House to the bill of the Senate (S. 287) to incorporate the National Gallery and School of Arts in the District of Columbia. The Senate have passed bills of this House of the following titles, viz: H. R. 220. An act for the relief of Anson Dart; and H. R. 501. An act making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of the government for the year ending the 30th of June, 1861; the former without and the latter with amendments; in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House. The Senate have agreed to the amendment of this House to the bill of the Senate (S. 84) to facilitate communication between the Atlantic and Pacific States by electric telegraph, with amendments; in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House. Mr. Davidson, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined and found truly enrolled a bill of the following title, viz: H. R. 220. An act for the relief of Anson Dart. When The Speaker signed the same. The Speaker having announced as the regular order of business the report of the Committee on Expenditures in the Navy Department in regard to certain alleged abuses in the Navy Department, the consideration of which was postponed until this day, the pending question being on the resolutions accompanying the said report, the House proceeded to its consideration. After debate, Mr. Sherman moved the previous queston; which was seconded. And the question being put, Shall the main question be now put? It was decided in the affirmative, {Nays ... 101 71 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are Mr. Charles F. Adams Cyrus Aldrich John B. Alley Schuyler Colfax Mr. Henry L. Dawes Charles Delano Mr. John Hutchins So it was ordered that the main question be now put. Resolved, That the Secretary of the Navy has, with the sanction of the President, abused his discretionary power in the selection of a coal agent, and in the purchase of fuel for the government. Resolved, That the contract made by the Secretary of the Navy, under date of September 23, 1858, with William C. N. Swift, for the delivery of live-oak timber, was made in violation of law, and in a manner unusual, improper, and injurious to the public service. Resolved, That the distribution, by the Secretary of the Navy, of the patronage in the navy yards among members of Congress was destructive of discipline, corrupting in its influence, and highly injurious to the public service. Resolved, That the President and Secretary of the Navy, by receiving and considering the party relations of bidders for contracts with the United States, and the effect of awarding contracts upon pending elections, have set an example dangerous to the public safety, and deserving the reproof of this House. Resolved, That the appointment, by the Secretary of the Navy, of Daniel B. Martin, chief engineer, as a member of the board of engi neers to report upon proposals for constructing machinery for the United States, the said Martin at that time being pecuniarily interested in some of said proposals, is hereby censured by this House. When Mr. Bocock moved that they be laid on the table. It was decided in the negative, Nays. Yeas... 65 120 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are Mr Charles F. Adams Green Adams Mr. R. Holland Duell W. McKee Dunn Thomas Hardeman, jr. Mr. William Montgomery Miles Taylor James H. Thomas John W. H. Underwood Mr. William Kellogg Laban T. Moore Edward Joy Morris Isaac N. Morris Thomas A. R. Nelson John T. Nixon Emory B Pottle So the House refused to lay the resolutions on the table. A division of the question having been called for, The first resolution was then read as follows, viz: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Navy has, with the sanction of the President, abused his discretionary power in the selection of a coal agent, and in the purchase of fuel for the government. And the question being put, Will the House agree thereto? It was decided in the affirmative. So the first resolution was agreed to. The second resolution was then read as follows, viz: Resolved, That the contract made by the Secretary of the Navy, under date of September 23, 1858, with W. C. N. Swift, for the delivery of live-oak timber, was made in violation of law, and in a manner unusual, improper, and injurious to the public service. And the question being put, Will the House agree thereto? Yeas .... It was decided in the affirmative, Nuys.... { 119 60 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are Mr. Charles F. Adams Green Adams Cyrus Aldrich John B. Alley John A. Bingham Mr. W. McKee Dunn Thomas Hardeman, jr. Mr. John W. Killinger The third resolution was then read as follows, viz: Resolved, That the distribution, by the Secretary of the Navy, of the patronage in the navy yards among members of Congress was destructive of discipline, corrupting in its influence, and highly injurious to the public service. And the question being put, Will the House agree thereto? Yeas. 123 61 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are Mr. Charles F. Adams Green Adams Cyrus Aldrich John B. Alley Mr. John Carey Luther C. Carter Mr. Stephen C. Foster Thomas Hardeman, jr. William Helmick John Hickman Charles B. Hoard |
