Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-03-29
VOLUME XXYEy..--Yo t0e

department, 10 make un examination into the matter
and lay it before the House. he was perfectly winc
tina, this should be done bu, he hoped that officer would
aO be censpred until some evidence Of misconduct was
discovered. The whole affairs Of tha Department had
IN his opinion, been we'll managed by The presen, in
cumoen; therefore he opposed TO binding BIN down
~ lhe manner in which this specific ndu,enl wonld
bind him down
Mr. Bell wished to know Of The Chairman Of the Poet
Once Committee what proportion Of the funds Of The
Office Department had ACTUALLY been paid into lbs
Treasury OF the United States
Mr. Montgomery said there no doeunen yet oil
the table which would give this iniormutior; document
however, was expected shortly, which would give il.
de himself could not say what was the proportion; bot
he referred the gentleman from Tennessee the manner
IN which The money placed in the Treasury; and lie
doubted rot he could have all The information which he
desired.
MIR. Bell considered that this matter of placing this
iund IN Inc Treasury sham and that in fact
very small proportion OF the money of that Department
was ever placed there.
MIR. Wbittlesey Of Ohio said, If the gentleman from
Tennessee would refer 10 The report of the Postmaster
General, accompanying the Presidents Message, he
would there find how this money was placed in the 1pa.
snry and he would zee that very small proportion Of
II ever went there. In consequence of the great diff.
Guilty and expense OF having the funds of that Depart
ment transported to Washington and placed in the Tea.
sury aud then sent 10 the places where they were need
ed system was adopted of keeping the money in the
hands OF Posmasles and Of banks until it needed,
and then paying out from those banks and this was
perhaps, The best system which could be adopted. But
he found objection to the manner in which the Post
aser-Genera kept this money and that was this: that
where he had surplus fund, he ought 10 place that
amount OF money in bank to the credit Of the Trensur.
er OF The United States, instead of kaepng it to his
credit, the now. It appeared from the re-
port OF that officer that at the end of the year. he had
some hundreds OF thousands Of dollars of surplus and
that money in banks his credit and in the hands
oil fostnasers whereas in his opinion, it ought TO be
placed in banks 10 the credit OF the Treasurer OF the IT,
r oke1 evil md ho.
ped it might be remedied
MIR. Connor said had heasd great deal about this
money never being placed in the Treasury perhaps
the cause Of that never had any Treasury 10
put II In de trusted, however that would shortly
have such Treasury. But the money of the Post Of.
hce Department was placed in the Treasury Just in the
same manner that all other money Of the Government
was put IN HE Treasury All the funds have 10 fact
pass through the Treasury Of the U. s. because the
POSTMASTER General does draw single draft for five
dollars but by sending it to the Treasury Department.
ano having the signature Of the Treasurer thereto This
was The manner in which the money pass through the
Treasury, and this the only way that il could be
managed without the greatest Inconvenience and loss
ne trusted therefore, would hereafter be said that
this money went into the Treasury when it went
there IN the very manner provided for by The law Of
1886.
Mr.. Haynes made explanations in relation to /.
remark which he had made on yesterday in reply 10 Mr.
"at!rsey, and sustained the anne n,inent as pruposed
ny Mr.. Csmbreeng He agreed tina, specific appropria
made IN Che ma i! could be done; but in
which could be made with safety 10 The service Of the
Post Office Department. He considered this amend.
nent as in strict accordance with the net OF 1886
While he agreed that appropriations ought b. specific,
lie considered that there various degrees OF specl-
catlons and this amendment in one OF those de-
gfees If the amendment had been in gross, it would
have made appropriation of much for the service
OF the Post Office Department. But this was not the
case 1t made appropriation OF so much Tor the va.
rlous objects enumerated in the amend men and this
specific it possible 10 make An apprnpra-
ton for Department n The nature OF The Post Ohce
Department, where there wrs much change in The
different objects for which appropriations were made
Mr. Robertson wished the chairman of the Committee
Of Ways aud Means to furnish the House with The spe
cIfcations of the item for contingent or miscellaneous
expenditures, because, if that gentleman could not do
so Mir r. should move to strike it out.
MIR. Canbreieng replied that the gentleman himself
must be aware, that when the Department estimated for
contingencies ii because they could not specify the
items and if they could not, how could be expected
that the Committee OF Ways and Mems could do so?
To meet the objection OF the gentleman from indiana,
Mr. c. modified his amendment By striking from II the
word each"
Mr. Robertson said then, as the gentleman could fur
nsh expanaon he moved 10 strike out the Item Tor
miscellaneous expenses
The Chair stated that the amer dment was not then
in order.
Dir Harlan drew the attention OF the gentleman to
the fact that eight more clerks employed in the
Post Ofe Department, than were authorized by the law
of 1896
Mr.. Robertson did know whether that extra clerk
hire covered this miscellaneous item or not.
Mr.. Mckay referred 10 subse quent law passed last
session, authorizing the appointment o! an additional
number of clerks for the office Of the Auditor and that
of The Postmaster General MIR. Mex. was as anxious
any other gentleman 10 make the appropriations Tor
this Department specific, If the authority to make
transfers. from head Of expenditures to another that
possessed by the heads Of the other Departments;
but this was expressly prohibited, or not gwen by The
law Of 1886
MIR Adams called for the yeas and nays On Mr.. Cam.
hrelepg $ amendment which were ordered, and we're
yeas Ga, nays 66.
So the amendment was rejected; and the question
curing on the amendment Of the Committee OF the
Whole
Mr. Robertson moved 10 strike oul the item for mis-.
cellaneuus expenses: lost.
The original amendment was then concurred then.
Mr. Cumbreleng then rose and expressed hope that
the House would order this bill 10 be engrosssd
and as the Committee Of Ways and Means would, it
being the long session, report supplementary BILL gen
temen who had supplementary bills to offer, he hoped
would defer doing SO till that bill came up
Mr. Rariden then moved to Iecommt the bill to
Committee Of the Whole the state Of the Union,
with instructions 10 increase the appropriation for the
contingent expenses of the House, from 5000 10
S23 y60 ESQ 10 embrace the books distributed 10 the
members
6l noes 5S-no quorum
MIR. Cambreeng said as this motion, II 1t prevailed,
would postpone the bill for two months i, was desirable
to have foil House, and he therefore moved call OF
the House.
Mr.. Bronson inquired what the gentleman meant by
saying the bill would be postponed for two months, II
this anne dment should be adopted?
Mr.. Cambreleng replied, because the Senate never
had concurr-d in that amendnen and in all Probabili.
~, never would.
The motion for call Of the House was disagreed to-
MIR. Bond then asked for the yeas and nays on Mr..
Rariden's motion; which were ordered
Mr. Cambreleng said, this question involving
The DELAY Of this important bill, he moved the House
adjourn but Withdrew j, at the request Of Mr. Bell who,
on leave, submitted the following resolution, which was
| sg.eed To-:
10 ,h, House, at early day may be found pIac-
cable the amount Of Treasury notes issued under the
/ AZ. .c LII oc(