Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-01-19
ALEXANDRIA:
.a0.s.D.iT, LsA-UiRF 70 1873
FROM suR ooRRssroxoEST At WASH
IS6TeN.
INGTBN.

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| ssse} Of ssaessins -bieh fell 10 The
course Il the exanipstiea d witness
in the case Il col. Andersen On Tours
d.r, a sOng eonversa,ion tock place yes
terday on tse subject ofrhe clerks IN the
several departments Il the executive go
vernuent Il Vas suggested that sou'e
Of them we're eaPleyed IS agents Tor per-
sons haviag claims on gcvernnest. Mr..
Holmes, Of Mass. efered for TIE adoption
OF the hssse Q resolution that csuuat-
tee shosl be appointed TO enquire whe-
tier sn,, asd, If any, vhat clerks IN e.
tser OF the departments had CONDUCTED
tkenselrs. Improperly in their Shcisi
duties
Mr.. CSlson said that he did intesd to
vOre for ssne measure Of this kind on
the suggestions which had been csop'
yesterday respecting Mr.. Edwards; baf
as Edwards s,s usw fJsod not 10 De ORe
of the CLERKS, and a. be saw no grOands
To- saspieior. be weaN vote against the
resolution
Mr.. Tainaiss was 10 favor ef the re-
seszuoa, no; because he believed The ru-
msrs which prevailed, but because, ss
sueA rsnss we're .aOat, he taosghs they
Oosh, in justice to be .nquned int,
nv. Csnsork said that so far n DC
knew. tbe conduct o. tn. clerks vas cor
sect, bot rs sssPieioCs had gone abroad,
be thought the matter osgat to &c invest
gated.
Mr.. Cslsfos said that bare sospieioa
ves GO ground for 80 b Dad resolution
Mr.. Paris said that be often fo1nd
tAe heads Of departments in the ohess
fan kosr before the subordinate clerks;
some Of whom were frequently absent
xbo!e d.ys.
Mr.. S:0r7s thought frat the enquiry
should be eonhpsd to the precise case
complained Of, and, therefore, Proeosed
an amendment 10 make the enquiry
q vhssbsr clerks had received any com
pensshon beyond shat is prescribed b.
law"
Gsnfra, Harrisoa thought tat the
heads Of departments ought to be Ioeiu-
ded in the e quiry. Is they were more to
blzms than the clerks themselves for their !
misconduct.
.Nr. Ross thought there vas great dan
ger IN clerks being permitted to receive
pay as agents to persons having claims,
Is they might nisrepresent cases to their
principals. He had heard it said that
clerks did receive payment for agency
he vr against the amendment
Mr.. Paris agreed with gen. Harrison |
that j. va, the duty Of the heads Of de-
partmeats to see that the clerks did their
business and were out Of the way Of cor /
ruP.ion, and, therefore, be vas against |
the amendment
.Nr. Holmes opposed the amendment, !
ard sid j. vas 20 time TO be delicste.-
If honest, the persons would be glad OF
euqsiry.
Mr.. C0rsoek was against the amend
ment.
Mr.. Lorndes said he thought it but !
fair 10 mention that the secretaries Of the |
departments yer. celebrating upon the
subject Of forbiddiug the clerks to engage |
- agents. He believed that permission |
hsd been given to them to act as agents |
upon 4 persuasion that it would be Of use !
to the citizens who employed them; and
he had reason to believe that the rumors !
which had gone abroad had already had q
preventive eject upon some Of those per.
sons.
Nr. Stsrs' amendment was negatived
80 that the question was again on the
reselatioa.
Nv. PisdsR opposed it. II would. If
sdspted. have the effect to impair sxeeu-
i've responsibility-isr If they vrestsd
tbs isquisitorial power from the hasds Of
the executive. the executive, Of course,