The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1841-12-21
SYSTEM OF rELEaRAPHs.

TREATY WITH TUE MIAMI INDIANS
Mr. SMITH of Indiana submitted a resolution,
which was adopted, nsructng the Commillee on
Finance TO inquire into the expediency oil making an
appropriation TO deray the expenses arising OUT OF
the treaty between the United States and the Miami
Indians.
THE CHARTER OF WASHINGTON CRY
Mr. WRIGHT introduced bill to amend and
continue in force an act to incorporate the nhab-
tants of the City of Washington He said that he
\presented this bill at the solicitation OF gentlemen
who constituted a committee on the part oil num-
he4>of the citizens and he was directed by these
gentlemen to ask that the bill be referred TO the Com
mittee on the District of Columbia, and that 1t be
printed.
Mr.. CLAYTON introduced a bill for the relief of
Charles +. Sibbald.
The above bills were read first and second tune,
and appropriately referred.
THE EXPENSES OF CONGRESS.
Mr. EVANS, from the Com ritee on Finance,
ported without amendment; the House hill making
appropriation for deraylng, in part the expenses
OF the Government for the year lS12, and asked the
Senate To consider 1t al this time.
Mr.. KING inquired, whether he understood the Sc
naor saying that he had reported the bill without
amendment2 If So he objected to us consideration,
because he could propfiely in paying them
selves while Others we've neglected
He would, however, endeasor by looking over the
appropriations made at the last session, to- meet the
object which he had in view. Ii was notorious that
they always had made appropriation for their own
pay at the commencement, ofthe session, and delayed
the passage Of the general appropriation bill ill
sometimes, the last week OF the session. and in
sequence, the salaries of the clerks and others de
pending upon the action of of Congress, frequently
went into the hands Of the brokers. The Senator
from Maine remarked the other day, reason
why the bill did not cover the entire expenditures
of the Government, that the estimates had not
been furnished by the Departments But this certain.
| ly Inpt ha fha IaNNa abntpa Al
the appropriated at the regular sessions. He
of the opinion that, from that data general act
COULD be passed at the present time and he trusted
that the justice of Senators would induce them To
make such an amendment to this bill TO carry into
effect the views which he had Just suggested.
| Mr.. EVANS said that he had intended to accom-
pany The bill which he had reported with word Of
! ex plantations; and that, il the Senator from Ala
! bauna had waited moment, he would not have III AIDE
the remarks to which they had listened, aud
i which not exactly called for Undoubtedly
great reform necessary in their mode of dol Q
! business, but for several years past, it had been
usual for Congress to make appropriations of
i the character here presented He concuIred IN
the remarks Of the Senator from Alabama the other
day with regard 10 the early payment of all the off
GERS of The Government but he would here remark
that The Committee on Finance, of which he was he
G. hartman were entirely unable at 50 short notice
I to propose such bill 5 the Senator indicated and
they therefore came to the conclusion to have con-
! ference with the Committee of Ways and Means of
the other House so to have general bill introduced
! there to cover the objects suggested. portion of
the money be appropriated by this bill was due, and
wanted; but this not true, far the salaries
Of the officers of Government conceined for the
appropriation made by the last Congress extended
through HE whole year up TO the first day OF January
next No appropriate therefore for the clerks and
Others was necessary Re made until the first Of Fe
bruary But the Senator from Alabama said that
| the Committee on Finance could have framed bill
from the estimates of previous sessions, this bill
must have been predlcated upon former ia, How did
he know that He would ,ell.him, however, that the
+ Commteeon Finance here and the Committee on
Ways and Means in the other hou had be- furnished
with the estimates which the bill was founded
1t well known that the estimates from the Irea-
suy Deparlmust must be the other House, print
ed and six oreigh days necessarily pass ere they
laid upon the tables OF the members BY looking to
the laws it would be perceived that this mahing of
appropriation bills was net so easily performed the
Senator imagined and before doing so tie House
had allowed thirty days after the estimates sub
mitted, that they might be carefully examined He
hoped that the Senator from Alabama would
himself the trouble OF introducing bill at this time
the object tthe present one was 10 make apptopra
ton for present liabilities and he would tell the Sen
ator that Messrs Blair q Rlves had a claim
against the Senate amounting To 21 900; and there
was also due 10 the printers of the Congress up
wards of % or ss25 600 more But this all,
the contingent fund of both Houses debt for
printing, engraving, book binding etc. for the last
Congress, $4,000, for which the last session
not responsible.
Mr. KING remark ed that the work was not done.
MIR. EVANS said that it was and a portion of il
had bee Delivered 4l2, 100 on account OF which was
due in 1910 at the close OF the regular session, be
sides he printing for the Extra Session and other
ptnses. He hoped that the Senator from Alabama
would let the bill pass with assurance that ano her
bill would, all probability be passed tomeet the just
claims OF the officers and clerks of the Government
when they became due. If Congress would COM
nance the work OF making appropriations in advance,
] tI,a Eret n.
mence on the first Of July, great saving and conve,
niencc and shor enng of the .essons of Congress
would perhaps, be he result. lie hope that a
form would speedily be made in the manner OF con
Quoting the legislative business of the nation.
MIR. KING was extremely happy that the Senator
from Maine set himself to work to effect reform.
He was glad that the afnunciaon had been made,
and hoped that II would be carried out III practice,
and not confined to declaration But, as TO another
b being passed, III addition TO this, tor the payment
/ of the officers OF the Government, they were aware
that ii would not be done. They knew, from cNpe-
rience THAT when these appropriation bills passed
at the commencement OF thesesson, and members
cciyed their compensation, they would become care
less with regard to the interests OF others and suffer
claimants 10 wait for months. For years past, midi
viduas had been thus injured and Congress was to
blame for it, because it did not make appropriations
for their salaries, fixed by law lfthe Senator in
tended to make change Ill the salaries OF these Off
GERS ne prophecy IA delaying make gcncru
appropriations Ii the purpose was to continue tie same
salaries, there Inc Jaw for the guidance OF Con
gress Then why not ertady TO meet Tie salaries
they become due, and not force these officers
an unreasonable tlne--or months 10 ret their pay
Did he understand the Senator saying that he had
conferred with the committee Of the other House
MIR. EVANS remarked that he had said that the
Committee on Finance would confer with the Com.
mtce of Ways and Means with a view to the in.
oduction OF another BILL the better mode OF doing
justice to those whose claims would fall due the
frs, of February.
Mr. KING observed that they all knew ii
would be much surer to amend tins bill and pass
it through, than get second h passed and
he asked the Senator whether he, IN his con