The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-07

Mr.. SHIELDS obtained the floor. when he gave way
TO a motion for adjournment, and
The Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPR EsENTATIyEs.
Mr.. STEPHENS, of Georgia on leave, introduced a
bill To provide for the settlement of the accounts Of the
late Lieut. Col Lewis s. Crage for his service in
mand of the military escort to the Mexican boundary
commission; which read twice and referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. CRAIG Of Missouri, asked leave to introduce a
bill granting lands in the Territories of Kansas and Ne
brasbu to aid in the construction of railroad in said
Territories but objection made
Mr.. C0LFAA, of Indiana, on leave introduced q bill
to organize the Territory of Coona; which read
twice and referred to the Committee on Territories
Mr.. MAYNARD, of Tennessee, on leave from the Com
mittee Claims reported adversely on Senate bill for
the relief Of Ann l.. dodgers and it laid ON the
table.
Mr. HOPKINS, of Virginia, leave, introduced joint
resolutions authorizing Townsend Harris u s. consul
general at Japan, and H. c. j. Henskin his interpreter
respectively TO accept presents from the Queen of Eng
land and authorizing the payment Of the salaries Of min
listers resident to the Argentine Confederation Costa Rcl
and Honduras which were severaly read twice and
ferred to the Committee Foreign Affairs
ESEounvE COMMUNICATIONS.
The SPEAKER laid before the House a message from
the President OF the United States, transmitting report
from the Secretary of the Navy with accompanying pa
pers, in compliance with the resolution adopted by tho
House, December 30 1858 requesting him to commune
to that body, il not deemed by him incompatible
with the public interest the instructions which had been
given to naval commanders in the Gulf of Mexico
which referred to the COMMITTEES Foreign Affairs
and ordered to be printed.
The SPEAKER also laid before the House message
from the President of the United States transmitting
report from the Secretary Of the Treasury, with
panying documents, IN compliance with resolution
adopted on the 23d December, 1885, concerning
pondence in reference the clearance of vessels the
port of Mobile The Secretary states that the department
is not in possession of the correspondence between the
collector and the parties asking clearance The message
and accompanying documents were referred TO the Com
mittee Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed
Also report from the Secretary Of the Treasury Sec
rotary Of War, and the Attorney General to the
dition of the public buildings Of Philadelphia which
was referred TO the Committee Of Ways and Means and
ordered to be printed,
LAWS.
Ga motion of Mr.. JOHN CoCHRANE, Of New York
the House then went into Committee of the Whole the
state of the Union Dir Smith, Of Tennessee, in the
chair and proceeded to the consideration of the bill for
the codfcaon of the existing revenue laws of the United
States and for other purposes reported by the Commit
tee on Commerce.
Mr. JOHN CvCHRANE explained that the title Of the
bill was in degree missioner, as il could not pre-
tend TO the dignity of codcation of the revenue laws,
but simply consolidation, with the repeal of laws
conflicting with each other and proposed 70 supply others
Ia order defects created by growing commerce
in wise affected the collection districts of the United
States in degree affected the revenue officers of the
United States ports of entry delivery the emol
uinents Of the officers 1t pure collection of the
laws necessary for the collection of the revenue and ne
cessary advance the of the United States
The five thousand millions of interior commerce, with
the 81 30 800 2sG of imports aud exports gave feeble
idea of the magnitude Importance, and extent OF the
interest affected by these awsan interest exceeding any
presented the consideration of Che committee at tue
present time that be presented at any other time
The laws which form the basis Of the existing laws were
those enacted in the years 93 and 80, taken mainly
from the English shipping laws, and adopted without
reference TO the geographical position of the country OF
its relations with the world ut large. The English had
since remodeed their laws to be able to compete
cessuly with the American marine department and it was
high time that the national legislature should adopt
to protect the interests of American shpowners and
shipping masters The bill proposed to substitute the
Engish admeasrement system for that now in use and
would relieve the of the tax of twenty cents
month for hospital expenses for sick and disabled seamen
by imposing II proportonalIy upon the tonnage of the
country.
Mr. CLARK, Of New York, inquired how many
Offices would be created ny the section in reference to APP
prentces
Mr. JOHN COCHRANE Replied that but one would be
created and that would be the commissioner.
Mr. LETCHER, of Virginia, inquired how much addi-
tonal cost the bill would be upon the treasury.
Mr. JOHN CoCHRANE reptied that in his Judgment,
it would not be one cont.
MFR HOUSTON, of Alabama, suggested MS the bill was
divided into chapters that these chapters be considered
separate bills Members coulu fantl1arHe thcm
selves with the large amount of matter in the bill and
as some sections clear from objections, upon
nation such a course would portions of the bill
from defeat
Mr.. CLARK, of New York, said the adoption Of that
plan would be excellent.
Mr. JOHN COCHRANE stated that the reason why the
bill presented in its present aspect that it
important that the reform should he simulta aousy
had of all the revenue laws Tho adoption of portion
OF the bill would be but partial good If the House
meant Co reform and create body laws applicable
the present of the country, they would be
obliged to base great part Of IL upon the representations
Of merchants and experts alone. Ho hoped the commit
tee would rise for the purpose of posponing the bill
Mr. MtIIS0N, OF Virginia. thought as the hour was
late the debate had better proceed. There gentle
men who desired TO speak upon IT, and continuance of
the discussion would save much time
Mr. HOUSTON, OF Alabama understood that amend
ments would be proposed and with that understanding
moved that Che committee rise which motion agreed
10.
NJ JOHN C0CHaANE then moved that the amend