Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-01-02

ord
House, and of The Committee to which the subject is
submitted If should become necessary, in the far
her progress Of the measure, will enIeavor TO dcyc-
ope views Z" 'hs suotc' III all ITS bearings, more
fully to the House.
HIr. BARTLETT said he was happy the attention OF
the House had been called To the general subec, vi the
manner IN winch appropriations made by this
House. resolution had been lying for some day $,
on his table which, !rom that reluctance he fett
trouble the House, he had iobuInc 10 offer the object
OF which was nearly allied TO that of the gentleman
from Nirginia-bu It covered more ground, aud went
farther than his He persuaded that, eXamina-
ton, it would be found, that there was not Govern
ms on earth, where public money is appropriated as
II Is IN ours Estimates are sent TO us from the De-
partments, Il shape WI ch he did not say impro-
per, las me did doubt the talents OF the officers
conCrrned.) but which, 10 many, certainly moi
clearly Ineligible. Those communications usu.
ally referred TO very able Committees but Com
nee is justly expected 10 he acquainted with all the
"arous departments OF information embraced especi.
ally in the annual report of the Treasury, and which are
derived from great variety of sources The duty of
the Committee of WAYS and Means does not demand
that lis members should be familiar with all these par
ticuaIs; since its appropriate duty is than TO
point out the in which the resources TO be an
propriated by the House, shall he hes; applied But
things now operate, the power of appropriation re
sides practically, in the Heads of Departments willie
the responsibility of the arpropraiins pow rests on
this House. The Departments in the habit ofask.
ing for specific sums, as M part payment for such and
such objects-whe the uho!c amount which the seye-
raj objects require is stated and nobody knows
how great il may be. The complaint as frequent that
the communications unintc!igihle especially TO
new members, and, indeed, 10 old members too unless
they will take the labor of extensive and tedious inye,
tigation of documents, He therefore. offered the
iolo'~ing amendment; which, he hnped would be ac-
cepc,, by the honorable gentleman from Virginia. as 4
modification OF his own.
| R:soLyed, That the Committee of WAYS and Means
be instructed 10 inquire into the expectancy of requ
ing that hereafter all estimates of appropriations for
the operations of the de: ent Dcpar of The Co
ytrnmclnent, vines the same to be applied TO the
construction of works Of permanent character sa n
be accompanied with general description Of the worl,
proposed, with estimate Of the entire cost for its
completion, and, from year to year. with statemen,
Of the snsns expended and the balance which will be
required
Resolred, ALSO, That the ga me Committee inouira
into the expectancy of making provision, by amend
ncnt nf the Ru IS of the House. or otherwise that
hereafter, the estimates for Military service and decn-
ccs shall be referred to the Committee on Military
AGlrs-thc estimates for Indian expenditures 10 the
Committee on Indian AfaIs--tbe estimates from the
Navy DePal tnent, the Committee on Naval Affairs
aud the estimates of the Public Buildings, to { Com
nit,ee on the Public Buildings, and that the several
Committees shalt make report upon the same before
my bill mailing appropriations for the purposes of such
estimates, shall be considered by the House.
Ii was proper. MIR. b. said, that in public, as much
as in private concerns, when under Ia king was
entered upon. TO sit down first and count the cost
The effect of this resolution woul BILE the House to
do this The Committees of the House can then
pronounce with confidence the propreiy of making,
the appropriations asked; and the power of app,opri.
alton will then be, wcrc il ought TO be- ,ciih the
responsibility.
lie hal not the least intention of rejecting on the
Heals OF Departments, he knew their entire co,peten
cy to the discharge Of their arIuous dntis, lie did
not reflect on the men, but the sy ste-on the mode
of business pursued. The result of such plan often
was That an object, which had been recommended by
ore OF these officers and in part appropriated for was
disaprrovcd by his in oice and thus the
House pulled down what il had built up, and the pub
lie money useiessy squanIered.
Mr.. RIvEs replied, that il did not arpaar 10 him
from having heard the resolution OF the honorable gen,
icman read that lie tenor and intention were al all
parallel with the views he had had in Offering his o,y n
1t contained reference 10 the surveys made for
works of internal imprnv"Dcnt-no ailusion Whatever
to The subject OF roads and canals 10 them in
erai terms, not 10 the expenses of the preliminary steps
which led TO ticir adoption 10 the dscrc ,onary
poser OF authorizing those expenses and controlling
them
The subject TO which hs own resolution had refer
ence. STOOL he thought. in peculiar siiraio in no
law ever passed by Congress- wide discretion
AIRY power entrusted TO the Executive. A gross sum
and very large one, put into his hands, for the
purpose ut having such rond9 aud canals surveyed
he might Judge promotivc Of the nations advantage
Bnt S1S not The House cornpeieE the President
of The United State TO Judge which of he various OBJ
Jccts proposed would promote that obcc2 Where was
the need of TcposnG this immense discretionary power
in the hands uf the President He ti,urIt the iIouse
should retain it in their hands: tlat gross sum
ought not TO be given: bat that specific appropriations
ought to be made wherever practicable, for tllese
preliminary surveys as wei as for aay subsequent Stage
o the several works. He inucl, TO auuroye in the
gentlemans resolution, but he must pardon hin if he
declined accepting IL as modification Of liis own is
separate and independent resolution, if offered by
that gene'nnn, he would cHiee.fully yu.c for IT,
Mr.. BhRTLETT then observed that as The two roso
nons had general reference to the same subject &
as there was possibility that the objects Of bolt! ,ipit
be embraced by uniting the tgo; with ths bore hc
sonld move that the resolution of the gentleman from
Virginia, together Will his own, as an amendment, be
laid on the table and printed.
The motion prevailed, and the resolutions were
laid on the table accordingly.
THE VICE PRESIDENT or THE U. STATES.
HE STEAMER laid before the I!uuse the following
communications f;o'n JoHN &. CALHoUH, Vice Presi |
dent Of the United States, viz:
me SrEAXER 9fHte House Of Representatives.:
Hih \ on viii please 10 lay before the House over
whlch yon preside, the enclosed communication, ad-
dressed to that body