Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-04-22
House of Representatives.

Friday, April ~, 1901.
The Senate was not in session to-day.
House of Representatives.
The SPEAKER laid before The House COM
munication from the Secretary of the Treasury,
enclosing estimates for the marine hospital al San
Francisco. Laid on the table, and ordered 10 be
printed
ANEsTHEsIA.
The bill from the Senate, 10 recompense the
discoveries of practical anesthesia, was taken up,
when
MIR. HAMILTON moved that il be referred 10
the Committee OF Claims. He remarked that il
there were better attendance of members, he
should move 10 lay il upon the table.
Mr.. BlSSELL proposed that the bill be sent TO
the Commitlee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. LETCHER expressed The aope that the
bill would not be sent 10 the Committee of Claims.
He did not consider this any claim at all let il go
10 some other committee.
Mr.. EDGERTON said that, during the last Con-
gress, the subject was under the consideration OF
the Committee on Military Affairs, and should
be sent there now. The Committee OF Claims
know nothing about the case, nor do they wish To
know.
Mr.. LETCHER wished to make proposition
He believed there are dozen doctors in the
House, and they should be organized into a spe-
cia committee 10 take charge OF the subject.
Mr.. BlSSELL gave single reason why The bill
should be referred 10 the Committee on Military
Affairs They who have looked into the matter
have noticed that the memorialists, whoever they
are, claim something on account OF this article, the
anesthetic agent having been used in The army,
in The mode discovered or intended 10 be applied
by them.
MIR. HAMILTON. without intending 10 dispar-
age the Committee on Military Affairs, preferred
that the bill should be sent 10 the Committee OF
Claims. This is private claim. The bill appro-
PIRATES one hundred Thousand dollars TO the dis
coverers OF the ansestheiic agent, and the benefit
OF the latter is TO go the entire people OF the
United States, when the money shall have been
paid from the treasury. There five or six
gentlemen claiming the credit of the discovery,
and they are, by the bill, required 10 contest their
claim before the circuit court for the northern
district of New York, without cost TO them. II
the discoveries have rights, they should maintain
them under the patent laws OF the United States.
Mr. JONES, OF Tennessee, moved that the bill
be laid upon the table and The question having
been taken, it was decided in the Acknowledgements
So, nays As.
He moved TO reconsider the land today that
motion upon the table
Mr.. BlSSELL appealed to the gentleman TO
withdraw The motion; but
| Mr.. JONES refused 10 do so.
| Mr.. BlSSELL said it was scarcely respectful TO
dispose OF the bill thus summary.
The question on the motion of Mr.. JONES was
put and decided in the affirmative-yeas So, nays
| 46.
! MAILS TO AND FROM CALIFORNIA.
| Mr.. McDOUGAL, from the Committee on the
/ Post Office and Post Roads, reported bill pro.
vidng for weekly mail service between the At
1 antc and San Francisco. 1t read for in
formation, and embraces The following features:
/ /. The Postmaster General is authorized and
directed to contract with the lowest and best bid
der, after the usual advertisement iorthe transport
| tation of the United States mails from New York
! Philadelphia, or Baltimore, and from New Orleans
TO San Francisco, and from San Francisco 10 New
/ York, Philadelphia or Baltimore, by the most ex.
| peditous and practicable route.
2. The service 10 be semi-monthy. under such
4 directions may be prescribed by The Postmaster
! General, weekly mail each way, provided
| that the entire cost shall not exceed $250,00J per
annum.
g. No contract under the provisions Of this act
shall be for more than four years, and the Post
master General is authorized 10 make new con.
tract whenever greater expedition can be be Sc
cured.
! A. All laws now in force authorizing the Post
master General 10 impose fines and penalties for
failures in mail carriage, made applicable 10
any contract which may be entered into in pursu-
ancc of this act.
Mr.. McDOUGAL said that necessity demands
there shall be weekly mail service, and that the
bill had been prepared with much care. He
| wished 10 have the measure fairly submitted, aud
TO afford every opportunity for due consideration
| therefore, he moved 10 postpone the further con-
sideration Of the subject until the first Monday in
| June, and that the bill be printed.
| The motion was agreed 10.
PRIVATE CALENDAR.
The House resolved itself into Committee of
the Whole, and proceeded 10 the consideration Of
the bill for settling the claims of the legal repre-
sentalives OF Richard w. Meade deceased
Mr.. CHANDLER spoke in favor of the bill, ar
guing that government, by virtue of treaty
stipulation, is under obligation 10 pay the claim.
between three and four hundred thousand dollars
arising from certain commercial transactions in
Spain thirty years ago.
Mr.. JONES, Of Tennessee, replied, denying
that this government had assumed the liquidation
Of this debt
Mr.. GERRIT SMITH briefly spoke in favor
of the bill under consideration.
Mr.. GIDDlNGS, regretting deeply that lie came
in conflict with his excellent friend, (Mr. SMITH
opposed the measure, conlending that this govern
ment does not owe Mr.. Meade d cent.
Without disposing of the subject, the committee
rose,
And the House adjourned till Monday.