Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-06-03

% had had two weeks after the document had passed out Of
tt hands Of the majority Of the bcommittee It seemed
him. under all these circumstances, 10 ask delay Of two
three weeks days more very unreasonable
request He would print the majority report when the mi
nriy report in he would print that and If there
extra numbers printed OF the he would print extra
bets Of the other He would deal alike with them But he
objected being kept back for the purpose perhaps
preventing its early circulation among the members Of this
House and the people.
AS he presumed the House prepared VOTE he would
move the previous question but upon urgent appeal he
waived the motion for the present.
The SPEAKER stated that the motion to print a paper
which in possession of the House strictly
parliamentary motion, and could not be received except by
general consent but that the object might be accomplished
y motion 10 postpone the printing until the minority report
came in.
Mr.. HOUSTON, Of Alabama, was not aware Of the ex
ence Of the report until this debate sprung upon
Upon looking the report itself he found it TO be Of the
most extraordinary papers presented to this House. Su
fer him to read its commencement
"The Committee Public Expenditures, having had un-
DER consideration the letter OF the Secretary OF the Treasury
communicating his Annual Report the state of the FL
pances 10 Congress- with view to ascertain whether the
contained IN that report are correct and whether
ad statements could not be made in form less difficult and
more easily 10 be comprehended, report" &c.
Now how, he would like to know, had The Committee
Public Expenditures obtained Jurisdiction, , Who had au-
horized them to take charge of subject to ascertain what
Whether the statements of the Secretary OF the Treasury
were true or untrue He would like to know of some
ber OF the committee whether the Secretary had been heard
Mr.. HALL, Of Missouri, Gin his seat No; no notice
was given.
Mr.. HOUSTON, Continuing He would like some gen.
eman OF The committee state whether the Secretary OF the
Treasury had been notified by any member of the committee
that such an examination going on daughter. Gen
temen might laugh if they chose it perfectly chaac-
tec OF gentlemen to undertake laugh away ques-
tions which they dare not answer.
He read from the Rules of the House relative the Com
mttee on Public Expenditures:
6 II shall be the duty of the Committee Public Expen-
nf
ment and particularly into laws making appropriations of
and to report whether the have been dsbursed
mably with such laws; and also report from time to
tme such provisions and arrangements be necessary
add to the economy of the Departments and the accountability
of their officers"
Now, there any branch of this report which with
in the jurisdiction OF the Committee Public Expenditures
marked by this rule He did not complain, nor he
presumed did any his side Of the House, of the
minority Of the committee complain that the committee had
thought proper investigate the statements OF the Secretary
OF the Treasury.
Mr. HALL. of Missouri the floor being yielded, in further
reply to the question of Mr. Rockwell, stated his ecoec
ton 10 be that the report OF the majority had been in his pos
session and that Of the gentleman from Virginia about two
weeks from last Monday.
Mr. ROCKWELL, of Connecticut interposed further to
inquire whether the gentleman from Virginia of
the subcommittee appointed by the committee, and whether
that was not more than two months since
Mr.. BEDINGER, lin his seat will answer.
Mr.. HALL. The gentleman from Virginia on the
subcommittee do not know how long the resolution
appointing them adopted.
Mr.. ROCKWELL Was it not known to the officers of
the Treasury Department,
Mr.. HALL did not know But his impression that
the Secretary OF the Treasury knew nothing about the matter
until ten days ago
Mr.. ROCKWELL Has he not been informed
Mr. HALLS impression that the Secretary Of the
Treasury had been informed of within the last days
He wished further he did know how long the
majority of the subcommittee had been engaged in preparing
that report as the report the majority OF the COMMITTEES. He
knew that very long, embracing thirty nine pages,
than half of which taken up in dfcu intricate
calculations Now, all that the minority OF the committee
desired was that they might have full and fair opportunity
Of examining these estimates made by the majority Of the sub
committee and they Incorrect be permitted show
their ncorecnes and put the actual state Of facts before the
country He for had objection to the publication of
this majority report be anxious should be published
he anrieus the Secretary Of the Treasury had die
charged his duties that the country should know it. On the
other hand if the Secretary Of the Treasury had been asaed
improperly, be wished il TO be known, and that opportunity
should be given 10 expose the OF the majority OF the
committee. He wished in word that 'ihe truth, the
whole TRUTH and nothing but the TRUTH should before the
country.
Then what did they propose They engaged in
preparing minority report Il was not yet completed they
believed they could get ready days if they did not
they willing that the majority report should be printed
without it. All they wanted fair opportunity
mine and elicit the whole truth and pu, before the country
Mr.. ROCKWELL. Has tha, repor, been in the pos
session Of the Secretary Of the Treasury
Mr.. HALL. II has not.
Mr.. ROCKWELL. Has not a copy Of il been in posses
son of the officers Of the Treasury Department
4 Mr.. HALL referred TO Mr.. BEDrSGER for
Mr.. BEDINGER said he thought il very probable it had
but at the time particle OF notice had been given
the Secretary OF the Treasury while they preparing IT,
would be very strange it, after the majority Of the commit
tee had adopted it, the Secretary should no, know it, But
this report had been sprung the committee bad been
rung upon the House and the country and impossible
imagine that the committee intended designed any thing
Ike such action when they appointed the subcommittee II
70, i. was kept entirely secret from the minority.
Y Mr.. STEWART, Of Pennsylvania, inquired whether, II
dis report printed il would give every gentlemen
opportunity to examine it. and it, if they 1T to al
tempt it Whether the printing Of the report would not be
better for the other side Of the House
Mr. HALL replied he thought wouldnot be hcter for his
side Of the House the country that this report should be first
printed and pde statement be spread before the coun
try. That was not the way 10 do justice.
Mr.. HOUSTON, ofAlsbama, resumed the haor He had
been referring the extent Of the jurisdiction Of the Commit
Public Expenditures not for the purpose Of conveying
the impression that he any other member his side OF the
House desired the suppression Of that report but for the pur
pose OF showing that piece Of the party machinery OF
the other side Of the House, and intended eucdate and
bring forth the facts Of the they existed The rule
which he had read defined the jurisdiction Of the Committee
Public Expenditures, and they that according to their
statement the majority had transcribed their urisc-
on. The report Of the Secretary OF the Treasury had not
been referred them hut they had gone beyond the extent
OF their powers and grnsped after the report Of the Secretary
Of the Tresury and drawn within the Of their nves
igaton. Let them so further and how this had been
DONE One would imagine that the object Of the report
bring forth connected with the report Of the Secretary