Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1799-02-19

row Adjourned.
Friday, February I.
Mr.. Jofah Parker, from the Navy COM
mtter, reported the following bills, VIZ.
A bill for augrnenting the Navy, Snd TX.
ing the pay OF captains Of Hips or vsfels of
war.
A bill authorizing the eRab,ilhment of
docks, and
A bin authorizing the purcaafe of,imber
for naval purpoies.
Theie bills were isverally twice read and
con E,ittel-
On motion Of Mr.. S. smith, the houfe went
into COMMITTEES of the whole on the bin &c lrnen.i
the aa 20 provide for the valuation OF lauss and
dwelling houfes, and tho enuir Grafton of lavcs
within the United States. The firli elsufs Of this
bill authorizes the Secretary OF the Trcai,.ry, 10
augment in cafes where he may find it neceli.ry,
the eonPcniarions 6Ssd for principal and afiitant
aiiecrs b. the pTsicnt law 70 that NO principal or
anitsnt aiicilor ih7ll, in any cafe, receive more
than two dol ars pc. day executive OF an Allowance
alto made in che eeond etlsn OF this bin Tor clerk
hire to the principal aeiior, of one dollar per dsv
On enquiry, Il appeared that the pIiusspal ansi
iors have ny the law as It ROW Rands, one dollsr-
and halt per DAY allowed them; and the other az
iellors one dollar and half whila collecting, and
one dollar when otherwite employed
Ihis bill advancing the pay ct the adcfiors orig-
mates ron complaints from the State Of Maryland
tia. pcrons cannot be got to perform the Office for
the FUN ae1wed, end that, in eoniequenec, IN MANY
parts OF that Rate, Geps have been taken TO
carry tins law INTO execution. This fact was Gated
by Meiirs S. Smith. Craik, Sprigg and Matthew'S
representatives from that rate
MIR. o. Smith moved TO ftrikc out two dollars.
ioF the Prrroie of inierting three but this motion
was suPereeded ay one made by NJ. varnur,, TO
isrise out the fra fiction Of the bill.
Eie thought the Preient allowance quite fuffei-
emf, and rather more than enough; that TO con,-
plant has been made from any other p7.t of The
Union; that he could not agree to allow the Sc
cretsry of the Treafnry power to Fay the officers
IN Maryland more than is paid to the fame officers
in other parts OF the Union, and he could not con-
tent to raiie the pay of the whole, when they are,
except IN the cafes mentioned, perlcaly ia,isfied
with what is now allowed. Mr. V. fa~ no necefiity
for clerk here ifa clerk were to be allowed, the
oitee OF principal afleiiors he faid would become
inccure; that nothing would make the tax f,sn,.
popular as thus 10 increalc the cxpcnfe OF collec-
ton and that out Of two millions of dollars raifed
not more than one million would find iss way mo
the treafury. This opinion was fupported gene
rally by Meiirs. Venable, MDowci, Shepard
j. Williams, Thatcher, w Claiborne and Findiy.
he neceiity of the increalc was advocated by
Mea. S. Smith, Gordon, Crak, Pinckney, Harpcr
and Otis absolutely neeelIary il the tax was 10 be
collected in Maryland , that it would not be neccf-
iary to advance the Pay ofthe officers In any other
parts OF The union, but that owing the extent os
the difriets in Maryland, and from other capies.
perions could not be induced to perform th:s duty
without he prorofed advance.
Afte= great deal Of conversation on the ltl;ea
the motion for aEiking the lection, was mega
tiyet! IS to ~, The committee then rofe, and
had leave to Gt sgain.' The heuie adjourned TO
Monday,
Monday, February =.
a petition was prcfcnted sy MIR M'Clenaehan,
phia, praying repeal Of the Alien and Sedi,ion
laws. Committed TO the whole houie.
DiREcT TAX.
The Houle again went into committee on that
bin.
Mr. Thatcher moved 70 frike on, the I'd feGaion.
which provides elrkst one dollar per day, 10 each
principal collector. This was carried. ave. 60.
MIR Harper moved new fiction, which he faid
had been zgreed upon in the committee The pro-
fent AT, he aid, itsted that the returns hoad Be
made in rs days: the one he moved was {, extend
ceiilry. This was carried. Ayes "a.
On motion Of Ms wda, 70 pieeh Of the a.s =.
required tiic appeal to h made in writing. wa. r.
pctcd. Ayes 50. Nos 40.
COnfjera,c 'convcrh ion o-cn-rrd on a o,o-,or.
ton OF Mr. Wain, to ada to fiction repdr,,J l.,
the committee, Tor repeating 70 mach Of lie "a
required the nunbering and mcalure,nept ~ ,bs
windows, the fafpeahon Of 70 much ss reis,.d -
TIC detail new required of ont hoafes. ara. ss
being retufnedby the afeiTors. This wa. neg,,;-,I
only II ri6ng il favor of Il, s@''''N
sonae other amendments were pfopofsa and III,
committee rofs. ''N ''is
Wh'n The bill wa' taken up in lie Houe M
Varnuin renewed his motion for kim s.n, 80
Lrh ieetion, which be had made in eo,a,n;,,e, ~
tie whole On Friday. q
twas taken byye,' and nays. Yeas as. Nay, =,
Tucflay, February
I5e Cletk informed the Horfe tina, be t,a N
received Information from the tba, H.
u and u"ssle to attend the Houfe ,se,,,,,,,,,
motion was made to adjourn, which wa. led
Wednefdsy, PclaaFy 6.
ne OIL 20 srtev1 - "a