Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-21

ted to the extent OF the duties OF the Sonh'l'ee
WAYS and Means, not of the Committee OF nance.
Mr. STANI.Y desired TO make enquiry OF TIN
chairman of the select committee on The currency
(Nlr Cushing.) Did the gentleman desire that III
Committee Of Ways and Means should not have con
current jurisdiction, provided the seecl coi"i''''
could agree on a hscaity:
Mr. FILLMORE said he desired to make Suggest
ion The Sth page of the message, lquery UNI IN
House would perceive, commenced IN these woros
.From the report Of the Secretary OF the treasury
YOU will be informed Of the condition OF the nnaices'
and then il went on TO state what that condition was
His intention had been to refer that part ofthe Message
and the report that to accompany II, TO the Com
rittee of Ways and Means. His intention also ma
been conne the select committee 10 The plan SUBMIT
ted by the President, described by the fresiuent
page IL of the Message. He had not intended to max
IT committee the currency, nor TO prevent III
House from raising another committee, or from reei
ring the subject 10 standing committee, IN case thu
select committee could not agree. Nor, al Inc sam
zine, had he intended TO preclude the Committee iior
making amendments He repeated his intention wa
TO refer 10 the select committee the plan described b.
The President and if the House should afterwards thin
proper to exercise its power II might do So
MIR. WISE said that his only object in making tn
inquiry he did from the gentleman from New ior
mir. Fmore) was 10 know the defined limits OF tn
jurisdiction of the select committee. lie (alr. W.
cared not whether the House gave the select commit
Tee a concurrent jurisdiction separate and exclu
size jurisdiction He only desired to know what the u
Tisdiction was that was gwen TO the committee Ter
lainly as the resolution now drawn, It was very
underlined and obscure.
The SPEAKER said he had INDUCED this CONVEX
sational debate TO an extent Of rreevancy which wa
entirely out of order. The power OF the select com
,ntee could not be settled under the resolution nov
before the House. That committee might raise tn
question of power by separate resolution, or IN In
form Of report
Mr. WISE said his remarks addressed to th
power of the Committee of Ways and Means.
The SPEAKER said that would be in order
Mr.. WISE said he had wondered at the beginning
Of the session why the Chairman Of the COMMITTEE
WAYS and Means should propose to strip himself o
The power belonging to that committee. Here was
resolution proposing 10 give to the Committee on ma
,.factures the whole subject of the Tariff and II the
subject fthe finances given to select committee
what was left for The Committee of Ways and Means
Simply The ordinary appropriations very light task
indeed He hoped that, if the Chairman would no
define (con6ne) the jurisdiction OF the committee, thu
House would and he knew no better mode of accom-
plish,ng the object than by adopting the amendment
The gentleman from Massachusetts,, (Mr. Cushng)
Mr.. EVERETT suggested to MIR, Fillmore to 'nser
in the resolution the words except the plan OF aanct
recommended by the President"
MIR. FILLMORE said he would accept the mod'h
cation.