Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1830-03-30
DEBATE ON RErRENcHMENT.

var. DAVIS OF Massachusetts. observed
That the main question had been so much
discussed, that he should not have enter
ed into the debate, IT, in the course of it
some facts, which had bearing upon
HIM, had not been stated in such way as
to leave an erroneous impression upon the
House but as he was up, and there were
some things in relation to the main SUBJ
|Ject which had not been adverted TO. he
should make few remarks upon the res
lolution.
The debate, he said, had taken very
wide range, and it might be proper TO re-
fresh the minds Of gentlemen by stating
the question, lest, in nautical phrase, we
should lose our reckoning.
The proposition before us is contained
10 resolution introduced here by author
lty OF the committee on Retrenchmcnt
the object of which is to abolish the Office
/ Of Draughtsman, as il is called. The Of
hcer filling this place, or who has filed it,
Tor ne is not now in the pay of Govern
ment. is Clerk Of the House, and his du-
ties are OF Typographical character; it is
his business to delineate such maps and
charts as are needed by the land commit
tee, in the discharge of their duties. from
the data furnished to the Land Office by
the surveyors Of publick lands. 1t is also
ms business to construct maps and pro-
{ files OF the surveys for roads, canals, and
other publick improvements, where the
surveys and examinations are made by
engineers in the employ Of the Govern
ment. These are chiefly for the use Of
the committee, now called Internal I'm
provement, but before the days of reform,
Roads and Canals. He is also OCCASION
ally engaged in like service for the COM
mittee on the Post Office and Post Roads.
The question which first presents itself
for consideration is, are labours and servi-
ces OF this kind necessary Upon this
point, said Mr.. d. do not think there is
great disparity of opinion. Before had
the honour of being elevated by your par
tIality, sir, to the committee on Retrench-
ment, was member for time Of the
committee on Roads and Canals, and
from the knowledge have ofthe subjects
presented to their consideration, l can
speak OF their duties with some share OF
confidence. | hazard nothing in saying
that committee could not perform the bus
mess 1t acts upon, in manner either sat-
lsfactory to themselves or to the pubIick
without the aid of the maps in question.
They are called upon to Judge Of the ex.
pedieney and praCtieability Of publick i'm.
provements. Their first objec, is to un.
derstand the facts and they usually de.
cline considering any proposal for publick
improvements until these are ascertaned
with an accuracy that may be depended
on.
These facts are come at by the corps
of Civil Engineers in the employ of the
Government, either under the special d.
rection of Congress, or under the general
law Of 1924, which authorizes surveys to
be made; and when collected they are
reported to the War Department, and
placed among the files Of the Topographic
cal Bureau, where they remain. Now,
sir, If the committee cannot have the use
OF this information, il avails nothing to be
at heavy annual expenditure to obtain il.
What is it designed for, except to enable
Congress to decide npon the expedency
of giving aid TO pubick improvements I?
And of what use is it, either to this
House, or to the committe, while deposit
ed in the War Department Will it be
said that members can go there and exam
inc it 1t is sufficient to answer, that
such has never been, and probably never
will be, the practice when information
is wanted here, we send to the Depart
ments for it, and it is collected and brought
to our table, and ordered TO be printed
No one has, to my knowledge, objected
to this course, or thought it expedient to
send members to the Departments to con-
suit the original documents to save the
expense Of copying and printing, and yet
this could be done with quite as much
convenience as to send them there to sat-
isfy their minds, by comparing examining
surveys.
I You have but one way Of obtaining this
information, which is indispensable to the
safe action Of the Government, and that is
by copying. During the whole ofthis de-
bate, said Mr.. D.. | have not heard any
individual who has, to my knowledge, be-
longed to the land committees, or to that
on Roads and Canals, or to that on the
}, Post Office and Post Roads, who has
raised his voice in favour of this resolu-
ton; and this Of Itself ought to go far to
satisfy the House that labour Of this kind
: is needed.
i Sir, the amendment proposed by the
gentleman from Kentucky, (Mr. Wick
j liffe,) who has throughout been an adyo-
cate for abolishing the office, admits that
the labour cannot be dispensed with, for
it proposes to have it done under the d.
rection of the Wa- Department. This is
merely transferring the power to employ
"a topographer from this House to that
. branch of the Government. II is taking
J from you, sir, the first officer Of this body,
II ~