Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-04-21
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Thur,dav, .3prH ~, lS3S.

clock, The House, on motion, adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Thursday, .7pri ~. lS35.
PUBLIC PRINTING.
The House resumed the consideration OF Mr.. mop
kin resolution appoint select committee to inquire
into the expectancy oil separating the puoilc press o
Government patronage
The question was on the amendment OF Mr. Dron'
coole to extend the inquiry, las printed IN another CO.
lumn
the pnpers this morning. he observed in the amendment
of his colleague, what had escaped hun on hearing IL
read, proposed inquiry into the expenses OF inc
investigating committees OF the last Congress '"S
Mr. w had objection; but he could INFORM MS col
league that there necessity to raise special IN
vesgallon for that purpose since the majority oil one
of those commuters al least had been very digent IN
ascerlaning the amount Whatever it had cost had not
been thrown away for the partial developments these
committees had been able to make worth far more
than they cost But Mr.. W still held the Admlnstra
ton responsible for those expenses because s con-
duct rendered the investigation necessary lie hoped
the gentleman would extend his inquiry to the Execu
tive de partnents Of the Government Tor even with the
limited in their power the last two investigating
committees had effected more good than In" late Admin
isra,ion for the whole eight years Of It's existence
! Mr. Dromgoole said when he submitted ms amend
ment he had intended to have accompanied 1t with some
explanations, which, if his colleague had not succeeded
in getting the floor FIRST would have rendered much that
| he had said unnecessary.
Mr. Wise would apologize to his colleague for he
| really not aware that Mr.. D desired the floor.
Mr.. Dromgooe replied that apology was necessary,
! for he did not complain Of It. On the contrary, he re-
turned his thanks 10 his colleague for the prompt sup
| port lie proposed giving the amendment.
The resolution originally submitted by another col
League mir Hopkins referred 10 abuses that had been
praclised in that House, and tie increase Of eXpend
lures in reference the public printing, and the partl
cuar subject which Mr. d. proposed To extend the in
curry Of the committee seemed tc him to be appropr
7 ooI t,o onhi rpl
leaGue proposed to investigate. Let the inquiry be
! faithful and comprehensive one inio ali these matters
I and he was willing that it should be made, and that II
should be ascerained whether the manner in which the
patronage of that House had been bestowed in reference
10 the appointment Of public printer, such 10
der il necessary that they should IN future, dsconncc
the Office Of printer 10 the House from any one having
a connection with public journal.
1t had occurred TO Mr. d. probable that the mover
of this resolution as he had not heretofore advocated
this disconnecton had been led 10 The conclusion of lie
necessity OF il in this instance from some circumstances
occurring the last election of printer, and therefore
Mr. d. deemed it very proper TO embrace an inquiry IN
to that matter particularly when, immediately ALTER That
election il vas announced in another Journal (lhe Ma
tional Inlelgencer) that the printing would not be exc
cued by the individual elected printer to the House.
but by themselves In addition TO this, there were pre-
Yaing rumors up 10 this time that The printing was not
performed by the nominal printer but by others This
alone would render his amendment very proper on an
! inquiry this character.
Before
had especially induced him 10 ask for this information,
Mr. D. begged leave to- advert to one or two remarks
made by his colleague DIR Wise yesterday The gentle
man had made illusions 10 the spirit OF the amend
ment and TO the spirit in which it was Offered why The
bare fact that his colleague gave his prompt support
ought to be at once an irresistible evidence that it
tanned nothing improper either IN lis spirit, tendency or
| purpose Had Mr.. d. conceived it open to contrary
Interpretation he would not have offered tor It, Tor ne
enLen yorcd all times TO observe decOrum and prnp!
M IN he q 4
the House. His colleague own advocacy OF the amend
ment however admitted his own opinion OF It's pro-
prieIy. -.
anne ndmenl' II proposed to inquire whether the
elected by the House TO perform certain dues
by himself does perform them or not II he does no
and still receives the emouments OF The oihce IS II not
clear that he holds snecure which should be reneded
IL it should out that this individual has received
sum in gross for The Office does not the question naturally
arise whether il is sale of Office II the fact shall ap-
pear that he receives in gross instead oil the clear
profits of the Office and that those who perform the work
receive the balance Of the profits after paying him hs
sum and which rrmburses Them it not clear that lie
rates of printing present fixed, are too HIGH and
ough, 10 BIZ reduced: Hence, then, it seemed TO INN
that the information called for necessary IN every
point Of view. Whether it shall turn out that 'hero
was any bargain or agreement between these persons
or not he could not positively know lie only knew
what runor said II the existence OF such bargain
should be disclosed he did not know whether 1t would
he
known with all the circumstances connected WIN IL, ana
then the House would be enabled TO Judge lhere was
any thing improper in it, if il called for any Ieglsla
ton guard against similar occurrence IN iutnre
The subject presented itself in another point OF view"
If an individual came there 10 seek Office, al time
when he VIGOROUSLY and avowetly unprepared 10
fulfil lis duties did il not present the question whe'heI
he had not perperaled an imposition upon me house
In all these points Of view, therefore, Mr. d. insisted
the inquiry embraced in his amendment was very pro
per 1t simply whether an officer OF mat
House had performed his duty. Indeed, he understood
there objection TO it, except by The noininai
printer himself, which was very natural
Now in reference to other topics embraced IN Inc
amendment what proposed? 1t was proposed to as
certain The expenses incurred in consequence OF The n'
pontment of investigating committees, not Tor the Pur
pose Of casting any reflection whatever upon mem, Dull
how these particular items of expenditure have IN
creased Mr. D. ascrhed though others differed with
him, 10 the improper and erroneous proceeding on the
part of the House, and Of course, he embraced all oil
every party in it who sanctioned the clothing those COM
mitlees with too much power. IL was known that Nj
d. had opposed the clothing these committees with the
power conferred upon Them Of sending for every ndiv-
dual throughout the community at their own Will In
doing he held that they placed an improper constuc'
ton though he believed they sustained in doing so
by majority Of the House. upon their power 10 send for
persons and papers, which they construe into the power
TO send suhpGnas for witnesses. Now he muntaned not
only that the committees had such power hut that
The House had itself the right confer any such
pbwer on them. SubpGnos could only be issued by the
| House on asceraining the Of the witnesses,
which might be furnished by the committee This, he
believed was the long established md invariabIe usage
Of the British House Of Commons.
Mr. Garland of Va. said, that he member Of
the first investigating committee referred to in the amend
ment proposed by his honorable colleague, and its Chair
man. il was proper that he should state that. when he
first applied to issue subpoena for witness, he
declined and sent the subpoena the Speaker who also
declined. saying il was the duty of the Chairman. In
this opinion upon interview with that officer Mr. G..
acquiesced, and issued all the subpenas which went out
during the investigation.
I Mr. Dromgooe said he blamed no one, but spoke Of
it practice that had grown up, and ought to be cor
rected and with view of correcting which, he desired
the information he had moved for in his amendment-
He understood that these investigating committees had
.