The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-02
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
WEDNESDAY. April =

INVESTIGATING COMMITTEES
During the morning hour, the select committee ap-
pointed to inquire into the for stationery
tered into by the Clerk Of the House asking permits
sion 10 employ clerk to assist them in their duties
proposition was made to amend by authorizing also
the Committee on the Expenditures OF the War De
partment to employ clerk. The amendment was
strongly urged, on the ground that the Committees on
Expenditures cannot possibly perform their duties
without the assistance OF clerks to aid them in examn
ing and stating the OF expenses in the differ
ent branches OF the public service II is the interest
and the determination OF the spoilsmen and corrup-
tionsts, however, throw many obstacles and en-
barrassments IN the way Of these inquiries as they
possibly can and therefore they every means
directly or indirectly to prevent the committees from
doing any thing effectively After oppos M the re-
solutions, til, reiore time they laI tEcm on the
table
The report of the Select Committee on tie case of
Messrs. GaRLASD and BYNuM, was lail on the desk
of the members this morning,
GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
The examination and consideration of this hill were
resumed with great spirit and ability in Committee of
the Whole
MI LUST JOHNSON having moved 10 strike OUT the
appropriation for the Branch Mint Georgia the dis
cussion of the propr.ey of continuing these branch
minis was renewed
The motion to strike out rejected.
number of items Of appropriation for other pur-
poses were passed without objection
NEGLECT OF OFFICIAL Durv REWARDED.
The clause appropra,ng for the salaries Of the At
torney General and District Attorneys having been
reached, Mr. STANLY rose, and held Up the olscr-
vaon OF the country the fact that the present Attor
ney General, Mr.. GnPlN, il the same person who,
when Solicitor Of The Treasury strongly cen
surcd for rcmssness Of official duty by the committee
appointed to inquire into the Swarwout dedication
in which censurc the retrcating Conservative Mr.
HOPKINS concurred uncquvocally.
ExTRAvAGANT CONFIRMATION or EXECUTIVE ravo-
RITES
Mr. CALHouN, of Massachusetts offered an amend
ment 10 the BILL intended to limit the CONDENSATION of
the United States mlrshals and attorneys II Is well
known that some Of these ofirers-hose particularly
IN New York, Philadelphia Charleston and New
Orleans-receIve enormous compensation from
their fees and pcrquisites, amounting in cases
to ten thousand fifteen thousand and even twenty
thousand dollars per annum This it must be ac-
knowledged, is great abuse and could never have
been anticipated designed in establishing these
offices, The purpose of Mr.. CaIhoun's proposition
was to to the Government, an income of many
thousands of dollars, and yet leave to the officers
liberal salcry, His amendment provides that the
uarshals and attorneys shall render regularly the
Treasury Department account under oath Of all
the fees and pcrqusitcs and other moneys received Nv
them in the due course OF their oiIical duties: and
that the whole amount received over and above
hir'y-sre hundred dollars in the case Of the mar
shals and attorneys of New York Philadelphia
Charleston and New Orleans, End over t,renty fire
huPired dollars in the of the mlrThals and
attorneys in other districts shall be returned the
Treasury
Fhis reasonable proposition contested by the
Administration party with earnestness and deter
mnation which, showed the Importance they attached
2 A. Mr. Dromgooe objected that il was out Of or
derl The Chairman decided that it pcrtrctiy IN
order Mr. Dromgoole appealed TO the House; and
n animated discussion arose upon tile question az 10
whether ~ ORDER 10 Introduce proposition
Whereby many thousands Of dollars r,n 8. sored 10
m' fh5ip into BIN aPpropriaitng moHsy .for he
'li'ris1 for those oGicsrsi
Mr. Evans, Mr. Graves, anil Mr. DAVIS Of Ken
lucky sustained the decision Of the Chair with great
ability and spirit and exposed the Inconsistency 81 the
practice Of the friends Of the Administration IN st,n
ing out for these extravagant conpensations whiIe
they pretend to be in favor Of economy and rcrencl
ment
La despite Of all remonstranees the decision 81 the