The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-02

is il not part OF the bill This amendment has already
been adopted in the Senate This is not amendment
as understand it, TO amendment, because bya vote
OF the Senate, II has been adopted as part OF the bi
ana therefore ceases to be an amendment This is mo-
| ton to amend the bill as understand il.
! Mr. BRODHEAD. AT the suggestion OF various
/ friends withdraw my amendment, and accept that OF
the senator from n Maine s as as Substitute for it.
amendment Of the senator from Maine.
Mr.. kuSK. dislike TO oppose This proposition. but
gu. ~ haus !" sd and c
before can come to conclusion on which can trust
myself see 10 use OF preclpilancy about this matter
but il this amendment be adopted, il seems to me that it
will place vast deal Of power in the hands OF the Sece
tary Of the Navy. II will give MIN the power 10 pre-
scribe the rules by which this property may be used
My own opinion is that would better take time to
fleet upon the subject and adopt some measure by which
this power may be taken out Of the hands OF the Secrea
y OF the Navy, and put upon some principles that may
give the merchant marine fair chance this dock
would give lair open opportunity TO each /; but DO
want TO trust too much matter of this sort to the
Mr. STOCKTON. Mr. President, il is with great diff
dence thai undertake 70 give opinion on this SUBJ
ect; but II seems TO me that can no longer allow this
debate to SO without expressing my opinion with
gard to this matter and some principles connected with
it, am entirely opposed to these partnerships and spec
uailons between ths government OF lhe United states
authority to build docks for the purpose OF loanng them
out or hiring them out,
In The first place. do not think il becomes the dignity
and character of this government TO do so; and, in the
second place, think this practice is increasing upon
The dangers into which likely 10 account
of il are in my Judgment very great. have been using
my poor influence since have been in the Senate, to
dlsembanass the government OF the United States from
these private speculaonsrom all these connexions OF
4 any kind.
But again: there is no necessity for legislation upon
this subject. Ii we have dry-dock pier, or any
other venience, for the purpose OF repairing the YES
sells OF the United States the Pacific coast and there
is other convenience there by which merchant vessels
be repaired and merchant vessel should 20 into the
port where that convenience is the commanding officer
Iof fpplh
NIT that vessel to 60 the dock and be repaired This
the universal practice OF the navy and the officers are
commanded 10 do Ii an American man-of war meets
merchant vessel in Distress and they can relieve her,
they bound to do and all that they ask is that the
actual expenses TO which the government has been put
shall be repaid by the persons so accommodated Now,
why cannot that practice continue without this apend
ment? There is in the world why thereMhould
be such an amendment. II there IS any amendment
made, hope shall make none that will carry with II
the authority Of the Secretary OF the Navy 10 hire out
or lease any part of the public works.
Il | repeat sir, that this dock, if constructed in Califor
na will be entirely at the service OF the merchant ma
rne because that will tie in accordance with the unyer
sal practice OF tue Navy, and their established rules and
regulations TO afford every facility 10 every c-
zen OF the United States that il is within their power TO
afford therefore hold that legislation is not necessary
for The purpose of aiordng the merchant marine IN Cali
iona The advantages OF any dock The government may
Mi BR0DHEAD called for the yeas and nays on the
amendment, and they were ordered.
Mr.. WELLER. Mr.. President if It has been the
practice of the government TO suffer the merchant marine
TO these drydocks whenever application made and
whenever they - not necessarily used BY the navy.
there would, the honorable senator from New Jersey
says, be necessity for this provision. But do not
believe that has been the practice 10 such an extent as
would enable the merchant marine floating the Pacific
ocean this dry-dock unless there was some rgs-
aiion the subject AS general principle, am ep.
posed, matter Of course 10 all copartnershp between
the government and individuals. II was because was
opposed TO n,e lerng with the business OF private nd
viduals that constrained to vote against the appro
priaon for the Collins line There was a copartnership
an pSia %
$4,000 paid in by the government OF the United
States That copaftnershp met with favor iron the SEN
aior from New Jersey IL seems then, that he has be-
come aiiehy TO this doctrine OF absianing from
niermeddlng with the affairs of private individuals, and
forming coparnershps between the government and pr
vate ciuzens
think that legislation upon this subject is necessary,
and that the amendment, il now stands, is IN shape
where the power camel be abused We have the stand
ing and reputation OF the Secretary OF the Navy 10
sure US that this drydock when not necessary for the
use OF the government, will be used for the accommoda
ton OF the merchant marine floating upon the Pacihc
ocean That is all that desire. We inrust this power
10 the Secretary OF the Navy. He may abuse II, II Is
true, all human power is oentmes abused. That
would however, be an argument against al govern
selected by the people for the discharge OF these execu-
tive duties II is for that prefer that the amend
en in its present shape should be adopted m order that
we NAV have the security which the reputation and the
standing OF the Secretary OF the Navy can give that that
power shall be exercised not only 10 protect the Interests
OF the government OF the United States, but also TO ac.
commodae all the vessels that may be found floating
upon that ocean
a Mr.. MALLORY Mr. President the suggestions
thrown by the honorable senator from New Jersey
are strictly correct doubt whether any instance can be
found OF the controller OF naval drydock, sectional
floating dock other convance for The repair OF YES
ses refusing the oil the dock 10 private vessel when
not incompatible with the public service. The fact IS,
however, that the Atlantic coast such request VIII
rarely be made, because nearly every considerable port
OF the United Sales has its dock We have some hive
public docks on the coast OF the Auanc and il am
not misinfomed there in the Atlantic cities an inhn-
te number OF private docks always open to the merchant
marine Undoubtedly on the Pacific coast, where no
private docks exist IL the officer controlling The govern
ment dock should refuse it, when not peeded for the
public service, the merchant marine, he would meet
with the reprobaton OF the Secretary OF the Navy do
not therefore, deem legislation at this moment essential
, While am up, would ask the senator from Maine
whether II this amendment be insisted upon, he would
not better insert provision controlling The Secretary Of
aock Il would be better, think, TO control the Secre
tary OF the Navy The duration OF the lease or be
TO nave in addition to the controlling power which th'
amendment coniers upon him, right TO lease the dock
throughout its entire existence
, Mr. HAMLiN. Mr.. President, think the senator
will be very much troubled TO find any power gwen IN hs
{ anne endment which have offered which will authorize
the Secretary OF the Navy TO lease this dock TO anybod,
for any length OF time II offered Tor the sole pur
pose of obviatng the objection which has been alluded
TO- want the government 10 go into copartnershP witt
nobody. This amendment proposes simply to do by av
what the senator from New Jersey and the senator from
Florida say is now done without law.
Mr. HALE, lin his seat) Exactly
Mr. HAMLlN Besides that, do not agree with ,hs
assertion OF those gentlemen with regard to the use o
thesa foru needed