The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-10
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
SENATE.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2S.
CONGRESS SECOND sEssTol


Mr. Hunter moved 10 take M the Civil and
Diplomatic Appropriation BILL
MIR. Underwood opposed the motion, he de-
string to take up the Bennett Land bill. He
would regard the vote on this motion ~ "a ties,
vote on that bill.
, After some debate, the motion Of Mr. Hun
ter was agreed to--yeas 80, nays 7.
The first amendment to the Civil and Diplo
matte bill was one appropriating 1890, 900 Il
pay back duties paid on goods destroyed by
fire in New York in lsi5, and 100000 for
goods destroyed by fire in California. Adopted
Other amendments were agreed to amongst
them the following;
| To remit all duties on machinery for spin
ming and weaving flax, not in use in the Uni
ted States.
For custom house at Richmond, $4,000 ;
Norfolk. $4,000; Bangor Maine, $4,000 !;
Bath, Maine, 81, 600 Belfast, $4,000.
An amendment classifying tho clerks in the
Treasury, Interior, War, Navy, and Post Office
| Departments into four classcs--lst, at $500
I'd, 81, 200 Sd, 81 500; 4tb, 81 500. The chief
clerks of bureaus to receive 81, 000 and chief
clerks Of Departments, 80, 600.
Mr. Hunter moved an amendment appropri-
atng $4,000 for the purchase of sites and
| the construction of houses in Washington for
| tho Vice President and the several Secretaries
and Postmaster General.
This was debated at length-Messrs. Bor.
land, Bradbury, Butler, Rusk, and Dodge, oppos-
ed it Mcsrs Mason, Jones of Tennessee, Hun
ter, and Downs, supported il it was then re-
jected--yeas %, nays "a The vote was sub
sequently reconsidered, and modified 80 as TO
increase the salaries Of these officers to $S 600
per anDum; which WAS adopted-yeas 40, nays
is.
Fifty thousand dollars was added for
bridge Mt the Little Falls Of the Potomac.
An amendment, appropriating Sl50,000 to-
wards supplying Washington and Georgetown
with water, to be obtained wherever and
brought in by such means a. the President
may determine was offered by the Committee
on Finance.
MIR Pratt referred to the fact that the Poto-
mac river from which this water would be OBJ
tanned, was owned by the State of Maryland,
and she had constructed along said river a
grand work which required the water of that
river He therefore moved TO provide that
should it be necessary to 60 into tho State Of
Maryland to obtain such water, the assent Of
the Legislature of that State should first be OBJ
tanned
After considerable debate this proviso was
adopted--yeas 80, nays 90. The amendment
~ amended was agreed to--yeas 35, nays Is.
Mr.. Hunter, from the Committee ON Finance
moved an amendment allowing railroad iron
to be imported with a credit Of FIVE years Cor
the duties thereon.
Mr.. Mason moved to amend it by providing
for the total repeal Of all those duties.
Mr.. Brodhead and Mr. Miller opposed the
amendment and while the latter was speak
- h.,I ~ a.
Withdrew his amendment
Mr.. Mason offered amendments increasing
the allowance to Ministers to England, France,
Russia, and Spain, $4,000, for house rent, &c,
and 81, 900 TO the Minister to Turkey.
He then renewed his amendment under in
structions from the Legislature Of Virginia, for
repeal Of the duties on railroad iron.
Mr.. Douglas moved to modify it by suspend
ing the duties on railroad iron for three years
Mesrs Miller, Seward, Cooper, and Brod-
head, opposed the amendment