Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser

CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

A bill to explain and amend the 2d section of the judicial law received from the Senate was read the third time and passed.

The bill authorizing a loan of two millions of dollars was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

Mr. Coit's motion for an enquiry into the state of the mint was taken into consideration—A letter from Mr. Rittenhouse, the Director was read—

Mr. Boudinot drew the attention of the house for some time, by a series of the most interesting observations. He went to the Bank of the United States to enquire for cents, He was told that there were none to be had, because the bank could not get them from the mint. He then went to the mint, where he was informed that cents were not coined faster, because the officers of the mint did not know where to get them vented! He said that this mint cost twenty-four thousand dollars per annum, and every cent coined there cost the public several cents, though he could not exactly tell how many. In New-Jersey far more cents had been coined in a few months than had ever been coined all together, at the Bank of the United States, and this had been done at ONE FOURTH PART of the expense which the mint of the United States has cost.

Several other members adverted to the prodigious inconvenience which is felt all over the union for want of copper coin; and it appeared to excite some curiosity, on what foundation the officers of the mint have said that they could not get their cents vented. It was remarked by Mr. W. Smith, that, except as to Philadelphia, the mint is of little or no use whatever. The cents given out never go farther than the City.

A committee of three members was appointed to examine and report on the state of the mint, and what means may be used to render the institution more beneficial to the United States.

Wednesday, December 10.

After reading and referring several petitions to the committee of claims— the house took up, though not without opposition, the resolution received from the Senate, for the appointment of a Joint Committee, to report on the business necessary to be transacted this session. The house appeared to be at a loss to determine what was the real object of the resolution—it was generally however contended that it could answer no salutary purpose—might preclude members from bringing forward interesting business, and would not conduce to dispatching that before the house: On the question to concur with the Senate, it passed in the negative. The house adjourned at about half after 12 o'clock.