The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-01-15
TN CONGRESS OF THE U. STATES.
Thirty Fourth Congress Third session.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY IA, 1857.
SENATE.
MEMORIALS, PETITIONS, Erc.

MEMORIALS PETITIONS, ETC
Mr. PRATT presented the petition OF James Mcdonnell
carpenter Ia the navy praying TO be allowed full pay
while superntendinE repairs board the United States
steamer Michigan which was referred 10 the COMMITTEES on
Naval Affairs.
ssspp praying the establishment Of nail-route from
McLeods 10 Brickly in that State which referred TO
the COMMITTEES on the Post Office and Post Roads.
Mr. FISH presented the memorial OF Jededah IL Lathrop
late navy agent praying that be and his surees on bis
Official bond may be released from certain judgments OBJ
tanned against them by the United States which re-
ferred TO the Committee on Naval Affairs
REPORTS COMMUTERS.
Mr. BROWN from the Committee on the District of Co
umbia whom referred the bill to incorporate the
Metropolitan Mechanics Institute for the promotion OF
manufactures commerce. and the mechanic arts reported
it without amendment and recommended its passage.
Mr.. CLAY, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom
referred the Joint resolution for the relief of Mary W
Thompson widow Of the late Lieut. Col Alexander R.
Thompson Of the United States army submitted an ad-
verse report thereon
to whom referred the petition of Eliza Henley, widow
Of Captain John D. Henley submitted an adverse report
thereon.
Mr.. PRATT, FROM the Committee on Foreign Relations,
reported bill for the relief of Alexander j. Atocha
which was read and passed to second reading
Mr.. JOHNSON, from the Committee on Printing to
whom referred the motion to compile and print map
of the Pauxent and St Marya rivers in Maryland report
ed the following resolutions which were adopted
Rsolce That the Secretary of War be directed to have
compiled for the of the Senate from the survey Of
Major Albert of the Pauxent river in 1874 and from TIE
yey Major Kearney Of the St. Mays river in Maryland
board Of internal Improvement the late General
nard, to be complied as one map on suitable scale
usual number, be printed for the use Of the Senate.
Mr.. ]. stated that the whole map only four feet
square, and the information was deemed very valuable
showing state of facts which the committee believed
ought to be given to the public. The cost would be
1924.
Mr.. DOUGLAS from the Committee on Territories to
whom were referred preamble and resolutions of the
legislature of Kentucky in reference to land about Wolf
island asked be discharged from the further consdera
ton Of the and that they be referred to the Com
mittee Public Landslide question being simply to
the ownership of certain lands In Ohio which agreed
DUTIES ON RAILROAD IRON.
Mr.. BIGLER from the Committee the Post Office and
Post Roads submitted the following minority report on
the bill to provide for the transportation of the United
States mails upon railroads:
The Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, at Its
meeting yesterday agreed report the Senate bill Is
No 4s entitled An act to provide for the transportation
of the United States mails upon railroads. &c in words
follows, to witt
That from and Immediately after the passage Of this act, it
shall be the duty of the Postmaster General to enter into
tracts with individuals companies who may propose to
carry the United States mails upon any railroad finished
coed daily each for the term Of eight years and
that individual company contracting and entering
ter General and Secretary Il the Trs.sury shall BE- entitled
in full compensation for such service, to import without the
other duties all the iron to be used
in the construction repair relaying of such railroad du
ring the continuance OF such contract.
The undersigned member Of that committee feels
strained by Of duty to dissent from the report Of
the majority recommending the proposed measure to the
favorable consideration Of the Senate for the following
which he asks to place record any eab
Grafton
First because in his opinion, it is virtually PROPOSE
ton to pay premium to the railroad companies OF the
United States to consume railroad iron produced In other
countries in preference to that made in our own.
Because it would be species OF that special legislation
which seldom fails to compcate the machinery OF govern
ment and work wrong to the people.
Because proposes to infringe upon the general system
of compensation for mail ranspoatons as also upon the
uniform mode Of collecting the several duties on imports
foreign countries and that extent produce conu
sion in the administration Of both.
Because 1t proposes special legislation to advance the in
of railroad companies to the manifest prejudice OF
those of the manufacturer OF railroad iron.
Because 1t is designed to make the transportation Of the
mails the subject of special and peculiar not impracca
BILE contract for long term of years when the whole ex
perence In the Post Office Department 10 demonstrating
the wisdom Of that policy which throws the business open
to the competition of all, except in very extraordinary
cases.
Because II would authorize the Postmaster General to
pay three four times much compensation to rail-
road company to another for the SERVICE and to
require that officer in addition TO make prospective con-
tracts to eight years. for carrying the mails on rail-
roads not in existence.
Because the manifest tendency of the would be
to subject the government mpostions il frauds in
the administration Of its and postal systems And
finally he cannot in the presentation OF the bill to
the Senate for the reason that passed. its administration
mens and neither far his knowledge goes has been
consulted to the expedency and .praccabiiy &c. of
the measure WIN. BlGLER.
JANUARY IA, 1857.
| IMPROVEMENT or WESTERN RIVERS.
Mr. BENJAMIN stated that at the last session Of Con-
gress bills referred to the Committee Commerce
Ito provide for the improvement of the navigation of the
Missouri river by contract and Ito provide for the i'm
provement of the navigation of the Mississippi river by
contract No report made at that session upon these
two bills by thecommittee because they unable to
1 IN ~,
bills to advertise for certain number of hands do
the work of removing the various distractions in these
rivers by contract but the committee found great difficult
ties in the way Of such system The matter was referred
by the Committee Commerce to subcommittee who
had under consideration during the vacation and they
had perfected what they deemed to be the best system
that had been suggested for the purpose Instead of
the bills that referred the committee he would
now report new bill as substitute for Them "makng
appropriation for the Improvement of the Mississippi
Missouri Ohio and Arkansas rivers by contract He fur
Their remarked that, if elaborate written report
submitted the subject 1t would occasion too much delay
and he would briefly state the object Of the BILL and
ton the very first opportunity after it should have been
printed The bill proposes to have the western rivers de
vided into convenient sections and then to advertise by
contract for the removal Of all distractions to the navgR
on of each section whether from stumps sunken
wrecks rocks ogs Of whatever nature either in the
main channel of the river in the channels leading to
the various ports and landings IL further provides
entire work provided by the shall have been DONE
and inspected by suitable officers of the Typographical corps
of engineers who to be detailed for that purpose The
bill includes various appropriation which do not exceed
four hundred and fifty thousand dollars per for FIVE
years For that the committee had ascertaned that
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