Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1860-06-12

be brought forward, involving the consumption
Of additional time
The resolution was adopted
Mr.. Niblack from the Committee on Pat
ents, reported the Senate bill, with an amend
ment, for the amendment of the Patent laws
On motion of Mr. Howard its consideration
was postponed till the second Wednesday of
December next
Mr. Ashmore, from the Mileage Committee
made an adverse report on the bll referred 10
il, repeating the act regulating the compensa-
ton Of members of Congress
Mr. Hatton from the Committee ON Expen-
ditures in the Navy Department, reported
back the resolutions, referred TO the Commit
tee in February last, and recommended their
passage.
The resolutions declare that the Secretary
of the Navy has, with the sanction ofthe Pres
ident, abused bis discretionary power in the
selection Of a coal agent, and for the purchase
of fuel for Government that n contract with
Swift for live oak timber was in violation of
law, that the distribution ofthe patronage of
the Navy Yard among members ofCongress is
destructive Of discipline and injurious TO pub
lie service.
That the Presidgnt and Secretary Of the Ma
Wy in considering the party relations Of bid
ders, and the bad effect of awarding contracts
pending elections, are deserving otthe reproba-
ton of this House
That Daniel II. Martin, a member Of the
Board of Engineers, to report on proposals, for
the construction of machinery, he being per.
sonally interested therein, is hereby censured
by this House.
After some discussion, the consideration Of
the resolutions was postponed till Wednesday
The House went into Committee on the
Postoiice Appropriation bill
The amendment pending from former
day, proposing to reduce the compensation of
u certain class of Postmasters, was rejected
On motion of Mr.. Sherman the amendment
authorizing the Postmaster General to cause
the mails to be transported between the Uni
ted States and any foreign port or ports was
agreed TO.
Among other amendments adopted, on mo
ton of Mr.. Colfax, Of the p O. Committee,
were the following:
Reducing the appropriations for clerks at
the post offices from $950,000 to $900,O00
Reducing the special agent in California from
81, 900 to 81, 600 Requiring Postmasters to
distribute to their owners all newspapers sent
TO clubs with one address. Reducing the
charge for carrying letters in the city from
two cents to one cent
If the revenue of the Postohice Depart
ment should be insufficient TO support for the
year ending June, 1861, then So, 100 900 shall
be appropriated to supply the deficiencies
The bill then passed
The Ratification bill was passed as origi-
nally reported without amendment
Mr. Grow, from the Committee of Confer
ence on the disagreeing votes Of the two
Houses on the Homestead bill, reported that
after full aud free conference, they separated
without coming to an agreement.
On motion of Mr.. Grow, the House insist
ed and asked for another Committe of Con-
ference.
Mr.. John Cochrane asked leave TO intro
duce bill approprating $l25,OO0 the inter
est of which shall be spent by the ladies of
the Mount Vernon Association for the preser-
yation and repair of the home and tomb of
Washington.
Objection was made.
Mr.. Cochrane moved suspension of the
rules Decided in the negative.
Recess from A to o clock,
The House reassembled at o'clock, and
took up the Navy Appropriation bill
An amendment was adopted, providing
$472, 900 to meet the requirements of the bill
recently passed, increasing the pay of the Of
icers
Mr.. Lovejoy wanted the vessels of the navy
to rot if they were sunk, commerce would re-
ceive no injury. 1t was time appropriations
for them should cease,
A running debate now took place on the
clause appropriating S2,50O,OO for the re.
pairs and equipment of vessels,
1t was finally fayorably acted on.
Mr. Morse offered an amendment appropria-
ting $500, 900 for the purchase of six small
steamers to be employed on the coast of Afri-
ca for the suppression of the slave trade, which
was ruled out OF order
An amendment appropriating 100000 for
saltpeter was adopted
The amendment for contingent fund was
cut down to $4,000
The committee rose nt 10 o. clock without
conclusion on the bill
Adjourned
SESATE.-Mr Winslow offered resolution
changing the day ofadjournment from the 18th
to the 28th inst
Laid over under the rules,
Mr. Hale reported resolution changing the
order of business in the Senate, which was laid
over.
Mr. King moved to take up the report OF
the Senate Printing Investigating Committee
and postpone all prior orders After some
discussion it was agreed to- ~
The resolutions were read They recon-
mend change in the mode Of executing the
public printing.
Mr.. King contended that the abuses grow
ing out of the execution Of the public printing
were not necessary.
Mr.. Slidel thought these abuses were Incl
dental and would result under any admins
tration He did not believe Mr. Wendell $ tes-
timony under oath unless corroborated by 9th
er witnesses. Hereyiewed Mr.. Wendellstes
mony as to the money spent for electloneering
purposes and contended that il was thus spent
against the advice of the Administration. As
to the Post-ofiice blanks, nothing was paid that
the law did not allow He admitted that some
thing was wrong, but neither the Post-oi6ce
department nor the Senate Committee was
able TO ascertain how it was done I'LL very re
Gently.
There was no violation on the part Of the
executive officers of the Post-oiice Depart
mont
Mr. King c0ntr0verted this last statement
Mr. Slidell admitted that some of the sub
ordinate officers of the Post-olhce Department
must have known 0f these abuses, but neither
the President nor the Postmaster General
knew any thing Of them
| Mr. King contended that these abuses re
suited from gross misconduct on the part Of
the officers OF the Government, and that his
amendment 10 strike out the word necessary
should be adopted, because he did not believe
the abuses would necessarily grow up under
an honest administration.
Mr. Kings amendment was lost, - "a 2a,
The first resolution was agreed To-
Before the final disposition of the subject