Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-09
DEBATE IN SENATE.
DRY book At PEESACoL.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 1854.

y
consideration, the following proceedings took place
Mr. MORTON. Mr.. President, rise for the purpose
Of making inquiry Of the chairman Of the Committee
on Naval Affairs, mr. GwIN twill be recoleced that
some months since introduced resolution calling on
that committee to examine and report as to the work LOT
building dry dock and basin at the Pensacola Navy
Yard report from the Navy Department was received
on that and referred to the Committee on naval
Affairs on my otion but believe that COMMITTEES have
not vet made report the subject wish to inquire
Of the chairman Of the Committee Naval Affairs whe
Their to expect report from the committee dur
ing this session? Whilst the foor, would re-
mark, sir, that it is important some action should be
taken by Congress upon the subject tappears by the
report from the Department which was submitted to the
committee that these contractors wero paid the full
Of their contract price, though the work which
! they performed not received by the Government
They have by that obtained nearly million Of
dollars from the public Treasury without the
receiving any valuable consideration. Subsequently
understand, contract entered into With the same
contractors for building basin for the dock in Caor-
MIA think it is time some action may be taken by the
Government in regard to the nonfuhment OF the CEN
by these contractors before they receive fur
Their sum of money from the Treasury lwRn 20 INQUIRE
of the chairman of the committee what is thu state OF the
| case?
Mr.. GWIN. The question was referred to the Com
mttee on Naval Affairs, and the contractors were re-
qured to present response to the report nde by the
Navy Department and also to take notice Of the re-
marks the Senator from Florida when he presented the
resolution which was referred to the committee. The
contractors have responded in elaborate production,
which the committee, from the multitude OF business on
hand have not been able consider believe however,
is the of the committee though have not asked
it. but intend to do through the day, II move to
be discharged from its further consideration and to have
response Of the parties printed order that we may
take effective action during the next session Of Congress-
believe it is the opinion Of the committee have heard
it expressed though not the best plan
to the question at law and think the order OF the
committee will be- that the Government and the contrac
tors shall settle the question by Judicial proceedings
merely give this my cpnios, because there has been
formal decision Of the committee We have not been
able to examine the facts fully at this late period OF the
session. but believe it is the Of the committee to
take up the question and examine it before it IS finally
disposed Of
move that the Committee on Naval Affairs be dis.
charged from the further consideration of the subject
and that the response of the contractors be printed
Mr.. MORTON. merely wish to make this sugges-
ton 1t appears from the the Navy Department
that these contractors have received in violation Of law
and contract 81 900 from the public Treasury while
the matter is pending and under investigation. say
stop should be put to their receiving any more money
Naval Committee; and the only suggestion thought
proper to throw out whether il would not DO well ha
the contractors should be estopped from receiving any
more money from the Treasury?
Mr.. GWlN. The charge Of the Senator that these
parties have received money in violation Of the contract
is emphatoay denied by the contractors They bring
forward abundant evidence to prove that they have not
violated the contract That is their side of the question
They bring satisfactory proof of that fact and wish to
have it printed The Senator has stated his position In
reference to this matter Now say there has been no
violation Of law, far remember discovered BY the
Committee Naval Affairs in the transaction. These
parties have spoken for themselves wish the docu
be printed and laid before the Senate and OF the
next session the Senator move any action which no
thinks proper. WI
Mr.. BRODHEAD. The Senator from California is right
in saying that the committee have not had time fully to
investigate the matter tits subject which ought to be
investigated, because money is constantly asked for BY
fha rdo nocG 70 fhnao drv.
dock operations in various parts Of the country think
there is necessity for dschargng the committee or
printing the response Of the contractors until the action
of the committesis had upon it.
Mr.. GWIN. withdraw the motion
At a subsequent period Of the day the following
discussion occurred
Mr.. BRODHEAD. The appropriation in this bill for
the Pensacola navy-yard reads thus:
For continuation of permanent wharf, continuation of deep
basin raising walls Of dock BASIN engine and blast pipes
for smiths and machine shop; and repairs Of all kinds
S1435O0.
move to amend the clause by striking out "con-
tinuaton Of deep basin, raising walls of dock basin
We have in this clause an appropriation Of $4,000
for the Pc Pensacola s navy yard and for what Rur
deep basin, raising walls Of dock BASIN" to keep up
dock which is a nuisance and SO declared by compe
tent board Of officers who appointed to examine it,
They reported that it unfit and ought not to be
cepted by the Government but notwithstanding this the
contractors received for the dock the 000
move first to strike out the words which have ind-
Gated and then probably the appropriation be
duced from 143 900 to about $50 900 for the other
items make the motion to strike out because the dock
is of use, and the Senators from that State know
it very well. move to strike ont because competent
board Of ocers appointed to Judge Of the work. have
reported the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary
in their report that the dock is Of use and
that the contractors did not comply with their
Now, are called on to make deep basin for this
DOCK which is to be eaten by the in less han
three years. and which depreates twenty per every
year. We to appropriate this amount Of money for
structure which is Of at ALL and both the Senators
from Florida knowt very WE'LL Why continue these ap
preparations upon this dock, basin, and railway This
may have from the Bureau of Yards and Docks but
1t ought never to have come from there II going
to help the contractors with their contracts We are
going to complete this structure which it the duty
Of the contractors do had better receive the dock
at and abandon it. 1t ought to be abandoned It
is Of there it cannot be made Of any USE Vessels
have to be taken into it by cames understand in the
same way they taken up the Mississippi Mem
phis. Now they with proposition for to make
deep basin for their dock. At Philadephia they ask
for appropriation of $4,000 So, 900 year to
dredge In front Of this plan Of dock and the very first
freshet that comes the river fills up again.
These contractors have received three millions Of
dollars for DOCKS basins and railways on the Atlantic
coast and now competent board Of officers have report
ed to the Navy Department what asserted two years
ago before the Senate that these contractors instead
putting up proper DOCKS placing nuisances at the
navy yards throughout the country. For these
make the motion to strike out do not however wish
to detain the Senate. If it small sum, should
not have said word.
Mr.. MALLORY. Mr.. President, the honorable Senstor
from Pennsylvania has made himself conspicuous and
sGaIkL ~Hk L.. L a.