Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-07-11

that designated captain Meigs Il was the
Senate that added each obnoxious item
Well, cir, this bill, Ikeall other appropria-
tion bills, went to committee of conference.
of conference, we have succeeded III reducing
the amount to 81 692, 800 We have brought
it within a reasonable limit. The principal
item agreed to in conference is the one for
the Washington aqueduct. / opposed that
item. l demonstrated against its incorpora-
ton into the bill. l voted against it. What
more could do? And now, after we have
made the best bargain we could with Dem
oeratic Senate, when we have reduced the
bill as much as we could, we are coolv told
by gentlemen on this side of the House that
they do not like all the provisions OF the
bill.
The most thankless of all positions is that
. assigned to the Committee of Ways aud
Means. They see their bills, after they have
been carefully matured as regular appropria-
ton bills, go from this House to the Senate,
and then see them returned loaded down
with all manner of items. If a Senator has
private bill in which he feels deep inter-
est, that Is put on if he has q favOrite
scheme which could not get the sanction of
this House as separate bill. that is put on.
These appropriation bills are made beasts of
burken to carry all the hobbies of Senators.
They come hack to their authors mongrel
mass OF appropriations and legislation. Then
committees OF conference act. and our House
is compelled TO be satisfied if it can get rid
ut one half of the mass of amendments. The
only way 10 avoid this system of legislation
is 10 defeat a few OF these appropriation bills;
and perhaps it is as we'll to commence with
this.
l will not detain the House much longer.
As record OF the facts. and to show the ac-
ton of the House on all OF the appropriation
bills will send 10 the reporters the table 1
have referred to, in order that it may go into
the Congressional Globe in connection with
these few remarks 1t will show precisely
the condition of the appropriation bills WHEN
they Came from the Committee of Ways and
Means, what it was when they pas ed the
House, what it was when they passed the
Senate, and what it was when they went 10
the committees of conference. 1t will then
be shown who loads down the ordinary ap-
preparation bills. 1t will be seen how far the
d, ciaration of the Secretary of the Treasury
is sustained that Congress load down these
bills. 1t will be seen that Congress has not
done it that the Committee of Ways and
Means has not done it; that the House has
not done il; but that the Democratic Senaie
have insisted on its amendments in the com
mittee of conference. Aud now, forsooih,
when We have made as good bargain as we
could with Democratic Senate; when we
have reduced the appropriations as low we
could. We are told 10y gentlemen on the other
side that, because This thing or that thing
does not suit them, they will defeat the bill
do hot care if they do. Upon their should
ers will rest the responsibility. 1t is their
Administration, and not ours. l have voted
for the report, because it is the best we can
get from the Senate. If another conference
be held. instead of further reduction. other
amendments of the Senate will be insisted
on L have no doubt.