The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-28
THRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
Senate.
WASHINGTON. March n, 1854.
rHs DEFICIENCY BILL

Mr. HUNTER (den) Of Va, moved to postpone ali other
business and take up the Deficiency BILL which was
agreed to.
All the amendments reported by the Finance Com
mittee were adopted without objection, except two
The first of these appropratng hundred and
fifty thousand dollars for the purchase OF
the Custom House at San Francisco California, with
authority to the Secretary of the Treasury purchase
site, with buildings already erected.
Mr.. HUNTER explained that after the government had
expended ninety thousand dollars in preparing lot in
San Francisco with water 'front.' for the Custom House.
California had set claim to it. The Secretary Of the
Treasury proposed to that State that she renquish
her claim to the United States but California refused to
do So 1t was considered dangerous for the United
states to 60 in the erection Of buildings lots tho
title to which was in 80 much doubt The Attorney &C.
neral under the former administration had decided the
title Of the United States to be good but the title was
considered doubtful This amendment authorized
the Secretary to procure site and go with the
erection Of buildings, to purchase Site with the
buildings already erected 1t Of the highest import
snce that the Custom House should be built Govern
ment now paid annual rent for public Offices in San
Francisco Of one hundred and forty thousand dol
lars This of the California Custom House
was peculiar, and entirely different from all others
Ccnracts had been made for the Custom House, and
trals had been procured and prompt action respecting
ii ought to be had.
Mr.. HAMIIN, (dem) of Me-, said that sufficient
had been given for including the San Francisco Gus
tom House and excluding all others. He therefore
moved to add to the amendment an appropriation OF two
hundred thousand dollars for rebuilding the Custom
House at Portland, Maine.
Mr. HUNTER opposed this In the of the California
Custom House legislation at this time absolutely
necessary and in others it not If all the PROPOSE
tions for Custom Houses added to this bill II would
defeat it. They had defeated it once before.
Mr.. FnsKSDKN (whig) of Me- followed supporting the
Maine Custom House.
Mr.. PETIT, (dem) of Ia said if he believed this amend
would have the effect of killing the bill he might
vote for it. He opposed to all deficiency bills. They
bills intended to the expenditure Of money
law Nothing could justify the expenditure Of money
without its previous appropriation by Congress. If Con-
gress refused to appropriate money enough for the wants
Of government the responsibility would attach to Con-
gress Let the administration estimate for enough and
If that be not appropriated all the blame for any def
cheney in the public service would attach to Congress-
He would vote for another deficiency BILL and he
desired to give the administration notice OF that fact
Mr. HUNTER said this bill did not contain one item Of
appropriation to the expenditures made without
the authority Of law. gave the government power to
expend more money during the fiscal year than was
originally appropriated There were few cases where
liabilities had been incurred beyond the amount appr0
priaed by Congress- and these for small amounts
and for matters which could not have been forseen Such
had and would arise under all administrations
There had been every for the last forty years under
one name or another, deficiency bills, and necessar
lyso.
Mr.. SHIELDS (dem.) Of ILL.,, asked how much this bill
appropriated
Mr. HUNTER said appropriated between two and three
millions of dollars including eight hundred Thousand
added by the Senate Committee.
the deficiency bills and while denouncng the mscalled
economy practsed by the House. of bindy cutting down
the estimates onehaf onethrd maintained that gov
ernment ought not to expend or incur liabilities beyond
the amounts appropriated by Congress-
Mr.. HAxLN replied, defending this bill.
ncy S not for the s
less the authority to purchase the buildings was stricken
out.
The bill was then postponed till tomorrow at twelve
O'Clock.
The INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL
Was received from the Honse, and referred TO the FL
EXPENSES OF CONVEYING THE NAILS TO THE PACIFIC
The CHAIRlaid before the Senate communication from
ing or statement Of the expenses for transporting the
mails &c. to the Pacific, during the last three years. BY
mail agents, between New York and San Frsnoisco for
three years ending June 80 1853 the sum of 432 638;
70 he resident rost once agent at rsnama xSooo TOT
June 1851 s4S e37 1852, $48 039 1S53 &S5 314-tota
(for The Isthmus) S1s2 200.
For mail transportation from New Orleans to Vera
CIuz eleven trips between February and September,
1858, SIT ESQ.
For transportation of supplies and munitions for naval
forces on the Pacific for three years, ending June &c.
1858, ST, ,4s5.
For transporting mails in steamers from New York to
helsthmus and from Panama to California and Oregon,
for the year ending June 3O 1851 $685. a. for 1882
$5S9 5SS "a; for 1853 1914, 1874 SO.
For the transportation Of troops and supplies to and
from California, Oregon Texas New Mexico and Utah,
from July, 1885, to June, 1862 two million six hundred
and seventy three thousand four hundred and
dollars twenty-s cents. The communication
The HOMESTEAD BrI.-TnE GADsDRS TREATY ETC
Mr. MASON, (dem) Of Va, moved that all prior orders
be postponed TO the consideration of executive business
Mr.. WALKER, (dem) Of Wis, said that he desired that
the Senator's and the country might know what it
proposed 10 postpone The special order the Home
stead bill. It was proposed to postpone that.
Mr.. DODGE (dem) OF Iowa. said If any battle trial
81 ra 1 10 @ come a On the friends Of the
know the fact and that it should come at He
in favor Of one but he could not say in open session how
he stood towards the other He desired that il the
siderQ10p these measures conflict
there should be free fight the question. He was
willing divide the time of the Senate between the
Homestead bill and other measures, but would not con-
sent that the Homestead bill should be postponed for any
other.
know what the Senator from and other members
the Land Committee had done with his bill, giving
hundred and sixty of land to old soldiers Before
all the public land given away he desired to get
some for old soldiers and their descendants
Mr. WALKER said that the bill had been committed to
his special The Senator might look for report
it shortly but he could not promise that it would be
favorable one.
Mr. GwN (dem.) Of CAL, said he was in favor Of the
Homestead bil but there bill Of immense import
to be debated and passed by both houses and that
was the Pacific Railroad BILL He would object to any
postponement Of that bill beyond this week.
Mr.. DOUGLAS (dem) Of ILL.,, in favor Of considering
the Homestead bill to-day
able to defer action the Homestead bill till the last
moment of the session. II provided for giving homes
all persons, Foreigners native born who should be
residents Of the United States ct the time Of its passage
BY the papers would seem that immense number Of
foreigners would emgrae to the United States during
the spring and summer and II the bill passed. all
these would to excluded If not passed till late in the
year il would not hold out to these people the tempa
ton to commit perjury In order TO come in for its bene
fits.
Mr. MASON raised point whether this discussion
in order his motion to go into executive session
The CHAIR decided the discussion was in order.
Mr. DODGE of Iowa. said that If the bill did not sui
cieny provide for foreigners and all Others its friends
would make II do by proper amendments. He wished
TO this which about to be made on the fo-
reign population the country He desired TO every
countrymsn Of Lafayette Steuben, Dekalb and Mont
gomery who to the United States have home foe
himself and family He desired to know IL any portion
of the party intended to take the exploded
policy of the whg party and do what that party has done
since the commencement Of the government-meeting
the foreign born population with hostility He called
upon the friends Of the bill not TO allow It to be over
slaughed by any other measure
The question was then taken-ayes 20.
Mr. w.D., Gree soill 81 ohi0-i demand the yeas and
CRIES, oh no, )" <<N6,,,,, "Yo," "sit down"
Much confusiop-prevailfng,
Mr. WADE-I withdraw the call for the yeas and nays
Mr BRowY-1 renew it. Let who is for and who
=. h.. n Am