The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-09

nid.nc, Of ths manner IN which this secret service
s,nd has been managed, | do humbly think an
other mode ofproceedlng ought TO be instituted. II
We knew its character possibly my objection
might be obyiated by appointing committee
n inouire into the manner in which this fund has
bssn employed, and let this committee, IN which
This House can conhde-among whom | should ike
10 ace the gentleman from Pennsy lyania-ascerta
Inc use TO which this fund has been applied; but
seems 10 me IL Is going too far that this Information
should be precpatey, hastily laid before the pub
he IL heard the resolutions read, they are not
even guarded in the usual way, by asking that the
Information be communicated If not incompatible
with the public interests.p
Mr. INGERSOLL. They ask the President for
nothing. They exercise the power OF this Hsuse
"a cali upon the Secretary OF State by direction,
that he shall make this communication.
Mr. BAYLY. If that Is the case, IL is perfectly
imoossibe that this House should pass these reso-
htions You call upon the Secretary Of State, d.
recdy requiring him to communicate 70 this House
Information relating TO our foreign affairs With all
Committee on Foreign Affairs, l say IL Is
utterly without precedent. Make your call upon
the President, II at all. Guard il in the
u,ual way; ask him 10 communicate IL, IL IL 10 not
incompatible with the public interests. Do not, in
matter concerning your foreign relations, concern
ng the secret service fund which is connected with
your foreign relations do not 60 TO the Secretary Of
STATE. and not even allow discretion in him, and re-
suire him 10 answer the call IL this HOUSE pre-
Jared for thar hope my friend from North Caro-
Ina the chairman Of the COMMITTEES OF Ways and
Means, viii read the law TO the Houses believe
he has it. My impression Of the terms Of the statute
are not very distinct my recollection OF the law IL
that on It's face IL declares that the President should
not be made accountable for the manner In which
this fund is used.
Mr. Mckay. ] will read il. The gentleman
from Pennsylvania Is mistaken when he says that
the first law was passed in 1910 The hrst law was
in 1893 and IL was subsequently reenacted in 1910.
Nh INGERS0LL. Very we'll that IL the law
now.
Mr.. MCKAY. Il has always been so. This is
the provision Of the law:
.where any sum Of money shall be drawn from
the treasury under any law making appropriation
for the contingent expenses OF intercourse between
the United States apd foreign nations the President
shall cause the same TO be duly settled annually with
the accounting officers Of the treasury by causing
such money TO be accounted for specially in all in
stances wherein the expenditure thereof may in his
Judgment, be made public; and by making eertf
cate OF the amount Of such expenditures as he may
think IL advisable not 10 specify; and such certificate
shall be deemed sufficient voucher for the sum
therein expressed to have been expended"
Mr.. INGERSoLL. Al the treasury
Mr.. MCKAY. At the treasury.
Mr. INGERSoLL. That is all.
Mr.. Mckay (coatinuing his sentence) oil there
fore be found at the treasury would be the cert III
cate Of the President.
Mr. INGERSoLL But in the State Depart
ment there would be found the evdence-[ the rest
Of the sentence lost to the reporter
Mr.. Mckay (resumng.) IL Is very small
amount The amount Of money expended out 81
the treasury from 1929 down TO 1874, which has
been settled upon these certificates OF the President
the House would be surprised to learn, ia the small
amount Of IS, AGO. (Referring to the document
whichh held in his handy he said the first expend-
itsre since 1929 was on the 4th August, lS42,
s4,460, and on the 18th June, l843, 81 ,0O0-ma-
king s5 AGO, which is the whole sum expended for
this service from 1923 to lS44; and all in Two years,
mot one That is the official document.
Mr. INGERSOLL read that document yes
terday very carefully.
Mr. BAYLY (resuming) l find was not mis-
taken in speaking from my general recollection of
the character Of the law respecting the secret service
fund. ....
Mr.; BOYD (ntsrposing) said he proposed to
from Pennsylvania would accept his amendment,
and modify his resolution accordingly.
Mr.. T. B. KING. l desire 10 ask the chair If
the resolution Of the gentleman from Pennsylvania
10 subject 10 amendment
The SPEAKER. The chair would decide that
question when it is raised. The gentleman from
Virginia is entitled to the hoor if he yields it for
amendment-- |
Mr.. BAYLY. l do not yield the floor; only
gave way, supposing | should not lose my right to
1t. | will read the amendment as part Of my |
speech. The clerk can read it.
The amendment Of Mr.. BoYp was accordingly |
read as follows:
Provided That no document or matter is re-
quested he furnished by the foregoing resolutions
which, in the opinion Of the President would i'm
properly involve the citizen or subject of any foreign
power"
Mr.. INGERsoLL. If l am at liberty, ! will
accept it. s - ...
The SPEAKER was understood to say that the
gentleman was at liberty to modify his own reso-
luton. ...
The amendment was accordingly accepted, and
the amendment of Mr.. INoERsoLL was so modified. /
Mr.. BAYLY resumed, and proceeded with his
remarks. In part, this modification obviated his
objection. The call ought to be made on the
President, and not the Secretary of State. But
the call, as the gentleman from North Carolina had
shown, would be utterly useless. The law requires
that the accounting officer shall settle the account
merely on the certificate of the President; there is
no item, no manner in which anybody can ascertain,
in the Treasury Department, or elsewhere, the use
to which the money has been applied.
Mr.. lNGERSOLL. The gentleman is entirely
mistaken, assure him.
Mr.. BAYLY. speak from the law.
Mr.. INGERSOLL. That is for the settlement at
the treasury---that is all. Surely the gentleman can
see the difference. It is palpable, think.
Mr.. BAYLY. l have not had the opportunity |
of examining these laws
Mr.. INGERSoLL. You may call on the Presi-
dent. have not the slightest objection, am
sure. .r.E. .. .. ... .,..'
The SPEAKER. The gentleman has the pow
or to modify his resolution, ifhe desires.
Mr.. INGERSOLL. Put in the President, then.
THE resolution was thus modified so as to make |
the call upon the PRESIDENT
Mr.. BAYLY. With one more remark will
conclude. I desire the gentleman from Pennsyva-
MIA to understand distinctly, what should suppose
from the irritation Of his manner, he does not under
stand. ... 49,.
Mr.. INGERsoLL (interposing.) assure you
am not ut all irrtated; am perfectly calm
Mr.. BAYLY. am very glad to hear it.
Mr.. INGERS0LL Continuing his sentence)-in
very good humor with myself and not at all in bad
humor with my friend. $3.50.
Mr. BAYLY. | am very happy to hear IT:
Nothing was farther from my intention Continued
Mr.. b. than to interfere in the contest which has
grown up between the two distinguished members
Of the two houses; they are able TO fight out their
battles themselves; and my friend will not under
stand me as desiring TO interfere in this controversy
and not TO interpose any obstacle in his way in
ma f,tl nd IF