Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-01-01

the Committee Of the Whole the OF the Union,
and that Committee had get to take action upon them but
he thought il would be improper and unprecedented in
cpaon Of such action, take up detached portions of those
papers, while wait until the Committee of the Whole on.
the state of the Union had disposed of them before any thing
done in relation the subject which he had introduced
the House, would be to very material delay in the
adjustment Of the claims Of many individuals. In Com
mittee Of the Whole debate might arise which might posi-
bly, be poacted for two three weeks months and
during that time additional assistance could be obtaned
such lie contemplated He saw, therefore, mproprey
in passing this resolution The Secretary of War asked for
increase Of clerks and the Commissioner Of Pensions made
like application and the committee 10 which bis resolution
would be instruction. would have all the documents before
it, whereby it would be enabled satisfy the House of the
propety Of complying with those applications,
Mr.. SCHENCK suggested the propriety of modifying the
resolution Of the gentleman from Tennessee, (Mr. JoSEs
He did object the reference, the Instructions but
prevailing mode of obtaining supplies TO Deficiencies
in the Departments There appropriations made for the
fiscal and these sometimes exhausted in four months
The other day they had application for amon OF dollars
drafts to prevent their being protested but instead Of
plain exposition being made the House Congress of
the necessity for such an appropriation, there private
note the Committee OF Ways and Means, and that
committee brought the matter before the House by presenting
bill making the appropriation Now, he objected this
mode of doing business. He for one DESTROYS to
better system introduced He of opinion that, when the
Executive found there deficiency in meeting the iabi
ties Of any of the Departments proper that applca
ton should be made openly Congress-, and that the egisa
ton of Congress should show its face that in fact
call oil the Executive, there would De
proper responsibility But it evidently most improper
when there deficiency of million of dollars to ask the
Committee of Ways and Means to supply that deficiency and
meet the drafts against the Government II right and
proper that application should be made to the House
Representatives through the Speaker and half hour
could be referred, and thus take its the Committee
Of Ways and Means for the purpose Of meeting the exgen
ces of the Government He wished to this done Directly
instead Of accomplishing the object by ndrection
through committee He did not wish be understood
charging any with improper conduct but he desired 10
historic register Of Congressional proceedings
and proper responsibility taken He suggested therefore, that
this resolution should show that the application for add
oua assistance from the Secretary Of War and the
Commissioner Of Pensions and that the action Of the House
in response application and statement made TO it,
a call from the Executive Departments Whatever
may the action the House heretofore demands
by the Executive, made through either committees ndvid
ua members he hoped for the future the call would be direct
to the House, and that the House would recognise other
calls OF such nature which not made on Executive
sponsibliiy.
Mr.. R0BT. SMITH rose merely to remark that he was
sorry the simple resolution introduced by the gentleman
from Tennessee (Mr. G. w. JoNEs) to provide for in
which many gentlemen that floor interested give
much debate great deal had been said to the
best way doing that which contemplated by the resou
ton, but he of opinion that the plan Of the gentleman
om Tennessee covered the whole and il espe
caly preferred much would be required remedy
all the difficulties in the departments OF the Government TO
wait for such general action would be do great injustice
those gallant who have suffered in defence Of their
try He had objection to have the general subject taken
up the suggested by the gentleman from Ohio, (M
ScScK, that it could be brought up fully and
properly but il sufficient for him to know that the pre-
sent action of the House necessary to meet the demands
of the pension office he therefore hoped the resolution would
now be adopted.
Mr. q. S. HOUSTON said he had no wish to delay the
action of the House, much Of its time; but lear
ing that impression might be created by the remarks OF the
gentleman from Ohio, (Mr ScHEScK and that they might
go forth the country and be received entitled
weight with the people at home he desired least TO set
that right TIE gentleman spoke Of practice having
grown up this House by which the Executive and the heads
Departments apply through committees for such appropa
tons they may de ire. The gentleman from Ohio seemed
be opposed that proceeding and desired that kind OF
Congressional history should be kept he wished the gentle
from Tennessee, Mr JoSEs) and he called upon the
House, modify the resolution that should be referred
with statement Of the fact that the Secretary Of War
body else asked for it. Now what purpose could that
except that which the gentleman from Ohio (Mr ScHENcK
had set forth and not the Congressional history just
well kept without IT, nasmuch they received recommen
datons from the heads Of Departments If Congress autho
rzed the employment Of the clerks called for by this Depart
men was not history Of that transaction complete Why
then should it be modified the gentleman suggested But
there something than this. The gentleman in his
remarks spoke of practice having up by which
the heads Of the Executive Departments made their commune
committees Of this House. Now he wished TO say
point that his explanation might go out with the
eman nsnuation, that the practice has existed long
| the Government has existed.
Mr.. SCHENCK interposed and said that he had made
insnuaon. What he had said that practice prevailed
in this House, he knew how few how many years.
for his Congressional experience had been long that
of the gentleman from Alabama, (Mr. Housros.) He had
said that practice prevailed and he had said that that
tice wrong, and he asked the House that
roncous mode Of legislation.
Mr.. G. 8. HOUSTON said true that he had been
there longer time than the gentleman from Ohio, (Mr
ScHENcK, and he repeated that his experience had
taught him that the practice of communicating with the Hous
through its committees by the heads Of the various depart
Of this Government, practice. II he was
greatly mistaken had existed from the very beginning OF
the Government ITSELF and therefore il had not grown up
within the last few years. the gentleman from Ohio (r
ScaEcSE nsinuaed The gentleman from Ohio spoke OF a
deficiency which met by appropriation that made
few days ago, and he said that instead of calling this
House, that the country might be able and TO judge Of
the popey Of that call from the Department, the call
made the Committee Of Ways and Means-a committee
Of which he (Mr II happened to be a member That
mec, very correctly in the estimation Of the gentleman from
Ohio, did what Brought the papers before this House.
Had the member from Ohio read the reports Of the Secretary
of War and the heads Of bureaus in that Department Had
by the estimating officers Of this Government II he has
difficulties which really do not exist, and giving rise inn
proper suspicious the public mind These deficiencies bad
| all been estimated for
/ Mr.. SCHENCK and asked the gentleman from Ala
bama permit him explain What he desired was that
when there was an immediate want for half million
million Of dollars that direct application should be made TO
this House, with statement Of the exigences which made
the call necessary, which this House should refer the Com
mce Of Ways and Means instead OF being communicated
that committee without such reference by the heads OF Depart
He hoped gentleman from Alabama under