The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-27

heSWte0 unanimously lnhta committee be appointed by
raj of the Hon JOHN FAIRFIELD which will take place
morrow at twelve o'clock, meridian; and that the Senate
will attend the
Rssoued, unaniously, That the members the Senate
the memory Of the Hon JOHN FAFmLD deceased, late
member thereof will into mourning for him month,
by the usual mode OF wearing Grape on the left arm
Resolved, unanimously That. additional mark OF
respect for the memory of the Hon JOHN FAIRFIELD the
ORDERED That the Secretary communicate these pro-
ceedings to the House of Representatives..
The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The journal having been read
IN PENSION OFFICE.
Mr.. j. w JONES asked leave to offer resolution ;
which was read for information. as follows;
Whereas there thousand applications
for bounty land and scrip under the act OF February
H. lSi7, file in the Pension Office yet examined,
of cases which been partially and suspend
ed for of additional proof which cannot with the
the other business of the office in the twelve months
causing delay in adjusting those claims, and mani
Resolved That the Committee Revolutionary. Pensions
be instructed inquire into the expedency and proprety
tlona number the Pension Office, temporarily,
exgeneies of that office and the rights applicants
demand; and that the committee be requested to report
by bill or othe rwise,a the earliest practicable day.
Mr.. j. w. JONES said that there were nine thousand
applications before the Commissioner OF Pensions Tor
land bounty warrants and that they increasing. II
impossible, with the present number of clerks in the
office, to dispose of them with proper despatch
Mr. G. S. HOUSTON said that, in the Second Audi
and he suggested that the resolution might be SO modified
as embrace both objects Some other committee could
be instructed on the latter subject
Mr. BRODHEAD suggested that the resolution be so
modified provide for increase of the salary OF the
Commissioner of Pensions. 1t was, years ago,
duced to twenty-five hundred dollars but there was no
why should be less than that OF heads OF other
bureaus.
Mr. j. w. JONES urged that the case which be pre-
scented stood by ITSELF and that there necessity for
immediate action regard to it. twas out OF the power
of the Commissioner dispose of the great and ncreas
ing number OF cases before him.
Mr. BRODHEAD would not, he said, press his sug-
Mr. G. s. HOUSTON hoped, he said, that the mover
of the resolution would modify it to provide for
inquiry into the necessity of employing additional clerks
in the Second Auditors Office
Mr. CROZIER said that some years ago committees on
the expenditures OF the several departments were estab
ished and this was subject which properly belonged
TO those committees All the departments of the govern
ment, the present condition of the country, required
additional number OF clerks; and he hoped that his col
league would 50 modify the resolution as to refer it to
subject for some time.
MIR j. w JONES, in reply, remarked that his expert
ence had been that those committees on expenditures
assembled and they had not made any reports for
years. There modification of his resolution to
which he would agrees and that was to direct the Secre
tary of War to employ additional number OF clerks,
necessary for the despatch public business The Sec
rotary OF War had stated his report that increased
number of clerks was necessary and the report OF the
Commissioner of Pensions also stated it.
Mr.. GOGGIN said that the subject had already been
REFERRED by the reference of the Presidents message and
accompanying documents He moved that the resolution
lie on the table; which was rejected
Mr. STANTON offered as asubstitute, joint resolu-
ton authorizing the Secretary of War to employ adj
ditonal number of clerks
The SPEAKER decided that the substitute in the
nature Of bill, and could not be offered as amend
Mr. ]. w. JONES remarked that he had learned from
the Commissioner of Pensions that he did not wish
permanent addition to the number OF clerks.
Mr. WHITE k said there had been great increase Of
thousand land warrants before the Commissioner of the
General Land Office, which could not be signed in
consequence Of the physical inability OF the chief Of the
bureau to perform the labor The whole subject of in
creasng the number of clerks in different offices ought to
be referred to select committee
Mr. SCHENCK said he did not oppose the resolution,
deny the necessity OF increasing the number OF clerks
but practice had grown up OF making these applications
TO committees, instead of making them directly to Con-
gress.
Mr.. SAWYER here suggested to his colleague that, in
the report OF the Secretary OF War; this application was
made to Congress.
report and the report of the Commissioner Of Pensions to
committee SO that the for granting the additional
force should appear. No such application should be
granted without special application to Congress.
practice had grown up here, of making applications to
committees individuals, instead of open, plain, and
direct application to Congress. He submitted whether it
Wouu not De oetler 10 elcr Ue Reports MdkB c apl
cations, in this case, to committee The resolution dld
not embody and present the for the reference He
suggested whether it should not be so modified.
Mr.. J. W. JONES objected to waiting till the commit
tees reported the subject of the Presidents message
The public interests would be materially injured by the
delay He could no improperly in the adoption Of
the resolution in its present form
Mr.. SCHENCK did not, he said, object to the purpose
OF the resolution The increase of the number OF clerks
proposed might be necessary But. in his opinion,
should keep up the history of the maer-the history Of
Congress-so to show that the measure adopted,
not by the independent action of Congress, but in
Spouse to application from executive officers For in
session OF nearly four millions the subsistence depart
ment of the army Instead of applying to Congress for
an immediate appropriation to meet portion OF this de-
cency, the Secretary of War had applied to the Com
mittee OF Ways and Means, who had brought the appli
cation to the notice of the House He of the opn
that mode should be established by which the
application for such things should be properly brought be-
fore Congress II would be easy right and proper that
such communications from the executive officers should
be laid before Congress and referred to committees He
would prefer that it should be done in that way instead
of being done by ndirecton and the demands of the
Executive ought to be made the groundwork Of the
ton of this House.
Mr. r. SMITH very sorry, he said, that any oppo
sion should arise to this resolution. II the duty OF
Pension Office, by which to provide for the gal
liant who had served their country He hoped the
resolution would be acted on. The question which had
been referred to- could be brought another way, at
another time
Mr.. G. S. HOUSTON did not, he said wish to delay
the action of the House this subject but the gentle
man from Ohio had made some remarks which might 20
set them right.
The gentleman had spoken of practice that had grown