The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-01
THIRTY-F 0URTH CONGRESS.
First Session.
Friday, april 25, 1856.
SENATE.

On motion of Mr.. Toombs, resolution was
adopted instructing the Committee on the Judi
ciaryt to inquire into the eypediency of repeating
the act of june is4S, amendatory of the natural
ization act of 1919.
A bill for the relief of George p. Marsh was
advocated by Mr.. Brodhead, and, after a short
debate, was passed-yeas 81, nays II.
The bill for the relief Of Hannah F. Miles was
likewise passed.
The bill 10 Incorporate the Columbia Wood
Gas Company was advocated by Mr. Pratt, and
opposed by Messrs. Brodhead and Bigler, when
it was postponed
The bill defining the duties of the commission.
ers OF elections in the city of Washington, and
for other purposes, was amended by the substi-
tuition of the bill agreed upon by the House
committee, and then PASSED, as were also the
I'LL incorporating the st. Thomas's Literary So
ciety and the bill for the benefit of public
schools in the city of Washington. The Senate
then adjourned until Monday.
HOUSE.
Yesterday when the bill to refund the duties
paid on all goods and merchandise DESTROYED
by fire, in original packages, was before the
House, the question was raised, that as the bill
provided that the commissioners to settle these
claims should issue certificates which should be
cashed by the Secretary of the Treasury, it must
necessarily be committed, under the rule re-
qnlrlng that all measures making appropriations
shall receive their first consideration in Commit
tee of the Whole
The Speaker had decided that, as further
legislation would be necessary before money
could be paid under this bill, the rule did not
apply in this case; but this decision was over
ruled by III majority.
This morning, Mr.. Watson moved reconsid
Grafton of that vote, which Led to some debate
Mr. Phelps condemned the hot haste eyhibit-
ed to pass this bill. No one could assert how
much money was involved. Rumor said, from
ten to fifteen millions of dollars.
MIR. Pelton explained, that from the best in
formation he had obtained, the amount of duties
to be refunded would scarcely exceed three or
five hundred thousand dollars.
Mr. Phelps thought that including San Fran
CISCO, with all the other fires for the last sixteen
years, covered by this bill, the amount would
be far greater. The New York fire of July,
coatended, the bill directed the Secretary of the
Treasury to pay the money, being, in effect, an
appropriation for that purpose.
Mr.. Haven said the Speaker decision yester-
day was right, though the bill came here under
suspicious circumstances. 1t declared that the
holders of certificates of adjudged losses shall
be paid, but conferred no authority on the secre-
tary OF the Treasury TO pay them. The Consti-
tuition declares the President shall receive an
annual salary, but nobody thought the Secretary
of the Treasury could pay him without special
appropriation-so in this case.
The vote overruling the Speakers decision
was reconsdered by vote of n to IL.
Mr.. Haven explained, that in making the re-
mark that the bill came here under suspicious
circumstances, he had no reference to the COM
ubo al l,,<x
TONS"
Further debate ensued, in which Messrs. la
Wis of Maryland, Clingman, Orr, Mashburn
of Maine, Humphrey Marshall, Walker, Sim.
mons, Letcher, Seward, and Quitman, participa.
ted, but, without taking the question, the House
adjourned till Monday.
Monday April %. 1875 1875.
Mr.. Hunter, from the Committee on Finance,
to which was referred the amendments Of the
Senate to the bill to supply DEFICIENCIES in the
appropriations for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1856, amended and disagreed to by the
House of Representatives, reported that the
Senate insist on their amendments disagreed to
by the House, and disagree to the amendments
of the House to the amendments of the Senate
to said bill, and ask a Committee of Conference
on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses.
Mr.. Pugh expressed the opinion that to some
of the amendments the Senate ought to recede,
and that the subject should not be disposed of
in this wholesale manner.
Mr.. Hunter reminded the Senator that it was
the usual course, when the two Houses dsa.
greed, to ask Committee of Conference, and
much time was saved by such an operation. If
there was any particular amendment the Sena-
tor wished excepted, he could name it.
Mr.. Pugh was opposed to the amendment of
the Senate relating to the aqueduct. He would
move that the Senate recede from the amend.
ment,
Mr.. Hunter said that the State of Maryland
had granted the right of way, and if any in
divdual wrongs grew out of this grant, then
the courts would be open to the wronged,
The question having been taken on Mr..
Pugh's motion for the Senate to recede, il was
decided in the negative by the following vote:
YEAs-Messrs. Adams, Biggs, Clay, Fitz-
patrick, Pugh, Wade, and Wilson,.
NAxs--Messrs. Allen, Bell of New Hamp.