The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-13

Relations, Military Affairs Naval Affairs, Pos, Offices
Commerce, and Claims the seven most important COM
mttees of the body.
Mr. JOHNSON, Of Tennessee, hoped that motion would
not be agreed TO- II the Committee Finance hnd that
they cannot do anything they can report that fact TO tho
Senate
Mr. WILSON spoke of the great abuses existing in the
executive dopa tes the navy yards in particular and
stated that when the report of the House investigating
committee should e published it would develop eS
haordinaIy state of Dgs lie hoped these resoinsoiss
would pass without qualification of amendment
Mr.. DAVIS could not see the prortlety f sitting ~
judgment In this way upon executive olbcets, ard ms
king charges against them founded upon mere ranioIs-
Pefoe charge Of corruption o&tayagance was n'edel
the person making ii should be ready to lay his hand
upon the particular case and bring evidence to sustain
his charge He bad got tired of hearing these periodical
harangues upon the subject of the wastcul expenditures
Of the government There was not member OF the
Senate who did not practically understand that the only
way in which retrepchment could be made was by
laying his hand upon the law, and finding where The
expenditures made Improperly aud then correcting
these evils at time until the whole reduced to
proper amount He thought tbe proposition OF Mr. IrrM-
BULL to cut down the army and navy 10 ote ha' without
pretending To state where single wes unnecessary
not to he thought Of for moment This was no'
economy; this not retrenchrBent NJ WAS mere
defamation and il il 10 be followed by astson,
would be extravaganza. Thirty days would not ctapse
after the dsbandmcnt of these troops before would be
necessary to fill their places by Others call out The
vastly more expensive militia to perform tho vc'y ser
vice vessels would be dismantled m tho
dock yards for that time before the requirements Of this
service would demand her being agAn brought into ac
tive He advocate Of large navy OF large
standing army but should rcgnlate our national de-
fences by the cxigcucies of the public service
Mr. CHANDLER said that he could place hss hand
only upon extravaganza but upon crime in the de
patmens He then proceeded TO read from the official
reports of the Secretary of the Navy showing that there
I0l captains in the navy only eighteen OF whom
we're on sea service there were 1873 commanders, only
twenty five of whom service. He thought
these things ought to be looked into.
Mr. DAVIS said if the senator from Michigan bad
charges to make against the head Of any OF the depart
mens-il he knew of any evils which needed correction,
why not bring those charges, and let the officer hye
trial 49,
Mr. CHANDLER said the reason was because the To-
vestigating committee in the other house bad the subject
under consideration
Mr. DAVIS replied to the effect that it unjust to
pronounce Judgment man while his trial is pcndiuB
and before decision is reached by the proper tribunal
For his part he ready to meet these inquiries at
any time -
Mr. IyERsoN hoped this subject would be laid aside,
in order TO consider the private calendar this day having
been set apart for that purpose
Mr.. YULEE gave notice that on Thursday next he
should call up bill which proposes 10 relieve the treas
uy of present expense of three four millions Of dol
lars per aud he hoped the advocates Of rehench
would unite in passing it He referred 70 the bill
to abolish the ankng privilege and for other purposes
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Tennessee, moved to postpone the
consideration of the private calendar 10 take vote
had como within minute two Of having vote ON
them, but had been cut off by special order OF some
other business intervening
Mr.. TRUMBuLL hopct this subject would be disposed
Of and spoke at length in regard to the extava-
gance of the government expenditures.
Mr.. DOUGLAS said that it was agreed on all sides that
the expenses ought to be diminished but he feared it
was late to accomplish anything this session While
the committee making their investigation Congress
would be passing the appropriation bills The only mode
of carrying out the object WIS to trust the Contec on
Finance to make such reduction they think the pub
lie service will permit with the evidence now before them
There was body of in the Senate competent.
we'll informed and ready to act, as that committee.
He suggested that Mr.. GwiY's amendment would take
all the members OF the select committee from the domi
nant party, owing to the manner in which the commit
tees organized and in that it might be looked
upon a whitewashing committee,
Mr. GWIN withdrew his modification and let bis mo-
tion stand as it was originally offered
The question being taken, the motion OF Mr. JoNIIsoS
was not agreed to.
PRIVATE BrIIs
The Senate then proceeded TO the consideration of the
private calendar and the following bills seyeray
read u third time aud passed
Bill for the relief OF Guadalupe Estudillo dc Arguelo,
widow OF Santiago r. Arguello -
Bill for the relief Of Monroe D. Downs
Bill for the relief Of Rebecca N. Bowden, of Prince
George county, Virginia. .t8a
Bill to confirm certain land claims in the Florida par
ishes Of Louisiana the city Of New Orleans and Others
House bill for the relief Of Wright Fore. A
House bill for the relief OF Dinah Minis
House bill for the lief of Robert A. Davige.
House bill for the rcef Of Evcina Porter. widow of
u late Commodore David Porter of the United States
navy.
House bill for the relief Of Mary Boyle
The following bills were In definitely postponed
Bill to continue the pension her toiore granite to
Katharine M. Hamer.
Bill for the relief Of Mrs. Jane Turnt ulI.
On motion, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,