Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-07-09

reasury and ~: the House, answ ur!nu all
calls from the different Departments, for pa
pcrs on which legislation has taken place;
answering all communications from members
and private individuals, <uding copies of
papers; and multitude OF other matters.
which cannot be estimated, incident to an
Office extending over, or connected with, all
the legislation of Tie Union. These estip,a-
ted duties can only be valued by the time
employed, which, think, could not be done
ut less than $4,000, IN addition to the 3,lOO
dollars, .riEklng the work done worth So. 700,
or equal to siX months and half of all the sa
tarcs.
On the subject ofthc contingent expenses
OF the House, l beg leave to refer the COM
m,ttee to the report of the Committee of
Accounts, at the last session, on the OK
pcnditurcs oil the Ycar 1926, as follows.
The Committee of Accounts, 10 whom
was referred the resolution OF the 10th.
Wstructing them TO inquire into the cXpe,!i-
ency OF reducing the contingent expenses o!'
this House, beg leave to report:
That they nave examined the oXpcudi-
lures of the House OF Representatives, as
presented i'll the last account of the Clerk, a.
mounting to S7l,78G 81; of which sum, the
Standing expenditures, viz: printing, station
airy, book-bindng, fuel, newspapers, post-of.
flee, and messengers, make the sum of $685.
$50 Is.
"incnisntul expenditures, new and oh fur
niturc, 1868 SO; the miscellaneous expenses
amountto So, AT 9S; Of which sum, Sc. Ash 80
were expended III pursuance of direct lccis-
lahon, and orders by the House, leaving only
3 ,271 So, over which the COMMITTEES had q
control, and all Il which was expended by
the Clerk and doorkccper, for object; dec
med proper and necessary By the COM
mittcc.
The whole of this sum having been cx-
pended by the orders of the House, cxccpt
the small balance expended by the clerk and
door-kccpCF, doomed necessary, the commit
tee do not find that, under the existing reso-
lutions and orders of the House, there can be
any reduction of the contingent expenses
thereof; and ask leave to be DISCHARGED
from the further consideration cfthc subject"
From this it will be seen how small a por-
ton OF the moneys is expended, except by d.
rect legislation.
For the year 1927, the sum expended was
S89,537 Is; of which sum the standing en-
Pendltures; VIZ: printing, stationary, book
oin ing, fUeI, newspapers, post-otficc and
messengers, make the sum of $3.50 60. In.
cldental expenses, new and old furniture,
1898 2. The miscellaneous expenses amount
TO Sl3,o95 53; OF Whichsum, Sl2, 219 25 were
expended by the Clerk and door-kecper, for
objects deemed proper and necessary by tho
Committee OF Accounts. The excess of 1927
arose chiefly from reprinting the Journals up
TO the l4th Congress-; engraving and printing
maps and charts; and, also, providing the sta
tlonary for the present session, which hereto
tore, was paid TO the contractor after the year
expired; SO that the account of STATIONARY of
| 1927, In fact, embraces the last and present
session.
From the aioregoing statements, it will be
perceived that the Clerk cannot point to any
items of expenditure which might be dispen-
sed with, without alleging that the House
has directed useless expenditures, which, the
Clerk most respectfully takes leave to say,
would be getting 'above his business
The question has often been asked Of
ne, "Why do we have SO many gnossen-
gers" l can only say, that, so long as the
same labor is required, no; one can be dispon-
scd with.
In truth, from my chief clerk down TO the
runners, every ono goes for the work." and
not by the hour
Mos; resp ctfaHy, Sir,
Your obc1icnt servant.
-;t|. 81. CLAIR CLARKE.