Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-04-13

The Speaker laid before The House n letter
from the Treasurer of the United States. trans
hitting his annual report of receipts and paw.
penis at the Treasury which was ordered to
lie on the table and be printed
The Speaker also laid before the House the re-
port OF the Secretary of tile Navy, on the peu.
ton OF John MCauly, prize agent; which was
fairs.
The Speaker also laid before the House let
ter from the Secretary of the Treasury, enclos.
ing statement Of eypences &c ofprosecutions in
behalf OF the United States, in the states of New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Yer
mont and New.York which was ordered to be
printed.
The House then resolved itself into a commit
zee OF the whole, Mr. Lewis in the chair, on the
Dill 10 increase the pensions of certain invalid
pensioners. No amendment being offered. the
committee rose, reported the bill to the House ::
and 1t was then ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading.
| Inc House, OH motion of Mr. Lorvnoes, re-
solved itself into committee of the whole, Mr.
1'etsoH OF Va. in the chair on the bill making
appropriations fort support of government for
| In filling up the blank in the bill, left for the
appropriation for the payment of the Membe. $ of
congress, some debate arose as TO the manner of
drawing ms compensation. The act lately pass
ed to alter the mode of compromising the Mem
bers OF Congress, declares that they shall receive
an " d'i'utaF' salary Of 1900 dollars and in a sub
seqnent clause, provides that the compensation
s"ch oe cefUhed and made in the manner here.
tofore provided by law !" the custom under the
former law was topay the members from time to
Tune, as the services were rendered
Mr.. L'o'ondes, in obedience to instructions from
tue committee OF Ways and Means, and i'm accor.
uahce with what was understood to be the con-
struction given TO the act by the Attorney Gene.
RAJ, moved TO hill the blank with sum sufiic ,ent
~ ue.rAy .ie compensation for the year ending IN
she -ith OF March 1916, and making no provision
Tor the services which would intervene between
'nat period and the end of the next session
ms construction of The &C. was disputed bv
MT Clay, The Speaker. He thought that the
members, whenever they could exhibit evidence
VI INC rendition OF services, had fair clam for
aaue proportion of the annual salary-Such had
ecu tne PIactlce heretofore; and f The rule land
GOWN oy the Attorny General were adonted n
member who happened to come into Congress ,f
'er !le 4th OF March, would receive notlsIng I'M
III tie next March Against the Inconvenience
ana hardship OF this construction, Mr. C. arpued
at some length and for the purpose of MAXIM
all appropriation out ofwhich 10 compensate the
"et'"crS iof the remainder of this session and
part OF the next, moved to fill the blank with -
sum adequate to meet that object MIR. C. added
or
ny ,hs decision, let either construction of the
ACT Dc adopted, he saw no objection to purs,,in,-
i u'e course he proposed, without however al
lowing any member to draw so much of the sala
~ as would bring him at any time in debt to the
government. ~ VIZ
Mr. johnson ofKy differed both from tba erao
ker and the attorney general in this that the com
Pensa'loh gwen to members was intended To en-
orace awhole session, long or short bu, GO :, |
made no difference to the u. States an1 - "
structlon had been given, he shonld acou;esc,
ana vote tor the appropriations provided an =
mendment which he had drawn UP sbouId H.
GoPted, which did not interfere with the con.
Strucuon gwen, and was indispensable to do ms.
rice to the government and to certain member
VINO mad not attended the whole session; which
amendment was intended to make a deluct;o, |
from the compensation of members for absencc |
IN the proportion that absence bore to the whole
days ofthe session. ''
MIR. jackson explained the views of the select |
committee when they originally reported in "A |
Vor OF changing the mode of COMPENSATION and |
IN the construction given by Mr.. CLAW. |
MIR. Smith OF Md also concurred in the con. |
StruCt.oh oil the law given to it by the Speaker
IL u5 i" the other Interpretation of it, i'll
the members were called here to an cxtra stss;.
on they would MIR. s. said, be obliged to bring |
money IN thelr pockets 10 defray their expenses
Is Ii'ey could receive no compensation until the
end of the year "'''ii u'e
MIR. CASTOR thought it not ofmuch importance
"l'ich construction was adopted; but stated the |
caSonS that induced him to bel eve the constrnc.
W." give ny lhe attorney general toe true one |
VT VI compared the terms of the several acts IN
u'iS SUBJECT to establish what he believed the |
proper construction and to shew that Mr.. Claws |
could not be sustained va Oi'9
Mr' UTght thought it entirely unnecessary 70 |
ABOUT the construction of the late law. |
congress had voted to its members n certain an |
. uai compensation which might be viewed in the
HBht Vi acontinSent fund, and it was perfectly |
competent for Congress 10 direct in what way |
and IN what proportions, that comnensat,on |
should be drawn, sc.
"e committee then agreed to the amendment
proposed by Mr. Clay, and flied the blank in the
bill accordingly lam ~ 'ie
w u the exception of some observations made |
oy tir' 9e'eiH TO an appropriation for additional
oio No iIr one OF the departments, the commit
the bill, until '''''6" N'e
Mr. Jackson moved to insert clause onnro
PPrlatng $4,000 dollars out Of the fund set spar
'Or uiSt purpose, for carrying on the great wes
eIl road from Cumberland Ia Ohio
1,. o amendment was earnestly opposed bv Mr.
oaS'C" on the ground that it was improncr IN
u INTO an ordinary bill, an appropriation
ior All oDJect which had not been authorised b,
W. ~ 80 :" support OF his proposition
VII clted arecent course pursued by the com
mlt,ee OF ways aud Means, who although aware
OF the necessity of protecting an island whereon
an important light house was placed CGuIl Is.
land) from the encroachments ofthe sea. did mot
thihk u proper to resort to the slovenlr mode orI
inserting an appropriation for that purpose in the
Dii now under consideration but instructed i,g
ol,1i. i,iau 70 move that the committee of com
Iherce and manufactures be previously J,rectsIl
TO enquire into the propriety of the expend;ture
and TO report thereon. Mr. G.. said the cbects
upon the disbursements Of the government were
already few enough, and they ought not to he
further diminished by this house, &c.