Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-05-08
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.


action of the Board and at the conclusion Of
his remarks it was postponed until Wednes-
day next, when they adjourned.
In the House, the debate on agreeing to
the pending report from the Conference Com
mittee on the deficiency bill was continued.
Mr.. McMullin detailed the action Of the
Committee Of Conference. He was willing
that the House should recede from their disa-
greement to the amendments of the Senate
making appropriations for the army, but was
unwilling that they should yield upon the
question of the Washington aqueduct. Hav-
ing been informed by a gentleman Of high
character and reputation that the Government
could obtain q supply of water for a million
of dollars, he was not willing, nor was the
committee, to involve the Government in an
expenditure of some two-apd- a-haf or three
millions for the construction of the works now
in progress. Experience had demonstrated
that works of this character could be con-
structed and maintained by individual enter
prise at from twenty-five to thirty per cent.
less money than when undertaken by Govern
ment A responsible company were willing
to supply this city with water for a million
Of dollars, and to pay the expense Of main
tanning the works after their completion.
MIR, Cobb, of Georgia, said that the Senate
had insisted on their amendments to the def
cheney bill, and asked the appointment of
another committee of conference. Should
they assume the responsibility of adhering to
their disagreeing votes, and thus defeat the
bill, or would they accede to the request Of
the Senate for the appointment of another
committee, and by this means. perhaps, bring
about an accommodation that would receive
the sarct GA of both Houses?
Mr.. Crow was willing to take the response
bility Of defeating the bill if the Senate should
insist upon their amendments.
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 Ro1.e
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
Oe secured.
Mr.. Clingman was opposed to chartering a
company for the purpose of constructing the
works necessary for the introduction of water
into this city. He had no doubt that should
they charter such a company, in the end the
Government would have to foot the bill, and
get very little, if any, return for it. Wash
lpgton was increasing very rapidly in popula-
ton, and if the seat of government should re-
main here century longer it would doubtless
become very large city. The aqueduct at
present under construction was a permanent
work, and if carried out according to the origi-
nal design it would supply all the demands
that might be made upon it, and prove useful
in purifying and Identifying the city in all
time to come. The Government was tho great
property holder here, and it was therefore
eminently proper that if water was to be intro
duced into the city it should take the steps
necessary to accomplish that object
Mr.. Washburn of Maine, was in favor of the
appointment Of another committee Of confer
ence in accordance with the request of the
Senate
Mr.. Covode believed that there was 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 con-
structed. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Company had the use of so much of the water
as they might need for their purposes, and
after them mill company had the whole con-
troll of the water at the falls of the Potomac
The Government was going on to construct
these works at an enormous expense, while a
company was only waiting for their compile.
ton to tax the Government anything they
might choose for the use of the water. He
would also call the attention of the House to
the fact that the engineer had neglected to
to purchase the site selected for the basin on
Georgetown heights, and in the mean time a
company had secured it, who he understood
held 1t at 81 ZOO On acre. He considered the
present plan as entirely too extensive.
Mr. Jones, of Tenn desired to know who
the gentlemen were who desired 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 I 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..
Gilbert Thompson, who lives at Meridian Hill,
we hear ED
Mr.. Jones. Is he not sub-contractor on
the Washington aqueduct? Said to be man
named Stearns.-ED
Mr.. Covode. do not know that he is.
Mr.. Jones then desired to know if the gen.
teman was willing to put works to supply this
city with water in the power Of corpora
ton?
Mr. Covode replied that the company who
asked this charter would give the most ample
guarantees for the completion Of the work at
q million of dollars, and of a capacity sufi-
cient to supply the wants of the city.
Mr. Jones, although opposed to this work,
sald ne would prefer, If it was to progress and
be completed by money paid from the Treas.
ury Of the United States, that it should be
done under the present arrangement. But it
seemed to him that the secret was now out,
and that opposition to appropriations for this
aqueduct was not to save the public Treasury
from the expenditure Of the money that would
be requisite for the construction Of this work,
but that there was a company behind who
were asking for a charter TO vest in them the
right to build this work and to sell tho water
in this city. Mr. J. then discussed other sub
jects connected with the bill.
Mr.. Lane entered into long defence of the
people Of Oregon, as connected with the ex-
pendtures for the army.
Without taking the question, the House>ad-
journed.
Proceedings of To-day.
In the Senate. to-day, Mr.. Brown reported