Alexandria Gazette, Commercial And Political

Congress of the U. States.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, March 15.

The Speaker presented the petition of William Simmons, Accountant of the War Department, praying for an increase of his annual compensation-Referred to the committee of Ways and Means.

Mr. Ingham of Pa from the committee on that subject, reported a bill concerning invalid pensioners; which was twice read and committed.

A petition was presented from B. H Latrobe, in behalf of himself and others, remonstrating against the extension of Oliver Evans's patent to improvements on the Steam Engine.-Referred.

Mr. Lowndes of S. C. from the committee on Naval Affairs, reported a bill concerning the pay of officers, seamen and marines in the navy of the U. States. This bill authorises the President to fix the pay to be allowed to the petty officers, midshipmen and seamen, and that the President be authorised to make an addition not exceeding per cent to the pay of those engaged in particularly hard and disadvantageous service. Twice read and committed.

Mr. L. also made a report on the petition of Samuel Harrison and John T Courney, praying compensation for putting out the fire which the enemy had put to the Asp in Yecomico river in Virginia, which report recommending a reference of the petitions to the Secretary of the Navy, was read and concurred in.

Mr. I. also from the select committee on that subject, made a report unfavorable to the prayer of the petition of J. A. Chevallie, agent for Madame Beaumarchais, which was together with former reports on the same subject, ordered to be printed, and referred to a committee of the whole:

Mr. Oakley of N. Y. from the committee to whom was referred the bill from the Senate for a compromise of the Yazoo claims, delivered in a report favorable thereto, which we shall publish in our next:

The report having been read, was, together with the bill from the Senate, referred to a committee of the whole and ordered to be printed.

On the question for what day the consideration of this subject by a committee of the whole should be ordered, different days were named, and a desultory conversation, not connected with the question immediately before the house, continued until it was checked by the Speaker for its irregularity.

Upon the question on the day for considering this report, motions for Monday and Saturday next were negatived; and it was made the order of the day for Thursday.

The amendments of the Senate to the Military Appropriation Bill were passed through a committee of the whole, and agreed to by the House.

NAVAL ESTABLISHMENT

Mr. W. Reed of Mass. called up a Resolution which he had some weeks ago, and which had been temporarily ordered to lie on the table and the House agreed now to consider said resolution in the following words:

Resolved, That a committee be pointed to inquire whether any, and if any, what means of retrenchment and economy of reform in the general management, and of extent and efficiency in the naval establishment, may be practicable and expedient and that they have power to send for persons and papers.

Mr. R. explained the grounds of his motion as he had before stated them the multiplicity of duties attached to the head of the Navy Department and the want of accountability in the various branches.

Mr. Lowndes of S. C. acknowledged that benefit might result from the adoption of the motion, &c.

Mr. Ingham of Pa. moved to amend the motion so as to refer the enquiry to the Naval Committee; Which motion, after objections by Mr. Lowndes, was negatived; and Mr. Reed's motion was agreed to.

The House resumed the consideration of the bill for altering and establishing certain Post Roads, which after further discussion, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading

The remainder of day was spent in discussing the report of the Committee of Ways and Means on the petition of Robert E. Cochran. in committee of the whole, Mr. Nelson in the chair, on which there was considerable interesting debate.