The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-16
WHOLE NO. 35s.

appreciation OF the President before an Indian
, can give good title to his reservation, politi-
clans OF the right faith have found il easy 10 OBJ
tain that appreciation. The extent and amount
OF these frauds, and the hundreds and thousands
made rich by spoils plundered from the Indians
II known, would utterly astonish those who live
remote from the disgracefu scenes of action. |
have not time 10 pursue the subject, but name
u as national grievance, for which hold the
Administration answerable. OF all modes Of
rewardlng fayortes, consider the reward of
indian spolls the most unprincipled and base
Mr. Chairman, as party, the Wings have
been tainted by asserting that their prosperity
and success depend upon the msfortunes and
| dlstresses Of the country. In my opinion, the
charge IS true TO a very considerable extent
The Book Of Truth informs US that Sin adyer-
sity men consder-in prosperity rejoice" For
years past as People, in spite Of misrule, we
nave prospered, Many, very many satisfied and
rejoicing in prosperity, have blindly approved
without consideration. Wise men, looking be-
yond the days of plenty and abundance, aud dis
tinctly seeing that we were travelling the broad
road that must inevitably end in distress and ruin,
warned the People of their danger. But they
warned them in many cases in vain The evil
so plainly predicted has al length arrived, and
many, rery many, have been overtaken unpre-
pared, and not few overwhelmed and ruined
These disresses lead TO inquiry and sober re-
iiecton, and inquiry and reelection lead 10 a
knowledge of the truth. Ii is high time TO take
an observation, and see where party spirit, re-
| CARELESS OF the public good, has carried US. We
feefthe evils, let the People look nell to the
causes which have produced those evils. Ifl
mismanagement and misrule have been the
causes Of the sullerings Of the People let those
VINO have had the power and control OF the Go
yernment be held answerabe.
| am well aware, Mr. Chairman, that most Of
cEpII Ia, ~ hofor
are IN conformity with law, and that, until the
laws are modified or repealed, we are bound, 10
vote Tor them. Still, as we shall have no other
opportunity but the present TO speak Of the er-
rors and injustice Of the laws under which the
appropriations are made, deem the present fit
occasion, and shall avail myself of il to suggest
some OF the evils and injustice under which we
suffer, and call upon Congress to amend or re-
| peal them.
| ! now beg the attention of the Chairman Of
the Committee of Ways and Means and this
Committee to the 3S7th, 3Ssth and 3S9th lines
OF the bill before US, as follows:
For compensation to the district attorneys and
marshals including those in the several Territories
fourteen thousand five hundred and fifty dollars 2
| Mr.. JONES, Chairman of the Committee Of
Ways and Means, replied that these salaries
were fixed by various laws, and that they varied
from $500 to 5000 each.
/
ports as TO the income of some Of these officers
Of the Government, but not being able TO ascer-
tain the facts on the 30th ofJanuary, 1899, | Of
fered (said he) the following resolution, which
passed this House:
j Resoired, That the Secretary ofthe Treasury be
directed to lay before this House its session the
amount of compensation whether as fees or otherwise
which has been received by each of the district
neys district clerks and marshals Of the United States
as officers Of the Government, during the year 1899
The Secretary made his report March l6,
| 1910, as follows:
"The delay in answering the instructions given by
to carry into effect the resolution has prevented
earlier report; and yet several of the officers have
neglected to furnish the information called for although
their attention has this year been invited to circular
on the subject issued as early the both Of January
/ 1889"
| Then follows a table showing the accounts
rendered by those who attended TO the invitation
| The first thing that occurs in the case 10 at
tract notice is, that these officers in a number of
cases, though called upon by the Secretary of the
/ Treasury, by order Of this House, have neglect
ed TO render any account, treating the order with
contempt | will not detain this committee to
name the cases, but in some eases returned. the
compensation is unreasonable and cxtravagant.
The Secretary of the Treasury appended a
note TO his report, saying that the amount re-
ceved by the officers in this statement are, IN
many instances, gross sums, from which are to
be deducted clerk hire, jail fees and assistant
counsel In what instances? | have satisfied
nv self il is very defective in another particular
that the account rendered is for money only
which has been actually received. should like
to be informed what marshal has incurred ex-
penses for jail fees. SO far from being correct,
il is believed that in some cases al least, which
can readily be pointed out, the jail fees allowed
and boarding prisoners are source Of great
/ profit to marsllals. know mol what amount
district attorneys have paid for assistant counsel,
but do know that notwithstanding district at
torneys receive such exorbltant compensation,
the Government have very often hired assistant
counsel to argue their cases, and'at no small ex
pense. | also know, if these district attorneys
are eminent men in their profession, that they
are employed very considerable portion of their
time in private suits
While apologizing for excessive compensa-
ton, why did il not enter the mind Of our money
saving Secretary 10 state 10 us the above facts ?
Mr.. Jones, chairman, explained and said that
not one dollar OF the money was drawn from the
National Treasury. The sum was made up
from fees and costs.
Mr. REED resumed The chairman is mis-
taken in point Of fact. The amount of compen-
saon named in the report referred TO Is made
up of fees and costs, and salary, where salary
| IS allowed, and in some cases these fees are
paid bv The United States Take the memora-
bic case Of Mr. Ingersoll, Of Philadelphia, How
many thousand dollars did he receive of the
United States in his tea cases But hold the
answer of the chairman TO be wholly unsatisfac
tory The charge is. that certain officers under
the Government of the United States in the
receipt of most exorbitant compensation. The
answer is, that the United States do not pay it.
II is paid either by the United States or citizens
of the United States. If exorbitant, and paid
by citizens, il is actually more cruel and oppres