Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-01-24
CONGRESS
OF THE
UNITED S TATES.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES.
FRDgY, Nov. Is.
Debate on the BIZ fixing. the SALAKIES q
certain officers therein mentioned.
M. Randalpb's S4sxeb 19ne5adsd.


expences aud receipts, at the contingent fund OF
this House and of the other branch OF the iesis
lature AZ the contingent fund OF the depart
ments, We shall find the expcnces OF the de-
parttnenr of state, exclusive OF fhe expence OF
yrinting and distributing the laws, IL, Goo dollars
While the salary of the secretary is 5000 dol
lars Of the secretary Of the treasury 5000
dollars: while the salary of thesecretary IS s, 900;
of the coE,prroIers Office $1,000 while the salary
Is Z, 500 s; Of the Auditor 5000, willie The sa
larry is 1000 of the Registers ofice $4,000,
while the salary is $4,000 dollars. We lhall
also find in the same department. other misce;la-
neaus expences to the large amount OF 1900
dollars. We fhall 6ud in the war department
the expences Of 1900 of which 4. 500 consti
tutes the saafy of the secretary ana in the
Accountants cffisc, 10000 dollars expences,
while ths salary is 1000 dollars; besides The
expeaces OF the pay master, & purveyor of public
supplies. We hallhnd in the naval department,
the expcpces 900 dollars, and the salary of the
secretary 4. $40 dollars; and in the Account
ants Office, The expences 5000 dollars, and the
salsr, 1900 dollars. In the post Office depart
rnent we shall find the same ratio between the
expences and the salary of the head Of the de-
partment. Then come the eKpences of the
officers of the commissioners o: leans III the
several states, properly the expences Of the trea.
sary department., and which are immense. Then
follaws that glorious INSTITUTION, that splendid
attribute of sovereignty, the mint, aor which
the governments annually pays IL, 600 dollars
in salaries to lis officers, exclusive of other ex.
ILL NOD
alltoge.h her the enormous sum Of 2 10000 dollars.
Then follows the Judiciary, respecting the ex.
penccs of which I have no further observations
20 make, than that believe the salaries of the
men who fill those high aad responsible offices
are very inferiorto what they ought be. Then
fellows that description of exprnce, which /
have always understood to be the peculiar fund
From which nation may econonlise--tbe ma.
rine and war departments, one Of which amounts
70 $50, 900. and the other TO $50. 900 dollars.
These sr, the ocpaftmcnts III which nation
can alone exercise true economy When l.
make this observation, / DO not mean to say
that refarrn ought not TO rake place in the civil
expenditures: bu, even then We ought to strike
az the contingent funds, she stationary and
fuel Of the departments, and Of this aad the other
House.
Ii has been stated truly by the venerable gen.
tleman from Pennsylvania M. Fip!ey) that It
is not sound policy TO narrow the range Of
choice f,r the great Executive officers OF the y
nited States. believe it will be narrowed by
the proposed diminution Of their salaries. On
this sub-a speak without any understanding
with the gentlemen who at prcseng hold those
Offices. I Believe that inducements, other than
n-cuniary, brought those gentlemen into Office !;
and also believe, that if this blank shall Dc fill
Cd with .. zoo dollars, it will be Impossible 10
,c, men 20 hold these pGices from pecuniary
considerations. We know the fact that no man
e talents devoted 10 she liberal professions,
fails 10 pet larger sum. OF course IL follows
that men who hold these Offices cannot be &C
fuated by such motives. No, II is TO All attach
rent 70 certain political opinions, 70 particular
7,cn, TO the love of glory inherent in eyeiy noble
breast, that w are 60 lock for me tue motives
and these, believe, are rhe motives that would
induce the men who at present hold these nigh
fhces. still to hold them, It the coinps nsation
yete reduced 10 singl: ceat. But whether
these are motives, wlsrh can or oush' to inaute
: man TO becems public servant, wal.you In,
luce such man to sacrifice his patrimony o.
aosndon his Office, unless fortune has been 50
Kind as to make The SUR he is necessarily called
apan 80 exncnd Is him trifing consideration
IS this pacy Is it republcanisp ;--rhat1no man
alrss-.d ovefgro@n fortune, should be abe to
.alj hish executive Office in fair way
know thee is an abundance of hunters, aud bid.
ders fu, Offices, who are ready 20 take them on
ny terms. But these are NOT ths men with which
these important and digaided Offices oaShr to be
Glltd.
There is not doubt, if you put the cflce o.
the Secretary of State up 60 an6ition, y"u viii
eet u,-n, wl,o viii undertake TO execute its I'm
oor sant functions at the sum proposed by the gen.
y!eman flnn Pennsylvania. But in his way, tol
1870. &c : go dnIlars we may lase nilliuas