The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-03

isiiug contracts which proyds reports Of tho
debates Of the two hones, submitted an elaborate report.
concluding AS follows: /. +
se arc anaoe 70 perceive wherein te senate oasury
b. benefited by change Of the present plan Tho exeIeae the
ss than that paid and any failure tooneu them
bacauso such withheld pl create danger % a
opl sslee r no certainty that te work resumed VIII again
Az there faithful performance Of existing contracts, The
committee dcem no provisions Of law necessary
Tr surrls OF roroaac yArEn- f}
Mr. BROWN from the Committee on the District Of
Columbia 30 which referred the bill 10 provide lor
the and preservation Of the works constructed 10y
tho United States FOR bringing the Potomac water IN thc
cities of Washington aud Gcorgeown, &C. reported II
back with amendment, and asked is Immediate con
sidcraop
The amendncpt Of the committee having been CON
Mr. BRIGHT moved TO further amend the bill 10y
striking out all after the cnacng case aud substituting
new bill,
Mr. BROWN dill not know but he would soon have
Tue substitute The House bill but he feared that at
that late period Of the session TO make the change might
leopard It's passage through tho other branch,
MIR, BRIGHT sud the House bill was objectionable
because IL does not properly guard tho interests OF the
government Government introduced the water and
gave The city great privileges and il was their duty TO
that The rights OF government not impaired ny
allowing any and everybody to tap tho pipes Besides,
the House bill did not provide or system OF drainage,
which Indispensable He wanted the interests OF
the government protected by government officers His
substitute modification Of the regulations on The
subject of water in force in New York aud Philadelphia
Mr.. BROWN opposed the amendment at the present
juncte, and thought it better to leave the bill as II
from i'c House, rather than run the risk OF losing
it by such amendment
Mr. STUART suggested that il too late for the
Senate 10 thoroughly consider the subject and that TO in
sure action il would e best T., adopt the substitute pro
posed ly Mr. BiGDr AMI let the whole matter be settled
by committee of conference
The question having been taken on the amendment OF
Mr. BRier, It agreed TO, and the bill passed as
amended.
Irhc amendment is the bill originally reported 10y Mr.
DnGnr "a synopsis OF which was given in The proceed
ings the tune and the bill subsequently, Published at
length
MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORIZATIONS Dill.
On motion by Mr. HUNTER the Senate proceeded to
the consideration of the hill from the House Of Iepcscn
ves making appropriations for sundry civil expenses Of
the government for the ending the 30h OF june,
1860 which read
Several amendments reported by the Committee ON ri
nance concued in, among which was one reducing
tile appropriation for the hire of carts the public
grounds from 81 S7S TO 81 095, and another that the
appropriation of five thousand dollars for the annual
pairs of the Capitol &c. eha Also be applicable 10 the
protection of the building The appropriation for the
repairs Of fcnns, vaua avenue was likewise Increased
from So, 900 to 81, 600
! Mr.. HUNTER also from The Committee on Finance,
reported amendment in the form of an additional
on that the power for the Issue and reissue of treasury
notes. conferred upon the President of the United States
revived and continued in force from the passage of this
until the first day of July 1860 the interest on said
not to exceed six per cent per annIin and to
eIay the expenses thereof the sum OF 50, 900 isappro
priatc
Mfr. SIMMONS moved TO amend the amendment by
aiding provision that hereafter the several collectors
md other officers charged with the duty of collecting
revenue from imported merchandise in all cases where
it Is practicable shall take the amount Of duty charge
able upon any imported MERCHANDISE in the article itself
according to the rate of duty Imposed ON said article
For instance by law there Is imposed duty Of fifteen
per centum there shall be taken fifteen from every hun
ircl of such Importation and in that proportion for
larger smaller quantity and in like manner for any
other rate rate of duty.
Mr.. SIMMONS explained his amendment It was we'll
known, he siid that the imporations throughout this
country were grossly and nrulcnty nndervalucd He
willing to try the tariff Of 1857 for another year
Ter fair system Of valuation, and il then it failed he
feared il would, to afford revenue enough TO meet the
wants of government he hoped the tariff would be mo
jed lie had made himself hoarsc in trying TO induce
the Senate to rotrcnch tile expenditures, but he had been
baled at nearly all points He had hoped to get ut that
six millions in the Post Office hill, but il got through in
pite of his vigilance and he about ready to despair
any retrenchment He thought the argument Of the
senator from Virginia. Mr. IIuNrrn that IL nccts-
sy TO reduce the rates of imposis in order TO increase
the oyenuc, utterly allacou In his judgment the
past roctionof the tariff had produced the late ds,s
trous rcvusion. The effect of his amendment would be
10 prevent frauds by under valuations.
Mr.. ChiNGWAN objected to the amendment That IL
was not in order
The PRESIDING OFFICER ar. STUART in the cliair)
decided chat the amendment not in order. on the
ground that il provision for raising revenue which
could not consituonlIly lie originated in the Seuac,
Mr.. SIMMONS appealed from the decision OF the Chair,
aud urged that his amendment intended simply To
| enforce existing laws.
Tho appeal was further discussed by Messrs CLING
MAN and CRTITENnEN.
The PRESIDING OFFICER said he would Withdraw
his decision submit to the Senate the question of order
aud let the Senate decide whether il would would not
receive the amendment
Mr. CoII,AMER insisted that neither the Presiding
Officer the senate body had right To decide
upon the consttutionality OF the amendment that
a question for the courts. The Senate could only decide
whether the amendment in accordance with its
rules M
Mr. llGLER admitted that il the amendment
constitutional that conclusive argument against it,
and the Senate lad night 60 entertain incvnstu
onal proposition. Bui he did not that tits PROPOSE
ton was unconstitutional II evident That govern
mont must either borrow money, isauc treasury notes
increase the by OF The tariff This pop
ton looked to the latter proposition il would in
The revenue, not 10y increasing the tariff but by
m king The present tariff efficient.
Mr.. SEWARD contendrd that the decision would he
dangerous precedent, inasn,uc il would author
isc the Presiding Officer hereafter to re out of order
and every proposition the ground of unnonsttuiion
atty 10 would he necessary find Presiding Officer
with greater wisdom and virtue than the whole Senate
possessed before ne would be willing to cntrust such
power in his hands.
Mr. GREEN thought the question simply whether
this Senate not subject 20 the constitution of
the United States The constitution required that trea
ties should be ratified only Ivy thirds vote Of the
Senate and II it were proposed ty some senator to tty