Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-02-02
VOL. XXEV. NO. So.

fotS aisoutu llilu lner va uo the ballot boxes
secure here: large allowance must be mace
Tor wear 4 tear, for many are literally torn nj
he benign spirit OF universal religious federation
prevails throughout this happy land, and numerous
temples OF worship to the Great Supreme, rearing
neiF Hlohest heads, even in the wilderness, pre-
claims the increase of piety and religion. To these
contributions literally made: fer charity Xix.
mercy, coveIeth multitude of sins, and the lord
loves cheerful givcr. Thus,thc People money is
returned to the People; and as pecuniary emolu-
ment never entered into my consideration wher,
seeking the honor of seat in this House, l have
not desired to enrich myself by compensation. And
there are many members, living more remote than
myself, whose happiness is Intimately connected
with their domestic circle, who are induced not 10
assent to separation from their families and ex-
! pend here thousands more than they receive.
Once convinced that the exgencies of the ma
lon DO request that our per diem be reduced, and
pledge myself to 60 farther than is proposed BY
the gentleman from Kentucky-I will vote for a
bill which shall deprive us of all conversation from.
inns day to the expiration of my term; but will ne
Yer give my assent TO resolution pronouncing sen
tence OF condemnation until proof shall be adduced
! that prodigality and extrayagance have existence
in our Republic.
J Mr. Buchanan said, he could not concur in o.
pinion with the gentleman from Maryland, (Mr
Barney,) that necessity for reform existed az
the present nIne. On the contrary, believe it is
necessary that all the public expenditures should
/ be subjected TO a most rigid examination That a.
buses DO exist, which ought TO be remedied do
not entertain particle OF doubt. Whilst this e nv
]
| the gentleman from Virginia Mr.. Randolph)
that this is not the proper period for reform
Our duty at present, is, TO transact, the necessary
public business Of the country, and to go home ~
soon as we can. l will say, however To the gen
teman from Kentucky, (Mr. Chilton,) that Who
ever shall undertake the work of reform cannot
accomplish his purpose by such resolution as that
now before the House. He must go to work sys-
teInaucal!y. he must patiently and laboriously
ferret out one abuse after the other himself it
stead OF Imposing that labor upon others. Such a
task cannot be performed by referring general
An unlimited and underlined resolution to the
committee OF Ways and Means at this period
when, trust, halt the session has Ella psed
should not have risen, upon the present coca
SON. 10 say one word, did not believe that the duty
which owe to the Fifth Auditor of the Treas,i
ry imperiously demands of me to make an expla-
nation OF the duties which that officer Performs
The gentleman from KY. (Mr. ChiltonO neye-
could have investigated the subject, when he in
formed the House, that Office had been created to.
purposes which no longer exist. This office was
created in March, 1917. Its duties originally con-
sisted in auditing and settling all the accounts con-
nected with the Department of State. These Cu-
ties embraced all the accounts relating to our inter
Course with foreign nations Since this Office was
created, those duties must have been doubled The
independence OF South America has since given
birth TO new swarm of Foreign Ministers, Diplo.
matte Agents, and Consuls, along the shores bo,si
OF the Southern Atlantic and Pacific ocean Their
accounts must all be audited by this officer
/ The same observation is applicable to the ac-
counts OF The Post Once Department. This officer
IS the Auditor OF all the accounts of all the Post
Masters, and all the Mail Contractors in the n
States. The new energy infused into this Deport
nent, by the excellent officer now at its head fas
greatly extended the duiesof the Fifth Auditor
IRIS however, IS lar from being the aggregate of NJ
services. he has been made a kind of r..sidnar,r
legatee, OF all the duties which other officers ~
the Government could not conveniently perform
W hen the Office of Commissioner cS the Reven,,l.
was abolished, in 1919, the Fifth Auditor was de-
slgnated by the Secretary of the Treasury 10 ner
form the duties OF that office. Although. since
that time, there have been no internal faxes 10
collect, yet those gentlemen who know how dir
CUT 1t Is to wind up an old concern will rea6iJ1,
oeicve that the duties imposed upon this officer
nave been nearly as arduous as they would hsv.
oeen' hsd internal tsxation continued This branch
oi MS business has entailed upon him an extensio,
correspondence with all the Collectors in the n
states, who have not finally closed their accounts
anu tiie NUMBER Of such, at this cav ia
not small: But the most extraordinary of all IN.
duties which has been imposed upon This Office,
IS that which the President of the IJnited Sta,,
deyolved upon him in 1921 Although meyer MOI
to the law, yethe was appointed to DISCHARGE dr.,
ses whieh strictly and properly belong TO the OIL
nee OF Attorney General OF the United States
Ever since that time, ne has directed and sune-
intended all the law suits, throughout the Union
IN winch the Government have been concerned,
anu at he present moment, the United Stares
nave upwards of three thousand law suits denrnd
ing. ~ Pl''"-
10 shew the extent and the arduous nature oS
tnls duIy, would remark, that the then Secrear,,
oil the reasury, who never suspected If :,
Wantoi proper economy-an officer upon fhe mn,
my ana wisdom OF whose official conduct the peo
pie OF tins country have passed. and who is nov
TeVered IN ms retirement by every patriot RECON-
Inended that person should be appointed for r.
sole purpose OF attending to these suits W i'm saI,
~ OF $4,000 per annum
B., If, therefore there be any one officer In a.. q
yefnment whom the gentleman from Kentuckv
ought not 10 have designated as useless that oH;
GER is the Fifth Auditor of the Treasure o..
Just now reminded by gentlemen around me. tbar
this officer, in addition to other burdens inposs5
upon him, hasthc charge Of all the lighthouses In
the u. States. IA
| have word 10 say to the gentlemen ro-,,
maryland CMr. BarneO before i take nv seat.
am prepared AT this time and az all times "a 90,
! upon the subject of reducing our own nav T.,
relation this question, formed deIiberats oriD7
I six years ago, which my experience ever sinco
/ mas served 10 strengthen an confirm that fre per
,iem allowance OF members Of Congress ought 40
hc reduced. As compensation for ur loss of fine
u rs atprescnt wholly Inadequate There is,no ror1
/ .!cHah NJ 70 be m Congress, who puTsue5 anV.,r
I'VE business az home, who does not sustain cisa-
/ loss by his attendance here. If we consider ottr
pay, win reference to our necessary Individual az
pcnses. n IS too much " Is more than s,ifieiert
/ 10 cover our expenses I believe chat the bsst l.,
! teFests % the country require that il sho.ft
] De reduced 20 sum no more than sufhcien, 49,
i able US 90 live comfortably whilst ,go arc bcr s.
/ my own part, do not, like the ecnnorn,, CO.,
mtfyiaHd tEir Barney give away to nv cor, si.,,
cnt hyper diem allowance. A rec.tye ~ "a
use q, Tor my own benefit 10 sccfns maj os,s3s
non l.c' ,ic surplus OF IBIS pay in displaving M.