The daily union., 1852-05-14
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
TUESDAY, MAY II. 1851.
SENATE.

TUESDAY. MAY II. 1851.
SENATE.
DEFIcIEscY
The Senate resumed as in committee OF the whole,
the consideration OF the bill from the House OF Repre-
sentaves. entitled An supply deficiencies 10 the
appropriations for the service OF the fiscal year ending
the 30lh OF June, 1852 The amendment Of the Com
mittee on Finance, il has been amended, is TO insert
the following:
:. For additional compensation for increasing ,be trans
portaon OF the United States mail between New York and
Liverpool in the Collins line of steamers, twenty-six
trips per annum, at such times shall be directed by the
report to Congress. and his letter Of the 18th OF November
last 70 the Secretary OF the Navy. commencing said in
osdsd That i shall BE- il 'i iRs power @ Of
Congress, AT any time after the first day o January, 1854
70 terminate the arrangement for any additional allowance
herein provided for"
The question pending is ON the motion OF Mr. MALLo-
RY 10 amend the amendment by adding
Provided That the transportation Of the
said mail be. and the same is hereby, transferred from the
Navy TO the Post Office Department
Mr.. BROOKE. Mr.. President, do not wish to inter-
fee with any senator who desires discuss this subject
nor do intend. by any means, make speech upon il,
because am aware that am not able to add any new
facts. or to shed any new light upon subject that has
been 90 ably discussed as this has been But. sir wish
to avail myself OF the privilege that have Of explaining
to my constituents. if TO else the why
shall be compelled reluctantly to vote against the amend
ment OF the Committee on Finance.
This is "a very important measure II contemplatcs
annual imposition upon the treasury OF at least $500
making all allowance for the receipts that will be put into
the treasury from the posages received Not only does il
propose entail upon the treasury Of the United States
annual expense Of half million of dollars but look
upon as the ntiatoy STEP the entering wedge, oa
tenn OF mail steamers, to be supported by the mun6cence
and bounty OF the government, the end OF which
can The main objection have TO this amendment,
or at least the main reason why cannot now give my
support is the extreme state OF uncertainty that exists
reference the facts and figures which the demand
for the appropriation is based Why, sir statements have
and sometimes entire reirac.ion on the next There
no certain data upon which any SENATOR as think,
can vote understandingy. was struck with this the
other day, in the little discussion that arose upon an
amendment which had the honor OF offering by way Of
substitute for the amendment OF the committee Prior
that, had been represented that the of post
ages to be received by the Collins line would amply repay
and reimburse 10 the treasury any outlay that might be
imposed by the amendment Indeed this line OF steamers
was, with great deal OF certainty, represented mine
Of wealth, richer far than
60 The wealth Of 0rmus and OF Ind,
Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand,
Showers on her kings Barbarc pearl and gold"
To test the truth OF thiso test the sincerity OF the
gentlemen composing the company who own this line
in the simplicity OF my heart offered an amendment, Civ
ing to them the entire pos,ages received from the mails,
instead OF the compensation proposed by the amendment
OF the committee. Well sir in a single minute-aye in
single second OF tmewhat had been magnificent GER
ainy dwindIed down to an probability We
were then told that 1t by certain that the
postages accrung from The line would reimburse the pro-
accommodate
sble TO the wishes Of my friends modified the amend.
ment. then proposed to give the poeages in addition
the S3s5ooo now granted by law. In another second
this Insignificant probability mounted up again to mag
nifcenl certainty and we are told Oh this is too large;
II is more than the line asks for.
Another objection was made to my amendments and
that that would deprive Congress of all control
of the posiages. The senator from New Hampshire
Mr. HALE] objected that in the of tme Congress
might wish to reduce the postages between New York
amendment to all demands, modified il reserve
10 Congress the right to modify the postages lmmedi-
aiely the objection was made from the other side OF the
chamber thai Congress. under The postal treaty. had no
power TO reduce the posiages. So, SIR in all my efforts
10 accommodate the amendment to the different objections
which prevailed in the chamber, utterly failed could
not satisfy the friends OF the amendment of the committee
by any modification which | willing TO make. to my
amendment. II sat down. wastoo short; il stood
As an instance Of another uncertainty which prevailed
about the matter, find, in publication that laid
my desk, and presume upon the desks OF all the other
credit TO the Collins line OF steamers for the sum OF
S3s675 So as the sum earned by them for the govern
ment after giving the government credit Tor the appro
prlaon that has been made for them.
admit that in the details OF this statement, il is shown
that large amour, OF this postage due to the Cunard
iine or. in other words that large amount OF this post
age was earned by the Cunard line but very few peo
pie read the figures in detail while most look only
10 the general results in order 10 themselves the
trouble, say that this statement sdecepve since gives
credit TO the Collins ne not only for the whole amount
received by the Collins, but by the Cunard line The ag
gregse amount received from posages by these lines
from the 27lh OF April, 1850, up to the 3st OF March,
1852, which appears TO have been derived from the es
tabshment Of this line OF steamers 675 So and
The net gain put down at Sos675 So repeat that al
though in the detailed statement in the figures that fol.
low due credit is given 10 the Cunard line yet in the
general result given in this pamphlet the whole credit
is given TO the Collins line OF steamers adduce these
figures TO show the impressions which the facts
and figures brought forward by the friends OF this amend
ment calculated 10 make upon the public mind be-
cause, said, when this comes before the public not
in thousand will look al the figures and examine
them in detail. but they will look only the general re-
suit. and that, stated in this pamphlet is deceptive
one.
Another objection which have to this amendment is,
that not satisfied from the statements which its sup.
porers have made here that this additional
is necessary We told in round numbers that the ex
pense Of trip of OF these from New York
TO Lverpoo is S652i5 Now. before should be called
upon 10 vote away this large amount OF money to
me thatts the duty OF this company Of its friends upon
this floor not only TO furnish with the gross amount OF
expense, but aso with detailed statement OF all the ex
penses il furnished 10 here merely in lump, and
and expect to show in few moments that this state
meni short is is full Of errors; and from one error
we can learn the rest
In the first place, il is stated that the average OF
each voyage for the wages OF and their provisions
is eos45 o. The cost OF fuel 10 $s,612 Is repairs TO
machinery, S457i 90; average Of extras, 1868; ordi
nary expenses including carpenters and joiners, port
charges sail makers, light and dock Dues passengers
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