Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-12-06

ment mat fodr Clerks OF committees Kept pay DOR
ing the whole OF the session He had been informed and
he believed correctly, that the Clerks Of the STANDING
Committees in some instances, from distant parts OF
the State, ard perhaps brought their families with them
and enjoyed their per diem allowance, Sundays included,
Of 1--WE dollars, through the session, which no
had shewD, IN one year, TO upwards u $3.50. he did
not see the necessity OF this Expense They
ed only 20 perform the mere manual sbo c u committees
they charged with utes requi ing men al labor
as il expected that the eIks would prepare tls
reports. frame the bills which emana'ed tho Com
nees-becsuse IL such we've the case the dcsiines OF
e State ave not in the proper hands The people have
ch"rtcd US with the labor Of egslSiior; and the Jerks
merely act under the direction at the Choirmen of their
respective committees He appealed 10 The experience
OF 'he rouse. and TO that OF ev ~ member who had act
ed aS the Chairman of Committee, Wheeler he not
co rect He had seen the in which business was
conducted in some commit and il enforced the
reciness OF his views. The Chairman took his seat az
one end OF the table, and the Clerk az the other they
had little business TO do; but the member was paid four
dollars per diem for doing nothing and the clerk five
dollars for assisting him. Mr.. G.. satisfied with
The plan he was about to proposes but he believed would
do away with the employment OF clerks when they
not wanted He had yesterday referred to the practice
at Washington. There was much more business before
the committees of Congress than in this Legislature and
yet there were no clerks TO their committees The system
there was for the Clerk Of the House OF Representatives.
III anticipation that scribes will be wanted for of
the committees, TO engage two three clerks
whose services he would otherwise requireto bo
employed in the committees they might be wanted.
Such plan he proposed Tor this Legislature. His OBJ
ec shorten the time of employing clerks and tba,
they should only be paid when their services mood
ed Mr. g. then presented the following resolution:
Resofeed, That whenever Standing or Select Com
mee OF this House shall have occasion for the services
ot clerk copyisi shall be the duty of the clerk OF
this House, under the direction of the chairman Of each
committee procure such services for the time required
TO be paid for from the public treasury.
Mr.. Marshall observed that il seemed TO devove upon
him. having made the motion which called forth the popo-
Son OF the gentleman from Albemare say few words
in reply appeared to him, that while great deal which
had fallen from that gentleman correct there al
so much which arose out OF misconcepton he seemed
chairman and clerk OF standing committee. Mr.. NJ
remembered having the honor serving on the Commit
tee OF Privileges and Elections with gentleman from
TO any situation in which he was placed--with Richard
Morris; who was then the Chairman of that Committee;
ana athoughie lew men could equal MIR. Morris in industry
Mr. Marshall knew that during the session of 1879
without the assistance the Clerk assistance partly men
tai aud partly manual he could have mastered the bu-
siness OF the committees; Mr. NJ knew that during eleven
weeks, Mr. Morris often the necessity of Ia
boring late in the night prepare his reportsand Sc.
veral OF the reports OF that year. which were merely
formal, were drawn by the Clerk. lie knew that
he report on one oil the petitions that year. occupied
mirty-hve closely written pages The gentleman from
Abemare was not aware OF the labor required in examn-
ing aud coaeing testimony, and drawing reports from
masses oil documents But Mr. M was convinced that he
could not have performed the business of the Committee
OF Privileges and Elections last year without the aid of the
clerk The chairman of that committee could not be en-
poyed both as chairman and clerk for il he must act as
clerk oi his committee, Inc must be the represent
ave oil his county, his time would be completely occu-
pied He would be disfranchsed for it would he impossi
ble under such circumstances for him perform his du-
ties on this floor. As TO the of appointing these
clerks, the resolution would have the effect of trans
ierring their appointment from the House the Clerk
oil 'he rouse. ANA any one who knows the nu-
merous applications made, and the recommendations Of
lered' would think It any thing but an envabe Office to
perform the duty OF selection. 1t i'm the right
hands, and the selection ought made as al present
by the House itself He believed it was true that during
the latter portion OF the session the labor of the Clerks
was in great measure suspended-bu it had been taken
INFO consideration that their labos had previously been
arduous therefore he presumed their paw had beer
uO should no e..
services which he did perlor-but that he should be-
paid while required TO labor He should therefore move
TO amend the resolution of the gentle man from Albena,Ia
by substituting the following:
Resolved, That the chairmen OF the siSndng commit.
tees TO which clerks appointed shall report to this
House whenever tn business their several cop,niuees
has closed, and that the services of the clerks sbsn
thenceicrh he dis continued.
Mr. GhoIson would merely suggest plan which he
Hought would carry into effect the views the gentle
man nom Fauquier IL was, thai the chairman Of each
committee report 10 the House when business OF the
committee does not require the services of clerk ana
mat ther compensation shall cease from that time. He
also thought; wo Id he better that The committees should
moi propose The appointment OF their clerks, until their
services were required
Mr. Marshall accepted the notification PROMISED nv
Mr. e., which was agreed 10. And Mr.. M substitute,
as amended adopted
On mo'jon OF Mr. Marshall Fabus lawson wac On
pointed clerk OF the committee Privileges and Elections
On motion OF MIR. BrodnaX, Thomas Howard was an
polned clerk oil the committee Of ouris OF Justice
On motion OF Mr. Mcdowell, Hugh Nj Pendeton was
appointed clerk of tie committees Of Roads and Internal
Navigation and Schools and Colleges
On motion OF Mr.. Nc Nahon Thomas Vanneson was
appointed clerk of the committee of Proposit ons and
Grievances. ~
iehuonS were presented and rcerred-Bv Mr.. Fry Of
subscribers to the James River and Kanawha Cospanv
Tor certain amendments in the chartcr-by Mr.. Dabney
oil Is. Pollard, contestng the election of A. r. Harwood
member from the county of King and Queen-by Mr.
SIMS OF Bond Pondexter, concerning the fees of clerks
by Mr. Moore, of the citizens of the town of Iexinp-
ton that the trustees of the town be authorized to lew
taxes tor The purpose o! bringing into the town
by Mr. Gimer of w. ID. Meredith sheriff of AIbemarIe
and oil sundry citizens of Albemare for the ncorporo
non oil company TO construct road from Merwether's
bridge TO Fredcricksburg-By Mr. Bare of citizens ef
shenandoah county, for the repeal of act authorizing
he trustees OF the town of Sasburg, levy taxes Sc
by Mr. Pdtteson Of Chesterfield, Of John Heath Be.
very Heath and Others GOLFERS be incorporated into
joint stock company-by Mr.. Smith of Mason of N Star
cher Tor the establishment OF town on his land i'm Jack
son county.
Aud the House then adjourned.
M should 90 that tho amount Of salary pnd tho Of
Onse OF Delegates, includes the paid cleT
omolumonis. "'s "'' ''"""'' oi NV