The Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1822-1822, 1822-04-25
Congressional Proceedings.
From the National lntelAgemcer.
FRIDAY, APRIL 10.
IN SENATE.

IN SENATE.
The following Message. was received
from the President of the United States
by MIR. Gouverneur, his private Secre-
tary,
communicate 10 the Senate copies
of sundry papers, having relation to
transactions in East and West Florida,
which have been received at the Depart.
ment of State since my message to the
two Houses of Congress of the 2Sth of
January last, togetherwith copies of two
letters from the Secretary OF State up
on the same subject.
JAMES MONROE.
Washington, 18th April, 1922.
The message was read, and, with the
accompanying documents, ordered to
be printed.
The resolution yesterday submitted by
Mr.. Morril, was taken up, and then or
dered to be laid on the table.
The Senate then resumed as in COM
mittee of the whole, Mr.. Chandler in
the chair, the consideration of the ap-
preparation bill for the civil list; the
question being on the amendment pro-
posing to extend to the military ap-
propriatioD bill heretofore passed, the
provision prohibiting the payment Of
the salary Of any person while he shall
appear to be in arrears to the United
States. The amendment to the provi.
sion was adopted without division.
Mr. Eaton thought the proviso in the
bill altogether inexpedient, and would
prefer to strike it out; but believing that
would not be acceded to, he should make
no such attempt, but be satisfied with
an endeavor to qualify it. AS It stood.
it amounted to declaration that there
was no honesty amongst the public off,
GERS of this governments charge he
was unwilling to make, for the reason
that he did not think it was deserved
The provision, in its operation, would.
he thought, produce much injury; off,
GERS of the army and navy on distant
service, might not be able to settle their
accounts within the period limited by
law; the abduction of vouchers could a.
lone remove the debit resting against
them; and, until this was done. their ga
larry or pay could not be received by
their families. He said the black book
as it was usually called, was very sof-
fic.ent argument against the provision
as it stood. Last year the balances re-
,por,ed amounted to Is millions Of dol.
lars; and, although during the last year
10 millions of this had been settled,
there had been paid the inconsiderable
sum of 100000 Under the operation
of this bill, none of those charged as de-
faulters could have received any salary
due them, although upon settlement
scarcely any thing was found to be due.
He therefore moved to amend the pro-
vision SO as to apply to arrears which
shall "arise under any judgement had
against the party; or where the balance
is ascertained to be justly and equitably
due.'
A debate ensued on this and other
mendments, which continued about
three hours.
Mr.. Lloyd, whose object was to OBJ.
tain payment of the public money. mo
we'd to modify Mr. Eaton's amendment,
conformably to what he had suggested
previously, but the modification was ne
gatived-ayes IA. noes IA.
The question was then taken on Mr..
Eaton's and decided in the negative, as
follows: yeas l9, nays 81.
Mr.. Lloyd then moved to amend the
provision to read as follows:
That no money appropriated by this
act, shall be paid to any person for his
compensation who is debtor to the u.
nited States, on an account stated and
admitted, or on judgment, until such
person shall have paid into the Treasu-
ry, or secured to be paid into the Trea
sury, In such manner as the President
may direct and approve, all sums for
which he may be so indebted.
The question was taken, without de.
bate, on agreeing to this amendment,
and was negarived, by yeas and nays;
yeas l9, nays %.
On motion of Mr.. Holmes, of Ma. the
provision was amended so as to limit its
operation to those who have been for
one gear in arrears-ayes Is.
Mr.. Findly, in answer to those who
had said this was novel principle, sta
ted that the principle had been in oper
alton several years in Pennsylvania; that
when adopted there, it was objected to
for reasons similar to those used by its
opponents on the present occasion; but