Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-05-17

contribution which provides, that :" nc
perfon holding an Office under thu United
States, lhaiI be member Of either heafe
Of Congress" Mr.. Tracy was at the
time of receiving the appointment, dur
ing the whole OF It's continuance, and I'D:
ever iince been a member of the fenate Of
the United States; and from an inipeeti-
on Of the pay roll of the fenate, the COM
mittee find that for the laa feyenteen days
Of the five months of his lervice, under
the above appointment, he not only has
his expenses borne by the public TO con-
ffIerable amount, and received iikewite
eight dollars per day, bat that he at the
fame tine received, as member Of the
fenate, fix dollars per day tor travelling
fromLitchhsld, in Connecticut, to theieat
of government; difance of three hun
ared AMI forty four miles twenty miles
being allowed for travelling one day.
James M'Henry, elq. former feeretary
Of war, reigned that Office, it is believed,
in the month Of May, 1909, and the do
cumcnt marked r. hereto annexed, ihsws
that in the month ofApril preceding, Mrs.
iAriana French lealed heuie to him for
one year, to commence from the hrif OF
June following that an award was made
between the parties, by7whieh il was de-
clared, that Mr.. al Henry lhould pay to
Mrs. French two hundred and eight dol
lars and ninety five cents, for damages
flaaiaed by her, BY rsalon of his not &C.
cupying her houle agreeably to the con-
tract, and that in conformity to the OPP
Mons Of the fecretary of the treaiury and
the lacretary Of the navy, and by tie d.
redion Of the leerctary Of war, this fun
was paid to Mrs. French out of the fund
for defraying the contingent expenses OF
the war department.
Upon the whole, the committee are of
opinion that comfortable fums of pub
lie money have been greatly milappli-
ed, and that much expence has been In
Cured without any legal authority but
for hereafons before aligned, it has been
impoflbie fox them to make a cosnplete IN
veitigation. Nor 90 they believe that an
inyeGigation entirely satisfactory, can be
made, unlefs the houle houli think pro-
per TO appoint comraittee for this purpole
to fit during the recels, with directions
TO make report TO the next felton, of
congreis.
The committee deem it their duty TO
oblefTe, that appropriations for the con-
tingencies of the war and navy depart
ments are, at all times, liable to abnte,
not only from the very large fuBs uflaily
appropriated therefor, bur alto from the
impratticability OF ffecifying by law, tie
preche object to which 1uch iums are ap-
plicable; and the committee are of oPlai-
on. that giving publicity to the accounts
Of the expenditures Of monies aPpropriat-
ed for contingencies, would have the mof
direct tendency TO correct the latitude OF
contraction formerly exerc;ied in that re-
fpe6t, by the heads Of thcie departments
TO promote economy in, and attach pro-
per degree of confidence to the future
proceedings in thoie departments. And
the committee can dilcern no poaible in
convenience in diicloflre OF that nature,
iince they believe that there's nonccefity
nor proPriety for applying the principle Of
fecres money to either Of thoie depart
ments; and at leaf, it ought to be 70
conGdercd until it fllould be otherwifs &C.
ternined by law.
The committee are therefore Of opini-
on, that claafe 10 this efe6s ought to be
inherited in the bill already reported by
them, Rejecting the accountability pub
lie officers.
For other arrangements which appear
to be necefary to 90 promote economy, /
anforca odherepca RI lerif1 alive ranriffi