The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-03


short explanation of his amen iment, which he
was convinced would operate benefcially upon
the agricultural interests by cheapenng freghts
The arguments that had been advanced in
favor of reciprocity with the colonies would he
said apply with greater weight to reciprocity
with England His object in introducing the
amendment was not to embarrass the bill, but
to keep it before the country.
MIR Townshend, Of Ohio, stated that Canada
and the Northwestern States produce surplus
of agricultural produce, which may be mutual
ly and bene6cially exchanged, the market
price of which in those countries is regulated
by that of England.
Ohio, he said, was ready for free trade and
direct taxation If the markets of the world
were thrown open. He objected to coal being
left out of the bill as Western Canada present
ed an extensive market and its expectation to
that Province would benefit the Western trade.
The effect of the omission would be to benefit
monopoly on the part Of Pennsylvania, to
the injury of the general interests of that State
and the country at large. Coal also he said
has become a necessary of life, and the exclu-
sion of that article from the bill is 10 tax the
many for the benefit of the few
Owing to the scarcity of lumber in the West
ern States, they must have it from Canada
they cannot procure it from Maine or North
Carolina, and are compelled to pay duty of
from 20 to 30 per cent. on all that is imported.
The success Of the bill, he said ought not to be
perilled by the demands OF Maine.
Mr.. Preston King of New York. reported
from the Committee ON Conference, relative to
the bill to prevent frauds on the Treasury.
They had agreed 10 insert clause prohibiting
parties from receiving recompense, with the
intent to aid or assist In prosecuting any claim.
The House, after taking the yeas and maya
went into Committee OF the Whole on the state
OF the Union, and again took up the Indian
discussed and disposed Of
The Committee rose the chairman reported
the bill as amended, and the House adjourned.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY "a.
Mr.. Townshend concluded his remarks, by
calling the attention Of members to the i'm
portance of the navigation of the St Lawrence,
by which the lake vessels would be employed
coastwise and to foreign ports during the win
ter season. He moved to insert " dried fruits
among the enumerated articles in the bill
which was agreed to.
Mr. Stuart in the absence of Mr. Seymour,
who had been called away by illness in his
family, said he was opposed to all the amend
ments which had been proposed, as unless the
House had definite action to-day, the bill, under
the rules, must lie over till Tuesday and there
fore he should move the previous question, for
the purpose of testing the sense of the House.
Mr.. CGngman moved that the bill be laid on
the table, but withdrew his motion which was
renewed by Mr.. Orr, and the motion was neg
atived-yeas 80, nays ITO.
The previous question was then put and
seconded-yeas SO, nays "a but before the
main question could be submitted, the morn
ing hour having expired the House went into
Committee of the Whole on the state of the
Union, and proceeded with the Indian Appro-
priaton bill, which was finally passed
Mr.. Gentry offered an amendment as an ad-
ditional section that if any officer who is now
or may be charged with the payment of any of
the appropriation made by this or any other
act, shall pay to any clerk or employee less
sum than is allowed by law, and require such
employee to accept or give voucher for an
amount greater than he has received the officer
thus acting shall be deemed guilty of embezzle-
ment and shall be fined double the sum 50
withheld, and imprisoned for the term of two
years and may be prosecuted and punished by
any court having jurisdiction for the trial Of
such offences.
He said he knew OF clerk in one of the De-
partments who was appointed to Office under
circumstances like these: His father who had
been merchant obtained little clerkshp of
thousand dollars after he became insolvent.
He died INDECENT; and the sympathy for the
family was 50 strong that the head of the De-
partment was compelled to appoint the son to
the place thus vacated, that he might by this
means support his mother and younger
brother. He was put in with an understand
ing that he should receipt monthly at the rate
of q thousand dollars year. while three hun
dred dollars of this sum was transferred to
) favorite in the Department. He (Mr. G. haC
protested against the outrage and Learned
t from the head of the Department that it wa
justified by numerous precedents.
1 In response to general inquiry, he said tn,
head of the Department referred to was tn,
Secretary of the Interior.
He held that in making appropriations il
was the duty OF the House TO prevent such Ex
ecutive abuses as this. During the whole time
he had been member of Congress, a majority
of the heads of Departments had been proper
subjects for impeachment; and if the Hous,
performed its duty, it would hold them to
proper accountability
Mr.. Bayly knew nothing of the circumstan
Secretary Of the Interior, he undertook to say
that if there was anything in the official con.
duct of Mr. Stuart fair subject of inyestig ation
that gentleman was ready TO meet il at any
time
The question was taken, and Mr.. Gcntry's
amendment was agreed to.
The Indian Appropriation bill was then laid
aside to be reported to the House and also,
after explanations
The bill providing compensation to such per.
sons as may be designated by the Secretary of
the Treasury to receive and keep the public
moneys, under the not Of August s, 1916, for
the service required under it; and
The bill making appropriations for the trans
portation OF the mails Of the United States in
ocean steamers and otherwise.
When the Committee rose, the above. named
bills were passed, together with that establish
ing certain post routes.
After the transaction of other business the
House adjourned.
FRIDAY, February rs.
The debate on the Naval bill was limited TO
ten hours and the House went into Committee
OF the Whole ON the state of the Union. when
it was taken up.
| Mr.. Stanton, Of Tennessee, chairman of the
Committee on Naval Affairs, moved an amend.
ment, providing for an increase of the navy, by
building three steam frigates and the same
number of sloops of war which he contended
would be measure Of practical economy.
He called the attention Of the Committee to
the efforts making by other nations to increase
their navies the critical state Of Europe the
neglect of the administration to vindicate the
national honor, and the position of Cuba, which
land and France the want Of armed mail
steamers in the Pacific, and concluded by sta.
ting that had the measures he recommended
three years ago been adopted they would have
been found to be of practical economy, and the
navy would at present have been in an efficient