The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-15
THIRTY-F0URTH CONGRESS-,
First Session,
Wednesday, May 7, 1856.
SENATE.


able to agree.
Mr.. Hunter moved that the Senate insist
upon their amendments, and ask further Com.
mittee OF Conference on the disagreeing votes
Mr.. Pratt thought the appointment of an
other committee, unnecessary, as it seemed to
be the understanding that under no contingent
cy would the House yield. He thought it time
for the Senate to assert its own rights as CO.
ordinate branch of the Government, and stand
by its amendments, and, if the bill was lost, the
responsibility would rest where it belonged
| Mr.. Hunter held that the best course would
be to insist on all the amendments, and the
committees of the two Houses could discuss all
together.
The motion of Mr.. Hunter having been
agreed to, the Chair appointed Messrs. Hunter,
Weller, and Fish, the committee on the part OF
the Senate
The Senate proceeded to the consideration
OF the subject of naval reform.
Mr.. Bayard then rose, and addressed the
Senate until three O'Clock, concluding the
speech which he commenced on Monday. In
the course of his remarks, he replied to the
speech of Mr.. Houston, and indicated the
conduct of Capt. Dupont from aspersion.
Mr.. Mallory desired the further considera-
ton of the subject postponed to Tuesday next,
when, if no other Senator desired to address
the body, he would wind up the debate.
Mr.. Crittenden intimated that he had some
further remarks to offer, but would prefer first
to hear what the Senator from Florida had to
say on the subject
Mr.. Mallory contended that he was entitled
by usage and courtesy to wind up the debate.
Mr.. Toombs gave notice of his intention to
offer substitute for the original bill and then
the further consideration of the subject was
postponed till Wednesday next, and made the
special order for that day, at one o'clock.
discussion ensued, as to priority of bust
ness, Mr.. Stuart maintaining that the river and
harbor bills had precedence.
And the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Pringle, of New York, from the Commit
tee of Conference on the disagreeing votes of
the two Houses on the deficiency bill, reported
that the committee had been unable to agree,
and that the managers on the part of the House
had directed him to offer the following resolu-
ton:
Resoloed, That the House of Representatives
adhere to the several amendments and disa-
greements of the said House of Representa-
tives to the Senate amendments to the House
bill entitled " An act to supply deficiencies in
the appropriations for the service of the fiscal
year ending the 30th of June, 1885," and that
| TIC uidIagefs Oh the part Vi the house De QlS-
charged from further action on the Committee
of Conference On said amendments.
Mr.. II. Marshall, of Kentucky, was opposed
to the adoption of the resolution. He sup.
posed that every gentleman in the House real
lied the technically of the language employed
| by the committee, and that to use the word
"adhere" would signify determination on the
part of the House that the bill should pass,
either in the shape in which it had originally
received their sanction, or that it should fail
altogether.
Mr.. Cobb, OF Georgia, thought it would be
very strange if the House should adhere to its
disagreements to the Senate amendments, and
thereby preclude the possibility of the passage
of this bill, unless the Senate should recede
from its items, without having heard from the
Committee of Conference statement of what
constituted the difficulty between the two bodies
MIR. Stanton, of Ohio, was of the opinion that
the House had reached point at which it was
impracticable, and not within the rules of the
House, to take separate votes upon the several
amendments of the Senate. The report of the
Committee of Conference must be taken as a
whole, and was not susceptible of division.
Mr.. Cobb, of Georgia, called the attention of
the House to the fact that message had been
received from the Senate, announcing that that
body had insisted on their amendments to the
deficiency bill, and asked the appointment of
another Committee of Conference. He put it
to the House, whether they would assume the
responsibility of adhering to their disagreeing
votes, end thus defeat the bill or whether they
would accede to the request of the Senate for
the appointment of another committee, and by
this means, perhaps, bring about an accommo-
dstion that would receive the sanction of both
Houses
Mr. Campbell, of Ohio, replied to the remarks
OF his colleague, Mr.. Stanton, and thought
that, as the Senate had appointed a third Com
mittee OF Conference, it was due to that body,
to the country, and to the dignity of the House,
that another committee should be appointed on
the part of the House, in order that efforts
might be continued to bring about an arrange
ment by which the passage of the bill could be
secured.
Mr.. Clingman, of North Carolina, had origin
ally voted for the appropriations for the army,
and that for the aqueduct, which had been in
serted in the bill by the Senate, and he enter
tanned 20 doubt that they were both proper,
under existing circumstances. He was OPP
posed to chartering company for the purpose
of constructing the works necessary for the in
PRODUCTION of water into this city.
Mr.. Washburn, of Maine, was in favor of the
appointment of another Committee of Confer
Senate.
Mr.. Covode, of Pennsylvania, opposed the
amendment of the Senate, making an appro-
priatiop for continuing the construction of the
Washington aqueduct. He believed that there
was a point connected with these water works
which the House did not understand and that
was, that the Government had not secured the
water necessary to supply the aqueduct, when
constructed.
Mr.. Jones, of Tennessee, desired to know
who the gentlemen were who desired charter
to bring water into this city, and whether they
were citizens of this District.
Mr.. Covode named several gentlemen from
Pennsylvania who were interested in the com
pany, and who, as he declared, were response.
BILE men.
Mr.. Jones. l ask the gentleman If any of the
company live in this DISTRICT
Mr.. Covode. One of them lives in this Dis
trict, but do not recollect his name.
Mr.. Jones. Is he not sub-contractor on the
Washington aqueduct?
Mr.. Covode. do not know that he is.
Mr.. Jones then desired to know if the gentle.
man was willing to put works to supply this
city with water in the power of a corporation
Mr.. Covode replied, that the company who
asked this charter would give the most ample
guarantees for the completion of the work at
million of dollars, and of a capacity sufficient
to supply the wants of the city.
MIR. Jones, although opposed to this work,
said he would prefer, if it was to progress and
be completed by money paid from the Treasu-
~ OF the United States, that it should be done
under the present arrangement. But it seem
ed to him that the secret was now ont, and