Washington sentinel., 1854-07-15
House Of Representa- tiyes.

TRANSPORTATION OF THE UNITED STATES MAILS
Mr.. CUMMING, by leave introduced bill au
thorizing the Postmaster General to enter into
contract with Christian Hansen, of Brooklyn
New York. for the transportation Of the United
States mails from Brooklyn, New York, In steam
ers of not less than two thousand tons to the con
tinent of Europe, via Plymouth, in England
Antwerp, in Belgium; Rotterdam, in Holland
Bremerhaven, in Bremen; Gluckstadt, ON the
Elbe, near Hamburg, in Hostein; and in steamers
not less than four hundred tons, from Gluckstadt
via Gottenburg, in Sweden, to Christiana, in Nor
way, on the North sea and the Categat, and from
Kiel, on the Baltic, via Calmar in Sweden and 70
ST. Petersburg, in Russia.
Referred 10 The Committee on the Post Office
and Post Roads.
The gentleman, not withing to consume the
time of The House, asked and obtained leave to
print speech on that subject.
REPORTS. t
Various reports of private character were
made from the several standing committees, and
appropriately referred.
MAIL STEAMERS.
Mr.. MACE, from the select committee on the
subject, made report, giving an elaborate ac-
count Of the mail steamers, the commencement q
service on each line. the number of trips per.
formed the sums advanced by the government to
build the steamers, the amount Of advance re.
funded. and the sums paid TO each line, showing
a large expenditure OF money, but no fraud in its
disbursement by officers ofthe government The
committee make alusion to most, if not ALL OF the
laws, reports, and facts connected with the mail
service, but make no Recommendation whatever
TO the House. 68
UNFINISHED BUSINESS (s
On motion of Mr.. COBB, a resolution was
adopted the effect Of which is TO pass all unfinished
business at the close Of this session TO the next
though no adjournment had taken place; the OBJ.
Ject being 10 avoid re-examination of the various
matters submitted to the several standing com.
mittees.
COLTS PATENT.
Mr.. THURSTON offered resolution--that all
debate on the bill TO extend for seven wears the
patent of Samuel Colt be terminated in thirty
minutes after the House shall go into committee
on that subject.
Mr.. LETCHER moved that the resolution be
laid upon the table and the motion was agreed
to-yeas 90. nays GA.
The House resolved itself into Committee OF
the Whole, Mr.. EDGERToN in the chair.
The Colt patent extension bill was announced
10 be the first business in order.
Mr.. SMITH, of Virginia, moved that the bill be
laid aside to be reported TO the House. with re-
commentator that its further consideration be
postponed. The propriety of this was manifest,
pending the investigation of the select committee.
Mr.. PHILLIPS concurred in the views ex-
pressed by the gentleman, and suggested modi-
fcaton of his motion, namely to postpone the
further consideration Of the bill until the Friday
after the first Monday in December next. There
was no need of hot haste for the passage of the
bill as the present patent will not expire before
February, 1857.
Mr.. SMITH, Of Virginia, accepted the modif
cation, but subsequently withdrew the notion and
submitted another-that the bill be laid aside.
The CHAIRMAN decided that the motion was
not IN order
Mr.. SMITH, Of Virginia, appealed from the de.
cision Of the chair, which was overruled-yeas go,
nays TO.
The bill was then laid aside. Seven others were
considered, and afterwards reported 10 the House.
joint resolution was passed, authorizing the
distribution of the printed works Of Thomas JEFF
ferson.
TEMPERANCE.
Mr.. GERRET SMITH moved that the House
take from the table the memorial Of the New
York Temperance Alliance, asking Congress to
invest the corporation Of Washington with the
power 10 prohibit the sale Of intoxicating liquors,
with view 10 its reference TO the Committee on
the Judiciary.
MIR. WALSH objected.
THE JUDICIARY.
Mr.. STANTON, from the Committee on the
Judiciary reported bill making provision for the
accommodation Of the United States courts in
Boston, New York, and Philadelphia; pending
which,
The House adjourned.