The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-02-08
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIvEs.

HOUSE OF REP
TnesdGv, January 81.
Besides the presentation and refer
cnce CT sundry petitions of private Ia :
iure--
Mr.. Ehhes Of Va. reported bill to fix
the compensation and increase the aceourta-
hility of collectors of the direct tax which
was twice read and committed.
The bill sent from the House to prohibit in
tercourse with the enemy, was returned to
the House with sundry amendments a; which
occasioned considerable discussion, but were
al concurred in eventually. So that the bill
wants only the signature OF the President To
become a iagy.
The House resolved itself into a committee
OF the whole, Mr.. Breckenridge in the chair,
on the bill making appropriations for the sup
port nf the government for 1876 The civil
list bill
Bills of this description are generally con-
c:f .red as little more than mere matter of
form, as designating monies to be applied to
purposes already authorised by law; & there
fore seldom give rise to discussion. One clause
IF this bill, however gave rise to wide * IA
Ghcr animated debate of a desultory charac-
ter.
Mr.. M'Kee Of Kv. moved to strike out the
clause which appropriates, for the salary Of
the Superintendent General of Military Sup
plies and Clerks and Messenger employed N
lis office, ten thousand dcllars This motion
lie predicated on the 1iea that this Office was
in itself unmportant, and its utility by no
means commensurate with its cost to the
government.
This motion was supported, in debate, By
che mover and Messrs Pitkin, Shelley, Gas
ton, Farrow, Henson and Grosvenor and
opposed by Messrs. Eppes, Hawkins Wright,
and Fisk of n. Y.
On the one hand, it was alledged that no
man could assign the uses Of this Office to the
government, or at least any adequate to It's
cost, which could not as we'll be performed
by a single clerk in the office of the Accom-
tant of the War Department, SIc.--and, if
useless, that it would be proper course to
strike out that item of this bill, and post
pone II till the bill making appropriations for
the military department should come under
consideration, in which it might be convent
emily inserted if then deemed expedient 70 be
continued.
Ga the other hand it was argued, that this
Office was one ofgreat importance to the pro-
per distribution and accountability for militia
~ supplies, Of which a proper account and
checks thereon, could in no way probably
be SO well supplied IF, however, the contiIA
rance of this Office were not indispensable, OF
which most Of the gentlemen on either side
protested themselves unqualified to Judge.
this was not the proper way TO get at the Of
fee for the purpose of abolishing it. The Of
fee now existed by law, and it was as pro-
per and necessary to appropriate money for
its support as for that Of any Office under the
government.
When the question was taken, there APP
peared to be
For striking out the clause SO
Against it So
., lee.
conclusive, the vote being in committee, and
tie committee very thin
The bill IS menled was reported to the
House, but tn House adjourned before de-
cidIHg on the amendments made in commit
tee.
Wcdne8day, Fe5. 1.
Mr.. Moore Of Nd. presented memorial
Of The Committee Of Vigilance and Safety Of
toe city and precincts Of Baltimore. repre-
Senting the defenceless situation Of that CITY.
and praying that force may be provided a.
dequate u their defence during the next
canpa'S Referred to the committee on Mi
litary AfFurs.
Mr. Ehhes from the committee Of WAYS
aud Means reported bill to provide additi-
onal revenue for detraying the expeuces a
government and maintaining the public Gre
lit, By laying z duty on gold, silver * plated
ware, aud jewelry aud pas.c work, mauufac-
bIred within the Cnted States which was
twice read and committed.
The House resumed the Consideration &C
the rsport Of tue cotncajttee Of the whole on
the BID making pTopriatiOns for the support
Of goycr meDi Tor thc year. 1915 and on the
question g. csD~gr IL the amendment % strike
Oh: the TWO iterls for tue support oil The of
fcc Of jupcTjDtcadant General q Military
suppress aft.r nioch debate. the ote s;ood IS
foiiovs, " Yeas and Mays: Yeas e1, Nays
SO
80 the House refused to concur 10 this a.
uendiDcrt -
And ua rl was. after beinsI rthei A.
;neid-d, sI@eied 20 he engrosseli sor a ,hird
e ing s&ns
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