The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-14
CONGRESS-.

puuiouilCut.
CONGRESS.
In the House, on Tuesday, after the reading
of the Journal, reports from Committees were
received by general consent. More than an hour
was devoted to this business, when, on motion
of Mr.. Fillmore, the House went into Commit
tee of the Whole, and took up the General sAp-
preparation Bill The following amendment
had been offered by Mr.. Fillmore on Monday,
but no action was then had on it, the Commit
tee having risen Immediately on its presenta-
ton:
For expenses Of examining annually the condition
of the lighthouses, four thousand dollars: Propided,
That the commissions of two and half per cent,
land any and all other commissioner heretofore al
lowed to the superintendent of light houses be dis
continued in all cases where the compensation of the
collector such and superintendent of lighthouses
including fees, requisites official shares of fines, for
FIXTURES, and penalties, and commissions, aud all emo
Iumens Of office whatever shall amount together to
one thousand dollars or upwards per annum; and the
different collectors shall hereafter discharge the duty
Of uperintendents heretofore required without any
additional specific compensation tor the performance
thereof except above stated Provided, That moth
ing herein contained shall be construed to impair
affect the 18th section of the act approved 7h May
1922, limiting the compensation of collectors, survey
ors and val officers to the of four hundred dol
lars annually for services performed for the United
States in any other office or capacity.
On this amendment a long debate arose,
which was opened by Mr.. Rodney, who propos
ed to substitute two thousand instead of one
thousand dollars. In this discussion many gen
temen participated them Messrs. Win
throp J. r. Ingersoll, Clifford, Fillmore, Fes-
sender, &C. Those who advocated the amend
ment, maintained that the salaries of the col
lectors, not included in its provisions, were suf-
ficient without the additional four hundred dol
lars allowed to those officers as superintendent
of hthouses, that their duties in this capacity
are slight, and that the proviso is necessary to
keep the compensation within the limits pre-
scribed by the act of 1922.
On the other side it was asserted that the duties
of superintendent are onerous, and that the law
of 1922 allows compensation to collectors as
superintendent of lighthouses within the
limits of $400, and that this amendment in an
appropriation bill improperly rescinded the pro-
visions of positive law
MIR. Everett offered, as an amendment, to
strike out the whole amendment except the last
proviso, and insert, that no collector, whose sa-
larry exceeds $1,000, shall receive compensation
as superintendent of lighthouses.
Mr.. Fillmore objected, because this amend
ment does not compel the collectors to perform
the duties of superintendent. After further
discussion, the amendment of Mr. Everett was
negalived. The amendment of Mr. Rodney to
insert $4,000 was negalived he then moved
$500, which motion was also negatived.
Mr.. Fillmore, instructed by the Committee of
Ways and Means, moved, as an amendment
to appropriate $1,000 to remove lighthouse,
&c. in Newport, Rhode Island. This amend
ment was adopted
Mr.. Toland moved to insert 100000 for a
light house on Brandywine shoals. After de-
bate of considerable duration, the vote being
taken on this proposition, Ga voted in the alfir-
native, and 66 in the negative.
No more amendments were offered to the
portion of the bill relating to the light house es
tablishment and the Clerk proceeded to read
that part appropnating for the expenses of TO-
reign intercourse.
Mr.. Adams rose, and began an explanation
in relation to our foreign reatons-and while
looking for written document, MIR. Gushing,
with his permission, moved that the Committee
rise.
Shortly after, the House adjourned.
The Loan bill was taken up in the Senate,
and the third section, which provides that the
stock may be transferable by the delivery of the
certificate, instead of being made assignable on
the books Of the Treasury, and which was yes
terday stricken out was replaced in the BILL