The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-05

TT.
that he requested Mr. Devn to continue there as clerk
but thai she continued there, and he gave hum no en-
enlargement as to his being paid VI course, he remain
ed there volunteer, In expectation OF permanent EN-
ployment in the department He got the appointment
He got his reward Having accomplished thai object he
asks us to pay him for his voluntary services, which
had been undertaken for the purpose OF forecosng the
competition of the whole community
Further, Mr. President, here is violation OF law Can
we consider ths In any other light! This man was en-
poyed by clerk not by an executive officer IN the ex
ercse of his authority The assigned I'm one OF
the documents read) why he should not be paid out Of
the contingent fund.- is at ALL should like 10
know what is the treasury Are not the bureaus con-
neced with the treasury lsno the contingent fund for
the whole Of that department. That is the very object OF
the appropriation for extraordinary clerk service IN all the
bureaus in of emergency This fund is given for
the express purposes and II Is very evident that the rea-
son assigned was not valid one The presumption is,
tha, Judge Woodbury. would not pay him, because he
not taken into the service with view oil paying hm
anything.
| Mr. CAMERON | remember this case, sir, very well.
This served the for thirteen MONTHS and
If there any wrong commed il must be attributed TO
the officer who employed him. would ask IS 1t far
for the government TO receive this service without re-
muneratng the individual Is it not fair that he should
be paid? am surprised that the senator from Connect-
should object 10 this claim Scarcely month passes
that we do not give compensation to men who perform
services; large sums appropriated but here poor
clerk asks for pul compensation tor daily labor, and
surprised to hear any gentleman making objection.
Ii certainly is fair claim, and should be fairly met
Mr. UNDERWOOD DESIRE sir, to say word in
relation this case.
went to one of the departments this morning TO find
whether could get little pittance, due Individual
and was referred by the officer of government to an
Establishment over the way, called Corcoran Riggss
there found pretty large operations going on, as 1t
seemed to me; such serving the government-payng
claims against the overnment-keeplng books for the
government, &c, nc.
Now sir, are we to pay all these people hereafter.
when they come forward and say "We have worked for
the government; we have been in your employment, we
have paid out foryou millions and have rendered import
ant servces" Sir, wonder what we are to come to.
Ara, hT ht- lnxp
with particular functions whose duty 1t is to perform
services and who paid Tor them to assume to them
selves the right to employ whom they please to DO their
work thus laying the foundation for these employees
coming to Congress to ask compensation Tor services rem
dered, without law and without the shadow OF authority
Sir, there ought TO be a stop to these things.
Another thing. We in the habit here, after discuss
ing claim day after day, and deciding against IT. OF then
having motion made 10 reconsider That motion hes
Tor weeks and months then IT comes up and Is discuss
ed again and again, until everybody is heartily tired,
and nobody attends when is reconsidered, and The bill
is passed.
Sir would not go again into the discussion of this bill
The gentleman from Connecticut [Mr. NILEs] IS right.
This originally employed by other clerks, who
Inefficient or out OF the ways and having a'een en-
gagged in the OF those clerks, he was continued by
the department, the paper shows. without any promise
of reward when vacancy occurrng he stepped into the
employment OF the government Now, this CLAIM is to
be allowed do not why should not pay anybody
employed by officer OF the government to perform his
appropriate duties, and why should not pay Corcoran
Riggs and every other banking agency in the country
who NAV be employed Indirectly, and supesede the dis
charge OF duties properly belonging 10 the oices OF gov
eminent.
Mr. HOUSTON | cannot, sir, perceive any analogy
between the before and tina, supposed by the
tor from Kentucky understand this to be case which
stands upon its individual merits, and Is not connected
either with presidents anything else AS it s presented
to me, understand it to be an application for remu-
for services rendered to government by faith
full individual; for the Auditor says he faithfully per,
formed the duties from the time the clerks returned
ill he was regularly appointed clerk, being 10 months
The question arises whether that service has been per-
formed say sir, it has been performed; and whether
he was volunteer regular, care not, so long as
the government was the beneficiary OF his services
Is it honest, them to refuse to pay him and would 1t
not be a selfish and transaction to withhold from
this individual his due? think this government Is not
SO selfish and sordd TO be willing to extort from p
citizen his labor and toll and not give hun Just re-
muneration, should be sorry to SIT in any Legislature,
and say that because citizen not regularly indicted
into Office the services he had rendered to government
should not be remuneratcd. What the Senate OF the
United States hesitate TO pay just remuneration Tor SER
vices rendered? Why, sir, cannot realize that any OBJ
lection can be made to so simple an act of justice:
do not come to discuss private cains--to interfere
with the duty of individuals but when have inves
gated year after year, and when it is manifest that service
has been faithfully performedno matter whether 1t was
refuse compensation. 1t appears that in the absence OF
the regular clerks this individual conducted their BUSINESS
and after their RETURN he was rreguary continued oy
the Auditor for the term of 10 months From that day to
this the service has been faithfully performed; ana now
can refuse to render the justice due, because Tor
sooth, he not regularly appointed! Perhaps by nus
the necessity of employing three extra clerks, instead OF
two-for two only added, In this case the gov
eminent is not defrauded, for the individual has gwen
the services which needed. Why, then, refuse to
pay the ptance of thousand dollars SIMPLY because he
has not gone through the iormay OF regular appoint
menle trust, sir, that no such consideration will be
allowed TO influence senators to vote against claim
which is in itself so clear and righteous
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. | well remember this
case When it was presented last winter examined
il. was fully convinced that the claim was just and
think so now 1t appears that during the absence OF an
other clerk this Individual performed his duties, and
after the return of the absentee and consequence OF an
accumulation of business, the claimant continued 10
months He not only performed the duties OF the clerk
ship, but, think the means OF saving the govern
ment about $4,000 think the senator from Alabama
stated this fact when he up As said, well remember
the case and at the time examined it, appeared very
just and strong claim If ecollect right the Secretary OF
he Treasury advised him to remain in the office, saying that
he would recommend him for employment think this
recommendation such, that the service rendered
could not be considered strictly voluntary on his part
The papers, however be referred TO on these points
and the question is on the reconsideration, hope 1t
will be ordered, that the may be reeXamined
if any gentleman has any doubt about the facts.
Mr. BUTLER. Mr.. President would like to say
word on this matter. 1t before the Committee on
Claims, of which was a member. was convinced that
this gentleman did perform the services but If those
services had been performed by the other clerks to whom
they properly belonged there would have been need
dent, time when the work of the other clerks was
imperfectly done. He therefore preoccuped and pro-
cured that office without competent authority direct
ing him TO do so; and has performed the whole service
with positive assurance that he would be paid He
has, by good fortune, obtained very handsome Office in
IDENTITY the only compensation which he contemplated or
had right to expect