Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-02-14

! ~ OF Inc treasury anu Tie Attorney zen
eral) 1.-THE amount OF the public deb
on The first day OF the present year stands
al 99,0o4, 500 dollars 81 cents.
A report was received from the Score
tary Of War, in pursuance ola resolution
ofilis house, transmitting a statement o
the accounts OF Mai. General Arthur ST
Clair With the government.
4 report was received from the Com
missioner of Claims for The loss OF proper.
I ~, OF the facts in the case of john Chai.
merS, of the city of Washington, with the
evidence accompany which was re-
terred 10 the committee OF claims.
| And then, probably on account of ihe
| excessive cold, which made ii inconvcni-
eni to attend properly 10 business, The
house adjourned nj an early hour.
TUESDAY, FEB. 10.
Mr.. 'S;0skinS from South Carolina, APP
pearc'i Yesterday, was qualified and took
PRESIDENTS HOUSE.
The following Message was received
from tho President Of the United States
by MIR. J. j. Monroe:
To hs Sendts and House OF Representatives Of
the United States.
as the house appropriated for the President
OF HE United states will be haished this year,
IL is ihongl.t 30 raert the attention nfCongress
in what mannerit should be furnished and what
measures ought To he adopted for the safe
Keeping of the furniture in future. All the
public furniture provided before 1871, having
been destroyed with the public building in
that year, and little afterwards procured,
owing TO the inadequacy OF the appropriation.
II has become necessary 10 provide almost
every article requisite tor such an establish
ineiit whence, the sum TO be expended will
be much greater than at any former period.-
The furniture, III its kind and extent, is tho't
Ia be an object not less deserving attention
no h.all i'm IN Ia l. &c my. ttssI
Both being national objects, each seems to
have an equal claim 10 Legislative SANCTION.
The disbursement OF the public money, too.
ought, il is PRESUMED, TO he IN like manner
provided FOR by law. The persons who NAV
happen to lac placed, by the suffrage of hi,
fellow citizeiis IN this high trust, haviu" no
personal interest IN these concerns, should be
exempted ii ON undue responsibility respecting
them.
For building 50 extensive. intended fora
purpose exclusively national, in which, in The
furniture provided for TIA mingled regard is
due 10 the simplicity and purity of our inStitu.
tions, and To the character OF the people who
arc represented in ii, the sum already ap-
propriaied has proved aIlogethe Inadequate
The present IS, therefore, proper time for
Congress 10 take the subject inio cOnsidera-
ton, with view 10 all the objects claiming
attention, aad In regulate il by law. On a
knowledge OF Tie furniture procured. and the
sum expended for il, Il just estimate may he
formed, regarding the extent Of the bniltinc,
OF what will still be wanting To furnish The
House. Many of The articles being Of a dnrsl-
BILE natnre may be handed down through u
LONG series of service ; and bein. Of great
value, such as plate, ouc hi not To he lct alto
sst'ler, and at all times, to the care of servants
alone. Ii seems to he advisable that a public
agent should he charged with il during the
occasional absences of the President, and
have authority 10 transfer il from one Prcsi-
dent TO another, and likewise TO make reports
of Occasional deficiencies, as the basis on which
further provision should be made.
Ii may also merit consideration, whether il
may not be proper TO commit the OF the
public buildings, particularly the Presidents
House aud the Capitol, with the grounds be-
longing TO them, including likewise the furni-
t1re OF the latter, IN more especial manner,
10 public agent. Hitherto The charge of this
valuable property seems TO have been connect
ed with the structure OF the buildings and
committed 10 those employed in H. This
guard Will necessarily cease when the build
mgs are finished, at which time the interest in
them will be proportionably augmented. 1t is
presumed that this trust is, in certain degree
al least, incidental 10 the other duties OF the
superintendent of the public buildings but il
may mcri; consideration whether it will not
be proper 10 charge him with il more eXpii.
city, aud TO give him authority 10 employ one
or more persons under him, for these purpo-
ses.
JAMES MONROE.
Washington FEB. 10, 1918.
The message was read and referred TO
the committee of the whole 10 whom is
referred the bin to provide for erecting
additional buildings for the accommodate
ton Of the several Observation-Disclosures.
On motion of Mir. A. Smyth, il was
R.Solred, That the committee the post
Office and post roads be imstrncteG to enquire
into the expectancy of allowing the post mas
ter AZ w ythe court house 10 employ 4 clerk.
On motion of MIR. Beecher, il was
Reso!ced, That the committee on the post
Office and post roads he instructed 10 enquire
iut u he axn nf pe tab iish "A nad
from Columbus, Ohio, by Urbana, Champaign
county, Troy, Miami county, to the seat of jus.
tice in Dark county; and also be instructed to
enquire into the expediency of establishing a
post road from Granville, Licking county,
OHIO, by .Iohnstown, Leesburg, Berkshire 10
WOrthingtOu, Franklin county.
On motion of Mr.. Pitkin, it was
ResOirfd, That the committee of ways and
diency of making provision by Jaw for extend
ing the term of credit for duties OH articles inn
ported from the West Indies
On motion of Mr.. PindaH, it was
Resolrcd, That tue committee on the post
Office and post roads be instructed to enquire
into the eXpediency of establishing post road
from Wheeling, i'll Virginia, 10 Washington, in
Pennsylvania.
On motion of Mr.. UopkmSon, il was
Resoired, That the committee on the Judi.
ciary be directed to enqGire into the expedi-
ency of increasing the salaries of the Judges Of
the Supreme Court Of tie United States
The Speaker laid before the House a
letter from the Commissioner Of The Pub
lie Buildings in the City of Washington,
enclosing copy of one Of the original
deeds of conveyance TO tie trustees ofihe
United States, for the grounds i'll the
| said city, and copies of the correspon-
dence relating to the location of the public
offices on the Presidents Square which
was referred to Tie committee Of the
whole, 10 whom the Presidents IN ssage