The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-02
IN CONGRESS- OF THE u. STATES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1853.
I'm coKTINuATloE.l



after the word for" the words paving ShiPpen street
walls Shipper street. and iron railing" and to increase
the appropriation from IS, 900 to 500.
The amendment was agreed 10.
The amendment insert among the sppropria-
lions for the Norfolk hospital the words, for wall around
the hospital grounds, 500 500"
The amendment was agreed 10.
The .ndmeni is TO amend the following clause
For pay of officers, commissioned officers must
cians prvaes and servants serving shore subsistence
for officers and pay for undrawn clothing, S22l 767 t6"
So as to make 1t read:
"For pay of officers on-commssioned officers mus-
CANS prvaes, clerks messengers, servants, serving
,hoe raons and clothing for servants subsistence for
officers and pay for undawn clothing and atons bounties
for and pay for unsxpred terms Of previous
SERVICE 1928, $50 a."
The amendment was agreed to-
CALIFORNIA pRY-DocX.
The amendment to insert after the appropriation
for the navy-yard at California, tine following:
Towards the continuance, protection, and preservation
Of the drydock at the navy yard CALIFORNIA; and for
basin and railway connected herewith for that purpose the
OF el5O,0O and the Secretary OF the Navy hereby
authorized and directed into and with the
paeees for the construction of the basin and railway
built BY them at the Philadelphia, the Kttery and PEN
cola yards to complete and protect from damage
the floating dock at the maynard in California; Provided
be done at such price that the of the ba and
railway shall exceed the estimate to be made by the
Navy Department of the probable thereof if built by
government and the said basin and railway con-
sructed according 10 plan and specifications provided by
the department: Ind provided further That the
alton to said contractors for the of their patent their
psrntendence and responsibility shall exceed fifteen
per upon said estimates by the department for the
struction of the basin and railway"
Mr.. GWIN. This is in accordance with the recon-
mendaion Of the Secretary of the Navy his report, He
says:
"The floating drydock in California contracted for in
obedience the several of Congress heretofore
has been completed and delivered ct San Francisco. No
appropriation was made for the basin and railway, without
which the dock cannot be safely usefuy employed
submit to the decision of Congress whether these
lures should not be made without delay"
Upon that recommendation the Committee on Naval AZ
fairs directed report the amendment which has bsen
read
Mr. CLARKE. What is the date of that recomne
Mr.. GWlN Ii is contained in the annual report Of the
the Secretary of the Navy to Congress the beginning
Of the session.
Mr.. BRoDHEAD. I was under the impression tina,
We had disposed Of this question at the last session, and
that we should not again hear Of basin and railway
California At the last session $500 000 $500 000
asked for 10 commence and complete III structure, called
basin and railway, conneced wnh floating dry-iock IN
California Now II 10 proposed that shall comneoc
under color OF an appropriation Of Sl5O,00O. The real
question is, whether intend appropriate $S00G00,
SSO0000 Sl,000oOO, for the basin and railway in Cali
fornia when Congress has twice deliberately decided that
they will not have that Up the present tme
and un the present Secretary of the Navy took his seat
IN that department. this basin and railway thought be
agnins, the recommendation Of that department We had
the subject of drydocks the last session. then
exhibited to the Senate the total which these
Dad received Tor their particular patent for certain kind OF
drydock IL appeared that of had
ceved 50 076 600 That pretty large Ii is sum
equal the expenditure for the support
this government for several years from its foundation
IL TO have BASIN and railway Ia Cali onia the
sum Of $500 900 $500 900 ought be appropriated
once, for that will be ssary complete That
The estimate That was the sum asked Tor at the last
sion. Now, the Committee Naval fairs ask for al
600 with which TO commence We ought 10 know the ex-
act amount which II will do propose argue
the question, but think now, thought the last
that t9wp hauln md IN
California. The Senate 20 decided last session upon
full hearing. II has been said that this structure
one time ordered am of that but the last
non that order rescinded, upon full hearing in the
House Of Representatives.
think this subject ought have been brought for
ward again at this late period OF the session. II
intention to bring u forvsrd ought have been
rate BILL and ought 10 have had time fully examine It,
THIS not the proper place make contracts either for
docks or for anything else IL Is question Of admnsra
hon, not OF egsatiop. The amendment onters into
particulars in regard 10 contracts per ceusge &c Sir il
this the time to Look into questions OF that kud Is this the
body-is this The place 10 do it, think not
Mr.. BADGER. ! am that the Senate will bear with
me few moments while submit few remarks upon the
pending amendment, because safely say that have
taken no part at this session IN the dssossou OF the sppro
pra,on bills d, not mean 10 dain the Senate long now
for know too well the value of time 10 do so. This IS
however, i'm orsn question, and ought be settled up
it's merits
The honorable senator from Pennsylvania MIR Bsop.
has this and several other occasions this
under the consideration OF the Senate taken
cason TO auds 70 the large amount OF money expended
similar docks at other places respectfully submit that
that has connect with the subject before the
Senate Than the question how much has been
expended Great Britain for 6oatngd This
n proposition 10 add To the hoatngdo nCaorna basin
and railway Every who has paid any attention to tho
subject knows that II the basin and rail gay be built
.fectuslly the purpose for which they de
signed, they add thousandfold to the velue OF the float
lng-dock. Every man knows the difference between
having dock which accommodate ship for repairs
ime and having a dock connected with the btsin and
ltrau which Laf darn h. ,l.g
eurey and safely for repairs and reconstruction
The honorable senator from Pennsyv that the
Senate has repeatedly considered this question: and decided
against deny IT, When this subject was up he last
session Of Congress- told let stand until the
next session. until the railway and basin should be
tired and tested by experiment, to ascertain whether they
could be used according 10 the claims Of the patenees and
according the drawings and specifications which they had
efhibtted That experiment has been tried.
Mr. BBODHEAD And il has failed
MI BADGER The senator interrupts me to say that it
shsa say that has failed II has been COM
ano 'numphantly successful, If there IN any reliance
P1eea upon human testimony or course do say
tns Witnessed the experiment II was announced in the
pe~spspels oy eye witnesses The experiment attracted
60 LI; ooservers who could scarcely be r strained
, $500 oue INTO shouts Of applause this
Vicious exno'uon Of American skill and discovery Nov
when u ~ promised that this sr,c,,s ahi3 ~. o.
vded for, we are told that ~. sona,o La. d.,,d.d
sgsinss H. Inc senate has never decided ag,ns n Jf n
~, u'. : ~ - SHOWN where and when But say in
passing the bill at the last session MAJ. ,n . 't
which amounted to no decision Il was s,.,,t. : .
ment Of the question IN order that the
tired. ' 'n'snt DC
When the subject up before the S,oa,. ~
from Pennsylvana took occasion to saw ,ba, -, ~
recommendation OF the head Of the department 10 60 ~
IT, That supposed TO be strong and NO .cre,I
ton TO H. Here now i the recommendation Of ,bo -
OF the department When II % before We ,er. ~.
mir a..