Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-03-23

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of Washington, Only $1,000 oft, he believed, ever
reached the Treasury, aud that has sooner got in
than we have plan Ia diaw " out again.
MIR. CUsHaaN replied To MIR. Corka. ile had
not sad, we have IN ''overfnwtng Treasury, There
we're, he believed, about six milhons IN the Treasu-
w. aud the sun, he prounsed tn draw from IT, for the
poruro, was only $4,000 which would not make
grea, hole IN u. As To what had fallen irou, the
gentleman IN relation TO his speech he did not pro-
Tess To deal in VIII and therefore he should not at
tempt answer il. lie was plain man. and aimed
only nj speaking common sensc. In relation TO the
particular iiem under consideration, lac said he tho
the cnzeHs Of Washington had expended much
both of money and Labor, tn improve their city and
to mmodate the members of Congress; and, ms
they had To make these walks in front of their owH
properly it was ft that Government should do rs
much foI property which belonged TO the public.
Mr.. Buck of Vermont, wished TO know whether
the $4,000 referred to Us proceeds o sales, still
IN the hands Of the Commissioner, has been paid
INTO the Treasury ia the former case, let the Com
missioner Sppy NJ TO this object in the lat
ter, we must nut an appropriation ior INTO the hill
The Object nj TIC appropriation now under considc
ratiop, Mr.. y. thought, was proper one.
MIR. TAYLOR called for the reading Of ~ staeme nj
FROM " Bnrchs Digest" shelving how The moneys,
from the snle of public properly in Washington, had
been applied. The statement was read, from which
II appears that The money had been expended I'm
building The Capitol, &c.
Mr.. MERCER Of Virginia, agreed with the gentle
s'an from Vermont, (Mr. Buck,) that the whole
question was whether the money still remained the
hands oi The Commissioner, or special appropria-
ton necessary This, the gentleman from Ten
nessee (Air. Cocke) had not ;old the House. Mr.
VI also suggested that the charter, granted TO the
City, ought TO I've examined, see how far Congress
has bound itself 10 improve the ground in iron, cf
public properly. IL still holds, he believed, 5000
uIs ~ the CITY, the extent OF whose fronts would
probably amount to thirty miles. Mr. NJ entirely
conceded in the sentiment Of the honorable gentle
man from Nlaine that there not the least ound
OF complaint against the inhabitants Of Washington
they were not his cons'ituenis-he had no more in
teresi IN them than other genticmen-hut he sympa
,hised with them, from The bottom of his soul, in the
burdens they had TO sustain, and he thought they
had shewn enterprise IN improving the civ
highly honorable To their character, aud emitting
them TO The consideration of Congress, their ONLY
guardians.
The question was then taken on this item Of an
preparation, and IL carried in the affirmative
On the clause introduced Ivy Mr.. Cooke, which
ptov'ues that no person receiving an annual salary
from the United States, shall receive any thing in
addition thereto iur any service whatever, by way uf
perquisic extra cOmpen saiion except fees Of Of
ice established by law, debate arose, which, oc-
casionally, grew very warm.
On the suggestion Of Mr.. FORSYTH Of Georgia the
provso was modified hy the addition of the word
official TO make il read for any oiiiciul SER
vice., sc.
MIR. Cook Of Illinois, OF opinion that The pro-
viso, as modified, was a bad one, and, without the
notifications, very had one. II he uuds rstood lis
operation, it would he TO prevent any person. hold
tng an office, such, for Instance, "a Governor of
Territory, from being temporarily employed 10 dis
charge any other function 10 which emOlument was
ai,ached-such for example, MS ne g0iiating an In
dian Irea'y-alhough that person nisbr, Of all 9th
ers, be the hest fitted 10 discharge that duly.
NJ. FoRs"TH replied, in explanation. that the
pro'iso would not have this operation. Il applied
o"iy 10 The receiving OF extra pay perpuisites for
the discharge OF duties which belong to the very Of
nee held, aud not TO those OF another Office.
MIR. Cook thought it would he found TO bear on
part OF The system now sanctioned for the conipcnsa
ton oil The ofcers of the navy, and some of those
OF the ARMY also.
MIR. CocKE explained, that it could touch none of
those persons as they did not receive " an annual
salary, bot monthly pay aud perqusi'es, aud even
those latter we're all regulated hy law.
Mr.. Cook rejoined. He still thought il would
prevent the temporary employment Of sdIar.ed per-
sous in the discharge Of other duties, unless they
would consent 10 perform tie duty for nothing.
MIR. CoCEE thought i, was strange that The MEM
hei from Illinois should be jealous this subject,
when he had formerly been equally jealous in oppos
ing n measure oi the kind he now advocates, IN re-
ation to the investigation of the affairs of certain
land othccs IN his state.
MIR. Cook repealed The insnuaiion. The member
from Tennessee talked, usual, about what he did
not undersiandiut he had heen in the habit of do.
ing Tins so frequently, thai the House had given him
sort Of prescrpive right 10 sneak about matters of
which lie was ignorant. Yet The member ought not
to mslead The House points Of facts which he did
moi understand Mr.. CUuk then explained the cir
cUmsiancfs 10 Which The gentleman from, Tennessee
had ni'rded, aud defed and invited scrurny.1 lie
insisted that the proviso could he productive of 10
economy for, as these extra duties must he per
paid for performing them, all that this proviso would
do, would he 10 tie The hands Of The President from
employing the most suitable person TO perform them
because such person might happen TO enjoy an annu-
~ siiary, iOI something else, not incompatible its
nature.
Mr.. CocKE replied, and declared that his only OH
Jeci, and The only effect of The prOvsO wonld be "a
cut of Prerequisites, which rested on custom and moi
on law, from certain snlaried officers who now re-
ceiysd them BY This Ire believed the public good
woulo he promoted, which was his sole inducemeni
~ offering the amendment.
MIR FoOT, Of Conn understanding that the gen
ileman meant TO exclude extra pay only when give
to duties properly belonging to The Office of the per
son who performed them, offered amendment to
make the prOvisO read ~ the words following f" for
any Official duties whatsoever, apperaining 10 The Of
fee for which said salary shall he received"
Mr.. Buck thought that nothing would be gained by
the provso IL wnuld only prevent clerks in The Off
ces from belng employed mt Of oBiee hours IN duties
10 which, OF all other persons, they were most COM
PtIen, hut which II would be unreasonable to expeci
them To perform without extra allowance. If the
prOviso was adopted, these duties mast he given To
somebndy else o do, nor, probably half so we'll ac-
pHainled wuh The performance of them. f. has he
sides squirting towards restricting the powers Of
the president ~ The proper discharge Of his duty
Mr.. GAZLAY Of Ohio, wishing beuer TO understand
the pioviso aud its optTaion moved 10 lay The bill
on the table, aud 10 order the amendment 10 be
pa inied.
thus motion was not agreed TO.
Nj. TRAcy, Of New YOk, unprecedented that the
mover Of the amendment was hardly aware Of
tie extent 10 which us terms would operate No
doubt there exised some abuses which il might re-
move but, before he Tor one, could consent 10 its
adopiionl he must have clearer knowledge Of the
cases ~ whIct II would apply IL appeared 10 him
10 be too crudf-it embraced TOO much, aud WAS too
worried, 10 be adopted in us present
shape There ave certain allowances 10 some of lie
officers both 0f the army and navy, I've believed, I
which, having been sanctioned by usage form q pari
OF iheir support, trd di form part OF It when hey
accepted iheit commissions, hut which probably |
have never hren expressly sanctuned by law. He |
would uU ssy whether these ought All 10 continue !