Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1842-12-19

ess clerks might be indispensable to perform temporary
md extra labor arising from calls made the Departments
Mr.. WISE resumed. lie ws- happy find that hi, un
derstsndng OF the had been and. according
had effected NIL the reform IL able accomplish In
vsstgaon had been made, and all practicable reductions
had taken place. Individual opinion might perhaps differ
the number Of clerks twas necessary retsin
but that matter OF opinion only; and the judgement
Of committee who had fully examined the subject TO
be relied upon Mr. w. on remark that OBJ
viousy economical allow the employment Of
nbor for duty, than pay the clerks that might
time be needed full salary during the whole year. BY
the by, he could wish that the chairman would consent
modify the bill he had reported by striking the word
contingent" wherever ii occurred, for there
single contingent item in the whole bill: every
specific with the single exception of the small
titled "misceaneous Nor there the least danger
regard these: the heads Of expenditure published
year. and the details which made up the gross
under each head could time be obtained by in
quiy the Departments The document, for example,
which had been called for the last session, and printed by
order and Mt the Of the House, carried down these
detas low items OF but three Was this what
the gentleman desircdi Did his colleague wish that APP
preparation bill should on its face individual
pendture for bundle Of quilts box of wafcrsl II
should the very printing OF the bills would than
all the extra clerk hire OF which his colleague complained
In word, the play would not be worth the candle.
Mr.. JOHN w. JONES said that he fully agreed with
his honorable colleague Mr. Gimer that retrenchmcnt
Of public expenditure ought in all take place when
could be made without dement the public service,
but in the present he must that he greatly doubted
whether the object his colleague sought would be0aincd
Mr. ]. well satisfied that the providing of this
compensation for services in its result, true
economy Nor the making of such AN appropriation
in advance by practice; its propriey had
been frequently discussed in the Committee of Ways and
Mans Mr. Us attention had been drawn the sub
ject several years at which time he had examined II
with great The committee had been called on for
similar appropriation by the Commissioner OF the General
Land Office, who, in explanation, stated the committee
that in the ordinary of business clerks
were sufficient conduct the business in our land Offices
but that particular seasons when public land sales took
place within district, the business Of the land office there
for three weeks increased ten, twenty, hum
dredod Economy required that during that time
force should be temporarily engagcd and il according
ly always provided for beforehand. What took place in
land office such time happened here in the Departments
when sudden calls made by Congress for information
The force sufficient conduct the regular and ordinary bu
sness Of the Department wholly inadequate TO meet
these calls. No doubt his colleague, in the Of the
Investigations made by him, had very frequently found that
clerks frs, temporarily hired, became in of time
permanently attached the Departmental twas against
this mainly that he presumed his colleague endcavorng
guard but that gentleman should ecoect that from the
sagmentng population and business of the country and the
consequent increase in Its public affairs the duties to be
performed in the Departments continually extending,
and force, which first needed only for a time be-
length 10 be retained altogether and
properly retained and with advantages to the public
vice.
Mr. GARRETT DAVIS observed that twas doubt
that of the evils complained of by the gentleman
from Virginia opposite Mr. Glmer) did actually exist but
Mr. d. doubted whether the proposed BY that gen.
eman presented the proper mode of correcting them No
Departments might suffer some reduction II had been
credb stated that the head of the Treasury Department
convinced of this tina, he had been about reench
fifteen clerks i'll that Department, when the Pre-
sdent himself interfered and prevented il.
Mr.. WISE said that what he understood that the
Secretary had been about off fifteen clerks,
not however for the purpose of reenchng that number
but with view of supplying their places with Others
Mr.. DAVIS Does the gentleman from Virginia say
that the Secretary did not contemplate the reenchment OF
these clerks1
Mr.. WISE. The gentleman from Virginia asks whether
the gentleman from Kentucky afs that the Secretary did
contemplate the etrenching of these fifteen clerks,
and not the change of them for othersl
Mr.. DAVIS. / understand that the Secretary thought
that fifteen clerks might be spared from his De-
pament and about dismiss them, when the Pres
dent nterfered prevent
Mr. WISE. Then will correct the gentleman. The
Secretary of the Treasury had such idea: il his
purpose 10 retrench OF these cerkahps, and in con
nation Of this statement will my colleague
Mr. Gimer) and ask him whether when he, chairman of
the reenchmeni committee inquired of the Secretary of the
Treasury whether OF the clerks in his Department
might not be dispensed WITH he did reply in the
uvel
Mr.: GILMER nodded accent
Mr. WISE. Yes. lie said that he could spare
heard the report that he removing
fteen but their places were TO be filled Immediately
with others whom the Secretary wished Office
Mr.. BIDLACK here wished 10 state fact; and Mr. Da
ys yielding the floor for that purpose Mr. b. proceeded
that he had read printed report from the Commits
fioner Of the General Land Office who had been in like
required say whether any of his clerks could be
spared The Commissioner replied that he had recently
but his impression was that none could he spared.
Mr.. DAVIS, resumng the floor, stated that he had been
informed by gentleman that floor who wished get
person appointed TO fill vacancy the Land Office that
he had been informed that the place be filed;
and he further informed that had been the purpose
the Department 10 remove ten twelve from the Land
Office. Why should they be removed when the land
gales, which had produced five millions of dol
lars in year, amounted but little mil
lion Mr. ID. had also been informed that the Secretary
of War had been called by his chief clerk. who pre-
rened him plan for remodelng the arrangements of
The clerkships that Department in such that
abou onehaf of those employed might he dispensed
wh-thnt many Of them inefficient and Others almost
idle. He hao received the information from clerks
in the other Departments.
Here there loud call for their Names but Mr.. ID.
declined giving them the ground that, should he do So
the individuals, ne doubted not, would be Immediately
moved Suffice IL TO say, that those who him the in
formation were themselves dligent and efficient
Now he thought that if any service was required
these idle and inefficient clerks should be work. in
stead Of hiring force. Instead of offering such
amendment, let the gentleman from Virginia 20 his
President who made such loud professions of retrenchmen
and reform, the Presidents Secretary, who less
loud the same profession and them carry their
principles. Let them do this, and all tue evils Of
which he complained would be corrected. That
the spot apply the remedy. All efforts rercnchng
The public expenditure prove idle without the
and cooperation Of the Executive. When calls
made by Congress they would be told that the inor-
NATION could not be given, because the regular force Of the
Department insufficient 10 the call. For this
Mr.. ID. could not vote for the amendment lie
obliged the gentleman from Virginia. however, his
valuable efforts in correcting public abuses and should be
ready ~ all times to aid his laudabe endeavors.
NJ. WISE inquired whether the gentleman from Ken
lucky spoke from his personal knowledge, when he
said that of the clerks the Departments inef
6cient and idlel
Mr. DAVIS said he had no personal knowledge in the
matter but spoke from information which lac thought he