Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-12-23


dietary be instructed to enquire as TO the
Official duties of the respective District
Judges of the United States whether the
same in certain districts have not been
greatly increased since their salaries were
established by law, and whether the com.
pensation now allowed by law be ade.
quate to the duties enjoined on the Judges.
Mr.. u. remarked, in support of this mo.
ton, that when the COM en- alton of the
District Judges had been fixed, it was no
doubt adequate to the services they then
had to perform but it was very notorious
that the duties had INCREASED in snme dis
tricts III a four-foid degree. Such had
been the increase of the business of the
District Judge in New York state, that it
had been found necessary by Congress to
divide the state into two districts. The
act for that purpose however contained a
provision that in case the Judge of one of
those districts should be unable 10 attend
to the duties of his office, the Judge of the
remaining district should perform the du-
ties OF both. Now, the fact was, that the
Judge of one of those districts had been
wholly unable to attend to his judicial du-
ties in consequence of which the duties
OF that district had devolved on the judge
OF the other. He was by this circuin-
stance obliged to travel two thousand
miles year, at an expence which near.y
absorbed in necessary travelling expences
the whole amount ofhis salary. AS there
might be other districts in the same situa-
tion, he had couched The motion in terms
so general as would embrace all.
Inc resolution was agreed to.
NJ. Robertson, after adverting to the
very iaborious duties at present devolving
on the committees of the house, and to the
practice of some of the State Legislatures
in this respect, which greatly facilitated
the progress of public business, moved
" that the committee on the Rules of the
House be Instructed to enquire into the ex-
pedleuccy of authorizing the appointment
OF Clerks to the standing committees of the
House" Agreed to.
Mr.. Jennings, in making the following
motion, described the western lie of the
Ie ~Iry of Indiana, and stated the Cir
cumstance of the stream of the Wabash
cutting the straight boundary line in its
slnunus course, as Occasiomng much in-
convenience to those living on its backs,
aud inducing general wish on their part,
that the line should be altered: He there.
fore moved.
s. That a committee be appointed to en4
qulre into the expediency of Chanting the
western limit of the territory of Indiana,
with leave to report by bill or otherwise"
The motion was agreed to.
On motion of Mr.. Easton, the two fol.
lowing resolves were agreed to, embracing
objects on which the house had acted, By
passing a bill at the last session, blu. which
had not been acted ON in the Senate
Resolved, That the committee on 9ubIic
lands De instructed to enquire if any, and,
it any, what, further provisions by law are
expedlent to be made for ratifying uncOn-
ilrmed claims to lands in the Missouri Ter
rlt0ry.
Resolved, That the committee on public
lands be instructed to enquire whether any,
aud what, alterations are necessary In the
act for the FINAL adjustment vt land titles
III the state OF Louisiana and territory Of
Missouri.
M. EastOn also offered for considera-
fIOH resolution, the object of which was
to appoint select committee to enquire
Into the expectancy of changing the mode
OF leasing the Lead Mines II the Missouri
territory, IN such manner as to secure the
lessees IN the quiet enjoyment Of their lea
SEES, and to enable the vernment to rea-
liZe reve1ue therefr0m.
Mr.. IaRcey proposed so to amend the
motion as to refer the subject to the COM
mittee on Public Lands when, on motion
of Mr.. Robertson, (who thought of incIud-
ing the Salt Springs in the enquiry the
resolve was ordered to lie on the table.
ADDITIONAL MILITIA " APPRO-
PRIATIONS.
On motion of Mr. Lotondes,
The house resolved itself into COM
mittee of the whole, MIR. Yancey In the
chair, on the bill making additional appro-
priations for deiraJing the expences of the
Army and Militia during the years 1914
and 1915.
MIR LOt0ndeS explained briefly the OBJ
ject of the bill. The deficiency in the pre-
sent years appropriations, arose from the
error in estimating the expense at four
millions only. barely enough for the sup
port OF ten thousand men, when in fact for
the principal part Of the two first quarters
OF the year more than four times that num-
Der ought to have been provided for.-Tbl
deficiency of preceding years, it was wei
lpnsf.,, mo. -,.,...,l q. = II