Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-01-28

y" me aoie MS only object In rising to stamp up
on Tvs lace sach character might lead to full dis
custom before II was sent TO the Committee. II no
gentlemen wished now to address the Senate, he
would move to postpone the consideration of the reso
tuition, and make il The order Of the day for day
alter the holidays la order that II il the Com
in'tee, II might not go without full knowledge Of its
true character.
Mr.. Noble said, Il was unusual to vote against the
consideration OF Resolutions; but the object Of the
now before the Senate ives too Palpabe TO be sunder
stood. When said Mr.. Noble, I see such disposition
manifested this floor that which dictated the
solution OF the gentleman from Connect cannot
be slen'. He well recoliectcd. and he supposed Il
was within the memory OF many members OF the Sem
ate' when the Governor OF State In that region Of
country, [auding TO New England submitted to the
| L. gsatuTe OF the State over which he presided, a
Message urging . measure similar to that embraced
I'm the present resolution; aud well recoect the
feelings OF public indignation and eontemP, with which
was treated IL gentlemen were determined TO press
the r-sou lion forward in its present form, they might
do so; IL will still be Legitimate subject for discussion
after the Committee shall have reported But a, il
had been already observed, he would prefer meet
IL At the threshold; he would move, therefore, that II
be laid ON the table, and made the ORDER Of the day for
Mr.. Holmes expressed great regret that at this ear
iy stage Of the new administration, symptom averse
to inquiry investigation and legislative uny, should
make its appearance. The time was, and that
~ Distant when certain gentlemen who appeared
disposed to evade public inquiry, the srenu-
Gus, incorporating advocates Of reform. He sgreed
Nth these gentlemen then-it we have any useless
"fhces he thought they should be lopt Off had
my 'necurss ihvy ought to be abolished. He said
tain subject, he could not with what prepristv il
could be attributed 10 any hostility 10 the west, For
his part, he cared not to what extent enigra
lion Inikht be carried; tina, r. gion component
part OF our country, and he hoped would still remain
90. He said il an nconirov eriibie fact that at
present there are IL ,niilionsof surveyed
AMI in the market while the average aes OF each year
amount not 10 than million. IL follows, a
necessary consequence that IL years elapse be-
fore the lands now in market shall have been di.pos
ed Of; alter that period shall have passed away, If
Congress should manifest a dispo.i,ion keep the
Land Offices closed up, and 10 withhold the public lands
IRON market the charge of hos ty the west mig
be sounded with some degree Of pIsusbiIity. But
told that these ~ mil ions OF acres are poor
craps, unsaleabs, UNIT for cultivation. and c,nse
quen'Iy Improbable to the gsvernment and useless to
private individ lfthese lands be tie poor
unsaeable scraps, which gsntie represent them
;hen why have they been surveyed This subject is
Itself sufficient object OF inquiry As have already
observed, [said Mr.. II YOU d abolish .necure.; and
Surveyors were kept at the public expense, survey
ing lands that were w.rth nothing in market, Of
IT. consider their Offices at least better than sine
cures. What is the necessity Of bringing land into
market when no one wishes TO buy' Why keep sur
veyors when there purcha,er,? Sir (ssid Mr..
nh nave always entertained the same opinion
TINS subject have always been friendly TO efectu
ala rational aud an impartial system Of reorm But
'ir, \sad Mr. H. l wonid not reform of
once, and put worse one in his place. Mr.. IT, said
be recol.c ed, the early part Of 1917 in the other
fiou'e, he was placed on committee for the purpose
oil investig iiiDg similar subjects them nsea being
restricted TO certain prescribed course, inste ad Of
ing limited in their inquiries 10 any one particular
cbahnei Uey were clothed with ull authority send
Tor persons and papers, to ascertain what Offices were
necessary, and what might be dispensed with without
injury to the publie-The Executive threw open the
books OF the public offices, they spread before US the
archives OF the nation. and they freely Communicated
all the information desired, and all they posse.
lie reeoected at latter PERIOD having hal the Hon
OF oil being associated with the gentleman from Nilsson,
ri on another subject Of reform, the object Of which
was to reduce the patronage Of the Executive t. see
IL there were sry useless Offices snecures thar might
be dispensed with. OF this committee, the gentleman
from Missouri was chairman. lie would now read
for the nforinatidn Of The Senate, extract from the
very able report OF the very able chairman IF that
mittee.
In SENATE THE UNITED STATES, MAY,4 1926
Mr. Benton from the Select Committee, 10 which was
referred the PROPOSITION TO inquire in 20 the expedi.
cy OF reducing the Patronage OF the Execute Gov
REPORT:
That, after mature deiberaton the committee are Of
opinion that is exPedient TO diminish. resulae
by law, the Executive patronage Of the Federal Cow
erhineni, Whenever the be done con.I .tently
with the provisions of the Constitution and withou,
impsiriDg the proper -ffcierc y OF the Government
Acting under this convict they have reviewed as
carefully as tine aud other engagements would permit
Them 20 do. the degree and amount Of patronage
exercised by the President, and have arrived at the
conclusion that the same may and ought be dnin-
shed by law. For this purpose they herewith present
to the Senate six bills, entitled:
L. bill to regulate the publication Of the Laws Of
the United States, and Of public advertisements.
z. bill to secure in Office the faithful Cole ciors
and Disbursers OF the Revenue and to displace de-
auiters.
g. bill to regulate the appointment Of Post mas
tep
4. bill 10 regulate the appointment Of Cadets
o. sih to regulate the appointment Of Midship-
men.
D. hill to prevent Military and Naval Officers
from being Dismissed ie service al the pleasure Of the
President.
The committee do doubt bat there are many other
branches Of Executive Patronage; in addition to those
which arc coprehsnded 10 the provisions OF these bills
which might be sdvsnta geousIy regulated by law Far
from thinking that they have exhausted the subject
they believe that they have only opened IT, and that
thing more he done, AT this time, than 10 Law the
foundation OF system to be followed up and completed
hereafter.
These, said Mfr. Holmes, were nv view, then a.
well IS NJ the present time Of the sude oey
Of Executive parofiage. He considered, indeed, he
knew that has increased increasing and ought to
be diminished"
Here Mr. Holmes read smother extract from Mr.
Ben'on's report which we are unable TO give at pre-.
sent
These, sir, said Mr.. Holmes, are solemn considers,
TONS In one OF these bills extraordinary case 4.
presented II lie well to recur 10 these
~ they may he useful TO Legislators we'll on This.
on ormer occasions. This relates the proprloy
Of the Presidents exercising the power Of removing
from office. He would read the second section Of that
bill, which az foows
"SEo. e. find be IL enacted, That in all nominations
made by the President 10 the Senate, TO I'LL vacancies
occssioned by exercise Of the Presidents power 10
remove from Offices the fact Of the removal shall be
stated 10 the Senate, at the time that the honina
ton IL made, with statement OF the reasons for which
such officer may have been removed"
Sir these bills reported in the year 1926 but
at late period Of the session that there not sh
Il