The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-01-29
Saturday, January "a, 1857.


OF private oils, many OF which were disposed
of.
Saturday, January "a, 1857.
SENATE.
Mr.. Brown said that there were several bills
relating to the District of Columbia, some of
which might give rise to debate, and he would
therefore call up in the first instance those not
likely to lead to objection.
The following bills were then severally ex.
planned and passed:
Bill to increase the salaries of the judges of
the Circuit and Criminal Courts of the District
of Columbia, and for other purposes.
Bill to incorporate the Washington Paper
Mill Company.
Bill Incorporating the Granite Manufacturing
Company of Washington city.
Bill Incorporating the Metropolitan Mechan-
les Institute, for the promotion of manufactures,
commerce. and the mechanic arts.
Bill supplementary to an act to organize an
institution for the insane of the army and navy
and of the District of Columbia, in said Dis.
trict, approved March 8, 1855.
MIR. Brown then called up the bill to author.
ize the Commissioner of Public Buildings to
remove distractions from certain streets and
avenues in the city of Washington, and to
prevent trespass on the same.
This bill led to a long discussion on a mo-
ton to strike out the third section, in the fol-
lowing words:
"That the Washington and Alexandria Rail
road Company shall have authority to Law a
railroad track along First street, across Penn
sylvania avenue, and along Maryland avenue,
from the depot of the Baltimore and Ohio rail
road to Potomac bridge, or to such other point
on the Potomac river as they may select, pro-
vided the rails on said track shall not be laid
oh ha Of fha
street and avenues: And provided, further,
That said company shall at no time use steam
as propelling power on said track, and shall,
moreover, remove the said track without cost
to the United States, whenever Congress shall
so direct"
Messrs. Bell Of Tennessee, Fessenden, Fitz-
patrick, and others, sustained the motion, and
Messrs. Hunter, Toucey, and others, opposed
1t; when the question was taken, and it was
agreed to by large majority.
The bill was then reported to the Senate as
amended, and was read third time and
passed.
Mr.. Brown then moved to take up the bill to
take the sense of the people living west of Rock
creek, in the District of Columbia, on the ques-
ton of the retrocesson of that part OF said
District to the State of Maryland.
This measure was discussed at some length
by Messrs. Stuart, Seward, Pratt, Brown, and
others, when it was passed over informally.
The Senate held an Executive session, and
after some time spent therein, adjourned.
The Speaker stated that witness arrested
by order of the House was in the custody of the
Sergeantat-Arms, and that that officer was
ready to present him at the bar of the House
The Sergeant-at-Arms then appeared, and
In accordance with the order of the 10th inst,
presented Joseph l.. Chester at the bar of the
House.
Mr.. Kelsey, of New York. submit the
following resolution:
Resol0ed, That the Speaker PROFOUND to
Joseph l.. Chester the following questions !:
What excuse have you for not appearing be-
fore the select committee Of this House, pursu-
ant to summons served on you on the 18th
instant Are you now ready to appear before
SAID committee, and answer such proper ques-
tons as shall be put to you by said committee?"
Mr.. Phelps demanded the previous question:
which was seconded, and under the operation
thereof the resolution was agreed to-
Mr.. Letcher, in order to avoid the scenes
that occurred a few days since, moved that the
witness be required to put his answers in wri-
ting, to qualify to them under oath, and to re-
port them to the House.
The previous question was seconded, and
under the operation thereof the motion of Mr..
Letcher was agreed to.
Mr.. Faulkner, of Virginia, gave notice of his
intention to offer, as an amendment to the tariff
bill, q proposition for the reduction of the du
ties on imports-the scheme being a reduction
of thirty three and third per cent on the ex-
listing rate of duties which was ordered to be
printed, under the order of the House on the
subject.
The Speaker then proceeded to call the COM
mittees for reports in private cases when
Mr.. Bishop, of New Jersey, from the Com
mittee of Claims, reported Senate resolution
for the relief of Hall Nelson and it was com.
mtted.
Also from the same committee, a resolution
for the relief Of James Young; which was
committed.
Mr.. Flagler, of New York, from the Com
mitteee on the Post Office and Post Roads, re-
ported joint resolution for the relief of w.
W. WINNER, postmaster at West GAINESVILLE,
Ohio, and a bill for the relief of John a. Shep-
herd and Walter K. Caldwell, of Pike county,
Missouri; which were read twice and COM
mitted.
Mr.. Barbour, of Indiana, from the Committee
on the Judiciary, reported with an amendment
Senate bill authorizing the Secretary of the In
terror to approve the accounts of the marshal
ior the olstrict Oh missouri 1Or furniture provl-
ded for the use of the circuit court Of the Uni
ted States for said district, at the April term of
said court, held at st. Louis in 1854.
The amendment was agreed to- when the bill
was read a third time and passed and the title
was amended by adding thereto the words,
and for the allowance and payment to the
marshal of the district of Indiana, on the &C
count of furniture for the office of the clerk of
the district court of the district of Indiana"
The House was engaged for the rest of the
day with private bills