Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-01-01
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
pRnpnSEn INCREASE OF CLERKs.


resolution would the appreciation Of nearly every member
and of their constituents He therefore moved the following
preamble and resolution
Whereas there nine thousand applications for
bounty land and Treasury scrip, under the act Of February
IS47 on the Pension Office yet examined and the
number daily increasing, besides large number OF
which partially examined and suspended for OF
additional proof which cannot with the present clerks
ployed that Office be disposed OF with the other of
the office in the next twelve months causing great delay in
adudcating those claims and manifest injustice to the claim
ants /: Therefore,
Resolved That the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions
Instructed to inquire into the expedien proprey
authorizing the Secretary OF War employ such additional
number in the Pension Office temporarily the ext
gences OF that Office and the rights Of applicants demand
the be requested report by bill otherwise
e. the earliest practicable day.
Mr. HOUSTON, of Alabama, said he did not intend to
object TO this resolution, il necessary employ add
pAl force in this bureau His purpose suggest
Tennessee r. JosKs) that ashe understood
nDt neher bueaujn he Defastmsnt, viz. the I'd Au
ditor Office, there heavy press upon this, and
probably important one be should 30 modify bis
luton to include this bureau he understood that the re
solution confined to the Commissioners office.
Mr. JONES understood to say he had objection SO
modify his resolution the pleasure Of the House
Mr. CROZER said it seemed to him that the committee to
which his colleague proposed to refer this resolution very
inappropriate Some years ago there several COM
mittees instituted in this House-commees expenditures
in the several Deparmensviz committees on much OF
the public and expenditures relates the Depart
men of State and of the other Departments for each
Department. II would much appropriate that the
gentleman introducing this resolution should refer the subject
to the Committee the Expenditures Of the War Depart
men He thought very probable that all the Departments
of the Government would require greater number Of clerks
and these committees in contact with the Depart
mens he tought proper that general resolutions should be
referred to EACH making inquiries in reference to the Depart
ments with which they respectively connected
Mr. JONES said he could consent to the reference of
this resolution to the Committee Expenditures in the War
Department His experience in this House had informed him
that these Committees upon Expenditures the Departments
did assemble ALL He believed they had assembled
the last four years. least that they had made
any report, his recollection, upon any subject Again. he
did the appropriateness of reference OF this nature to
a committee upon expenditures
There was modification he would make, if it would
meet the appreciation of the House that was, simply to strike
out that part of the resolution directing inquiry by
mee and substitute provision directly authorizing the Sec
rotary employ the clerks The Secretary of War himself
had reported this House that additional clerks needed
in that Office. The Commissioner Of Pensions had informed
the House, and individuals personally when they had called
to attend to the business Of their constituents that he could
by any possibility dispatch the business before him
any reasonable time without this increase in the service
Mr. G0GGIN said the whole subject of this resou
ton already he understood referred to the appropriate
committee by order of the House for he believed the
solution had passed referring the appropriate committees
the several parts of the Presidents message and this subject
included both in the report of the Secretary Of War and
the message Of the President himself IL the resolution
had already passed, it would pass all events in few
days. for Indispensable in order that the several
mees might proceed to the discharge of their duties This
would then be he moved,
fore, to lay the resolution the table.
The question being decided in the negative
Mr. STANTON offered the following amendment to
the resolution
Resolved BIZ Senate and House Of Representatives Of the
United States Of .3merca ia Congress assembled That the
Secretary of War be authorized employ such additional
number OF clerks may be to perform the public
business IN any oil the bureaus OF the Department
The SPEAKER ruled the amendment of order, be-
ing in the form Of BILL requiring legislation and notice
given Of one day
Mr. BARRINGER objected then, to the amendment.
Mr. JONES said that his resolution proposed inquiry
into the necessity giving the Secretary of War the power
appoint these clerks temporarily. He learned from the Com
of Pensions that he did wish that pema
nent cekshp should be created in his bureau He merely
wished authority to employ them temporarily until the press
Of business could be dispatched.
Mr. WHITE said there very great increase in the
business of the several Departments he informed and
subject would undoubtedly be presented Congress from
other quarter. He informed that there
more than forty thousand land in the nfce Of
the Commissioner Of Public Lands that could be signed
as they were wanted in consequences of the physical inability
OF the individuals employed in that Office 10 perform all the
duties which there required The other Departments
would require additional force temporarily He thought il
would be better TO refer this whole subject to select
mittee whenever a communication upon made 10 this
House from the proper source
Mr.. SCHENCK wished 10 inquire whether there any
communication from the Executive Departments of the Gov
eminent representing Congress the necessity Of this increase
| Of force
Mr.. TO0MBS replied that there was. He could
the gentleman that in the printed estimates Of this session to
Congress- Mr. Edwards had asked for additional clerks
or rather Tor an appropriation hire them by the day. No
doubt the subject referred the committee they would
make such report required and if this authority
gven Mr. Edwards who of most efficient pub
lie officers would exercise il in such the public in
teress required As TO the substitute which the gentleman
from Tennessee had offered, he opposed to that.
Mr.. SCHENCK said he had made the inquiry to the
necessity Of this increase only because he wanted this
matter put fair basis They had been in the habit for
the last three four years Of receiving applications made
through the various committees Of this House for various
appropriations For instance, the Committee Of Ways and
Means would receive n communication from the Department
setting forth the necessity for appropriation supply
deficit IN the estimates or for other purpose instead of
plain straightforward application Congress itself
Mr. SAWYER inerposing, said the Secretary Of War bad
made request for this increase the number of clerks in his
annual report at the commencement of this session.
Mr.. SCHENCK said the proper course to be pursued,
when application made in regular and direct way
from Of the Departments to make proper reference
OF such communication, or such part OF communication, TO
committee Of the House Let that part Of the report Of the
Secretary Of War and Of the Commissioner of Pensions be
eed and then, if there be increase the expenditures
Of the Governmental there be appropriation for defcen
ces for furnishing supplies, for additional clerical force 10
meet the calls upon any Department, il would be a
response by Congress to request from the proper quarter IN
stead of lie being obtained In any by indrecon He
opposed to the practice OF applications being made from
the different Departments through the committees the House
through individuals, without being plainly, openly made
to Congress ITSELF letting the responsibility Of the request and
the demand lie upon hose who are 10 have the
| knowledge Of the necess for the m.
4 tharo a -, a tIa