Washington sentinel., 1854-02-28
House Of Representative.
PUBLIC PRINTER.

+ h + . . y
Mr.. DAVIS, Of Indiana, rose 10 a privileged ques.
tion, and said it was well known to the House
that the printer TO the body is dead. According
to his view the law authorizing the election Of
public printer, he conceived that the Office is nov
vacant, and therefore offered the following reso-
luton: ~ W. fsst.
Resolved That the House will tomor-
row. at two o'clock proceed to the election Of print
In place of Robert Armstrong, deceased
Mr.. DEAN moved to strike out the word ato-
morrow. and insert Friday next" [Cries OF
mo, no. Monday next" "No, no.n1
Mr.. CAMPBELL suggested that the election
come OIL now, understanding that one caucus has
already been held.
Mr.. DEAN remarked, he had moved Monday
next, BECAUSE in his opinion, the homestead bill,
the general debate on which was ended on Thurs
day last, ought 10 be first considered and disposed
OF. There was no haste to elect printer and
he thought that next Monday was as soon as the
House ought to be called upon 10 vote on that
subject.
Mr.. STANTON, of Kentucky said the election
ought moi TO be postponed till next Monday, for
the reason that in the mean time there is no au-
thorty conferred on anybody to do the printing OF
the House which will necessarily be required
Bills and reports are constantly presented here,
and are required to be sent TO the printer and re-
turned next day.
Mr.. DEAN said that during the last Congress,
Tor nearly an entire session, the House was with
c, see
no particular haste in this matter. The members
ought to have time TO consider as to who is to be
elected, and whether any new tests are to be i'm
posed on the candidates.
MIR. JONES, of Tennessee, wished merely to
say that he did not agree with the gentleman from
Indiana, (Mr DA1s) He did not consider the
public printer an officer either of the House or Of
the government, but under contract to do certain
work.
Mr.. DEAN moved that the election take place
on Wednesday.
Mr.. DAVIS, of Indiana differed from the gen-
tleman from Tennessee, and, after reading from
the law, said he considered the public printer as
much of an officer the speaker, the sergeant-at-
arms, the doorkeeper, or the postmaster Of the
House.
Mr.. WASHBURN, of Maine, inquired whether
the law was not passed to make the public prin-
ter something more than mere contractor, and
imposed trust and confidence which were not as
signabe, and the benefits Of which could not de-
scend TO heirs. Was not such the argument in
favor of the passage ofthe laws
Mr. DAVIS replied, he did not remember the
argument.
Mr.. JONES, Of Tennessee, moved that the
resolution be laid on the table; but the motion did
not prevail.
The resolution was then amended, that the
election take place on Wednesday; and in this
form passed.
sTEAM-FRIGATE BILL.
Mr. DOSOCh moved tnat the rules be suspend
ed, with a view Of taking up the Senate bill pro-
vIding for the building Of six 6rst-class steam
frigates. He was perfectly willing 10 consult the
temper and disposition of the House in relation
TO this subject. He supposed that almost every
member was aware that there is a propriety in the
immediate passage Of the BILL IL the motion should
prevail, he pledged himself il nobody wished TO
discuss the measure, TO move the previous ques-
ton.
Mr. HAMILTON demanded the yeas and navs.
Mr. BOCOCK remarked that there is a rule O
the House which makes il necessary that every
bill involving an appropriation shall 20 10 the
Committee of the Whole on the state OF the Union
Unless this rule shall be suspended the bill will
go there be placed at the foot Of the calendar and
not be reached until the dog-days If at all.
The SPEAKER reminded the gentleman that
debate was not in order
Mr., CAMPBELL moved to lay the motion on
the table.
The SPEAKER said the motion was not in or
der, that of the gentleman from Virginia being one
Of privileged character
The House suspended the rules-yeas 1877, nays
60; two-thrds.
And The bill was taken up and read, AZ follows
Be enacted BY the lSnafs and Hosse Of Representative
Of The United States Of america IN Cbngress dssrHoted
That the Secretary of the Navy be and he hereby
rzed to TO be consructed for the United
Mt early day practicable consisteny win dus re-
gard for economy and efnciency, SIX nrstciess
ates to be provided with screwpropener ana prosry
armed and equipped for service; said vessen ana ma
Yards As The Secretary Of the Navy may tnk most sd
visnble for the public intcresk n
src o. And be Il JytA<r enatfed That there be and 10
OF the OF the Navy for the purpose above spec
fed and for Altering completing ana suncning the fg