The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-28

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE NAVY BILL TO EsrAs
LIsH LINE OF MAIL STEAMERS BETWEEN CALI
FoRNIA AND CHINA.
The following amendment to the Naval bill was offered
by Gen Lane, on Saturday and rejected By the House
sec; BE II further enacted That for the purpose OF
esaphshng line OF mail steam caloric ships either
oe whee or screw propelers the Secretary OF the
na'y may determine between San Francisco aud China
touehn IN going returning at the Sand wch Islands
oe the duty Of the Secretary of the navy to
tract with Ambrose W Thompson Immediately after the
passage Oh h act FOR the establishment of the said line
oi shps which said line shall consist Fix ships of not
less than three thousand register each Rach of
sald ships shall be constructed if for war purposes
ana properly pierced for the mounting OF heavy bat
ery-and the said ships shall If required b the Secre
ary oil the Navy larry four heavy guns each during
their voyages which guns shall be o6cered s anned
and provided BY the department. The Shins 1Hai he
built under the supervision of such naval uctor or
oicer as the Secretary OF the Navy may appoint They
shall carry the United States mail and perform tho MS n
service OF the government IL may allotted by the
Secretary Of the Navy in the courses of their ages
and upon the coasts of China and Japanfor the ssd
services the said Thompson shall recee from the Post
oihce Department equal to the amount OF postages
which may be received upon maabe tiers transmitted
IN tad ships, which shall be paid monthly provided
the rates OF said postage shall conform TO such regua
tons as may be established by the Postmaster General
according to law.
shall be the duty Of the Secretary OF Treasury 10 issue
to .ad Thompson United States six per cent coupon
ponds, payable at the expiration of the term Of ten
years 10 an amount equal to one half the amount of
postage which the Postmaster General NAV estimate
will arise from the se.sce of said line for said years
Auat fObtmaster Genefhi snail, ana he
hereby directed to estimate the service for purpose of
said issue at the rate is paid by England for the
East India and Chinese mails And provided further That
no money hereby appropriated for this purpose for
any purpose connected Herewith
Sec. Be 1t further enacted, That the amount Of said
bonds they issued from time to time shall be
charged by the Postmaster General to the postal
Of said ship and shall exceed half the amount of
postage provided for unless said advance is paid
of by said contractor by the mail service of his ships
The said bonds shall be issued from time to time by the
Secretary OF the Treasury upon the requston Of the
by the said Thompson during the progress of building
said ships and the amount of said bonds shall be
cured to the United States by lien upon the ships in
such form the Secretary of the Navy may require
the said Thompson shar give to the Secretary of the
Navy satisfactory security that the amount Of the bonds
issued shall be faithfully and economically applied TO-
wards the construction and equipment of said ships
Sec Be it further enacted. That the said contract
for mail and naval service shall be for the period of
years.