The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-02


Me-. MASON. The record will settle the fact. MY rec
election that left with the discretion of the Secre
whether not to contract for the basin and railway
Mr.. BA YARD. have but objection make 10 the
amendment rather amendment to propose H. which, II
assented shall feel disposed for amended
admit that when this subject was before the Senate
former OCCASION postponed ia consequence OF
doubt the capacity Of this invention eff
feet purpose. IL has been determined favor of the
Dock far my knowledge goes We have the report OF
the Secretary of the Navy, that the pier which also
matter of dispute substitute for the basin and railway,
equivalent for the necessary purposes OF the
IL recollec rightly, former occasion al
legged that if the basin and railway constructed they
could be made accommodate the mercantile marine of the
country in addition to the navy In my judgment Congress
had authority build docks for any such purpose and
therefore voted against IL then.
have the report of the Secretary of the Navy
but understand from the statement of upon
which relv, that the report that the basin and railway
necessary for the purposes Of the navy If that be
disposed to for the appropriation But my difficulty
part of this There a provso in the amend
intended be Of the of limitation which is
in this language After providing that the particular basin
and railway shall be constructed, II goes AZ follows:
Provided, That it be done such price and the
of basin and railway shall exceed the
to be made by the Navy Department of the probable
thereof and the said basin and railway be constructed
cording the plans and specifications approved of by the
department
II then goes to further provide:
Tha the of the contractors for the use of
their patents, superntendence, and responsibility shall
fifteen per upon the estimate of the department
for the construction of the basin and railway"
This may all be capable of explanation But what
want to understand is, why is that the be
limited by estimate TO be made? Ii the survey has been
made the commission executed these thngs
why should we not have the estimate Of the cos, now
do wish TO embarass the amendment because think
important and according the report Of the Secretary OF
the Navy, necessary but 1t strikes that the
of the might be reasonable enough the
estimate is not beyond reasonable amount but might be
very unreasonable because the certain
per cen'age must necessarily depend the magnitude
of the estimate. 1t might be beyond all give
fifteen per cent, if the estimate 1900 900; and it
might be unreasonable if the estimate within the
bounds OF the amount previously supposed am informed
Mr.. GWlN. Eight hundred and forty thousand dol
lars
Mr.. BAYARO therefore mean to propose as an sd-
ditlona provIso making limitation upon the
be paid to the contractors that shall exceed the
of sl2O,OOU which would be fifteen per upon the
words, do not want I, leave this thing large, with
Proviso by way OF limitation, which, in my Judgment
amounts to no limitation at all
Mr. BA OGER. That is right.
Mr.. BAYARD Ii that proviso is put in affect the
limitation, am ready 10 vote for the amendment
therefore add the following provso the amend
ment:
Provided further, That said remuneration shall not ex
coed Sl2O,0O0
Mr.. GWlN. nave objection to that. accept it
a modification.
BILLS SIGNED.
The Presden, signed the following enrolled bills;
An act amend entitled " An amend
TO settle and adjust the OF the people OF Oregon for
attacks and hoses of Cayuse Indians the years lS47
and lS4S," approved 3st August, 1852.
An for the relief Of Edward Box
An authorizing the select of the town of Cheses
IN the state of Massachusetts, to lay and make a way
on lands Of the United States in said town.
An act to establish the territorial government Of Wash
ngton.
An making appropriations for the support Of the mil
tary department, for The year ending 30 June, 1854
An act for the relief Of b d. Bennett.
And delivered be 10
President Of the United Stats
MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE q
message from The House Of Rsp, esentatives was re-
ceiyed by Mr. Hayes its chief clerk announcing that
sisted its disagreement TO certnn amendments made by
the Senate TO the bill making appro prstons for the Support
Of the army for the year ending June 80 1854 and upon
amendments certain other amend nenis Of the Senate
the that agreed TO the conference asked by the Sen
ate the dsagrceng OF the houses and that
had appointed Mr.. PHrLrs Mr. STAsLY, and Mr.. 0RIeEs
5. SEYMOUR the nittee Of conference its part.
The Senate proceeded consider amendments Of the
House Of Representatives the bill from the Senate pro-
vide for rhs survey Of the public lands 10 California the
granting OF donation privileges therein and for other purpo
ses and concured therein.
NAVAL ArrRorsIArI,S BlLt
The Senate resumed the con.de Of the bin making
popaon for the naval service for the year ending June
80 1854.
Mr. CLARKE. | really do feel some reluctance 10 in
erpose auy opposition the appropriation intended
% be made for basin and railway California But sir,
from the convection which have feel TO be my duty
the Senate the that wi, influence my
vote against the proposition at this time.
The origin of this thing In the end Of the session Of
1850 Then, The very last day Of the session. and the
very last Of the session, proposiuon
duced into the Senate gentleman, then member Of the
House Of Represent atycs from New York,
upon the subecto appropriate about 400 900 for the
raction Of sectional dock, basin, AMI railway in Cali
tona and provition IN the naval hill think u
the end Of the session Of e50-mae Il mpe ave upon the
Secretary Of the Navy 10 with certain named
therein, for sectional dock, BASIN railway be
sruced In the hay Of San Francisco California. Under
Navy did with cfualn individuals the l7h day of
January, 1851 that they should construct a sectional dock
bssn and railway, and place the the Of Cal
ilornia for 81 100000 At that time the United States had
nowhere place the dock ba an, and railway In fact al
low saw the whole Of California had been taken
United States had the very first foothod upon which
they could place anything Of their positively belong
ing TO them
The House Of Representatives the Goth Of January
1851 passed resolution calling upon tho Secretary Of the
Navy know " any had been made under that
provision Of the naval bill Of 1850 add if not that he should
suspend all proceedings under The Secretary of the
Navy the day, think reported to the House Of
Repre And what did he repprt That he had
been negotiating with different pnres-ccrtain gentle
mon in New York, and some ohers-who proposed to
the work but appeared that the New York par
ties had Obtained the patent, md having that patent right
the Secretary obliged to contract he contracted ct all
with them the others only claimed Of the Uni
ted States that they should guarantee them against in
fringement Of the patent
These negotiations from the expiration Of the
session OF 1850 until the 10th Of January 1851 and when
The House OF Representatives called upon the Secretary OF
the Navy, he reported them that the 18th January
House. be bad concluded verbal with the gentle
who be for the building OF the