Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-06-24
Hon. GAMES HAMILTON, Ir.
Chairman Select COMMITTEES:

No. :.
Hon. JAMES HAMILTON, Jr.
Chairman Select Committee:
SIR Your communication, requesting the
Clerk of the House of Representatives the u.
States 10 inform the committee :" whether any
ducton can be male in the number Of clerks en-
ployed by him, in their salaries, and in the con
tngcnt expenses of the House, without injury TO
the public SERVICE, has been received; and, in an
swer thereto, the Clerk be- leave 10 stale, that no
reduction can be made in the number of the clerks
IN his Office, without serious nconv enience 10 the
business of the House, and without rendering it
impossible for him TO keep up the present arrange
ment, established during the two last sessions
Their pay do 10; lh!as one cent too high,
Sdering the duties performed
The committee know how many hours are ne
cessariiy devoted, during the session OF Congress-
more than III any public Office, but | satisfied
no one can know, without being on the spot, the
amount OF labor done during the recess
The average recording done, during a recess,
from an estimate made, If paid tor at the usual
price, would be about - 400. 10 this must be
added the compiling, alteratng, copying, and cor
recung proofs of indexes 20 the journal, Execu-
tive Reports, Bill Books, and Reports of Commit
tees; collecting, examining, re-arrdngng, filing,
and endorsing all papers used during the session;
arranging printed documents for binding; arranging
original Executive papers for binding; COLI citing
ant arranging all the books; settling all accounts
making detailed abstract for the Treasury and for
~ ANOASSs answering Calls Tie inherent
Departments, for papers which legislation has
taken place; answering all communications from
members and private individuals, including copies
oil papers; making annual abstract of all appropr-
atoms; and multitude of other matters, which
cannot be estimated, incident to an Office extend
any over, or connected with, all the legislation of
the Union. These estimated du;eS can only be
valued by the time employed, which, think,
could not be done at less than $500, in addition
to the 3,400 dollars, making the work done worth
al to . I.,If. Al.
salaries.
On the subject of the contingent expenses of
the House, beg leave to refer the committee to
the report Of the Committee of Accounts, at the
last session, on the expenditures OF the year 1926,
as follows:
g. The Cominittee OF Acrounts, to whom was
referred the resolution OF the 10Th, instructing
them 10 inquire into the eHpediency Of reducing
the contingent expenses Of this House, beg leave
TO report:
g That they have examined the expenditures Of
The House OF Representatives, presented in the
last account of the Clerk, amounting e. S74, 1855
81; OF which sum, the standing expenditures, viz:
printing, stationery, book-binding, fuel, newspa-
pers, post Office, and messengers, make the sum OF
$50, $50 10.
9 Incidental expenditures, new and old furni-
ture, $3.50 50: the miscellaneous expenses amount
TO SS,l27 %; Of which san, ,i5l 50 were ex-
pended in pursuance of direct legislation, and
ders by the House, leaving only $lS7G o., over
which was expended by he Clerk and doorkeeper,
Tor objects Deemed proper aud necessary by the
committee.
" The whole Of this sum having been expended
by the orders OF the House, except tho small ba-
lance expended by the Clerk and door keeper,
deemed necessary, the committed do not find that,
under the existing resolutions aud orders of the
House, there can be any reduction of the con,iu-
gent expenses thereof; and ask leave to be dis
charged from the further consideration Of the sub
ject."
From this il will be seen how small portion OF
The moneys is expended, except by direct legisla-
lion.
ior the year 1927. ll,e sum expended was $780,
53T 10; OF which SUN the standing expenditures
viz: printing stationery, book binding, fuel news
papers, post Office, and messengers, make the sum
of sos, 100 60. Incidental expenses new and old
furniture, 1893 OF. The miscellaneous expenses
amount to $l3,093 30; of which sum, $l2 PIG %
were expended by direct legislation, aud by orders
OF the House, leaygg only $57i Is expended by
the Clerk aud doorkeeper, for objects deemed pro-
per and necessary by the Committee of Accounts.
The excess Of 1927 chiefly from the reprint
ing the Journals up 10 the 18th Congress, engrdy-
ing and printing mapS and charts; and, also, pro-
yding the stationery for the present session, which
heretofore, was paid to the contractor after the
year expired; 50 that the account Of stationery of
1921 in fact, embraces the last and present ses-
sion
From the aforegoing statements, It will be per
ceVed that the Clerk cannot point TO any items Of
expenditure which might be dispensed with, " ith
out 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 oflen been asked Of me, "Why
90 we have % many messengers" 1 canonly say
that, SO long he same labor is required not one
can be Dispensed with.
Ia truth, from my chief clerk down 10 the run
ne',, every one goes To- the work." and not by
the hour.