Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-08-10
CONGR EsSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, Augu

CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, August 3. ?
SENATE-The bill to provide for the sur
rendefSf certain bonds to the State of Indi-
ana, was taken up and passed.
The Navy Approp riation bill was taken
up. Mr.. Gwinn moved to add to the bill an
an appropriation Of 100000 for the Navy
Yard at San Francisco. Adopted Mr.. Gwin
moved an amendment paying for the use
the steam pro )eler Columbus, belonging to
the Pacific steamship Company, on the coast
of California, Sl30,000,or at the rate $3.50
per day in addition to charge of $35 per ton
TOR the coal which has been paid by the Gov
eminent.
Mr.. Benjamin opposed the amendment as
shameful and exhor5itant. Mr.. Gwin replied
and demanded to know on what authority the
Senator pronounced the chartcring at this
price as shgMeHu and exhorbitant upon its
face. 6 | m Ike the statement Vi on ny r.
sponsibility Senator A long debate
then crsuCd. Mr. Stuart said the bin wtud
lead to vc y long DEBATE, and he moved that
it be laid side, to take up the re ioluton pro-
viding fer the extension of the time Of adj
tournament If Co lgress, He made themotion
with the view OF testing the sense of the SEN
ate on extending tie session until Monday.
Lost.
Mr.. OWNS amendment va, rejected, yeas
H. nays 80.
Other amendments were offered, including
the following THAT the pay of non-ccmmis-
stoned officers and privates o. marines be the
same as the same grade in the army. Adopt.
ed. That board OF Naval officers be ap.
pointed to investigate the character and quail.
ifi,ations of all the officers of the Navy Of
the grade o. Captain and lower grades, and
report to the Secretary OF the Navy such as
are ds9ua flied for duty, and that the Secre
tary be authorized to dismiss from service
su,h officers. A long debate followed, in which
Nj. Gwln read ii statement from the Navy
Department, OF several officers OF high rank
who from habltual intemperance, mental de-
rangement produced thereby, and other lik,
causes, have been incompetent for duty tol
20 years The amendment was rejected, 2:
to %.
That !. Naval Depot re esta tlshel OH III,
right b Il OF tl,' New Oricans' Adopted.
Mr.. Risk offered an amendment allowin!
| the officers Of the Texan Navy the pay Of o.
iicers on cave OF ahson'c. since the time o
the annexation to the present time. Agree,
to. The bill was reported TO the Senate anC
oncurrel in.
Hocs4~-Mr. Houston asked that u mes
sage be sert to the Senate asking the return
of the General Appropriation bill and amend
mcnts, with view to correct an error in the
latter.
Mr. Haven objected desiring to first take
u, Tor re ercnce the River and Harbor bill.
Mr. Orr said that the gentleman wanted
10 take ~ the bill ont of its order, although
the Homestead bill had the preference.
Mr. Houston was sorry to see his friends
exhibiting so much uncasiness, and throwing
obstacles in the way of the General Appro-
priation bill.
Mr. Haven replied that he would oppose
every appropriation bill until the River and
Harbor bill passed by "a large majority Of
both houses and returned from the Senate
with amendments, be taken up and disposed
Of in the ordinary course of legislation.
A message was received from the Senate
informing the House they have appointed a
Committee Of Conference in disagreeing
amendments Of the General Appropriation
bill, and requesting the House to do the same
MIR Houston said he would case the trouble
of his friend, Mr. Haven, by asking the ap'
pointment Of the Committee on Conference
and through that means the error he alluded
TO could be corrected.
Mr.. Haven wanted action on the Genera
Appropriation bill delayed until the River
and Harbor bill should be taken up and refer
red, and asked for the yeas and nays on Mr.
Houstons motion.
A brief Message was received from thu
President, transmitting a copy of the Canada
reciprocity treaty, the ratification Of which
he doubts not will soon be exchanged and re
commends the passage Of such law by Con
gress as on our part will give effect to thu
treaty.
The Speaker ruled that the bill reported
from the majority committee on the Minneso
ia land bill was now in order.
Mr.. Craigs moved substitute repeating
the Minnesota land bill.
Mr.. Henn-I move the bill be laid on the
table. | want to see how many railroad mer
are left in the hall.
The motion was lost and the Senate amend
ment concurred in.
Mr. Dawson said he had made several in.
effectual attempts to get up the Homestead
bill as amended by the Senate Had he sue
ceeded he should have moved amendments Il
restore the homestead feature of the BILL
Despairing at this late moment of the session
to get up the bill, he offered the following
resolution and hoped there would not be a
dissenting voice -
R,soiosd, That the Homestead bill, as re-
turned from the Senate with amendments, be
referred to the Committee OF the Whole on
the State of the Union, and made the special
order for the third Tuesday in December next,
and SO continue from day to day until dispos-
ed of.
Objection being made Mr.. Dawson moved
a suspension of the rules Only fifty men,
bers voted in the affirmative.
Mr.. Orr moved that the House take up the
Joint resolution rendering the thanks Of Con-
gress and medal to Capt. Ingrabam, for his