Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-05-04

Foot, ofConn. calling on the President ofthe
| United States for information 10 relation to the
| plans oil forilication now pursued by govern
| ment, was taken up.
Mr.. Cooke suggested that the inquiry ought
TO be- further extended, and wished that the
resolution should be laid on the table one day
| more that II might be modified.
Mr.. Foot not acceding TO this suggestion.
MIR. Cooke then moved TO lay the resolution
| ON the table: which motion was carried.
Various local and private engrossed bills
were read third time, PASSED, and sent To
| the Senate for concurrence.
The following Message was received from
the President of the United States, by MIR.
Everett his private Secretary.
TO The House Of Representatives..
Inc tfouse ot Representatives having refer
RED back, the accounts and claims OF Daniel ID.
fompkins, late Governor Of New York, To be
settled, on the principles established by the re-
pert oil the committee, and law founded on ii,
IN tne last session, have re-considered the
subject, and now communicate the result.
BY the report of the committee, which il
was understood was adopted by the House,
it was decided, that his accounts and claims
sii-uld be settled on the four following princi-
plies
First, That interest should he allowed him
on all money advanced by him for the public,
from the time of the advance to that of his being
reimbursed.
Second, That reasonable commission
should be allowed him, on all moneys disburs-
ed ny him during the late war.
Third, That an indemnity should be allow
ed him for all losses which he has sustained
by the failure of the government to fulfil its
engagements to send him money or Treasury
Notes within the time specified, To be drpos
- In faIp han 4
loans procured by him, at the request, and Oil
account of, the government.
Fourth, That he should not he held respsn-
sble for losses incurred by The frauds and
failures OF agents, 10 whom moneys we've
ad 'anced through his hands.
On the frst That of interest on his adj
| vances for the public, | have allowed him
S l4,43S 68. This allowance is made on adj
vances admitted by the Accounting Depart
| ment, and on the declaration of Mr. Tomp-
klns, that the remttances made TO him after
his advances, and previous TO the Gath of De-
cemher, 1914, when very large sum of mo-
ney was RENTED 10 him, were applied I'd rub.
lie purposes, and not to the reimbursement OF
his advances.
On the second head: That of reasonable
commission for his disbursements during the
late war, have above him five per cent on
the whole sum disbursed by him, amounting
to nlnety-two thousand two hundred and thir-
| teen dollars and thirteen cents. have made
him this extra allowance 10 consideration of
the aid which he afforded 10 the government
at that important epoch, in obtaining the loan
of considerable part of the sums thus dis
bursed.
On the third head That of an indemnity
for losses sustained by him in consequence of
the failure of the government to fulfil its en-
Uun ionic fFNc
Notes within the time specified, | have allow
ed him s4,41l 25, being the amount of the
loss sustained on the sale of Treasury Notes,
for which he is responsible.
! On the 4ih head, that Of losses sustained by
him, by any frauds or failures of sub-agents,
none such having been shewn, no allow ance
whatever has been made TO him.
From the amount thus allowed TO Mr..
Tompkins, after deducting the sum paid him,
under the act of the present session, and the
moneys charged to his account, there will re-
main balance due him Of &C, 2S9 46, as APP
pears by the sketch herewith communicated
| In making final decision MIR. Tump-
kns'S claims, question arises, Shall interest
be allowed him on the amount Of the con
mission on his disbursements? The law of
the last session grants TO the President pow
er TO allow interest on moneys advanced by
him to the public, but does not authorize il on
tho co m mission 10 be allowed on his dIsburse
ments. To make such allowance brloDgs
exclusively to Congress. Had his claims been
settled at the end of the last war, on the prin-
ciiples established by the law of the last SEES
sion, commission on disbursements would
then have been allowed him. This conside-
ration operates with great force, in favor of
the allowance Of interest on that commission.
at this time, which ! recommend TO Congress
| think proper to add that the official rplntiun
which bore to Governor Tompkins, at that
very interesting epoch, under the highly dis
tinguished and meritorious citizen under whom
we both served, enabling me TO feel very sen-
slbIy the value of his ser, ices, excites a very
strong interest in his favor, which deem it
not improper to express.
JAMES MONROE.
April %, 1924.
The Message was read, and ordered to be
laid on the table.
And then the House adjourned.