Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-03-19

whole question was, whether the money still re-
maincd in the hands of the Commissioner or .
special appropriation was necessary. This, the
gentleman from Tennessee mir Cockc) had no,
told the House. MIR. nj. also suggested that the
charter, granted to the City, ought to be cxa-
mined, TO see how far Congress has bound itself
to improve the ground in front of public proper
ty. 1t still holds, he believed, 5000 lots, in the
city, the extent ofwhose fronts would probably Il.
mount 10 thirty miles. Mr.. NJ. entirely conceded
in the sentiment of the honorable gentleman from
Maine, that there was not the least ground o
complaint against the inhabitants of w ashingtol
they were not his Constitucuts-he had no more
interest in them than other gcntemen-but lie
sympathiscd with them, from the bottom of his
soul, in the burdens they had TO sustain, and he
thought they had shewn an enterprise, in i'm
proving the city, highly honorable to their cha
ractcr, and emitting them TO the consideration
of Congress, their only guardians.
The question was then taken the item OF
appropriation, and it was carried in the aflirma-
tive.
| On the clause introduced by Mr.. Cooke, which
provides that no person receiving an annual saia-
w from the United States, shall receive any thing
in addition thereto for any service whatever, by
way of perquisite or extra compensation, except
fees of Office established by law, a debate arose,
which, occasionally, grcwver, warm.
On the suggestion of Mr.. Forsyth, of Geor-
gia. the proviso was modified by the addition OF
the word "o6;ciai,' so as 10 make it read g for
any official service SC.
Mr. Cook, OF Illinois, was Of opinion that the
proyiso, modified, was bad one, and, without
the modification, very bad one If he under
stood its operation, it would be to prevent any
person, holding an office, such, for Instance, as
a Governor of Il Territory, from being temporal
rily employed to discharge any other function to
which cmolument was attachcd-such, for eX-
ample, as negotiating an Indian trcaty--althougl
that person might, of all others, be the best TT
ted to discharge that duty.
MIR. Forsyth replied, in explanation, that the
proviso would not have this operation. II appli-
ed only to the receiving of extra pay or perqui-
sites for the discharge of duties which belong to
the very Office held, and not to those OF another
Office.
Mr.. Cook thought it would be found to bear
on part of the system now sanctioned for the
compensation of the officers of the navy. and to
some of these of the army also.
Mr.. Cooke explained, that il could touch none
OF those persons, they did not receive an an
nua salary" but monthly pay and perquisi,cs,
and even those latter were all regulated by law.
Mr. Cook rejoined. He still thought it would
prevent the temporary employment of salaried
persons in the discharge of other duties, unless
they would consent to perform the duty for no.
thing.
Mr.. Cooke thought it was strange that the
member from Illinois should be so jealous on
tins subject, when he had formerly haen equally
Jealous In opposing measure of the kind lac
now advocates, in relation to the investigation
of the affairs of certain land Offices in his OWL
state.
Mr.. Cook repealed transformations The mem
Der from tennessee talked, as usual, about what
ne did not understanding he had been in the
hol lDFl ~. Il n
had given him a sort of prcscriptiyc right tC
speak about matters of which he was Ignorant
Yet the member ought not to misead the House
on point facts which he did understand. Mr.
Cook then explained the circumstanccsto which
The gentleman from Tennessee had alluded and
dehcd ANA invited scrutpy.1 He insisted that
the proy.su could be productive of no economy;
for, As these extra duties must be performed by
somebody, and that somebody must he paid fol
performing them, all tlat this proviso would do
would DC 10 tie the hands of the President from
employing the most suitable person to perform
them, because such person might happen to en-
joy an annual salary, for something else, not in.
compatible in its nature.
MIR. Cooke replied, and declared that his on.
y object, and the only effect of the provso would
be to cut of perquisites, which rested on custom
and not OH law, from certain salaried officers
who now receive them. BY this he believed the
public good would be promoted, which was his
sole niucencnt in offering the amendment
. MIR. Foot, of Conn. understanding that the
gentleman meant to exclude extra nav onl,
when given for duties properly belonging to the
office OF the person who performed them offered
an amendment TO make the provso read in the
words following g for any official duties what
soevcr, appeTtaning TO the Office for which said
salary shall be rcceived''
Mr.. Buck thought thatnothng would he gain
ed by the proviso. III would only prevent clerks
in the Offices from beng employed out of otfct
hours in duties to which, of all other persons
they were most competent, but which it would
be unreasonable TO expect them to perform with.
out extra allowance If the proviso was ADOPT.
cd, those duties must be given to somebody else
TO do, not, probably, half so well acquainted witt
the performance them. ithas besides asquint.
ing towards restricting the powers of the Presi-
dent In the proper discharge of his duty.
Mr.. Gaziay, of Ohio, wishing better to under.
stand the proYison and its operation. moved te
lay the bill on the table, and to order the amend
ment 10 bcprlnted,
This motion was not agreed to.
Mr.. tracy, of New York, apprehended tina
the mover of the amendment was hardly aware
the extent to which. its terms would operate
NO doubt there existed some abuses. which i
might remove; but, before he. for one. coul,
consent to its adoption, he must have a cIeare,
knowledge of the cases 10 which IT would apply
IL appeared to him to be too crjIdc-it ernbrac.
ed too much, and was too indefinitely wordcd. tc
be adopted in lis present shape. There arc Ger
tain allowances To- some of the officers. both O
the army and nav7, he believed, which, bayirc
been sanctioned by usage, form a part of tei
support, and did form part of il when they ac
copied their commissions, but which probabl,
have never been expressly sanctioned BY law.
lie would NOT say whether these ought ali to con
tinuc, but IT was very possible that many ofther
were rirht and nrOner. Al all c,.cntu IL -.