Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-01-02

the completion of the road from a pon, orpose to
Memphis, in the State of Tennessee, 10 Little
Rock, in the Territory of>Arkansas
The blank in this bill having been filled. it was
reported, and ordered to be engrossed for third
reading. And then the House adjourned
Nat. Int.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 90
IN SENATE.
The following letter from the Vice President was
read by the Secretary.
To the Secretary of the Senate.
SIR: Having addressed, this morning TO the |
House of Representatives, a communicable which |
may claim an investigation OF my official conduct
while in the discharge of the duties of the Depart-
went of War, you will please make known to the |
Senate, that sense ot propriety iorbds me from
resumng my station till the House has disposed of
this subject.
Very respectfully. I am, yours, Sc.
Washington, 29th Dec. 1926.
MIR. Benton made motion, that, in order to give |
time for the investigation alluded TO in the letter,
when the Senate do adjourn, it adjourn until Tues
das; which was agreed to; and then
The Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr.. Stevenson of Virginia, from the COMMITTEES
OF Ways and Means. reported bill authorizing |
settlement OF the accounts Of Hen.y nj. Brecken |
ridge, Keeper of the Public Archives in Florida
which was twice read, and committed.
Mr. Stevenson also reported bill for the relief
of Edward Il. Gibsen and VIM. H. Simmons, and
their Clerks, in Florida; which as twice read, and
committed.
| On motion of Mr.. Newton, it was
Resoired, That the Committee on Commerce
be Instructed TO inquire into the dxpedency of al
| lowing greater per cenage to the Collectors OF
| the port of Norfolk and Portsmouth, in the State
OF Virginia, than is at present allow ed by law and
L al. 49, H.
ner as shall seem proper, of the Naval Officer and
Surveyor of said Port.
| On motion of Mr.. White of Florda, il was
Resolred, That the Committee on the Judiciary
be instructed to inquire whether any further pro-
vislon by law Is necessary to carry into effect the
OH article of the treaty of the 22d of Feb 1919.
between Spain and the United States: and further
| TO inquire into the proprery of extending the
provisions OF the act Of the Sd of March, 1929, 10
the claims legitima,ely embraced by the Treaty
| INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT, APPRO.
| PRIATIONS, Sc.
Mr. Rives moved the follow ing resolution.
| ReSoiued, That the Committee of WAYS and
Means be instructed inquire into the expedien.
cy of disseminating the annual appropriation here
toiore made Tor deiraying the expense Of such
surveys of routes for roads and canals as may be
directed by the Executive, and of substituting
therefor, distinct and specific appropriations for
| surveying such routes only as shall be authorized
by Congress.
The above resolution being read
| MIR. Hives said, that in presenting the.resolu-
ton just read, il might be proper for him briefly
| to state the general reasons which led him to be-
| ileve that the inquiry proposed by it was such an
one as was nj to be entertained by this House. Ii
would be recollected that, during the first session
OF the Eighteenth Congress, after pro,rac,ed and
elaborate discussion OF the abstract constitutional
question, law was passed authorizing the Pre-
sident 10 cause surveys to be made of such routes
| Tor roads and canals as Z" he might deem to be of
national Importance and msking an appropriation
OF 3u,OOU dollars for the purpose Of Carving the
| pJects OF that act into effect. During the second
| session OF the same Congress an appropriation
was introduced into the General Military Ap-
preparation Bill, OF another sum of 20 900 dollars
ior' making surveys and carrying on the opera
ions OF the Board OF Engineers, in relation 10 in
ternal improvement - and aimilar appropriation
was again inserted in The Military Appropriation
Bill OF last year, of $1,000 dollars for derayng
the expenses incidental TO examinations and sur
veys' preparatory TO and in aid of, the formation
OF roads and canals" II will be perceived from
the recital have given of the two last acts of
Congress, that they silent as to the authority
by which the subjects for these surveys were to be
designated; but they were, probably; intended at
the time, and have been since acted upon by the
GAecuuve, as continuing in the President the
same discretionary authority which was orisi
naiiy vested in him by the act of 1924 1t
mas so happened that the propriety of trans
ierring to the Executive Department this large
discretionary power over the public money has
never received the separate consideration, or ex-
pilcn sanction, OF this House In 1924, il was
merged In the constitutional question respecting
Tue power OF Congress TO act upon The subject of
internal improvements, which was the sole grounds
oil debate on that occasion; and in 1925 and 1926.
from the position it occupied in the General Mill
taTy Appropriation Bill, it was oversbadowed and
iost sight OF amid the variety of other objects with
which 1t was surrounded. | cannot help believing.
sad MI. Il that, when this subject shall engage
the serious elaboration OF this House, il will be
found that we have fallen into gross departure
rom The true genius Of our Government and :he
SOUND maxims OF republican policy. The control
OF lhe pubic money, and the designation of the OBJ
Jec's upon which it should be expended are
among The highest trusts confded 10 the legislative
au'nori'y oil the Union; and TO assign the perfor-
nance cf these trusts to any other hands thaniour
own, Is an unwarrantsble and dangerous delegation
OF our powers. This deleg alton, In the present in
| stance, is the less excussbe because the DUTY we
assign to the President, one 10 which we are en-
ireiy competent ourselves. II is admitted By all
'De friends OF internal Improvements, under the
auspices oil the GeDerl Government that in their
legitimate scope, they confined exclusively TO
onJects oil pervading national character. These
OBJECTS cannot be very numerous, and If they were
so, surely we who come from the various divisions
| oil the Confederscy, and are presumed TO be ac-
quainted with the mutual connection and depend
ence OF the several parts are 80 well uusfied IN
determine what objects are of general interest TO
'he whole, as any individual however elevated his
station, or justly entitled to respect his opinions
may be. Among the many salutary COUNSEL. do |