The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-11
In THE SENATE OF THE u. STATES.
SPECIAL SEES sIoN
THURSDAY. MARCH 10. 1853,

THURSDAY, MARCH 10. 1883
COAL ron THE JAPAN SQUADRON.
MIR COOPER submitted the following resolution
Rssooed, That the Secretary Of the Navy be- and he =
hereby requested 10 commuoicate 70 the Senate me con
tract entered into with Messrs Rowland Aspnwah Tor
supplying the Japan squadron wl e9a ae Pes p.. sen
the amour, Of commissions aud Insurance respectively 10
gethef with the Of exchange which the government
will be required Tor such Oh Tie coal as may DC Pai-
chased Ia England.
That the Secretary be ais required TO isfom the Senate
whether offers made by other parties than Messrs
Rowland Aspinwail 10 supply the above named sqas
with coal by delivering The same At such places A.
at which these parties proposed TO deliver ~ stating
particularly the rates at which anthracite American btu
nnou and Eogllsh bitnmnous were respectively oneieu
and whether after these offers had been made contract
higher prices not entered into with Messs Rowland
80 Aspinwall for English coal
That Secretary be further required inform the Sem
supply of te said squadron with coal the had
authorized agents employed for The express
purpose OF purchasing and Inspecting all coal necessary for
supply OF the and what the said agents
received by way oil compensation Tor their services That
Messs Rowland and Apnwall appointed agents
purchase and inspect the whole or great part OF The
Whether the commissions allowed them are not double the
those allowed and paid 10 the regular purchasing
and Inspecting agents whether the said comm ssIons
not counted the gross price Of the coanamey, the
price with freight exchange and insurance added That
he be required ALSO TO inform the Senate what quantity
coal is estimated will be required for the supply of the
said squadron, annually, and what kind, principally. will
quantity OF COAL for what length Of time, aud to
whom also what rate OF demunage is to be paid here
aier
! Mr. COOPER The object OF the resolution which has
been proposed is to ascertain the facts with regard TO the
contracts which have been entered into Tor supplying fue
the squadron which has been ordered 10 the Chinese
SEAS for the purpose OF holding commercial and other
latons with the Japanese empire Iii known 10 the Sen
ate, Mr. President, that this government some time ago APP
pointed agents for the purpose OF purchasing the supply
OF coal for navyone of those agents being appointed
for the and INSPECTING anthracite
and the other for the purpose Of purchasing and inspect
ing bitumnous coal II is their duty. by virtue OF their
Office TO supply and inspect The coal for the navy-not
only for The navy proper but all that is used in The dock
yards and shops belonging to the United AS COM
pensaon for their services they have received commits
sion of five per cent. When this squadron was about TO
sail, time previous 10 the period OF It's sailing
these agents offered 10 supply coal upon certain terms
Anthracite and biiuminous coal were both offered to be
supplied by these agents. and delivered al such ports
should be designated in the Chinese seas, al price moi
exceeding fifteen dollars per ton. think they offered TO
supply anthracite at l4 SO per lon and Cumberland b.
luminous coal at $I4 90 per tom al any rate, the price
of neither the one nor the other exceeded heen dollars
per ton.
copied, but that Messrs. Rowland Aspinwal were APP
pointed inspectors, and authorized TO purchase the
coal necessary for the supply OF the squadron. They
purchased small quantities OF excellent anthracite and
bituminous coal in this country, but relied mainly
upon English coal for the supply OF the squadron; and
they have purchased that at much higher price than
the rate at which il proposed to supply either the
anthracite or the American bituminous coal, both OF
which greatly SUPERIOR according to the tests which
have been made upon various occasions have been
informed and have doubt OF the fact that this Eng
h coal which these parties propose TO furnish Will cost
when delivered in the Chinese at least ope fourth
more than American coal which is greatly superior In
quality Instead OF the commission OF five per cent
which has been allowed 10 the regularly Unauthorized
agents of the government, Rowland and Asplnwall
receive ten per cent They also pay loi per cent by
Now, Mr. President if this be true, ii is outrage; and
my object to ascertain the facts in relation TO this mat
ter.
have been informed that during the period when it is
expected this squadron will be in the China seas, some
thing like eighty hundred thousand tons OF coal will
be required for It's consumption Now, these men are
to receive ten per cent commission and the price OF
the coal should be $40 per ,on they will receive $780,.
| 900 BY way OF commission and the government will
n, to y o seaSs
ment offered American coal al $40 per ion TO be de-
! lIvered there.
Secretary of the Navy The late Secretary of the Navy
had nothing TO do with IT; nor as understand had his
predecessor in Office anything TO do with H. wish il to be
distinctly understood that do not reflect al all upon either
of those officers; believe both Of them OF IN
tegrty and well calculated TO discharge the duties OF
their high position; but understand. notwithstanding
this that these contracts have been authorized by the
bureaus and indirectly by them, OF course, although prob
ably entirely without their knowledge. desire 10 OBJ
tain the facts with regard TO this subject; and for that
purpose have submitted this resolution II is merely
matter of inquiry, and presume there will be oblee-
ton 10 its consideration al this lime
The resolution considered by unanimous consent,
and agreed to.
| PAPERS WITHDRAWN.
/ Mr. GWIN asked leave 10 withdraw from the files OF
the Senate the petition and papers OF Washington Nj
Ryer that they may be returned 10 the petitioner which
agreed to.
| COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS,
MIR. SEBASTIAN submitted the following resolution
for consideration;
Rs,optd That all business heretofore fered to the Com
Affairs. and reported otherwise
defnyely isposed Of be again referred said committee
with like power and authority possessed by them AT the
late session
MIR S. said ask the unanimous consent OF the SEN
ate to have that resolution acted upon this time.
is necessary IN order to enable the committee 10 20
with the unfinished business OF the last session.
/ Mr. MASON Mr.. President, | submit 10 the honor
able senator from Arkansas who has just offered that
resolution ha, during this session the Senate OF
competent TO attend to any dsiies not in any way con-
neced with the other House, OF egisative charac
ter; but observe that by the terms OF the resolution
which he has submitted, the committee to be clothed
with the same powers and authority which they had
during the last session Any special separate matters
presume may be properly referred TO the committee
but the Senate while continuing 10 ait as independent
body do nothing that would require legislation OF
any kind.
| Mr. SEBASTIAN. am perfectly aware OF that, Mr.
President but will state that the object Of the resolution
is merely to give those powers TO the committee with rel
pe,ent 10 investigate at this session aude particularly
to subject of inquiry which before the committee
at the last session, relating TO the superintendent OF In
dian affairs in the Territory OF Minnesota That 10 a
matter which has connexion al all with any action by
the other House.