The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-12-30
IN CONGRESS OF THE u. STATES.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1854
SENATE.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION.

EXEcUTIyE COMMUNICATIONS
The PRESIDENT pro laid before the Senate a report
ance with resolution of the Senate of the goth instant
report made by Henry Schoolcraf 10 the Commissioner
of Indian Affairs the state of Indian statistics which
was read and on motion by Mr.. BADGER it referred
the Committee Indian Affairs and ordered TO be
printed.
MEMORIALS, PETITIONS, ETC
Mr. COOPER presented memorials from the officers Of
the American Philosophical Society and from the profess
sors and students Of Jefferson Medical College in Phila-
dephi signed by all the officers and by students from
ous States of the Union praying for the outfit and en-
poyment of vessels to proceed to the Arctic seas for the
relief of the American expedition under the
mand of Dr. Kane which referred TO the Committee
Naval Affairs.
Mr. c. also presented the petition of Ann W. Butler adj
mnisratrx of Richard Butler praying the paym ent of
balance standing his credit the books of the treasury
with interest which referred TO the Committee
Revolutionary Claims.
Mr. ADAMS presented the petition of Oscar ". Turk
praying payment for services rendered clerk in the office
of the Fourth Auditor of the Treasury in 1853 which
referred to the Committee of Claims.
Mr. FISH presented additional document in relation
to the claim of Caharine Clark to a pension; which
referred to the Committee on Pensions.
Mr. f. also presented the petition OF Howard Co.. Of
Buffalo, New York, demonstrating against thenewal Of
the patents granted to Cyrus II. Mccormick and obed
Hussey for improvements in reaping machines which
referred the Committee Patents and the Patent Office
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
message was received from the House Of Representa-
tves by Mr. McKean chief clerk announcing the SEN
that the House have passed bill making appropria-
tons the service of the Post Office Department during
the fiscal year ending aoh June 1856 and bill making
appropriations for the support of the army during the
year ending 30h June 1856 in which the concurrence of
the Senate is requested.
The above bills seyerally read twice by unanimous
consent and referred to the Committee on Finance
On motion by Mr.. Wade the Senate proceeded to the
consideration of the bill for the relief of Betsey Whppe
which read third time and passed
PASSENGER
Mr. FISH asked and obtained the unanimous consent of
the Senate introduce bill remit certain penalties in
favor of passenger vessels which read twice and Mr.
F. asked that it might be Immediately put its passage
had been submitted to- and received the sanction Of
the Treasury Department The bill provides that
the penalties imposed by the first section of the ito reg
uae the carriage of passengers in merchant vessels
proved February 90 1s47 shall be enforced against any
vessel vessels which shall have sailed since the first day
Of September 1854, which may sail prior to the first
day of March, 1885, for any port in the United States from
any port place in Europe account of such vessel
vessels having carried passengers another deck be-
the lower deck and the uppermost spar deck
as well as the lower deck provided that the
space required by said section for each passenger
the lower deck shall have been allowed each pas
senger the upper deck 1t also enacts that all pains
penalties and orietures which have BEEN would have
been incurred by any vessel sailing aforesaid since Sep
ember 1854 and prior to March l. 1855, by of
carrying passengers such upper deck shall be RENTED
that the space required by the act of S47 for
passengers the lower deck shall have been allowed
the deck, and with the further prOysO that such
mission shall be construed to extend any other viola
ton said any other of Congress than that
carrying passengers deck between the lower and SPAR
decks any vessel which may sail after March |,
1855.
Mr. F. in explaining the BILL stated that the necessity for
its passage from the fact that the present Secretary
the Treasury has placed construction the law CT ls4T
different from that of his predecessors and unless the pres
bill should be passed. the vessels engaged in the
portaon of passengers to this country would be liable to
seizure and attachment and other heavy costs in
quence Of their ignorance of the construction Of that
law.
Mr. NORRIS thought the bill ought TO be referred to
committee for examination.
Mr. FISH said that single objection sufficient
to prevent the passage of the bill at this time he would
move that il be laid the table for the present He
no necessity for referring it to committee
The bill was accordingly laid on the table.
COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS CONGRESS- ETC.
Mr. BADGER gave notice that in the early part of next
week he should ask the Senate to take up and dispose
the bill which introduced by him time since to
increase the compensation of members of both houses
Congress and of the judges of the Supreme Court of the
United States.
On motion, the Senate adjourned.