Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-02-25

teal friend and nominal clerk editing a paper in a distant
State: if is expedient that the subject should be cxamin-
ed into. and reported on to this House, IN order that the
compensation PAID to clerks in the Post Office Depart
ment NAV be reduced to a proper amount, and III order
that the Postmaster General may be arraigned Tor mai
icasauce in Office: therefore,
Rcsolred, That this whole subject be referred TO the
Committee on the Expenditures in the Post Office De.
partment, with instructions TO examine into and report
upon il to this House, and that they have power to
send for persons and papers.
The SPEAKER said The motion could only be enter
tanned by unanimous consent.
Mr.. L~EADBETTER wished to know if these rcso-
lutions would be open to amendment. fso, he wished
them to lie over.
Mr.. ALBERT SMITH rising and Directing,
MIR. GRAVES moved a suspension of the rules, and
asked the yeas and nays, which were ordered; and, be
ing taken, were-leas lie, nays -
So the rules were not suspended, (two-thrds not
voting therefor)
The House then took up the bill making appropria.
lions for the payment of the Revolutionary and other
pensioners of The United States for the year 1910
which had been returned from the Senate with an
amendment, authorizing the several pension agents &c
administer the oaths required TO be taken, and to charge
the a fee as is allowed to Shareholders for admins
tering similar oaths.
ment was concurred IN.
MIR. SERGEANT moved that the House resolve it.
self into. a Committee Of the Whole on The state Of the
CUiOi, ~ tl Pu'Po'N
CENSUS BILL.
Mr.. SERGEANT moved that the House resolve it
self into n Committee of the Whole on the state of the
Union, for the purpose of considering the bill from the
Senate to amend the act Of the last session for taking
the sixth census.
Mr.. JONES Of Virginia observed, that it had been
his intention to ask the House to 60 into Committee OF
the Whole, for the purpose of considering the bill to
continue the office of Commissioner of Pensions.
Mr.. SERGEANT observed that there would be am
pie time to consider both bills. The census bill he die
not suppose would occupy much time, and the othei
bill could be considered Immediately after it, before the
committee rose.
The SPEAKER having put the question on Mr.
Sergcant's motion,
Il Mr.. JONES of Virginia said he begged leave to men
ton, before the question was taken, that there was
bill from the Senate lying on the Speaker table, Il
continue the Office of Commissioner of Pensions, ant
that the law by which this office was created, expires
on the first of March next. lie hoped, therefore, tina
this bill would be The first taken up.
The SPEAKER having stated that the motion o.
the gentleman from Pennsylvania had precedence, the
question was taken and decided in the affirmative, ant
the House accordingly resolved itself into a COMMITTEE
Of the Whole, Mr.. Banks in the Chair, and took up thu
bill from the Senate to amend the act to provide 70
: taking the 9th census, &c.
Various amendments were offered, which gave rIst
10 much debate.
: Mr.. PETRIKIN then moved to amend the bill b.
reducing the salary of the principal clerk employed
: on the business of the census, in the State Department
; from $4,000 per annum to $1,000.
:. MIR. WICK said if the gentleman from Pennsylvania
would agree To fix the salary of this officer at 81 500
he would go for it; and Mr.. W. moved accordingly t
insert 81 300 instead of $ $4,000, in the bill.
:" The question was then taken on Mr.. Wick motion
: (t being the largest sum- and it was carried in Thu
affirmative
Mr.. DAWSON next moved 10 amend the bill by ad
ding 335 per cent 10 the compensation of the assistan
m~arshals, for the additional labor imposed on them b.
the bill, of procuring the statistical information it re
CURED.
A long discussion took place between Mr.. CARTEI
{ of Tennessee, and Messrs. WATTERSON and Nc
: CLELLAND of Tennessee, and Mr.. Q
:" Missouri, in relation to charges made by Nh. Carte
against the Marshal Of East Tennessee. The othe
! gentlemen defended him, and most successfully.
The question was then taken on Mr.. Dawson 5 amend
ment, and it was rejected.
Mr.. PETRlkIN then offered the following, to b
prchXed as a preamble TO the bill:
Whereas the members of the last session of tn
: Twenty fifth Congress deferred doing much of the i'm
> portant business of the country until the last day of tn
session, and on that day were compelled to act withou
elaboration for want of time and whereas, anon
: other acts thus passed, the act authorizing the takin!
Of the census within the L. S. has been found 50 i'm
{" perfect that it cannot be Observation-Disclosures 10 rene
; DIV those imperfections produced by said defective lie
: gislation and neglect of duty of said members of Con
grcss, &c IL enacf.d, &c.
Mr.. DAWSON expressed his regret that the gentle
: nun from Pennsylvania should have submitted Il motto
I ST. ulSItS!f',l'hil N"t Ii'N VI N!lItH liz hds 81 lbch1itA
. He considered such proceeding as one unworthy OF th
r House, and that il ought TO meet the decided dlsapprC
:, baton ofcvcry member of il, &c.
After some debate, Mr.. DROMGOOLE appealed {
" the gentleman from Pennsylvania to withdraw his pre-
u position, and made some observations TO show that
r. could not, with propricty, be adopted.
Mr.. PETRlKlN consented TO withdraw the propose
preamble.
n Mr.. SERGEANT moved that the committee rise
, and report the bill.
: Mr.. UNDERWOOD moved TO amend by adding a
% additional section to the bill, changing the ratio of re
! presentation, 50 as to allow one Representative TO ever
$4,000 persons.
Mr.. r.. GARLAND moved to amend the amendmer
by striking out -, and inserting 60.
Both the amendments were rejected without a coun
and the bill! was laid aside TO be reported.
The ommittec, then on motion, took up the Senat
bill to continue the Office of Commissioner of Pension
until the 4ll of March, lS42, and to transfer duties foI
the Navy Department 10 the Office Of the COMMISSIONS
and also TO transfer one clerk.
q After Il brief conversation on the allowance of tn
Commissioner,
The committee rose and reported both bills 10 til
House.
In the House the latter bill was taken up; when
Mr.. PROFFIT moved to reduce the salary ofth
commissioner from $4,000 to s., $780,, and demanded I'll
yeas and nays.
When at near 6 o'clock, the House adjourned.