upon the basis which il is considered standing upon
by the from North Carolina, he cannot have fae
10 satisfy the Senate that the estimate furnished by the
department takes il clearly out OF the rule do not pro-
point There is another consideration 10 which wish
| TO call the attention OF the Senate.
Ii may be well for the Senate 10 consider the action oil
this body conempoaneous with the adoption OF this rule
What the evil which il designed to obviate by
It's adoption When the appropriation bills were before
private bills that had been reported by committees,
private bills that had had the sanction nvesga
lion OF any committee, measures that were wholly private
offered amendments TO the various appropriation
bills, because there rule TO exclude them. Thai
the state OF things existing in the Senate al the time
OF the adoption OF this rule Now, does the rule in IL:
terms, when fairly considered, 20 beyond what
cessary TO correct the then existing state OF things
| think not
II this were case which called for an estimate from
department. that estimate has been furnished. But, in
my judgment, it is not a which requires estimate
and II would be in order II no estimate were offered II
Is the report OF committee, the Chair well remarked
in his suggestions 10 the Senate few moments since
This bill from the other house, and Is referred to
the appropriate committee OF this body. There
nous modes in which that committee may report the
bill to this body II they please they may report back
| the bill with whatever amendments they may see hi Il
incorporate in original draft, retaining in their hands
the original bill. That would be agreeable TO parlia
mentary law, well recognised the world over They
have moi 81 TO do IN this case, but have reported
back the original bill with sundry amendments.
Now, the rule. u ~ true, provides that no amendment
shall be offered" That means, in my Judgment that nc
individual senator may rise in his place and olier
amendment, unless IL fortified by the recommendation
that the rule requires Such is not the here this is
not an amendment Of this floor; II is not
amendment OF the character designed TO be excluded BY
the rule; but IL IL report oil committee as much as II
IL had been reported IN bill IN original draft
only In the case, should take the question on
adopting all the amendments IN one vote. while here we
take them seriatim. That my view OF the case; and
sh.t. and that