Washington sentinel., 1854-06-25

AhUusC VI NcpItscHtautCss
Fourteen or fifteen private bills, heretofore con-
sidered. were severaly passed.
Mr.. HOUSTON moved that the House resolve
itself into Committee of the Whole on the state
of the Union.
Mr.. HEM inquired what measure the gentle
man proposed 10 take up in committee.
Mr.. HOUSTON replied, he was desrous of
taking up and finishing the civil and diplomatic
bill to-day. in that The bill appropriating ten
millions of dollars, 10 carry into effect the recent
treaty with Mexico, may be considered on Mon
day next, as the time for exchanging the ratiica-
tions will expire on the thirtieth instant.
Mr. McMULLEN moved that the House resolve
itself into Committee Of the Whole on the private
calendar but the question was decided In the
negative-yeas 40, nays not counted
The House then resolved itselfinto Committee
of the Whole on the state of the Union, and re-
sumed the consideration OF the
CIVIL AND DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATION BILL.
The amendment of Mr.. SMITH, ofVirginia, TO
appropriate $4,000 forthe completion ofthe bridge
at the Little Falls, was discussed
Mr.. McMULLEN opposed it, contendng there
was no necessity for bridge at that point.
Mr.. MAY replied That site was selected more
than fifty years ago, and was the most favorable
along the Potomac river. The government pur-
chased the former bridge as an act OF justice 10
Virginia, that the communication all round should
be free and open.
Mr.. FLORENCE proposed an amendment to
the amendment, to the effect that the bridge shall
be built under the superintendent of a civil en-
gineer Of experience, and that contract shall be
made with the best responsible bidder. But the
proposition rejected.
Mr. McMULLEN, in response to Mr.. MAY, said
that bridge at Georgetown would be sufficient,
supcrseding one at the Little Fails
Mr.. STANTON, Of Kentucky, said that bridge
at Georgetown would cost four six times
much as one at the Little Falls and he advocated
the pending amendment, appropriating $4,000
for the last named purpose.
Mr.. STEPHENS, OF Georgia, while he ex-
pressed himself in favor Of the amendment, was
likewise anxious for taking the vote without fun
ther delay.
The amendment. was agreed to-yeas II, nays
So.
Mr.. CLARK, from the Committee on Agricul-
ture, offered an amendment appropriatlng $4,000
for the collection of agricultural statistics and the
procurement and distribution of seeds
After debate, il was agreed TO.
Mr.. CHANDLER offered an amendment appro-
priating five hundred thousand dollars for continu-
ing the acquadnct for bringing water into the city
Of Washington. He briefly alluded TO the merits
of the proposition, and the necessity for the
amendment. The completion OF the works is ac-
tuay requisite Tor the preservation Of the natural
archives well as for the convenience and COM
fort of the national representatives.
Mr.. STANTON, OF Tennessee: opposed the
amendment, saying that the report OF Capt. Meigs
shows that he proposes that fity-nine sixtieths OF
the water shall be used for manufacturing pur
poses, and that the works cannot be built for
three times the amount which he estimates,
yS2,3OO,OO0) According TO this plan there will be
one hundred times much water Washington
and Georgetown require; while, according TO the
plan OF Capt. Hughes, thirty gallons day 10 each
individual can be brought TO those cities from
Rock Creek, at cost OF lnillien Of dollars.
Mr.. STEPHENS, of Georgia, in reply, said he
did not want wafer for manufacturing purposes,
but pure water from the Potomac. He would not
care If the entire stream Of that river We're turned
INTO this city. II would not be too much TO wash
out the streets and lanes of the city. The Presi-
dent has, in selecting the present plan, acted in
accordance with the authority of Congress here
toiore conferred. No man had yet said that the
President has not acted prudently, and that there
5 not competent engineer. Let US go on with
the work.
Mr. SMITH. Of New York, instead Of saying,
with the gentleman, s'let us 60 on" said ''stop,
He was opposed to this and 10 every other plan
Tor the supply Of water al The expense OF the gov
ernment II we go forward with this plan,
shall lind ourselves involved in great expenditures
and difficulty, and which would consume much OF
the time OF Congress II this work should be
ecuted by government, il would be source OF
great corruption 10 both the government and indi-
vduals Private enterprise would construct the
works and keep them in repair at half the amount
they would cost the government. He was will.
ing, however, that the government should share
in the expenditure.
Mr. HAMILTON urged the necessity Of the ap-
preparation, and earnestly advocated the amend
ment. The plan had, heretofore, been well ma
tured; and it would be a. disgrace to the capital
OF the republic, having population of more than
iorty thousand, not TO be better supplied with
water.
Mr. HOUSTON replied, saying that at the time
the appropriation Of S10D,000 was made for sur
veys, no one supposed that we would be mucted
in the sum Of $6,000,OO0 for the prosecution and
completion of those works.
Mr. BARRY advocated the heamendnent, defend
ing the estimates OF Captain Megs. plan has
been adopted, and commenced. In consequence
of the nature Of man, those who had other plans
and who have been disappointed, have got up an
outside opposition 10 this work The House
should remember the source whence the oppos
tion comes. They should make eral allowan-
ces for those whose Judgment have been warped
and jaundiced by disappointment
Mr.. PARKER opposed the amendment, and
said that the $780, 900 heretofore voted was not for
commencing the water works. but for procuring
surveys and plans. That the President has acted
beyond the law he had no doubt
Mr.. EWING spoke in favor of the amendment
and urged several reasons, some Of them Of
humane character, why it should prevail.
Mr.. vANSANT showed that this subject was
agiated as early as lS49, and that Colonel Hughes
al that time made surveys 10 this end Human
ingenuity had been resoried 10 for the purpose Of
shaking confidence in the capacity Of Capt. Meigs
but the further gentlemen have gone in their
theories, the more they have tended TO strengthen
his@reputation.
Messrs, B PERKINS and GOODRICH opposed
the amendment, and
Messrs TAYLOR, of Ohio and CLIN OMAN
briefly spoke in its favor
Mr.. GREENWOOD offered an amendment, TO
the effect that the cities Of Washington and
Georgetown shall contribute one-fith Of the
amount necessary 10 construct the water-works.
Without disposing of the question: the committe
rose,
And the House adjourned
MAYORS SPRoCLAMATION.- N.-Whereas
lNl by the act entitled can act relating 10 dogs !,