Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1822-04-09

c;'mo'd the peak and found i, soon,
lump Office in the clear cold moon
oan YOU IT'S hidden sense mparte
Twas a cheerful ook-anSl q broken ksaY
'ChaT'eStHn Co,Viey.l r.
cz~.aszs.r.-.a-..---s.--------
REPORT
" me SFicc committee TO ,rhich rus referred ON N,
-'sf "pimo ttro reports Of lie Secreiru orthe Tret
Smrn, uPon he subject Of The examination ote LINN
Cgces IN Ohio Indiana, Winois, .Hissoari lsa III.
Cigar.
MARCH -, 1892
lead, and ordered 10 lie omthe table
inc Committee, TO whom was referred the several
communications Of the Secretary of the Treasury
o' ne 9Th J"n'ary, and 18th OF February, 1922
~ obedience Ia two several resolutions of the
House Of Representatives OF the 4tl January. aud
- February, 1922, respecting the m amer in
which the several Land Offices have been rxan,in-
90, Ivy whom examined, and The MONEYS maid for
S"ch cxann"o'ion &c; having examined the sub
!ect submitted 10 them with great deliberations
make the fol owing REPORT,
ih'', 'y the laws Of the United States, il is made
me duty nj the Secretary of the Treasury to cause
80 'eS' one" every year, the hooks OF the Office rs OF
me iard Offices Ia he examined aud the bnlauce of
public moneys IN The hand, OF the several receivers
.. public moneys of the said Offices, to he asc.ra.ned
Iha' previous 10 the year 1916 tais examination had
been made iIy persons ,es;ny In ibe v,,.u;,v NJ ,I
respective offices but, in progress of lime the arc
"e"Uh ~ we receipts from these offices rendo red
more 'nIo "a''o" necessary, and gave .npni taio
20 me eSamhation, which il had previously pos
>csScti These circumstances proved the made
9."cv ~ fhe old system, and in 1916 induced the late
ur. Dns, Then Secreiaiy oi The Treasury, 10 direc
we examination Ia he made Ivy one OF the clerks of
tie G+neru Land Office who was also permitred IN
make similar examination in 1917 and received
i'r s SERVICES ~ each year, the rate of SO per
',y W a,dnon to hrs salary rs clerk. That since
VI" year iHi', Tie examination has been nnde bv
.person> disconnected with the Department. and who
nave received for their services AT the rate of &c per
'i" VA, a.d Sc for every 70 miles travel.
. That, III The yegr 1921, Jesse b. Thomas Eso n
senator oi The United States, 1iom Illinois was ner-
united 10y the Secretary of the Treasury TO examine
me Offices IN Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri
."r wnlch, rs appears Ly tile documents before the
committee, lie receiveda sum amounting Ia the al
!owlnce which has been established since. the wear
1871. hat The principal induccment TO permit the
s'"i Jesse IS homas TO make the examinations as
s.ucu ny ne Secretary Of the Treasury appears 10
nave hec0 an expectation that he would be cunble,
I" secure 10 The United States a large amount of
p"h,e money IN the Bank Of Vinceunes AT the time
thaI bank stopped payment, which service he per-
i"rmed; an'i Tor which he has not received or de-
mar'ied any compensaiion
although the committee consider the duiy Of suq-
ges''nS OF rec ommcnding any alteration IN the mode
OF examining the land offices, to be properly within
The province Of The Committee on Public Lands TO
WHOM fl's part Of the subject naturally refers itself
'nfy are nevertheless free to declare as their op
nlon that The public intcr ST does not require any
1917. '"''0
4 he committee presume, however, that this was
the least important object OF the reference of The
tnat ihey should consider and report upon the effect
o permitting Jesse Il Thomas, Esq Senator of Inc
Chi'ed states, 10 examine the said Offices, in 1891
W wren n been supposed tl,at both the constu.
