Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-03-01
March, 1851, as make appropriation to defray,
the expenses Of the franking privilege. Agreed

Mr. Fitzpatrick moved to strike out the clause
which restricts the Postmaster General to con-
for the convenience of the mails, no;
passengers. Lost-ycas Is, nays 81.
Mr.. Pearce moved that no new routes be es-
tablishcd. unless they will pay expenses. Lost
years 8, nays IS.
Mr.. Gwin moved 10 stake out the clause that
limits the pay Of postmasters to the box-rents.
Lost-yeas Is, nays %.
Mr.. Wilson moved that letter postage be three
cents and under five cents over 500 miles. Lost
yeas l6, nays 81.
Mr.. King moved that letter postage for all
distances within the United States be Al the
uniform rate Of three cents. Lost-aycs Is.
nays 81.
The committees amendments were then
carried without n vote, and the committee rose
and reported the bill to the Senate, and it was
read third time; but the ayes and nays being
called on its passage, no quorum was found to
be prcscnt-only the following:
~Aigs-Mcs,r.. benjamin, Broderick, Brown Clay, Fitch.
uun,r- Iycr,on. the Messrs. Join.on. Mason. Read, scbas-
,ian, Shields. sliieli, Toorn6., Ward aud igIes-i';
SArs-Mr>.rs. Chandler, Clark, Dooli;lir. Douglas. Foot.
Foster. Gwin. llaie, ilar.an. King, Lane, seward, Smith.
T"rumbull ana Wilson-la.
After considerable delay in lryin. TO come
to an agreement to adjourn, Mr.. Brown moved
a call of the Senate, and the Sergeant al Arms
WAS sent to summons the abscntccS.
An arrangement was, however, finally made
that the vote he taken tomorrow without de-
bate.
The Senate then, shortly after eleven o'clock,
adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The consideration Of the postal appropria-
ton bill was resumed.
The first amendment, providing that the con.
tract with McSsrS. Butterficld Il Co. be SO con-
strucd that they be authorized to select what.
ever routes they may think best. was rejected;
yeas %, nays loo.
The object of this amendment was to abolish
the Southern Pacific mail route, starting from
Memphis.
The amendment providing that tie printing
Of the list Of post offices and post office regu
lat.ons be given to the lowest responsible bid.
bidder, was also agreed to.
The amendment re-appropriating the uncx'
pended balances Of appropriations for the cree
ton of post office buildings Tor the present lis
cal year. was agreed to-ycas III, nays So.
The bin was then rcjcctcd--ycas s6, nays ll?.
Mr.. Bocock, from the select committee ap,
pointed to examine into alleged abuses in the
navy-yards, and in the administrator Of the
Navy Department, submitted 4 report, from
which it appears that glazing abuses exist in the
management Of the Brooklyn yard, winch re.
quire the interpoSition Of Congress. The cyl.
dencc adduced before the committee shows that
these abuses have been growing up Tor 4 long
series OF Years. The coal agency has also been
placed in the hands of incompetent persons.
II appears, however, that the authorities NJ
Washington have rot been aware of this incoln.
potency. In reference to the contracts for live
oak, il is stated by the committee that the Sec
rc;ary of the Navy has done nothing but wha,
was for the good Of the public service. In let
tin. contracts for thc seven new sloops.uf-war,
the Secretary has displayed 4 laudablc zeal To
secure the greatest amount Of speed and ciii'
cheney.
The minority oil the committee tMesSrs.
Sherman. Of Ohio. and Richie of Pennsylvania,
also made a report.
The consideration of these reports was post
poncl until Monday next.
On motion of Mr.. Phelps, Of Mo-. the House
went into Committee Of the Whole, and took
up the Naval Appropriation bill.
Mr.. Millson. Of Va, after sone remarks upon
tho tariff and in opposition to high duties. pro
cccded to rcfite the charge Of extravagant cX'
pcnditurcs in the Navy Department. When
gentlemen compared the expenditures with
those Of some years back, they forget that in
the last ten years we had added twcnty.ui
vessels to the navy. This, Of course, cntailcd
an increased expenditure for subsistence ofmen,
repairs, &c. On the average our vessels Of wal
required renewing every ten years. lie op
posed the idea that there was any economy il
building our vessels by contract experience
having proved that not 4 single vessel built il
that mode had made more than two cruises.
War was a very expensive luxury. We hat
to keep pace with the improvements OF the age
Guns and gun carriages cost more than former
Is, and every time a shell was fired il cost tho
government 81.
Gentlemen complained OF the expense %
keeping mp %arscnals and nayy-yards. He coult
show, by the figures, that the appropriation
now asked for navy-yards was less, 10y $500, 600
than the average of the last ten years. 1t had
been said that England had but two navy-yards
and why should we have so many This was
a grave error. Besides her immense nava
establishments at home, she had others at tho
Cape Of Good Hope, Gibraltar, Malta, the East
and West Indies, South America, and, in fact
wherever she had possessions.
lie then examined the appropriation Of about
$ll, 600, 900 proposed by the bill. and said il
was $500. 900 less than the average of the las
five years. This lie did not think Indicated OK
travagancc, nor furnish ground for complaint
Of the rapid increase Of expenditures.
Mr.. Howard, Of Michigan. made 4 speech
upon the tariff, in which he denied that pro
hibition" and protection were synonymous
lie was opposed TO prohibitory duties, bu'
favored 4 tariff which protected the great
branches of American industry for the benefit
of the great mass Of the people.
The reports Of the majority and minority o
the committee appointed TO examine into al
legged abuses in the departments, with special
reference 10 the nayv-yardS. As submitted to-day
included the following subjects Of inquiry: |
purchase Of live oak timber. 3. The manage
mcnt Of the navy-yards. And 4. Contracts fol
steam machinery.
The majority report declares some abuses IT
the navy-yardS, especially Of political favorit
ism. Recognizes an improperly in the sclec
ton Of 4 DR.. Hunter rs a coal agent for the sup
ply Of fuel. Exhibits the transactions in rcla
ton to the contracts for live oak timber, but
deems them right and consistent. And in re
ference to steam machinery, ~disapprovcs Of tho
appointment Of Mr.. Martin AZ L member Of the
board Of engineers, inasinuch as a boiler IN
vented by him WAS included in nil the plan.
presented to the board. The report conclude,
by submitting the following resolutions:
/. That the testimony taken in the invcs;i
CATION proves the existence of glaring abuses ir
the Brooklyn navy yard, and require the inter
position Of legislative rcform-that it is due tc
justice to declare that these abuses have beer
slowly and gradually growing up during Il lona
course Of years. and that no particular Adj
lninistration should have the entire blame
thereof.
:. Tina. the coal agency for some time past
has been in the hands of persons wholly inefii
cicnt and grossly incompetent, and that reform
is needed in the regulations which exist on thu
subject; and that there is no proof which traces
the knowledge Of such inciliciency and incoin
potency to the responsible authorities in Wash
iputnn