The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-27

Commerce The Committee on Commerce apply TO the
department. the board of topog graphical engineers, Tor
information in regard 10 that rver-wheher an aPpopria
ton would be expeden, aud whether the ee are merits
enough IN The application TO justify any action upon the
premises Theteupon the department say that there
much merit that they recommend that the survey be made
10 The end that il Cong deem proper the improvement
OF that river may be made hereafter Now the honora-
BILE senator from Michigan Mr.. CAssl moves 10 strike
out that specific appropriation. upon The ground that an
appropriation Tor the benefit OF that district in Virginia
will be unjust TO somebody elseunlast and unequal in
its operation Now, how can il bear unusly aud un-
equally upon anybody9 Either The other persons " ho
entitled TO consideration in this same way have APP
Piled 10 Congress or they have not II they have applied
| yided for in this bill. rtt
Mr., CAsS.. Did the committee apply to the depart
men for all the other they have for this
! MIR. SEWARD, cannot tell
! Mr.. CASS. Well, can say that they have not And
what want TO know is how this case has happened TO
Mr.. SEWARD. What l want to say is, that others
cannot complain about Congress If they get nothing no
appropriation Tor Improvement or suryeyif they have
made no application 10 Congress for it, The honorable
senator seems 10 proceed upon the principle that those
are equal who come last and those also eqoal who
do not come here at all Now, take il for granted that if
persons in other localities do not come to Congress and
ask for Improvements oil harbors and rivers that is be-
cause they have none which can be improved. My col
league Mr. FIsHl can answer with accuracy than
can but my impression is that the COMMITTEES have in
all cases sent TO the for lis opinion upon every
application that has been made here What we have
here is the recommendation OF that department hope
that the motion to amend will not prevail
Mr.. RUSK. hope that this motion 10 strike out this
orabe senator from Michigan IMr. CAssl 10 apply TO the
department for such information they have; but
not willing 10 shut myself out from other information
have objection whatever TO have all the information
that may be laid before us in regard to national objects
by the department; but have serious objection TO
Inning all my investigations upon objects of this descrp-
tion within the pale of the recommendation of the head
OF the bureau. And if the honorable senator thinks that
there are some objects for the survey for which money
he nrlatpd aH
amendments OF the Committee Commerce, it is very
easy Tor him to move an amendment OF any which
can be applied generally to these surveys. feel salts
fed that although majority of the get cor
rect information from heads OF bureaus yet we do not
get correct information in every Indeed, know
that we do not know that recommendations have been
made for the surveys of objects that comparatively of
no Importance while objects in the immediate neighbor-
hood. even more important the whole country, have
been overlooked Under such circumstances must be
clear that should leave open all the channels OF info
nation upon subjects OF this description, and not leave
ourselves to be bndy guided by the estimates OF the de-
parimen But if any can bring forward information
OF such character to induce majority Of the Senate
to believe that there ought to be survey and estimate
for it in reference to some particular object,
son why we should not make the necessary appropria
tion for the purpose Of obtaining This information Why
should we be checked up herel Why should turn
the whole discretion OF the investigation 10 the head
OF a bureau hope the amendment of the committee
will be adopted.
Mr. DOUGLAS. do not see the necessity of apply
ing TO the head OF the Typographical bureau for norma
tion TO whether should survey river not; for
that bureau for information that have no' The very
object of the appropriation to enable the head Of that de-
Pariment 10 obtain such information they can base
Recommendation upon. Until the survey is made the de-
partmen know no more about II than do or than any
private individual in the country Is supposed that the
head of the typographical bureau know nuiisely
the sze the depth and the capabilities OF every river
creek and inlet in America know of greater mock
cry than this OF applying 10 that bureau for information
regard TO these various surveys throughout the country
have the greatest respect for their
when they are based upon the surveys. for the reason
that have yet TO learn the instance in which tie topo
graphical bureau refused estimate for anything
in the world for which they were asked TO estimate.
That bureau by its profession has the charge of these
works, and il wishes TO draw to itself all the power
within its reach They recommend the highest amount
OF money always that be obtained. And they
not politically responsible, holding their positions by their
commissions in the army, you have not the slightest
| check upon them.
But there is very important result arising from ncor-
porating this amendment oil the committee in this bill.
When you recommend $4,000. or any other amount for
the survey oil rver Virginia. that becomes the found
alton upon which an estimate is 10 be made by the de-
pament next year for the Improvement OF that river Ii
is designation OF that proper object Tor inn
provemen in future and your 80 900 this year will bring
you thirty thousand dollar estimate the next You go
up the coast OF Maine with appropriation oil 81 900
in this bill for survey in reference 10 break water
That is very small item, and attracts attentionit is
but thousand dollars but thousand dollars for
survey this year will bring an item in the bill year
for $50 00o or 100000 or perhaps Tor the
srucion OF the breakwater And the mere insertion of
II IN the bill this year puts II IN position Tor estimates
next year and with The survey Tor break upon
the OF Florida and with the long list OF specfca
tons in this bill for small appropriations for surveys with
reference 10 breakwa,ers and harbor and river improve
ments.
SO long you put in the name, II with but one dollar
for surveys you have put IL in the line oil presidents for
large appropriations 10 follow So in that point OF view,
II these designations 10 be made at random the bill,
selecting here and there and in another place point for
surveys may be important TO TO lnove amendments
by which all the and the points for harbors upon
the lakes every section OF the country shall also be in
corporaied in this bill for surveys. that may have
estimates founded upon these surveys in the bill
OF about 600 miles in length, 10 which the honorable
senator from that State Mr. CAssl has several times
feued large number OF harbors absouley neces-
sary there for the protection of along that
coastnot for the benefit OF the State of Michigan ex
casivey butior the protection OF life and property upon
the whole line OF the lakes, for the commerce IRON one
end OF that chain OF lakes TO The other pass along
these dangerous shores And would like 10 have estf-
mates for surveys the mouth OF each OF the rivers and
creeks there, il the honorable senator from Michigan
i (Mr CAssl will furnish me with the OF them. l
do know them and suppose the typographical corps
would lind il difficult TO ascertain their They
have means OF ascerlaining them that do not have.
Yet know that all along that line OF dangerous
harbors are necessary would like to know whether
| harbors can be built there or not
Now, IT this system OF making appropriations from the
national treasury is TO be kept up and If the States
ments tell you that million and half OF dollars is
not enough 10 satisfy the necessities OF the line OF lakes
alone. No, five millions OF dollars year will not
satisfy the absolute necessities for the harbor improve
upon that line OF lakes alone, in order afford The
requisite protection TO lie and property. see clearly