The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-18
Housr or RrrnrsrsrArrrs, Arnu II, 1910

| Housr or REPRESENTATIVES, Apnu II, 1910
| Mr.. GIDDINGS said he had entertained no
idea of addressing the committee until the eve
ming OF yesterday. ] had (said he) paid but
little attention 10 the subjectmat Of this bill.
IN consequence Of my time having been so fully
occupied in the duties of the committee of which
| am member.
Indeed, so fully has my time been employed
with the business of that committee, that enter
| tanned no expectation of participating in the de-
bates OF the House, on this any other subject.
until heard the remarks Of my colleague yes
terday and now il is my intention merely 10
reply TO some parts OF the argument which he
advanced.
| understood him to say, in substance, that he
| thought il ungenerous for the party with whom
| have the honor TO act 10 complain of the great
amount of money expended in the support of
Government, unless we could specify the par
| ficuiar items of extravaganza. | understood
| him to call upon the Opposition to show, in de-
tail, the object of retrenchment, and to point
detniiely TO the abuses which demand reforma-
ton. Ialso understood the gentleman from New
York Mr.. VanderpoeD TO make the same re-
quest the first day on which the bill was under
discussion.
This request, think, is reasonable deem
the proposition perfectly fair and honorable on
the part of the gentlemen who made it. If the
minority shall find themselves unable TO point
out any particular extravagance-to lay their
fingers upon distinct items Of wasteful expendi-
ture, and TO demonstrate the prodigality Of the
Administration la defaii-they ought 10 say no
more upon the subject, but permit the bill 10
pass without further delay or opposition.
therefore desire my colleague TO understand
that, so far as am concerned, his proposition is
Internationally accepted
And now Mr. Chairman | will nrocppd with
as much brevity as possible to notice some Of the
items of this bill which | think extravagant and
much higher in amount than is necessary The
first is the sum of ''serenty thousand dollars TO
detrdyfhe contingent expenses Of the Senator
We should examine the several sums composing
this amount, and determine whether they are
necessary whether they have been expended
in such manner as TO give 10 the nation the full
benefit of the funds. This information is found
in the report of the Secretary of the Senate,
made 10 both Houses Of Congress under the law
of 1896 In this report is contained several
small sums, amounting, i'm all, TO SIR thousand
fire hundred and tpeire dollars for s. coLoRING
MAPS" As our maps are intended principally to
show the relative positions OF different places,
was unable to discover any possible benefit what
ever arising TO the country from this expenditure.
made inquiry of older and more experienced
members for information but have been unable
to find one who could mention any advantage
whatever resulting from it. If, however, any
gentleman can show the least possible convent
ence arising from il, would most gladly listen
to him. SO far as the nation is concerned,
think the money might as well have been thrown
into the Potomac as to have been paid out for
''coioring maps" This sum, constituting near
ly-eAe-teHth- of the-contingent expenses of the
Senate, will, on all hands, be admitted unne-
cessary and useless. | therefore refer to it as
one of the abuses worthy of correction. But
feel disposed 10 look into the manner Of lis ex-
pendture little more infinitely. This amount
appears to have been paid to several individuals
in sums Of various amounts Among those in
| dlviduals is the name Of one person who appears
TO have received t,po thousand and si.riy-sir
| dollars between the 2Sth February and the 9th
day of June last, being little more than four
months time. This fortunate individual Is I'M
| known to me, but is said 10 be the daughter of
| an office -holder,f who himself receives salary
OF three thousand dollars per yeart | would
not willingly say any thing TO give pain to the
feelings Of female dclicacy, but must be allowed
to be little specific on this point, in order TO
comply with the request Of my colleague and of
the gentleman from New York.
| Sir, the compensation allowed to this Young
lady for four months labor in "coloring maps"
| in my opinion, is altogether extravagant. 1t is
at the rate of more than five hundred dollars per
month and exceeds eighteen dollars per day
II IS double the amount allowed to a member Of
Congress; four times great as the compensa-
ton allowed to the Governor of Ohio; six times
as great as the amount paid to the members OF
our State Legislature and would employ FIFTY
COMMON LARoRERs in the Western country at
the rate Of ten dollars per month desire that
it may be distinctly understood by the people Of
the Western country that this is the estimate
put upon the price of labor here, compared
with that Of Ohio. That il requires the price of
| ftiy of our hard handed laboring men in the
Western country TO employ one lady in the city
Of Washington. This is done by the party in
power; by those who are loud in declaring their
democracy who often speak of their friendship
for " the People, and are constantly proclaim
ing their devotion to popular rights, and to the
'aborng classes"
Sir, while the father was in receipt of a salary
of three thousand dollars per year. and this
daughter was receiving FIVE hundred dollars per
month, another person Of the same name and a
member Of the same family (as ! am informed)
appears TO have received seven hundred and
eighty dollars for soldering maps" amounting
in all TO little short of six thousand dollarst re-
ceivcd by this most fortunate family However,
perhaps my colleague would say, "to The pic-
tors belong The spoiis."
desire also TO call the attention of the com
mittec TO the manner in which the contingent
fund Of the Treasury Department is expended
The first item which attracted my attention was
the amount paid during the past year "roR
BOOKS" being something more than three thou
sand dollars, if have added correctly. There
is, however, some obscuriy in the report, arls-
ing from the indefinite manner in which il is
made out. Some items, for example, are sci
down, To which is added an :" RI ceferd y as in
some of the charges for books we find an ei
ceteran included Now, what are the articles
embraced in the Ell ceterd," or what were the
prices paid Tor them, is matter Of which am
wholly ignorant. II should, however, be under
stood that the amount of three thou sand dollars