Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-02-22

the bill to reduce their pay and mileage, Mr. III.
pleased to hear the gentleman from Pennsyvana say he
in favor OF that BILL well Of all other propositions
for reduction Of salaries and pay
Many speeches. and they demagogica speeches oo
had in former days been sent from this hall for the purpose
exciting the people, and producing effect elections Hs
did not about being called demagogue he would say
there too much extravaganza in the Government
much pay given to public officers they much pam
pered and fed too high All the State Legislatures of ths
Union had etrenched the expenditures OF the State Govern
mens And why did they do il Because the voice of the
people demanded il and the States felt forced reench In
his State, Mr.. H. said that the officers of Government
compelled to apply portion Of their salaries to the
demands against the State. Members might call him dema
gogue whatever else they pleased would not deter him
from what he conceived be his duty His people understood
him. and knew how to appreciate him. He not afraid Of
their when he raised his this Hall in favor
retrenchment and against extravaganza.
He wished early the to bring the subject before
the House, but had postponed because the chairman of the
Committee Of Ways and Means had stated that that committee
intended to take the subject of retenchmen into consideration
Yet what had they done The nearly close,
and no plan had been Produced And he told,
this little BILL that this the time. Some how other
1t was never the time; il always too early or too late
not the proper occasions not the right place to move
reenchment As TO the bill under consideration he de-
ermned persevee his endeavos reduce the appropa
ton from OOO which he thought abomnabe extravaganza,
to SIC, 900, which he deemed than enough Mr. IA.
again repeated that he not to be deferred from his
by the sneers the jeer, the laugh Of members He would
treat all such modes of keeping him from his purpose with
tempt, and SO would the people.
Mr. SEYMOUR, of New York, inquired OF the chairman
ofthe committee who reported the bill if any estimate had been
made Of what required to furnish the Presidents House,
| and the cost
Mr. PRATT answered in the affirmative, and produced the
estimate, and offered send it the table to be read
Mr. SEYMOUR said he did not wish it read he only
wished to know whether the bill based estimate,
and finding that it had been, he entirely satisfied.
The estimate not read
Mr. JONES' of Tennessee, advocated the amendment and
went into detail of the mode in which the various apartments
Of the Presidents house had been, various periods deco
rated and furnished but also their present state he thought
the House had at all times been fine and gaudy and too
extravaganty fitted up He said that far he had been
fable to ascertain the furniture had cost about for
Presidential term, equal to $4,000 year, which was
too much to allow to mortal man for that purpose Mr. j.
said great deal against extravaganza the Presidents
house and concluded by moving to amend Mr. HENLEY
amendment by also striking the first section of the BILL
Mr.. DILLINGHAM; opposed the amendment in few sen
sbe and we'll placed remarks
Mr.. ABBOTT explained what took place in the Committee
Public Buildings and Grounds in relation to the bill before
il was reported to the House.
Mr. DOUGLASS thought he had been in the Chair he
would have ruled the speeches which had been made on this
bill out of ORDER least for three years to comethat is
until the of the Presidential election they would
then be perfectly in order He then opposed the amendment
of Mr. HENLEY, and said he did think there gentle
in the House the country who would visit the Pres
dents House but would feel ashamed of the and wreched
and miserable condition of its furniture You could not walk
without danger of falling by having your toes
enangled in the holes in the carpet if you took seat you
danger of going to the floor the legs OF halt the
chairs broken The gold forks and spoons had lost all
their god and there nothing Of them but the base metal
every thing mean and contemplate There was not
house in his Mr. ID. 81 district that not better furnished
he meant that they had chairs they such not to let
you fall to the floors hey had spoons they not rubbed
to leave nothing but the iron carpet il was not full Of
holes &c
Mr. Clay had been elected he would certainly have voted
Eny lass. he tn In
more because he believed Mr. Polk entitled 10 little
He prepared to vote for 1000 Mr. d. too was in
favor of etrenchment, but not in this poor little way He
for retrenchmen that should have reality in it
and which would do credit TO Congress He had no idea of
retrenchment in old furniture He had occasionally taken
of his constituents the President and he had
away with them but he had been epoved for su
erng the Presidents mansion to present so mean and sera-
BILE appearance.
Mr. COBB was in favor Of the $40 900, but urged the
House the debate and moved that the committee
rise for the purpose of introducing resolution into the House
TO debate within few minutes after going into Com
mittee of the Whole again.
The motion prevailed, and the committee rose and
Mr. G. then moved resolution that all debate the bill
shall in five minutes after shall be again taken up IN
committee.
The previous question was moved and under its operation
the resolution agreed 10.
And the House again resolved itself into Committee of the
Whole the of the Union, and resumed the consdefa
ton of the bill for furnishing, painting, and repairing the
Presidents House.
The question required on Mr.. HEsLErs and Mr.. JoSEss
amendments, and being first put Mr. IL 9 amendment, it
rejected by large majority and then Mr. JoSEss pro-
position also rejected.
Mr. BURT moved to amend by inserting after $4,000
these words elf 50 much be necessary" Agreed to-
Mr. HUDSON said that he had been informed that had
been customary of the appropriations heretofore made to
fill the cellars with wine well as to furnish the House de
therefore moved the following proviso
Prolld That part OF the sum hereby appropriated
shall be expended in the purchase Of wines or liquors.
This amendment was rejected
Mr.. WETHERED moved the following, to be added to
the LIST section
Provided That SO far as practicable the money hereby APP
proprated shall be expended in the purchase OF articles oil
American manufacture.
Several gentlemen remarked from various quarters Of the
House that a similar provision already in the bill
Mr. WETHERED then moved the following
And that article Of foreign manufacture used In the
Executive mansion shall be paid for out OF this appropriation
II was rejected
Mr. SEYMOUR, of New York, moved to strike out
$40, 000 and to insert $4,000. Rejected.
Mr.. BURT moved to amend the bull by striking out that
part Of it which provides that the furniture shall be Of Ame
can manufacture.
This was also rejected 3s in the affirmative and 76 in the
negative.
Mr.. HOUSTON moved the following in relation to the
provision which directs the furniture to be of American
acture:
provided that such furniture be procured good
terms as foreign artices."
On this amendment there were 50 in its favor and SIS
against it. And it carried
The second section OF the bill then under considers
ton appropraes $4,000 for repairs in and about the
house and grounds
Mr. SEYMOUR, of New York. moved to strike outss, 600
and insert 1000.
On this question there appeared AZ to 5s-no quorum
voting.