Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-01-19
PROCEEDINGS OF TO-DAY.

PROCEEDINGS OF TO-DAY.
SENATE After the reading of the Jour
nal
Mr.. Petit brought up a resolution of en-
quiIy, whether pensions should not be grant
ed to the widows of soldiers injured in the
war of 1912. The Hon. Senator spoke in be-
half OF the resolution, and said that he saw
| no reason why a woman who had been mar
ried to two husbands should not have a pen
sion, as if she was married to only one. The
resolution was then read.
MIR. Brodhead presented q memorial from
citizens of Philadelphia against the removal
| Of the Mint. Referred to Committee on Fl.
nance.
Mr.. Fish presented a memorial from citi-
| zens of New York, that the deliverers of the
| San Francisco should be suitably rewarded.
and moved that it be referred to select COM
| mittee.
Mr.. Gwin then moved that an enquiry be
| made rs to the number of ships of war on the
coast of California, and referred to the Presi-
lent's proclamation of the 18th instant-that
| proclamation was cow too late.
Mr.. Petit ridiculed the idea of fort soldiers
being required to restrain the marauding
| spirit OF the Senator's constituents. He agreed
that there ought to be larger fierce of steam
| srs there. not to restrain the marauding
spirit of the inhabitants, but to preserve the
integrity of the State.
Mr.. Badger agreed with the Senator from
California, that there ought to have been a
efficient force on the station to prevent the
sailing of the Expedition. But the fault was
| not with the Administration, the system that
had prevailed during the last two sessions of
cutting down the estimates had prevented the
Government from taking proper steps. The
fault was with Congress, who had refused TO
vote the estimate ttat had been laid before
| tLem.
Mr.. Shields defended the Government, and
said that the President would not be worthy
IF the position he held, if he did not issue the
proclamation.
Mr.. Gwin explained that he did not Justify
The expedition; Mr.. Shields spoke against the
Walker expedition, fer which he felt the great.
st contempt being directed against the poor
lefenceless natives of the frontier
Mr.. Gwin said that there was no need O,
,aeting reproaches against men who we're now
iAtheir graves. The Hon. Senator was still
speaking when we left.
HousE.-To-day, after the reading of the
journal, the Speaker laid before the House 6
communication from their Clerk covering
estimates to supply Deficiencies in the appro-
olations to be disburscd by him, in the course
the current fiscal year referred to the
committee of Ways and Means
Mr.. Washburre, of ILL.,, called up his reso.
'ution Of inquiry of the Secretary of War, 70,
iull information relative to the condition and
progress of the United States work on the
improvement Rock and Des Moines rivers.
Mr.. Bernhisel offered resolution directing
the Committee on Military Affairs to inquire
md report upon the propriety of making 6
military road through Utah to California.
MIR. Caruthers reported from the Commit
tee on Public Land, a bill granting the RICH,
f way to the St. Louis and Iron Mountain
railroad through certain public lands; reaG
twice.
Mr.. c. moved to put this bill on its pas
'age.
Mr.. Mace objected on the ground that nut
ting bills on their passage had DESTROYED tn,
proper transaction of business at the last lous
session.
MIR. Jones, Of Tennessee, argued to show
nat except in extreme and extraOrdinar,
Eases 1T was Just to the members generally
md extremely injurious to the business before
Congress to act on any bills, except in extra
ordinary cases, ere they shall have been full,
committed. Mr.. j., in conclusion, moved tt
commit this bill
Mr.. Stanton, of Tenn, opposed the views o.
Nr: j. on this subject at some length
Mr.. Millson also argued against the prac
lice of acting on bills when they were first re
ported from a standing committee
MIR. Orr called the attention Of the House
TO law passed at the last session. leaving i,
to the discretion of the Secretary of War ts
grant what this bill asks, the bill before tn,
House differing from this only in the fact tina
this bill vests that discretion in the Secretar,
Of War
Ere the question on the motion of Mr.
Jones. of Tenn, to refer this bill was taken
our report went to press.