Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-02-21
CON G r E S S.
Senate Of the United States.
TUESDAY, February IS.

Mn. HILLuousE.-Mr. President
hold IN my hand resolution, which l IN
tend TO submit to the consideration OF the
Senate, after having made a few remarks to
shew the ground on which It rests, ana ex-
explained my reasons for bringing It ior-
ward at this time.
In the discharge Of my official duty as
one of committee to enquire after facts IN
relation TO a nomination which has recently
been under the consideration OF the Senate,
was led to inspect sundry accounts and
documents IN the PUBLIC Offices, from which
derived the knowledge OF what am a.
bout to state, and concerning which there
can be NO mistake, as the several items are
taken from those accounts and documents.
Having formerly had some acquaintance
with the manner of conducting business IN
the public Offices in relation to our money
concerns, / did suppose there existed a
complete check upon ali improper expendl-
lures of public money, and perfect secu-
aity against It's being drawn out Of the trea-
snry In a manner not warranted by law
4 One predominant and principal ground OF
security, had understood to consist In the
control which the head Of each department
had over the business conhded to his depart
n.ent. and his reasonable exercise OF his
discretion and Judgment. But having dis
covered, BY an opinion Of the Senate lately
expressed, an opinion which am bound to
sponsible for what / consider an IMPROPER pre Der
expenditure of public money in that depart
snent, am Of opinion that some further
and more efcctual provision ought to be
made. TO shew on what ground nv OPT
Mon rests, that there has heen r,,f,.et.--
disbursement Of Public money, viii read
part Of two sections of the law fixing the
military peace establishment of the U. S.
passed March 10Th, 18o2-and exhibit a
brief statement Of facts. The 9Th section
fixes the monthly compensation of the bri-
padier general as follows { &c the briga-
der general two hundred and twenty-five
dollars, which shall be his full and entire
compensation, without right to demand or
receive any rations, forage, travelling ex-
pences, or other perquisite or emolument
whatsoever, except such stationary as may
be requisite for the use Of his department"
The fifth section fixes the number Of rations
to which each officer and soldier shall be
entitled, BY which no officer above the rank
OF colonel, is entitled to any rations at ali.
That section further provides, that there
shall be allowed 'to the commanding Off
Ger of each separate post, such additional
number of fations as the president OF the
s II. States shall, from time to time, direct;
having respect to the special circumstances
of each post" Under the provisions Of the
law, there have been allowed, at Natchiro-
ches, to col. Gushing, double rations, from
Sept. 1st to Esd October, 1906, and from
the Sth to the Goth of Nov. 1906. At N.
Orleans. to lieut.. col. Freeman, tripple ra-
tons from July 1st to 18th Dec. 1906; and
to col. Gushing IN the like manner, from the
18th of Dec. 1906, TO Goth May, 1907
and in Jan. 800, brigadier general Wilkin-
sons account for extra rationS as command
ing officer at those same posts was allowed
as follows, viz.
AT Natchitoches, SO rations per
day from the 18th to the S0th
Sept. 1906, eighteen days at
II 1-2 cents, S113 40
Same place, So rations from Oc-
tober 1, to Nov. II, 1906,
2o16 rations, at Is cents, 27s Is
S ss5 Sc
At New Orleans, 36rations per
day, from Nov. IL, 1906, to
24th May, 1907, 194 days,
9S12 rations at Is cents, 1O47 60
Quarters, stabling, &c. from
2sthNov. 1906, to Oath May,