Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-02-25
CONGRESSIONAL.


was taken up. The question OH concurring in
the amendment reported from the Committee Of
tho Whole, providing that the contract with the
Butterlicld Co., for carrying the Overland Pa
ciic mail, shall be so construed us to allow them
to carry it by any route they might select, nc
cording to the act of Congress, under which the
contract purports to he made The motion to
concur was ncgatived-yeas 30, nays 10.
The proviSo that the advertisements for mail
route proposals shall be published in two news
papers only in each State and Territory, having
the largest circulation, was rejected-yeas 81,
nays IA.
The amendment appropriating $780, 900 for
printing blanks to be given to the lowest re-
sponsible bidder was adopted-yeas A, nays
not counted.
The wrapping paper is to be furnished under
the same regulation.
Among other amendments adopted, was one
providing that the sums heretofore appropri-
ated for the erection Of Post Office buildings,
which shall remain in the Treasury, uneTpend-
ed at the end Of the fiscal year, arc to be reap
propriated for those objects. The bill was then
rejected--yeas Sc, nays 49,
Mr. Bocock, from the select committee to ex-
anime into the alleged naval contracts and frauds
presented report from the majority. The
resolutions appended say that the testimony
proves the existence of glaring abuses in the
Brooklyn navy yard, requiring the interpoSition
of legislative reform; they have been growing up
for long series OF years Second, that the coal
agency is in the hands of incompetent persons
and that reform is needed in the regulation Of
the subject; there is no evidence 10 show that
this incompetency aud inefIiciency came to the
knowledge of the authorities at Washington
Third, that in all the Secretary of the Navy
did, in regard to the contracts for live oak, he
kept in view the good of the public and the in
terest of the service.
The minority report recommends the passage
e l.; -, ohusag md
the adoption of the following resolutions:
RcsoIred That the Secretary of the Navy has
with the sanction of the President, abused his
discretionary power in the selection OF coal
agent and in the purchase of fuel for the gov
eminent
ReSolrea That the contract made with the
Sec'y of the Navy, under date Sept. %, lS5S,
with VIM Swift, for the delivery of live oak
timber, was made in violation of the law and
in n manner unusual and improper and injurious
to the public service.
Resolre3, that the distribution by the Sec'y
of the Navy of the patronage in the Navy Yard
among members of Congress, is Obstructive of
discipline, corrupting in its influence and highly
injurious to the public service.
Resolred, That the present Sec'y of the Navy,
by receiving and considering the party relations
of bidders for contracts with the U. s., and the
effect Of awarding contracts upon pending cleo
tons, has set an example dangerous 10 the
public safety, and deserving the reprool OF this
House.
of the Navy of Daniel i. Martin, Chief En-
gineer, as a member of the Board of Engineers
to report upon proposals for constructing ma;
chinery for the United States, the said Martin
at the same time being pecuniarly interested in
some of the said proposals, is hereby censured
by this House.
Mr. Sherman also reported bill to regulate
the navy and docks and for other purposes
The consideration of the report was postponed
till Monday.
The Naval appropriation bill was taken up in
Committee of the Whole on the State oil the
Union.
Mr.. Millson, of Va, argued against the doc
trine of protection and said there was no ne
cesSity for any alteration of the tariff, and de-
Tended the appropriation bill for the Navy.
Mr.. Howard, of Mich, contended that it was
impossible to raise filty-six million dollars from
the present tarilf, and favored discriminating
tariff for the protection of American Industry.
Mr.. Curry, of Ala, insisted that we must
eoualize our revenue and expenditures There
were retrcnchmcnt and economy ON one.side
and onerous taxes on the other, and no Ameii-
can statesman should hesitate TO select the for
mer.
Mr. Nichols, of Ohio, avowcd himselfin favor
of free trade an6 direct taxation.
SENATE.-On Wednesday after the speech of
Mr.. Douglas, Mr.. Halc's amendment was put
aud lost; yeas 10, nays 81
On motion of Mr.. Reid, of n. c., the vote
striking out the Charleston and DahoneGa
branch mints was reconsidered, but the apprO-
priations were not restored.
The bill was then passed, Mr.. Chandler, OF
Mich, calling the yeas aud nays, which resulted
in vote OF 81 yeas to g nays.
The Senate then adjourned exactly at mid
night Considerable Of an audience was pres
ent till the close.
Mr.. Bright, of Ind, announced that had he
been present last night he would have voted
against Halc's amendment
Mr.. Fitch, from the Committee on Printing,
introduced joint resolution authorizing the
Sup't of Public Printing to purchase paper IN
open market. All new contracts can he made,
as owing to the failure OF the contractor to fur
nish supply, the public printing threatens to
be stopped. 1t was passed.
On motion of Nr. Yulee the Post routes bill
was taken up-yeas 81, nays 10. In reply to a
quest by Mr.. Hanlin, of Ne, Mr.. YUlee said
that it was the intention of the Post Office Com
mittee to amend the bill by increasing the rates
of postage and make other reforms To augment
the revenues of the department to S6,50O,OOO.
8 o'clock P. M-The Senate is yet in session,
discussing the Post routes bin. The debate
is not of nature requiring detailed report.
The bill was reported to the Senate, but on
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