Washington sentinel., 1854-07-26

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pensatlon; but objection was made
HOMESTEAD BILL.
message was received from the Senate, in
forming the House that that body has passed In
Homestead bill, with amendments
i On motion of Mr.. COBB, il was ordered 10 b,
printed, that the House might see what ii is.
Mr.. DAWSON gave notice TO the House tha
Tomorrow, he will move TO take up the Homestead
bill, as amended by the Senate, and that he will
endeayorto press il to final action.
FoRTIFIcATIoN BILL.
Mr. C6kWIN moved 10 reconsider the vote By
whichthe House, yesterday, passed the bill making
appropriations for Notifications and other works o
Mr.. HOUSTON moved that the motion be laid
on the table; and this was agreed to--yeas n
nays 10.
ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS.
Mr.. STANTON, Of Kentucky, from the Com,
mittee on Printing, TO which the subject was re-
ferred. reported resolution, which was adopted
that six thousand extra copies of the report ol
Lieutenant Gillis, (who was sent TO Chill to make
astronomical observations,) be printed and bound
by the public printer and binder; also, two thou
sand copies Of the observations.
PosTAGEs IN oALIFoRNIA, OREGON, AND WASH
a 8ft INGToN.
On motion by Mr.. McDOUGAL, the House
took up the bill making provision for the postal
service in the State Of California and the Terrific
ries Of Oregon and Washington, and concurred in
the amendments of the Senate.
FOREIGN PAUPERs.
Mr.. WENTWORTH, Of Massachusetts, offer.
ed resolution, which was adopted, directing the
Committee on Commerce to inquire what legisa-
ton is necessary to regulate or prohibit the intro
duction, into any part of the United States, by any
foreign government or individuals, of persons
blind, insane, otherwise disabled, and that they
report by bill or otherwise.
AFFAIRS WITH SPAIN.
Mr.. SINGLETON asked leave to introduce a
resolutions calling on the President of the United
States TO inform the House, if not incompatible
with the public interests, whether our relations
with Spain still remain in an unsettled condition.
as indicated in his message of March last, and
whether further provision is necessary TO be made
to enable the Executive 10 secure and protect the
national honor, rights, and interests. kgse
n Mr. FARLEY objected.
NoTARIEs PUBLIC.
Mr.. STANTON, from the Committee on the
Judiciary, reported bill relative 10 notaries pub
lie, which was passed.
REPORTS, tsnt8
To which there was no objection were made from
the several standing committees, and appropriate
ly referred ,fk
The House resolved itself into Committee OF
the Whole of the state ofihe Union (Mr. FULLER
in the chair and proceeded 10 the consideration
ofthe
NAVY APPROPRIATION BILL.
Mr.. BOCOCK said that, for years past, atten-
ton has been directed to the reorganization of the
navy, and especially has it been desired to get
better officers and more efficient seamen in SER
vice. Some years ago resolution was adopted,
or law passed, requiring all seamen enlisted
in the naval service to be Americans and native
born. However desirable this was, il was well
known that worthy md respectable men would
not enter the naval service when they could get
much higher nat N ha nom cia rna Thus
government is left to get men who cannot find
employment elsewhere. The Committee on
Naval Affairs think that measures shonld be taken
10 reorganize, reanimate, and reinvigorate the
navy; therefore, he should propose amend
ment, authorizing The Secretary of the Navy TO
employ greater number Of seamen, provided the
number shall not exceed ten thousand. The law
now allows seven thousand FIVE hundred. The
design is to increase the pay of seamen to SIS a
month, which considering the permanency of the
employment is considered to be equal to S22, that
being the average pay in the commercial marine.
He then explained another amendment which
he intended to Offer namely, 10 create retired
list of finfrm or disabled officers.
Mr.. PHELPS said he was desirous 10 see re-
organization Of the navy, and il was proper that
wholesome reform should be introduced He diff
fered from the gentleman from Virginia. and be-
lieved that, instead of reducing the number OF Of
fcers retired list will increase it. He concurred
with the gentleman that some Of the officers OF
the navy are disgrace, while others are an honor
TO the service. When men in the civil service
become superannuated, we do not retire them on
pensions Were the House prepared 10 adopt the
system of civil pensions Introduce this into the
army and the navy, and il will not be long before
you will be called on TO retire judges, who have
become superannuated. He was opposed TO any
system Of this kind he did not believe the Ameri-
can people ready TO adopt il. He should resist the
amendment as not in order.
AT a subsequent state Of the proceedings, he
offered an amendment from the Committee OF
Ways and Means, adding over 100000, should il
become necessary, to pay higher wages TO sea-
men.
This, after debate, was agreed to.
ABOLITION OF THE cRoG RATION.
Mr. GERRIT SMITH offered an amendment,
10 effect that mo intoxicating liquors shall be pro-
vided as beverage"
Mr.. SMITH, of Virginia, inquired whether the
gentleman did not know that gluttony was more
destructive than drunkenness, and that little in
toxicating liquor was considered sometimes ne
cessary 10 the development of the physical ener-
gies of the country. He was anxious for the
amendment TO be adopted, although he thought il
was Utopian and Of questionable utility.
Mr.. STANTON, Of Tennessee, moved 10 amend
the proposition, by adding, that no officer shall be
allowed to use intoxicating liquor except as med
icine He said the amendment Of Mr. SMITH was
simply TO abolish the grog ration, but il did not
prevent officers from carrying wines and liquors
IN .neH s.oIes. ~ would evioentiy De unfair 10
make distinction between officers and men in
this respect; for il was just right and fair for
Jack TO have his grog at the tub as for the officer
TO have it in bis cabin.
Mr.. CLlNGMAN said he was opposed TO the
amendment.
The amendment of Mr.. SMITH, as amended at
the instance Of Mr.. STANTON, was agreed to-yeas
III, nays J1-amd much laughter
On motion Of Mr.. PHELPS, an amendment OF
1910, 900 was added, made necessary by the ex-
pcnses attending the japan expedition.
Without coming 10 conclusion on the bill, the
committee rose, and
The House adjourned.