Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-06-23

penditure, most undeser.edy. 81
Mr.. Watm"ugh remarked that the cer,l.-
from New York, had forgotten that the snn,a su@
ton had originated with the government, pyPa
come recommended to the House, amon,,.'
estimates presented BY the Secretary Of ,bs We
He thought that there was no place vo,,I!
more benefited than the gentleman, oxn r,,,
to which, the steam batteries would sE,rd >.
protection in case Of attack. than ali ,ba @vs
which had been erected, and sustained =, WHY
vast expense.
Mr.. Hoffman. although not often in 6,,, -,
appropriations Of such large sums Of mopar "
pressed himself inclined to this, but he now ~. "
for the purpose Of apprisins gentlemen. d., ~ 3
this discussion was to continue. he feared ,bs a,
ly way left to check it, would be motion ,ob,,.
the amendment and bill laid on the table '''
! The House then concurred in the ampnlm...
and the bill was ordered to be ensrOs.ed fr
third reading.
The amendment reported from the Commr..
OF the Whole House. to the bill to pro,ids s.
certain arrearages for surveys madeby NN,Ini
Ulcers, was read and concurredin
4 Mr.. e. P. White proposed further to ,n,,J
the bill, by adding clause to repeal so much NJ
the existing law, as imposes on the commopd,n,
, (IIulD at the Navy Yard, at Washington ,bsJn
ties performed BY The Navy agents at the o,t,,
Navy Yards; that another agent should b. A.,
pointed to perform those duties. as well as cer,,r
other duties for the Navy Department. Mr.W
briefly explained that the object soush, by Il,
amendment was some further security 10 The pua
lie than existed at present, in the dIsbar,emea o
the public money.
Mr.. Branch coucurred in the prOpriety Of d,
amendment.
/ The question on the amendment was then take,
and the vote stood-Ayes 60, Noes 35,-'aocup
rum
Mr.. Daniel asked for the yeas and nays, to u.
certain the absentees.
A quorum having been ascertained to BENT.
House,
Mr.. Whlttlesey, Of Ohio, rose to inquire
there had been any loss Of money heretofore /,
consequence of the want OF Navy Agent
! And whether the duties have not been sufficient,
" and faithfully discharged BY the COmmand,r:
: If they had been. It was now proposed 10 cra,e;H
office which the public interest did not require II,
knew no other Navy Yard where the duties ser.
morefathiully discharged than at Westinghouse
so long as the present Commandant was in charge
he did not apprehend any money would be NS
to the nation through his means. He mustthsre
fore. unless cossnt reason was given to the co.,
trary. oppose the amendment, and be- the ilous
would pause before they sanctioned the creaaG
of an unnecessary office.
Mr.. Branch denied that the object Of h.
amendment was the creation Of a new Office, and
maintained. that it was introduced at the requa!
| of the Commandant himself, who felt the add
tional duties so onerous on bin, and so rton'
pa,ible with his other duties, that, 1.-The was Hd
relieved from them, he must resign the post.
Mr.. Watmough observed, that although there
was no danger, at present, that loss could haPPsn
from the hish honor and known integrity "iA
which the duties were performed; YET mat a''
Their regulation was necessary IN the event
other persons not SO qualified being appointed"
the office. ,,.
MIR. Barringer, of North Carolina, sad Il ne
House were aware OF the absolute necessity t'oe
was for the severance Of the duties no" perform
ed BY one and the same person, there could 00'n
anv onposition to the amendment. II aPpea'''
that the Comnandant had the disbursement an
nually of upwards of one mlII'on' "'lh"u,'n. ~ b.
curity, responsibility, or check, further 'Na0 u"
honor of the individual dsburslng the money
He asked, was there any such other instance !"
be found? He made no reference 10 ''e u r.~
puted integrity or efficiency OF the present WV
mandant; but thought if the practice Of '"'l 10.
was TO be continued, it nigh eveh'ua'e " 70,
lass of millions to the nation. and they ml-"' /"
we'll. if this amendment was rejected ao',''' ~
Office of Navy Agent in all the other YARDS .,
MIR. WhiitIesey. in reply to the sen'en.
from North Carolina. would inform num- u ~"
there was an officer Uhe Postmaster "en ' =.
under the present Administrator VII" "au r.-
greater disbursement than that maur ., w.,
modore Hull, from whom the public ha' u" Oo''.
for the funds which he disbursed at di,'re,'O"i,
Yet. when resolution was introduced ~" . W.,
House. praying for inquiry into a'ieseu aD.,,
in the Department under his conto, ',yn .a,
was found to refuse such inquiry or 60 20 pGG r
any examination into his accounts. '''i' ,b,,
remarks that the Commandaht had 'Ouao 10
the duties had become so burueh,o"e' ,n,j az,
must resign, if not relieved. MIR. W. ""''n ., /.
he had not supposed such was Inc .a','
should not have opposed the amenIme"' ub,,,t.
Mr.R.M. Johnson really did not know ",a af,r.
gentleman SAID, as to what was the eonuu,, b.
Postmaster Gen. had to do with the P'e'' ;'SsJ,
ness before the House. lie however, -, "', sss,I,
hear little more on the subject; that tne stTJ ii
man from OHIO would let Oft lI''le I ,'p' 10 q,
steam, 'e He asked the gentleman, d'd ne ,s n;
! H.. Ia Coz ha lnnW. or hParU, lUaI w..