The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-04-14
DEBATEIN CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 10. is

the Government for the year 1870
And the bill having been read through
On motion of Mr.. JONES of Virginia, the item appopr
atng the of $4,000 for stationery fuel printing, and
other contingent expenses Of the Senate was amended by
striking out 10000" and Inserting $50 900"
And, motion of Mr. j. the appropriating $4,000
for stationery fuel printing and other of the House
amended by striking out "$l50000." and inserting
" 500 600"
Mr. WISE then rose and said that he had few remarks
make the subject of appropriations by Congress These
remarks intended apply to the accusation continually
made OF late by the Executive against the Legislative Depart
ment Of this Government.
The expenses Of the Government Of the United States had
enormously increased earfy increased at least in view Of
those VINO were for maintaining truly Republican Govern
ment and pursuing system OF just economy was So
emn tact, which all would concur that the expenses
OF the Administration per had exceeded thryhree
or thirty -four millions Ii solemn fact that the capita
ton tax, if collected by capltation
would exceed that OF the last The average expend
lures of General Jacksons Administration exceeded
millions of dollars They exceeded the expenditures of Mr.
adisons Administration during the by several hundred
thousand dollars and Mr. Van Buren, had trod beyond
the footsteps Of his usous predecessor in the expenditure
OF the public money The capation would be- for
each head In this popuaion dollars and fifty cents The
excuse OF the Executive had been and had heard
during the present of Congressional Congress had
exceeded the estimates Of the Execuve-the reports OF the
Deparlmens-tha we had gone on expanding money in
progate course OF extravaganza. Now, this the hrs
appropriation bill which had been brought this year. with
TIE exception OF one some months ago. to pay themselves
Their diem fixed by law, and they could not
that bill from the ordinary amount of expenditure They
knew exactly how many members there to be paid, how
many miles each had TO travel and how much was their
per dlem allowance Here them the first appropriation
nil presented to the House. in which variation might be
made from the expenditures of last year And he gave
notice gentlemen those especially ofthe
party, who had aaigned the Legislative in defence Of the
Executive Department, unite with him in voting for no
money in any bill but such the Executive should recon-
mend lad be responsible for.
With this view he proposed the first place, put
inquiry or two to the chairman of the Committee of Ways
and Means upon this bill.
Did The Ill in gross, every item in part and par
eel III the aggregate and in the items from the Execu-
I'VE Was in pursuance OF Executive recommendation
exceed did fall short Of the bill for the purposes
of the last year
Mr. JONES Va said that of the items appropriated
in this bill were xed and asceraned by law All he be
eved of what called the civil list propeprobably eve
y itemwas in virtue of existing law and consequent
y those items in conformity 10 the recommends
received from the Departments Probably he should
further when he said they in exact conformity with
the provisions Of existing laws either they were So or they
incidental the laws themselves. Some Of them
incidents for which special provision made by law but
which necessary those for which the law provided
and which had been made
r sion in every bill fthis kind
the inquiry whether the gross amount of the bill
larger than the of the bill at the last session
Congress- he had to that he had not compared critically
every item of this bill with that Of the last session He be
ieved however it would turn that the BILL in the form
in which it reported by the Committee of Ways and
Means in fact larger than that of the last session and
his colleague (Mr WrsE would that this be
cessry for the that this the long
the last the short The of money required
for the purpose Of paying the members of Congress and OF
the different contingent expenses Of the two Houses Mr..
j. though little short of double the amount required the
last session.
would be found also that there several other items
in the bill where the appropriations exceeded those the last
session. but not knowing that he should he called upon he
could not on the instant point them out One OF hem how
ever was the amount of appropriation for the various
poses Of the public land Offices The amount for the present
year, he thought 500 600; for the last only
SiS 000 this owing to the fact that at the last session.
there was considerable amount Of money applicable to that
service growing out of previous appropriations made by Con-
gcss IT. however reference made to the various acts
Of Congress upon this subject would be found that the
amount asked, compared with the amount required in
former years intended merely the and
nothing There many other ITEMS into which it
necessary to enter but OF which he would say
Mr. WISE resumed. | know that my colleague will fur
nsh with ingenious information when he Is called upon
in good faith to do wish it to be noted that not
going to dispute these items of appropriation do not
know for have entered into particular examination,
that there are any which shall dispute But wish to call
the attention of my constituents especially to this factas
shall upon all the appropriation bills as they may come up
FIRST that the Executive is responsible for this bill that is
in accordance with Executive recommendation that
to US upon Executive estimates upon Executive reports and
with Executive That is the first thing which de-
sire should be distinctly understood.
Mr. JONES of Virginia, understood to say that all the
items recommended by the Executive were not In this
BILL some were reduced
Mr.. WISE. That is another important fact-ha the Com
mec Of Ways and Means have in instances reduced
the estimates OF the Executive Now will inquire whether
they have in any instances been exceeded.
Mr.. JONES understood to not that he recoected
Mr.. Wise. Be all these facts remembered then, upon all
the appropriation bills 20 along and hereafter,
that there may be dispute As colleague rJoNEs)
has remarked Of The items in this bill fixed by law
as instance the compensation of the President and Vice
President United States of the Secretaries OF State
the Treasury War of the Navy and the of
the Postmaster General amounting to total of $4,000 We
all know what their salaries are and the Executive cannot
vary them In fact there but fewems of this bill that
are fixed by law, and consequently few items in which
there could be any variation OF expenditure from last year
or the sake of comparison from the year be-
fore last, which was, like this, a long session.
Mr
experience of the long session.
Mr. WISE. There is another fac-that this bill is based
upon the estimates OF the long session bill and although
there few items comparatively in which variation OF
expenditure could be made il not astonishing that upon
those items the gross Of this hill showed an in
Of expendure The general enumeration of econo
had been made in the annual message of The President
The cdpandum recommendation OF economy and
reduction of endures had been mide IN the Presidents
message (Which had been read by every body and yet
when we trace this Administration III it's details, its
estimates in its inercommu with the House and
the committees item by item sha find that II will be with
the last appropriation bill with the sha its gross
amount will larger than hereofore AID unless gen.
eman Of the Opposition, bona de economist OF the
Administration party shall watch these expenditures, and
make these inquiries shall find at the end OF this session
that have been going increasing and still Increasing our
pendures and you and sir be aragned tor before
our constituents. here, have averred at home,
that the Executive of this nation responsible for dol