20" oi me united States, and the act of Congress
zoos, have been violated
although the committee freely admit the mower
ana jurisdiction OF the House OF REPRESENTATIVES In
guard the purity Of our institutions from violations
W'"c u IS I've peculiar province Of Congress or of
We pcope 70 punish or remedy they cannot recog
"@, '!'"e' Us Jnsicc or dignity, IN conducting tx
pa u Investigations into breaches of inhy penal STA
tHes, aid Tie commission OF msde eanors amen,hIe
ny ihe davis 10 different tribunal Such prece,ents
''9ht letj ~ worse tines, tocnnsepWences Of r.,-
NOUS aud most troublesome character They mnht
nc used 10 authorize Congress become the exposi-
TORS OF uleir own laws or improperly 10 throw the
Welgh OF their opinion into the deliberations of the
ir9'umate tribunals They would be very apt 10 he
seized upon 10 produce public Excitement and he
vld,tal rcsen.imenls
At TIE sane Time, the committee would net he I'm.
deIsiuod IS .eCfibDg the present investigation 10
81 u motives, and as well on this account as from
just sense oil The policy of our institutions and te
character OF the individuals concerned they submit
70 tue iiJnSe The general views which they arc con-
Strained 10 entertain
lhe Committee cleary of opinion that the exa
Io'n"on OF he land Offices by Jesse e. fhonr,@, esq
was not Violation Of the constitution Of the United
States
That instrument ferlids the appointment of pem
ber5 0l Congress- during the tme for which, fEey were
elected, TO any civ Office, crcaicd, or the emoIr-
Diogis whereof shall have. been increased durino
'ia' 'me hnd, Also prerents any person holding an
once v1df the government from being Il member OF
'%,5ng e,s during his continuance in Office
nc o'gsct vas take from Congress the means
~ "u"cemtht OF creating place or en1Iumept for
bm%e"eS and thereby quad the rights asd interes SIS
- i"s people from tbe eucroaclment oi Executive
- yer he committee the advocates OF dis uo.
Iias and Would be ho last to weaken lis influence In
tno government. But The case Of Mr. Thoirns il
te,t! " MOI wiHH The words tire spirit OF the first
"h" u could be considered as pmbraced in tie l,t.
'er ch'"se, MS appointment would, neycrhcless, be
CON 'utuhDii since only the holding in-om,a tiIie
oice. at the s'uue time - prohibited, win which
'Je" 'he any prtctice Of the government from, it,
ORGANIZATION ~ ~ sttIrt conformity. ln fact fhe
IOdsfess vi the United states has hjilerfo been tc
''ife y" WINCH me alilrst mon Of country have
come distinguished Tor ticrvFfuc aud intelligence
dDd recommended themselves 10 tie bio,,est Lon,r
'"" i'iees w iic government. The slime theatre
Its i"t'uFcd ihrd eXppffence, md conducted oar
b''t'si sHiesi"rn 90 tEc Jxscniyc aud judicial De-
F'' "ne'"s ~ home, aud 90 fJreign courts abroad
wiz cu'l "iy1ni.5. TO uie ornament and real in.
e!<sis VI tie nation
Il, tacrciofe tierc could d. such mn incomp,f;ll.
~ 's IS imagined, IL Nfoald then reOl,c i,.al( irt
Use y'"sion. whether Ar. Thomas, nv acccptipy t,c
"l"'"''mr NJ bad ytc't ms seal ~ lie Senate and
he i.s ,ssrd % icdtef
,b", y"n Dm'uec OF opinion, that tie dnty 1
OF eyaminf,g the md Oaccs j.. bot such IN o,ticc ~
rs cDHtcmp'aej by t.ie constitution Of die United
o'"'e' "dch ormipD seems 20 have received the |
i1io", az" regulated te pfacfige Of tlle govern
ment snce .he ad1ption 81 M consiiimion y tfoso
W" nof 1focPn share Nv Comprising Il asd |
'""', - &c supposed to have underssood its
10 ep;nueeo refer to the appointment If Mr.
'aeg' P" senator o. thc United sstUs, 10y PresiGcn.