The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-04

YOU cannot fix public attention upon this abuse. You
cannot fix the American mind upon an appropriation ol
$4,000 The people too rich, too independent III
their circumstances, to stop and hear an argument ABOUT
$4,000 But wait, sir, till there shall be reco Wait
uI the peop want -four and bacon Wait Ill The ques-
ton ls-What is the cause OF my embarrassment
What, sir, is TO support this administration Wnhlh
the very last year OF il consumed our taxes and Dor
rowed several millions OF dollars 1t was al the heel OF
that administration that Offices without number and with
out necessity, and new departments, created All
this was done under administration the very hour OF
its last gasp tell YOU, the time will come when this
footing up will take place although the public mind is so
much preoccapled by public prosperity now Tha. re-
coil that shock, certain to bank expansion
exists and when II shall come, men will begin to look
back the past and they will that at the close OF
your term you appropriated money and ran the country
in debt-tha you created this large batch OF oices du'
Iny the last of political life. You Will be held ac-
counabe for it, II the present stale OF things shall go
on, there will not be much attention Pad 10 our appropn-
alton bills High prices AMI general prosperity making
the people contented, they will not scrnniZe closely
other bills hereafter So far as am concerned for
one intend To act upon this principle with which en-
tered public lfe-to keep this government 10 close
economy all things, and to put an end TO everything
that shall tend to impress upon THIS government an ar oil
speudor and magnhcence, when by the nature ahi ge-
MUS of our society it ought 10 be PLAN, simple, and re-
publican | have said, perhaps, rHose than ought 10
have said upon this amendment, wl answer , LOT
half a dozen of them desire tina my remarks shall be
applied to all the amendments hereafter TO be offered TO
! this bill.
! Mr. PHELPS | did indulge the hope that we might
find an end these amendments. but am now satisfied
that was mistaken. rose, therefore, TO move an ad'
tournament; but If there any prospect of an immediate
action upon the anendmen will Withdraw IT, Permit
me to saw that the Only occasion upon which addressed
the Senate on this subject when took occasion to
press upon the Senate the necessity of passing the appro
pration b-when called their attention TO the danger OF
entertaining all these anendmenls by appending them 10
this bill and thus prevent It's passing take HE liberty
now, that there IS no course OF proceeding so nn-
parliamentary dangerous to the public interest,
as to en,ange the appropriation bill with every private
claim and every private project that can be entered mo
The question is whether, upon the passage OF THIS bal,
| he Sena
before them at the pleasure OF any senator VINO chooses
to MAKE pToposi5lon; on nave some aosa, IN
much importance others that have been presented
Now appeal to the Senate, we to discuss such mat
tiers upon this bill ? Why, have decided upon call
of the ayes and 90 to that we would not entertain
these propositions amendments to the appropriation
! bill What has been the RESULT After that most de-
cded VOTE believe the very next proposition was one
of similar character, which discussed at length
What was that proposition 1t was to increase the com
pensaon of an officer of this government; and upon
what grounds' Upon the ground that he was released
from his duties home sent abroad, and his expenses
paid am willing myself to be sent abroad and have
my expenses paid II my Constituents nus d ,s IT. ana
been made increase the compensation OF this and that
and the other oicer How often have we refused to do
it, And yet, this late hour with public business in
arrears with the prospect before of leaving it I'M
finished with the prospect OF dragging the Executive to
cali session, discussing delberael y and
at length, the merits OF claims which have decided
over and again that we will not allow.
Mr. FOOIE called the gentleman TO order for discuss
the OF the clam, while lie ulsdpprOVeu OF
discussion OF II by others
Mr. PHELPS condemn nobody: | speak of our
proceedings protest against the Practice, which is
both unmramenar and mischievous, of entertaining
these projects which know will involve every subject
ever presented 10 the consideration OF the Senate. My
purpose to call the attention OF the Senate to the pros
pect before them. desire gentlemen to ask themselves
what is the tendency of this course desire gentlemen
to inquire where shall be left in what condition the
government itself will be left and what responsibility
will upon us? These remarks addressed to the
Senate with view not 10 censure bu to induce gentle
men orego discussion and 10 let the appropriation
bill pass AS to the merits OF this claim will say moth
ing Ii the Senate is prepared to vote upon It, will not
renew my motion to adjourn
Mr. RUSK. | am anxious that the vote shall be
taken. i pe the gentleman from Ohio will have time
to himself from his exhausted condition. saw
in the newspapers year ago story, which was not
disposed to credit. that gentleman IN making political
speech, spoke down two steamboats, that try
ng drown his Now if the gentleman from Ohio
speak his exhausted with the power of voice
and force of gescuaton that he has done this evening"
can no longer doubt the truth of the story.
AS regards this case under consideration 1t is simply
this An officer employed in the discharge of certain
duties The head OF the department chose TO send him
abroad, and thus increased his duties. The question is
not whether going 10 embarrass the administration
BY this appropriation Is the government OF the United
States poor that public must give examples Of
economy? think the senator's position is little erro
neous think the government is amply able to be just
given them to nerform have the testimony o he POST
master General himself that this just claim. 1t has
been said that the laborer is worthy OF his hire This
worthy OF his compensation.
Il Mr. ALLEN. beg the senator to remember that the
i gentleman was receiving his pay during the six months
he absent and his expenses paid besides.
Nothing is agreeable than to have oaes expenses
paid, and his salary gong at home at the time
He could not have been doing the duties of his Office
when he abroad Ii is universal maxim that o.
thing act where it is not This gentleman not
here, but he was paid for acting here.
The amendment was not agreed TO.
Mr.. YULEE submitted the following additional sec
ton which rejected
cn1eed &c. That accounting officers of the treas
uy BE- authorized to allow the for arrearages
legislative and executive expense, the Territorial govern
men Of Florida, which have been presented treasury
for settlement and VIII ch duly certified
fitorial auihorites Provided That the xpended
the Territory OF Florida be sufficient.
Mr. Y also moved to amend the bill by adding the fol
lowing item; which rejected
For compensation the Surveyor general OF Florida
extra services for three years, the of 1000
Mr. PHELPS moved to amend the bill BY inserting the
following item:
For arreariges due the late Paymescr General Daniel
Parker OF his salary from January l. 1922 to
May Q, 1922, SS5o.
MIR. PHELPS hoped he was not violating his own
principles in Offering his amendment which came in prop
ery at the end of the third line. There was an item in
the estimate the of the salary of the late Pay
master General OF 1856, which contained in the
estimate of the deficiency His proposition was to in
cluIe It. MIR. L. proceeded in very few words 10
PLAN the matter but the explanation apprehended
by the reporter.
7 The amendment rejected on division-ayes l6
noes 49,
The bill then reported to the Senate with the seve-
raj amendments.