Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-03-20

IN the bill he certainly should vote FOR the
bill !; but it would be sucha variation from
the whole course and scope Of our laws
that he was Obliged to vote against it,
Nothing, he said, could be more laudable |
than such associations, but he submitted
whether their Incorporation by law was
at all necessary to enable them to per
feet their object. Was this strange ano-
maly in law of a body polite, composed
OF married women, at all necessary to the
objects of the institution Pie could not
see it. If the object was, to enable the in
stitution to acquire real property, it could
be accomplished, he said, without an act of
interpretations simple deed Of trust
would answer the purpose very we'll, SC.
Mr.. Roberts sustained the bill. If a
person were to die and leave property to
the institution, unless in corporate form,
it could not inherit it. This charter. he
said, was grant Of but little magnitude ::
it was such privilege as, in many of the
states, the courts were authorized to
grant, under proper restrictions As to
the alleged novelty Of the proposition, it'll
might be new in regard to this district, be.
cause the legislation of Congress for it had
been very limited: but similar acts were
to be found on the statute books ofsome
OF the states. The charter would give no
privilege nor sanction any abuse it'll
would enable the trustees of a praise
worthy institution to secure, in the most
eligible aud favorable manner, the apphca.
ton OF such means as may be given by be-
nevolent persons, to the benevolent OBJ
ects of the association. &c.
Mr.. Campbell also assigned few rea.
sons in favor of the bill.
The question OH the passage of the bill
was decided negatively by the following
vote =:
For the bN-Messrs. Brown, Camn.
bell, Chace, Dana, Gaillard, Howell, Hun.
ter, Lscock, Roberts, Sanford, TAFT
thompson, Iichenor, Turner Williams,
Wilson-16.
against the biu--Messrs. Barry, Bibb,I
Condit, Daggett, Goldsborough, Gore,
Harper, Horsey, King, Macon, Mason oil
n IL. Morrow, Ruggles, Talbot, Taylor,
Varnum, Wells-l7.
SO the bill was. rejected.
COMPENSATION BILL.
The Senate proceeded to the considera-
ton in committee of the whole, Mr.. Var
mum in the chair, OF the bill to change the
mode OF compensation of the Senators, Re-
personalities and Delegates in congress.
This bill, it will be borne in mind. pro- |
poses to change the rate and mode of com
pensation, from six dollars per day during
attendance to 1,50o dollars per annum.
MIR, Taylor, in proposing an amend
ment to the bill, said he was left, from the |
a6 ence of reasons assigned in favor of the
bill, to presume the motive of it to be. that
there would be a greater despatch in fine
public business, if members were paid Inv
the job than if they were paid by the flay
lie doubted the correctness Of this infer
enee. II, for six dollars day, the ses-
sions OF Congress are spun out to an in.
convenient length, and public business de-
layed by the desire of members to increase
the amount of their pay, (supposing them
the immoral agents which the adoptio,j of
this system presupposes)--would they
not, ne asked, be induced by the change
in the mode of compensation, in order fo
curtail their expenses and encrease their
profits, to go home before the public bust
ness is finished, or so urge the public bust
ness as to leave 1t in an imperfect form
lie thought, as he said yesterday, that the
amount OF the present allowance as incom. |
potent that the sacrifice was too great, to |
come here for nothing, and, in many in |
stances, at certain loss. He felt a de-
sire, however, that an alteration should be |
made in this bill to lessen the inducements
which it appeared TO him to hold out to the
Members to hurry over or neglect the pub
lie business, &c. With such views. he
moved to strike out 5000 1.-THE compensa-
ton, double that allowed to the Members. |
of the President of the Senate and Snea
ker of the other House) and in lieu thereof
to insert 1000; with view to reduce
the compensation of the Members from
1,5O0 to 1000, and to add new section.
Tor allowing, besides, three dollars per day
to the members for each day they actual !
ly attended in Congress. This amend
ment, he said, would bring into play the
principle OF paying by the job, and would
prevent the public work from being done
IN sloyenly manner, by paying daily
compensation adequate, or nearly SO to the !
daily expences of the members.
Mr.. Macon also moved to amend, the
bill so as to strike out the salary feature
altogether, and in lieu thereof to insert |
provision that the compensation should h. |
hereafter dOllarsper day, intending tina
the blank might be filled with such sum as
the Senate should prefer. He was oppos
ed to the idea of salary for Legislative
services such-a rule of COMPENSATION was
not known under any of the governments
of the states, &c.
Mr.. Daggett opposed all amendments
of this nature to the bill considering Il |
better to take tin its present shape.-l
The increase of compensation, he est,mat.