Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-12-20

that appropriation and he, (Mr Jones,) renem
befed well that il the mos. judsc;ous appIca
ton Of money that cou!d bc madc-fartIcuiary II
that branch of the public server. A"d NE reasons
which applied there, would also apply here why, ~
OF land uhces or tw" clerks were al iha
were reonited 10 discharge hcir duties; bet, ben TIC
land sales came o., the du!Ies increased ten, twenty
yea perhaps hundred o!j, and t"., perhaps one, 'w"
three weeks. Every gen'rm1n weua see men, '"e
propriety and The economy OF ca'hng IN an additional
force 70. one .o four weekS, 10 discharge the
extra duties, without interfering with the permanent
service Of The Establishment Daring the sessions OF
Congress- it was we'll kaown TO every one who had VII
messed the repeated calls the departments
for normaton that the regular force was inadequate
for such exigencies and true economy to Call IN
extra AID. -
Mr. G. DAVIS Mr. WISE, and Mr.. BlDLACK
entered into explanations respecting the intention ut
the Secretary OF the Treasury some ne since to DIS.
pense with portion Of The clerks III !s department
Mr. BIDLACk observed that he would detain The
committee but n,omeu merely for the purpose OF re-
farrnG to document TO show that his tcoiiecons IN
repard 10 the statement made By the gentleman from
Kentucky mir G. DAVIS were correct. From tins do
cumen, 1t would be that, 50 TAR from lis being
true as stated by the gentleman, that The Secretary oil
the Treasury contemplated reduction OF the force OF
the Land Office, the contrary was the TACT In docu'
men No 90 of the last Il wo I'd be found tai
resolution was passed the 18th Of August last call
ing on the Secretary 10 report TO the House whether
there could he any reduction made IN The force o.
his department With view to answer this call,
the ac,Ing Secretary Of the Treasury called on the
Commissioner of the General Land Office, Tor lnior.
NATION on that point in regard 10 his Office The Com
missioner made report IN answer, which he would not
detain the House by reading; but II was suhcent Tor
him 10 saw that the Commissioner stated IN substance,
that he had been too short time IN olce 10 determine
with certainty whether any part of ms clerical force
could be reduced consistently with duo regard Tor the
public service but he gave his opinion that there was
certain business that ought 10 he done and Ii 'hat were
done, there conld be no reduction. Upon this report
the S.cre ta-y the Treasury far from contemplate
inc reduction in the General Land O5ice, said that
he concurred with the Commissioner the views there
given hy him. Sir. Il. said that lie referred To this
document merely FOR the purpose OF showing that his
recollections of the circumstances were correct.
The question was then taken Mr.. Gimers mo-
ton strike out the appropriation, and rejected wi'-
out division.
The Clerk then proceeded with the reading Of the
bill until he came 10 the appropriations for contingent
expenses of the bureau OF medicine and surgery OF The
Navy Department; wien,
On motion by MIR FILLMORE, The appropriation
was reduced from $40 To 500.
On motion by Mr. MALLORY, the appropriation for
contingent expenses oi the bureau o provisions and
clothing was also reduced from 500 to $500.
When the appropriation for the Pest Office Depart
ment reached
Mr. SMITH of Virginia offered an amendment APP.
propra,ing 81 GEO tor continuing certain clerks in the
Office of the Auditor of the said Department. but
explanation from Mr. Fillmore, withdrew the amend
Inent.
After proceeding with few more items of the bill,
the committee and reported progress.
The SPEAKER Ia ID bein'e The House report from
the Treasury Department containing the estimates oil
the expenditure for e civil and diplomatic departments
of the Governments; for the half year ending The Olh Of
June, lS43 which,
On motion of Mr.. FILLMORE, was referred TO the
Committee of Ways and Means, and ordered to be
printed with two thousand extra copies.
Also the annual repeI. Of the Secretary of the Trea
sury on the state of the finances; which referred to
the same committee, and ordered to be printed, with
ten thousand extra copies
Also, a ccmmu ncalon from the Secretary of the
Treasury, enclosing the annual report Of the Comnils
sone. of The General Land Office; which referred
10 the Committee the Public Lands, and ordered TO
be printed, with ten thousand extra copies.
Also, communication from the Third Auditor Of the
Treasury Department; wca VAS laid on The table, and
ordered to be printed
The House then adjourned.