Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-02-03
Congressional Proceedings.
FROM TIE NATIONAL lsTELLlcEscER.
IN THE SENATE.

dietary, obtained leave to be discharged
from the further consideration OF the petition
of John Bioren and Fielding Lucas, Book
sellers; aud also (after some discussion or
the practicable of maturing any thing on
so intricate subject during the present ses'
sioh) from the further consideration OF the
enquiry referred to that committee, into the
expediency of diminishing, equaising and
establishing the fees OF district attorneys
clerks, and marshals, and other officers.
The following message was received from
the president of the United States, by Mr.
Gouverneur, his private secretary:
To the Senate Of the United States:
transmit TO congress report from the
secretary Of the treasury, submitting copies
of the instructions given to the commission
ers appointed under the act of the 18th oil
May, authorizing the location of road from
Wheeling, in the state of Virginia to point
on the Lett bank of the Mississippi river, be-
tween ST. Louis and the mouth Of the ILL.
nois river; and copies Of the report made oy
the said commissioners to the treasury de-
parlment, of the progress they have made
in the execution ofthe duties prescribed by
the said act; together with maps OF the coun-
try through which the location is to be made.
JAMES MONROE.
Washington, Jan. 81, 1891.
The message was read, and, with the &C
companylng papers, was referred to the com.
mittee on roads and &c nails.
Mr.. Dana, from the select committee ap-
pointed to enquire into the propriety of re-
ducing the compensation of the members OF
congress, and also the salaries of the princi-
pal and other officers Of the executive de-
partments, at the seat of government, stated
that the committee had made all the neces-
sary enquiries, and collected all requisite in
formation from the different departments
comprehended in the scope of their enquiry,
from the year 1870 to the year 1890; that
the committee had duly deliberated on the
whole matter referred to them, and that not
being able to agree on any specific report,
embracing any system or measure OF reduc-
ton. partial or general, it only remained 10
state this fact to the senate, which he was
instructed 10 do, and ask to be discharged
from the further consideration ofthe subject
that the senate might be enabled thus early
to take such further order on il as should to
it appear expedent.
A good deal OF debate arose on the ques.
tion of thus discharging the committee from
the subject.
1t was opposed by Messrs. Roberts anC
Smith. chiefly on the ground that, as spe
ci6c enquiry had been referred, a specific
report, either for or against the object
ought to be made; that this mode OF dispo
sing of such an enquiry was an innov atior
on legislative custom, that. as the chairman
had, with great in dustry, collected mas
of information on the subject. ii was prope
to submit it to the senate, with an opinion
no matter how concise, of the committee
that, as the committee had cone to deci.
ion on the subject mat er referred to them
that decision ought to be reported, DC DC
Mr.. Macon thought the documents, at any
rate, ought to be laid before the senate
that it might have the same light on the sub
| ject as the committee had.
The motion to discharge the committee
was supported by Messrs. Dana, Stokes. 0
It's, and Johnson, of Ky. for the reasons gen
orally, that, as the committee could agre
upon no plan of reduction, they could conn
to no practical conclusion, and therefor
could make no specific report or recommen
dalton; that the committee had tried tb
question on one salary and amount OF com
pensation after another, but majority coul
rot unite on any one point of reduction; tia
the information possessed by the committe
| would be land was after the discussion com
| mencedl laid before the senate; that tn
mode now proposed. Of discharging com
mittee which could do nothing, was the mo:
proper, under the circumstances, the mos
parliamentary and logical; that there wa
an incongruity in committees reporting
expedient 10 do nothing; that it would b
competent still for any gentleman, who Wa
dissatisfied with the result, to make any spe
ciic motion for reduction in any branch {
the government. &c
The question being taken on dischargin
| Al .a,o;t,.. from tho firth ~ conc ia O. p, tio