Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-01-29

J me tOp0grapnNai Co'P'
,ly in a state of war, and th,t they would
.nsequently not be requisite in peace es'
.,lishmeu.; Directing particularly to the
rn,ber now in service. which equai'ed Inc
hole number in service during the late
,ar, &c,
Mr.. Mercer went into further exposition
his viws in defence of the typographical
orps, and in reply to Mr. Hardin.
The question being taken on MIR. Mercer,
nendpent, il was decided in the negative,
yithout count.
Mr. Smith, of Maryland, then renewed
smotion, TO retain one hall OF the topogra-
aical engineers.
Mr.. Brush spoke in reply TO Mr., msllary,
regard TO the relative duties OF engineers
nd Typographical eng inesrs, to she" mat
is conclusions were not accurate, and 10
hew The great utility the duties OF the
after corps as well as the former and to
atain at least part Of the Typographical
,.orps, even at the expense Of part OF the en-
rineers themselves that to have perfect
.ystem, a part Of each corps ought TO be re-
aimed, and not any one sacrificed entirely.
Mr.. Smiths amendment was also negatis.
ID ayes 80.
Mr.. Common moved to amend the 7th Sec
ion, so as to make the same allowance OF
hree onths extra pay to the disbanded non
commissioned officers. musicians and pri-
Yates, as is provided for disbanded officers.
After some little discussion, this motion
vas lost without division.
Mr. Baldwin moved t. amend the bill so
- to allow salary of three thousand, intead
Of two thousand dollars, to the commissary
general OF purchases, and followed bis mo-
lion with such remarks against reducing, Gas
| the bill propoeed)ths salary OF an officer
whose duties were 50 important and had been
| so ably and faithfully discharged as they had
been by the officer now in service.
Mr.. Eustis added bis opinion that the sum
Of s. 900 was not more than an adequate sa-
larry for this officer. He as fully deserved
this sum, from the nature of his duties, aud
the fidelity of their execution, as any labor
er was worth dollar day.
Mr.. Cooke argued. from the duties Incl.
dent TO this Office, which he detailed 10 the
committee. that the sum of 2 900 dollars a
year was an adequate compensation con'i-
/ - =, tL,t
Engaged in other business OF bis own, &c. ,
Mr.. Sergeant supported the motion, from
convic ton Of its justice, derived from per-
sonal knowledge of the entire and exclusive
devotion Of the present commissary general
Of purchases in the discharge Of his duties.
| Mr.. Smith, Of Maryland, said, 8 900 dol.
srs was the sum originally given to this Of
6cer. and argued that il reduction OF it
should drive the present officer, now fully
experienced in bis duties, from the service,
it would probably be extremely deirime ntal
TO the service; he disbursed perhaps mil.
hon of dollars annually. and 5000 dollars
was a very low commission on the amount
of the disbursement bis duties were also
multiiarinus and laborious; and his salary
ought TO be such as not TO drive him TO other
means of support, if not from service in
iced if he were to engage IN private busi-
ness, he ought not to be retained in the pub.
lie service, &c.
Mr.. Williams, of N. Carolina, was averse
to arguing thus ad honinem. The salary
OF this officer was no more than 5000 dollars
during the war, when his duties were much
greater, and Mr.. w. thought the diminished
duties of peace establishment made COR
respondent reduction Of salary equitable and
proper, &c.
Mr.. Rich was opposed TO reducing the
salary OF any particular cficer-he was will
ling to 60 into the subject Of general re-
duction of salaries but, until then, would
not consent to single out particular case.
He was, therefore, in favor Of The amend
ment.
Mr.. Foot hoped then that this subject
would Le laid by for the present, and the
subject ofsalaries taken up, in which case,
be trusted, that of the commissary general
purchases would not be the only one Ie-
duced.
MIR. Smith. of Maryland. remarked
in reply to Mr.. Williams that this sa-
larry was fixed at 5000 long before the
late war; and during that war he had
| MANY IDENTITIES tn Assist him.