The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-17

hardship that they have not been embraced in this OF
1897 The whole compensation now propose TO give to
this worthy but neglected class of is only hun
ded and nifty odd dollars; and that is according TO the
provisions OF this very section, which provides that II
shall only extend the succeeding session. only
Congress or two years, and will be only $3.50 apiece:
submit to the Senate whether il is not proper just and
equitable 70 pay this balance
Mr. ATHERTON. 1t seems to me that if we to
go back TO Old claims of this kind, originated so long
ago as 1891 and Introduce all such claims into the appro-
priaOn bill we Rave not time enough let this session to
pass this ball. and pass all the questions which
will be brought before us. Now, sir, aside from the
there no reason for Introducing this appropriation into
the general appropriation bill II they have any claim
upon the governmen-and otherwise il is a grauity to
lhemet their claim be presented and go through the
examination of the Committee on Claims and let be
examined like other claims Here is request that we
should go back TO the year 1897.
The senator has SAID that Congress at that time thought
proper to make additional allowance to certain clerks
and others in the executive departments, of twenty per
cent? and that this was originated by gentleman dstin
ished TOR his economy and regard for the public treas
| ury Sir. il will be recoleced that this proposition,
which did not then extend to the watchmen,
originated h ms 81 h he Oi thu the oss
ton not how we should raise revenue but what
we should do with il. Considering the circumstances
of the case, this allowance was made to certain OH
GERS, but these not included. Is there any
why should now go back and include those Off
GERS, | think, myself, that the whole allowance was
wrong that it ought not to have been made; and be-
eve if there is any act that that gentleman dis
ngushed for his economy regrets, it is his advocacy OF
this very proposition at the time he advocated It, Sir the
watchmtn not included in the terms OF that law
and why should go back and bring them under the
provision OF law of 1897, which even in those times OF
initiation did not include them If there is reason that
these officers should have 30 per cent additlona why
should not other officers come forward for clam Why
should not other officers come forward with equal justice
and claim it from that time the present There will
be end TO these claims they find thes can be allowed
! Mr.. BELL. am not certain that the gentleman has
demonstrated that there is no reason in this proposition;
Tor is not proposition to increase the salary OF these
ofcers-no at all This act OF 1887 expired at the end
OF the time for which it was provded-a the end OF the
session OF Congress. Ii is application made
in behalf OF those watch 10 have their salaries IN
sed for any length OF time Its to be placed upon the
footing with other officers that they ask The genea
man asks why not those other officers authorized to
forward for additional pay? Sir they have had II
in their pockets from 1897 up TO this time The addl-
ona compensation only extended to the next session OF
Congress, and not beyond, They cannot prefer any
10 per cent Those wachmen the only officers en-
poyed in the executive department who not incu-
ded in that list They received d, but three hundred
and fifty dollars per annum. The gentleman says
it is not proper TO introduce law increasing salaries
in this bill Sir. can scarcely turn TO page in which
there not such provision We had 1t discussed
the other day, and even the gentleman from Alabama
Mr. KING] admitted that could no longer stand upsn
that objection to the proposition then made IT is not
proposition to increase these salaries 10 regulate the
salaries 1t is merely to place this compensation the
ground with the messengers according to the act OF
1897 not as permanent arrangement but to continue
ducon, and pretty extensive reduction, that had been
m lde in the salaries of certain officers, sort of
equivalent and compensation Tor that reduction IN great
number of salaries of officers employed in certain de-
partments. 1t thought proper to allow them tins
additional compensation for the next session OF Con
gress and not beyond Ii is not therefore, permanent
arrangement 1t is not law. 1t is simply. as
stated first, appeal to the of propriety and
Justice OF the Senate tor class OF persons who are
obliged to be faithful from the very nature OF their EN-
ployment who obliged to be vlglant, but who, |
suppose receive the very lowest grade OF salaries gwen
in Washington city, question; ST. Whether e the me- day
ceive than these watchmen. | believe, if you
will look at the records, you will find that The salary
given 10 these day laborers exceeds the standing
salary allowed to these wachmen Sir, the laborers
are worthy as the watchmen OF their hire. But
here is class OF officers who Obliged to possess
certain peculiaes of Observation-Disclosures, vigilance,
and deityand whose services are to be performed at
night They excluded without any reason, seems
10 me, from the list of those provided for by the act OF
1897 Now, Sir do think there some reason Tor their
claim find memorial here, sir, far back as the
year 1911 or 1912, which took from the files of the
Senate alleging this injustice, and that 1t looked as
though their services were not appreciated IN the same
manner those OF others employed about the executive
building. They certainly did not stand in an inferior
rank to the common messengers. There is no view
which you lake. it to me- which Will justl-
the exclusion of these from receiving that com
pensation. know, sir, that IS introducing provision
for this occason-not permanent law, by any means.
1t provision to give them the benefit OF the 3D. section
OF the act of 1887
Mr. KING How far back?
MT. DELL. IL is only LOT one SOnBIeSS. VIII !edu
the clause of the act of Congress of 1897 (Mr b here
read the clause.l The watchmen were not included
They have felt that they hardly dealt by from that
time to this 1t TO me that there Is some reason
why the claim should be allowed
| Mr.. ATHERTON This amendment IS In favor OF
the wachnen employed in the executive department
from January l. 1887, to the end of the next Congress
1t is to pay these watchmen three thousand dollars IN
addition to the sum to which they were entitled by law
That is the proposition and the whole OF it, 1t Is to
pay the watchmen employed IN the department more
than what they entitled to by law. 1t is nothing
more nor less than that
The question was then taken upon the amendment, and
it was rejected
\ MIR HUNTER moved further to amend the bill by
inserting clause appropratng $4,000 for the purchase
OF site for custom house at Norfolk Virginia
provided the President shall deem it expeden to make
such purchase.
Mr. H. sent several letters to the Chair which were
read and which recommended the object proposed to be
attained by the amendment
Mr.. IA. then, in support of the amendment, said tina
the custom house at Norfolk was originally built where
neither vessels boats could get to it, and was now
in dilapidated condition. The recommendation wa'
made condition that the increased trade OF the city
should authorize the erection OF new custom-house
He convinced on examination of the books o
the custom house. that the business of that town wa
increasing Her exports were increasing, and her trade
generally increasing Large appropriations had beer
allowed to New Orleans, Savannah, and Charleston TO
the construction of custom houses at those pors and h
could see no reason why the appropriation asked for
the present case should not be granted.
The question beng taken upon the amendment, IT wa
agreed to-
t Mr.. JOHNSON of Georgia moved further to amen,
the bill, by inserting the following clause
For cleaning out and deepng that portion OF the Wash
nson city canal which though and along pub
grounds 500 10 be expended under the direction