The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-01-25
Wednesday, January II, 1855.
SENATE

Mr.. Seward presented the petition of Frances
B. Webster, widow of Lieut.. CO... Lucien b.
Webster
Mr. Bayard moved that the Senate proceed
to consider the bill to authorize the enlargement
of the General Post Office building, reported
by him some time since, from the Committee on
Public Buildings.
The motion having been agreed to, the bill
was read, and then passed. 1t provides as fol-
lows:
"That the President Of the United States is
hereby authorized to cause the General Post
Office building to be enlarged PrOoided, The
same shall be done according to the following
described plan The building, when completed,
to cover the entire block bounded by 4, f, 9TH,
and Sth Streets and to have courtyard in the
centre, approached by an archway, in the middle
of the western front, sufficiently spacious for the
ingress and egress of mail wagons /; the present
halls running PARALLEL to 18th and Sth streets to
be continued to + street. with rooms on each
side, arranged to suit the purposes of the Depart
ment; accommodations to be made for the city
post office on the centre of the block on street,
and an arcade of about sixty feet in length to
be made for letter delivery; the said arcade
to be surmounted by a recessed portico of four
columns, fanked by coupled pilasters. The
fronts on 7th and 9Th streets each to have the
present design of the south end repeated on the
north end, and portico of six columns, coupled
at the corners, introduced in the centre of the
block. The style of architecture of the present
building to be carried out in the additions, and
the whole to be made thoroughly fre-proof,
and to be constructed under and subject to the
direction of the President of the United States"
y Another section of the bill appropriates the
sum of $500 900 to commence the construction
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On motion by Mr.. Weller,
RESOLVED, That, from and after the Goth in
slant, Friday of each week, during the present
session, shall be devoted to the consideration
of the private calendar, in preference to any
other business.
Mr.. Badger called upon the Senate to take
up the bill to increase the compensation of the
Judges of the Supreme Court and Members Of
both Houses of Congress.
1t was considered at length, and then, on
motion of Mr.. Clayton, laid on the table for the
present. A motion to reconsider this motion
failed, and then the Senate proceeded to con-
slider the Judiciary bill.
Mr.. Chase submitted an amendment, of which
he had given notice, and explained its objects.
1t relieves the Supreme Judges from circuit
duty; it avoids the objection against an inter
mediate Courts of Appeal; it provides for the
aDOlltlOn OF the circuit courts.
A long discussion ensued On the several
propositions submitted, in which Messrs. Wei
Ter, Bayard, Butler, Geyer, and others, partici-
pated, when
Mr.. Weller moved that the bill, with all the
amendments, be recommitted to the Committee
on the Judiciary.
After some remarks, the question was taken
on the motion to recommit, and decided in the
negative.
Mr.. Butler then moved to lay the bill on the
table, despairing of accomplishing anything
amid such conflicting opinions.
The motion was decided in the negative.
Mr.. Stuart then moved to postpone the fur.
Their consideration of the bill until the first
Monday in December next; which led to long
debate, and the Senate adjourned without ia
king any question.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The Speaker laid before the House COM
munication from the Hon. Rufus Choate, re-
signing the Office of Regent Of the Smithsonian
Institution.
Mr.. Meacham submitted the following resolu-
ton, upon the adoption of which he demanded
the previous question;