The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WEDNESDAY, February 1.

Mr. Nicholson remarked that, from information received from the Navy Department, it appeared to him that a modification of the existing arrangements for the distribution of the officers and seamen on board of national vessels laid up in ordinary, would be advantageous to the public service, while a retrenchment of about 30,000 dollars a year could be probably made. With this view he moved the appointment of a committee to enquire into the expediency of amending the act providing for a naval peace establishment.

Agreed to, and a committee, consisting of Messrs. Nicholson, Sands, Cutts, Lowndes and Staunton, appointed.

An engrossed bill fixing the salaries of those officers of government whose salaries were increased by the act of the 2d of March, 1799, was read the third time.

Mr. Leib moved to postpone the bill to the first Monday of December next, and moved the taking the Yeas and Nays.

This motion was supported by Messrs. Leib, Gregg, J. Clay, Elliott, Thatcher, Elmer, and Rowan; and opposed by Messrs. Rodney, Randolph, Dawson, Smilie, Findley, Nicholson, Eustis, and Roger.

The question was then taken by Yeas and Nays on the postponement, and passed in the negative—Yeas 45—Nays 72.

When the final question was put on the passage of the bill, and carried in the affirmative—Yeas 57 Nays 52.

Resolved That the title be. "An act continuing for a limited time the salaries of the officers of government therein mentioned."

Mr. Early moved the following resolution:

Resolved, That to witnesses summoned to attend any committee of this House, during the present session of Congress, there shall be paid out of the contingent fund of the House, the sum of two dollars and fifty cents per day, for their attendance, and at the rate of twelve and an half cents for every mile travelling: And that to any messenger sent under an order of the House for the person of a witness, there be paid from the same fund, at the rate of three dollars for every twenty miles travelling.

The sums in italic were left blank in Mr. Early's original motion; but were so fixed after an expression of considerable diversity of opinion; when the resolution, so amended, was agreed to—Ayes 69.

A bill from the Senate, in relation to the Navy fund, was referred to a committee of the whole on Monday.

The House went into committee of the whole—Mr. Varnum in the chair on the report of the committee of Ways and Means, on the amendments of the Senate to the bill for the relief of the captors of the Meshouda and Mirbaha.

The report recommends an agreement to the amendments of the Senate with a further amendment it providing that the further sum of 738 dollars 25 cents be appropriated to defraying the expenses of the Meshouda while in the possession of the captors.

The committee reported agreement to the report, in which the House concurred—Ayes 55—Nays 33.

Mr. J. Clay observed that by looking over a printed paper on their tables, he perceived there were several articles on which the drawbacks allowed exceeded the duties. He therefore moved a resolution, instructing the committee of Ways and Means to enquire into the expediency of discontinuing the allowance of drawback on spirits, gunpowder, soap, candles, and playing cards of foreign manufacture and of allowing in the lieu of drawback per gallon on all spirits exported both of foreign and domestic manufacture.

Motion agreed to.