The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-10

The House proceeded to dispose os the re-
naming Senate amendments las reported from,
after amendment, in the Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union.) to the bill
making appropriations for the support Of the
army.
The following were concurred 10 US they
came from the Senate:
For the defence of San Francisco, California,
$500, 900;
Fort Jefferson, at Garden Keys, or TOrtugas
Island, 100000;
Fort Taylor Key West, $4,000
Fort Pulaski, Georgia, including barracks
and quarters, $4,000;
Fort Sumter, Charleston harbor, $4,000;
Fort Carroll Sollers's Point, Baltimore har-
Dor, S50,000
Fort Delaware, Pea Patch Island, Delaware
river, $l50,000;
Fort Knox, PenobscOt river, $55, 900;
Fort Warren, Boston harbor S45, 900; and
Fort Winthrop, Governors Island, Boston,
S29,573.
The Senate amendment appropriating the
sum OF 10000 for an exploration and survey
of the most practicable and economical route
for railroad from the Mississippi river to the
Pacific ocean, was concurred in--yeas ll3,
nays 81.
The House non-concurred in the amendment
authorizing the President of the United States
to enter into contract for the protection of emf.
grants on the way to the Pacific by means OF
armed station houses, and by giving grants OF
lands as remuneration.
The amendments to the Army bill having
been acted upon,
The House resolved itself into a Committee
of the Whole on the state Of the Union--Mr
lad taf
slderation OF the bill making appropriations for
lighthouses, light-boats, buoys sc. 1t WAS
amended: aud then, without debate, the Com-
mittec rose, and the bill was passed.
Mr.. German, from committee Of confer
ence, made a report ON the disagreeing votes
of the two Houses on the bill for the relief of
J. c. Fremont; aud
Mr.. Brown, of Mississippi, made report
from committee of conference ON the disa-
greeting votes of the two Houses on the bill for
the extension of presumption rights to alternate
sections along the lines of railroads, for which
Congress has heretofore granted lands.
The reports were severally concurred in.
The House took up the Senate bill providing
for the survey of the public lands in California,
and granting presumption privileges thereon,
and for other purposes. Adopted.
Mr. Houston said that the Senate had re-
turned the Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation
bill with eighty-fve pages of manuscript amend
ments. 1t was utterly impossible to get through
with them in the ordinary mode of legislation,
such Is investigating them in Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union, and INDUCING
in debate and, even without debate, the bill
might fail to become law. Various voices
"Then let it fail" Lets examine it," agreed,
a,,roa1 ~ To taot tho oopoa ne tho unpoa ha
moved that all general debate be closed and
this was agreed to-
The House then resolved itself into Com
mittee of the Whole on the state of the Union,
Mr. Stuart in the chair, and proceeded to the
consideration of the amendments.
Mr.. Smith said he had prepared a speech on
the delay of business, and asked leave to pub
lsh it.
The Chairman replied, it was not in the pow.
or of the Committee to give any such leave,
Mr.. Smith then seized the privilege, under
| the five minutes rule to lay down his main
the great delay of business is chargeable to the
members of Congress secondly, that the House
has adjourned over enough days to constitute
a short session of Congress- having adjourned
over forty-nine days last session, and twelve OIL
|
he expected to show that sxty.fve members
are regularly absent from the House; and be
expected to show that when members are pres
ent they are not in the habit of attending tC
business These are the three causes to which
he attributed the delay of the public bushes,
of the House and he should attempt TO point
to desideratum-a proposition that whenever
any member shall vote to adjourn over, except
n<os 4,
SCENTS himself, he shall not receive his per diem
He expected to show thatsixty five members art
receiving pay without working for it. Thi.
was the general tenor of his Speech which he
asked leave to print: but whether the Hous,
granted leave or not, he would publish it. anC
make it good public document Laughter
The first amendment being read
Mr.. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, remarked b.
could not understand what he was called Il
vote upon If they should adopt the eighty
five amendments in this way, 1t would be {
scandal to the country They ought at leas
to know what they were to vote upon. Tht
amendments should have been printed.
Mr.. Jones' Of Tennessee, trusted there would
not be a committee of conference. Let the
| House dispose of the bill, or let it be lost
Mr.. Toombs remarked that they could know
nothing whatever of the propositions upon
which they were called to vote IL he could
not consider things inteligently, no would not
| act-he would have no right to act
| Mr. Phelps called attention TO the fact that
| preceding Congresses, towards the close of q
session, acted upon amendments which had not
been printed
The amendment approprating one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars to be expended I'M
der the direction Of the President in obtaining
n supply of pure water for Washington city, to
be taken from such point and INTRODUCED in
such manner rs he may direct wss agreed
to--yeas g. nays So
The amendment providing for an Assistant
Secretary OF State, at an annual salary of three
thousand dollars per annum, was agreed to.
The amendment apprOpriating 500, 900 for
the establishment of an assay Office in the city
Of N. York was concnrred in---ayes 60, noes g.
Mr. Johnson, Of Arkansas, moved gu amend.
ment to suspend, for two years, the imposition
OF duty on railroad iron.
After debate, it was rejected--yeas 6s, nays
49,
Mr. Cobb moved an amendment, extending
the time for payment of duties on railroad iron
for four years.
The Chairman ruled it ont of order, and il
was sustained by the House.
Mr.. Bayly offered an amendment, similar to
that before offered by Mr.. Johnson, Of Arkan-
sas and after debate, it WAS reiected--yeas So
nays So
There was much confusion throughout the
proceedings.
The amendment was agreed to--yeas rs
nays 65-authorizing the appointment Of Off
GERS and workmen for the assay Office in New
York, and the renting Of building and pro-
curing machinery,
The Committee next proceeded to the eoosid-
GRAFTON of the following amendment:
"Tbat there be placed at the disposal Of the
President Of the United States the sum Of twen-
ty thousand dollars, 10 enable him to compen-
safe Clark Mills for the execution of the eques-
tran statue of Andrew Jackson.
A provso was adopted, that no part Of the