The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-14
AFFAIRS At the NATIONAL CAPITAL.

O111S ao0LD
&c, &c, &c.
TEmRTy-rRRD CONGRESS-.
ERcoSD SESSION.
Senate.
wAsmsGroS, Feb. Is, 1866.
CREDENTIALS OF NEW SENATOR'S.
Mr.. WADs, (free soil) OF Ohio, presented the creden.
tals Of Mr.. Seward, as Senator from New York, for six
years from the 4th Of March next. Read and placed on
Gle.
Mr.. MORTON, (whjg) of Fla, presented the credentials
OF the hon. David l.. Yulee, as Senator from Florida, for
the same term, which we're also read and placed on the
nls.
IMPROVEMENT OF HARBoRs.
Mr.. WApE, upon unanimous consent being allow we'd him
to do 50, introduced bills for the improvement Of the har-
bora OF Conneaut, Fairport, Cleveland, Ashtabula, HUI
ron, ~sandusky City and the mouth Of the Black River.
Referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Mr.. JosEs, (dcm } of Iowa, introduced a bill. for the
improvement of the harbor at Dubuque. Referred to
the Committee on Commerce.
Mr.. GwM, dem ofCal., introduced 3 bill to continue
the rogks at Fort wh;s Harbor, San Frapnis.~
TELEGRAPH TO rHE PACIFIC,
Mr.. DOUGLAS, (dem.) of H., reported the blu from
the House establishing a line of subterranean telegraph
amsndneats were ccncurred in, and the bill passed.
LIGHTHOUSES on THE PACIFIC COAST.
M. GwrS offered resolutions instructing the Commit
tee On Commerce to inquire into the exp ediency of pro.
vidins for the building Of Lighthouses at Crescent City
aud Trinity Bay, California.
TIN PROTECTION OF PASSENGERS IN SHIPS.
On motion o. MI. GwIS the senate's bill for the better
protection Of life on board passenger ships, was recon.
nitea 10 The Committee on Commerce.
TAB INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL
was then taken up.
II, proposing to submit % the First comptroiier Of the
Ireasvy the claim Of Dir. Thompson for legal servicesin
favor o. Menomonees.
NJ. STUART, (dem) Of Mich, objected to the with
dtaval of such claim from the Indian Department.
Adesu,tcry and general debate then folio we'd, during
which MIR. RusK reported . bill from the Committee on
ueconn ndation OF the Postmaster General as to the
greater security of valuable letters by the registry
TIE bill providing for an additioal term for the Circuit
Court FOR tie District OF Missouri was introduced; but
until 70 morrow.
Ellis were passed making appropriations 70 construct
public buildings in Oregon and Minnesota; for the con.
s~truction of military roads in the Territories; for n terri
torial road in Nebraska; to provide accommodations for
the United States Courts in Maryland, aud a Post Office
Several bills from the House were taken up and appro-
priately referred.
Mr MORTON, (whig) of Ca, introduced a bill for the
Mr. CHASE, free soil) of OHIO, introduced q bill in
creas.1g the compensation OF the Collectors at Cleveland
and Toledo. Both referred to the Committee on Com.
EeFce.
NJ, wErIER. (dem.) of Cal. endeayored to introduce a
wv " uictt VI II Ttbluut Ol II SESSION Ut eleVen
O'Clock, AT the same time Mr.. Stuart wanted the Senate
to 90 INTO an executive session: but before a vote on
either could, be taken, II appeared that no quorum was
present, ana, therefore, the Senate adjourned.
House of Representatives.
WASHINGTON, Feb. IS, 1855.
DISCIPLINE N THE NAVY.
This bang the day set apart for the consideration Of
business sppertainiDg to the Navy, Dir. Bocock, from
the Naval Committee, reported a bill providing for more
efficient discipline in the Navy. He explained its pro-
visions. There was not, 50 far as he could learn, the
aGghtest objection to the bill. Its passage was desirable
from the fact that there has been no legislation concern.
ing discipline in the navy since the year lso0-with the
exception OF the abolition OF punishment BY thu lash, in
1s5e-nothing having been substituted in lien therefor.
The bill provides that sailors serving three years, il
aithful, shall receive an honorable discharge, and one
re-eniistirg within three months after his discharge. on
presenting his certificate OF fidelity and obedience, shall
be entitled to fun pay during said taree moths, Sum.
mary Courts Martial may be ordered on petty officers
oderce, msy be sent, need TO any one Of the following
punishments Discharge from service, with a bad con.
double, on bread and water. or diminished rassions:
solitary confinement In irons, single or double-the
ecassemeat not TO exceed thirty days, solitary
reduction 70 next Interior rating; deprivation of liberty
on shore on foreign sta1ious. Extra police duties and
loss OF pay, not to exceef three months, may be added
to any OF the above mentioned punishments. No sen.
tence OF q court marital to be carried into eject without
" bppIoVul Oi II olncer ordering the court, VINO shall
have power to remit in part or altogether, but not to
commute any sentence. Exceptions made in case OF
slSsss sm or 51,e5y 70 sb the s nsaItn Of u sae s psrson sentenced sSs,1 ed;
be carried into effect in q foreign country. The bill was
passed.
EFFICIENCY IN rHF NAVY.
Mr.. BococK reported the Senate bill with the amend
ments to prom ote the efficiency OF the navy. 1t provides
that the Presto emit shall slmmon a board OF naval Off
GERS to make q careful examination into the effciency Of
eAioerS, and TO report to the Secretary Of the Nxvy the
names aad rank OF all officers of said grades who shall be
InFQnahf. nf parfnrminr ra,p 81 Il. AI.at
duty, both on shore and aaoat. II the finding be APP
proved Of BY the President, they shall be placed in the
q List in the Navy Register, to be called the re-
served List: They are to receive leave Of absence
WAes so placed R1 and sh. n1 be ineligible i9ey % 10 I further le e arama.
ton, but shall be subject to the orders of the Navy De.
partment at all times for duty The vacancies created
served List, shall be filed by regular promotion in the
order of rank or seniority. All officers who may be pro.
moted To ill vacancies shall, while unemployed, receive
only on leave OF absence, or waiting orders, the pay to
which they would have been entitled IL such promotion
had not been made but when employed at sea, or on
Other duty, they shsll receive in addition the difference
bstvesn that and the sea or other duty pay, of the grade
20 which they may be promoted. II Is provided that
only to he grades of captain, commander, lieutenant,
passed midsbipmen, and masters. Mr.. Bocock said no
sgrsat, thorough and searching reform in the personnel
OF the navy. Many officers are now on the list who
ought never to have been placed there, and draw pay
revealing in the idea Of turning OF old naval officers
without the means OF subsistence, and this bill makes
provision for them. He adver.ed to the various abuscs
whicA the bill viii correct, and related the following as .
case in point AN old captain, not long since, called on
the Secretary Of the Navy and said something about bust.
ness. but the Secretary did not know hum until he told
him his name and the State from which he came. He
said.having had nothing to do for some time, he had been
farming: but he came here semi. annually and drew leave
OF absence pay.
Mr.. PRckHAx, (dem } Of \. WHO Is TO blame for
those captains not being In service
Mr.. BococK replisd-i In some instances officers are in.
competent. No discreet Secretary Of the Navy would
trust men who had not done active service for twenty.
Eve years.
many officers. The inefficient ones ought 10 be dis.
chsrrsd, and no more retained than can be employed.
He argued 10 was unjust and anti republican TO retire
ofscers On pay while the sailor was summarlly dischars.
"a ..It wasa class of lerfslatiou deriy red from The English