Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-02-07
RETRENCHMENT.

inc amendments OF McSsrs. piikt ana f1anH-
ton; and Mr.. Rives having risen to address the
House.
Mr.. Randolph requested from him and OBJ
tanned the floor, when ne made a statement OF
considerable length on the subject of report
OF some OF his remarks in the Telegraph, ex-
tracts from which paper he read TO The House,
commenting thereon, with srme severity.
Mr. Rlves, OF Va. th'n resumed the floor, &
Sergeant and Everett, and on the general sub
Ject OF retreno hment in the expenses of this
Government.
When Mr.. Rives had taken his seat
Mr. Bartlett obtained the hoor, and If er
proceeding in few remarks, moved an adj
journment.
Mr.. Clark, of N. Y. demanded the Yeas and
Nays on that motion; and they were ordered by
the House.
Mr.. Bartlett thercu3on withdrew bis motion
70: ad journmen,; and had again proceeded for
little time in his Speech--wheh,
Mr.: Burgess moved TO adjourn.
Mr.. Halle demanded the Yeas and Nays oh
the question Of adjournment they were or
dered, and being taken, stood as follows. Yeas
SO, NAYS III.
So the House refused 10 adjourn.
Mr.. Bartlett now, after few observations
upon the want Of courtesy OIL the par, Of those
who had already themselves addressed the
House, signiGed his intention Of declining bis
Speech altogether, supposing that The House
was disposed at once to take the question.
Cries for the question now arose on all sides
And the question being about 10 be pull
Mr.. Dorsey demanded that it be taken by
Yeas and Nays.
Mr.. Whipple made short speech agains,
the amendment, If Mr. Hamilton, and in ia
vor of that Of Mr.. Blake.
Mr. Strong signi6ed his appreciation Of Mr.
Hamiiton's amendment in all respect, saving
tina, il recommended Select Commune; he
preferred The COMMITTEE Of Ways and Means,
| and wished MIR. hamilton to leave that part Of
| the amendment in blank.
Mr.. Hamilton not expressing assent
The question was put on the amendment OF
MIR. Hamilton, and decided by yeas and nays,
| as follows: Yeas li2, Nays, ~.
SO the amendment OF Mr. Hamilton, was
| adopted, as follows
"pesolued, That a SeIec, Committee be ap-
pointed, whose duty i, shall be to inquire and
report 10 This House, If any, and what, re-
| trenc hments can be made with safety to the
public interest, in the number Of officers of the
Go, ernment Of the Uuited States, and in the
| amount Of salaries they respectively receive,
| more especially TO report on the following heads
LIST. What reduction Of expense can be made
| in the State Department, in the number and
salaries Of the officers and clerks attached TO
this Department, in the expenses regulating
| the foreign intercourse, and in the printing
| and distribution Of the public laws Of the y.
States.
I'd What rsduc iona IN the Treasury De-
D ,rtDent, and whether an effec tive system Ct
accountability, and Tor the collection If the
public dues is here established.
Sd. What reduction Of expense can BE- made
in The Navy d, par,men, in the clerk aud ofi>
GERS now acting subordinately 10 the Secretary.
4th. What reduction OF expense can be made
IN the Department Of War, and in the Indian
Department, and in tie clerks and officers now
acting unfortunately 10 the Secretary Of War.
5th. What reduction Of expense Can br made
in the number of officers and the amount Of
compensation which they may receive in the
Postmaster Generals Department.
And tat the Committee be further ms truct.
ed To examine the several con 'ingent funds OF
each of these Departments, and to report the
objects and amounts for which disbursements
have been made from these funds, and that
they report the amounts vouched and unvouch >
ed, which have been discussed from the secret
service fund, or The fund regulating the con.
tinyencies Of foreign interc curse, and Of the
fu I'd for the expenses Of intercourse with the
Barbsry Powers.
And that they further report whether the
com pensa,ion Of members Of Congress should
be reduced, and whether the fixed salaries Of
the officers Of this House and its contingent ex-
pensrs, can, with propriety. be diminished.
And fur;hrr, that they inquire whether any
modification Of the sinking fund act can be
made, with view of producing more speedy
exinguishmen, of the public debt
Mr. Chiffon signi6ed his acceptance Of the
amended amendment as a modification Of his
resolu lions
MIR Dorsey now moved to amend the amend.
men, just adopted, by extending that lparI Of
the enquiry which re.ates to the amount OF the
contingen, fund for secret service money, back
10 thu list of July, 1890. He supported this
mendnen, by some remarks, which were repli-
ed to by Nh. Hamilton. And the debate was
further continued by Messrs. Dorsey Hamilton,
Burgess, Bates, Of Missouri, MeDufie, Taylor,
T,,r,1