The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-17

The SPEAKER remarked that the bill had been
read once; and that il the gentleman from Virginia
objected 10 the second reading, the question would
be- Shall this bill be rejected?
Mr., BAYLY desired the question TO be taken ON
the rejection OF the bill, and wished to call the at
tention OF the House 10 simple proposition. There
was a controversy between citizens of Virginia and
this Government as 10 particular class OF cases.
| This Government made one of It's own officers an
| arbitrator. Now, when this Judge has decided
| questions, you come in here and ask 10 arrest his
! decision and the payment o. The claims. And
| would such transaction as this in private life be
| tolerated! Suppose man refers matter in which
| he is concerned 10 arbitration, and there ID no
charge OF fraud, would he tolerate the setting aside
| of the award! What court would tolerate IT, In
conclusion, he moved to lay the bill on the table.
| Mr. HALL inquired whether, at this time, II was
in order for the gentleman 10 move to lay the bill
! upon the table.
The SPEAKER replied that the rule provided
that, If objection be made to the second reading OF
the bill, the question occurs Shall the bill be re-
lectcdf
Mr. HALL wished the House to understand, that
! the question not whether the officers of the
Government have acted properly or improperly,
but whether we shall pass this law to throw the ne
cessary safeguards around the treasury Ever since
1898, when application was made to Congress to
authorize the payment of the claims and the sub
| ject considered by the proper committee, re-
/ ports have been made against the allowance. In
| ISIS, without due consideration, and in a great
| hurry, an amendment was made to the Civil and
Diplomatic Appropriation bill, under which the ac-
| counting officers of the Government have allowed
these claims. If this House had had time to exam
inc the Senate's amendment, 1t never could have
been adopted.
Mr.. BAYLY said that 60 far from that provision
having been acted on unadviscdly, 1t underwent
the examination of the Committee of Ways and
Means. General Mckay approved of it. He knew
personally that it wac considcred and understood
by the House; and he appealed to the gentleman
from Ohio (Mr VINToN) to say whether the fact
not he had stated it.
MIR. HALL replied, that the question not
whether the House Understood the provision at
the time OF its adoption; it was whether, when the
House adopted the provision, they supposed that,
instead of eighty one thousand dollars, about three
or four millions would go 10 Virginia, under the
decision OF the Department. He was satisfied that
if the House the Senate supposed this, the pro-
vision could not have passed.
Mr.. MILLSON. On what warrant do you state
that three or four millions Of dollars would thus
have been allowed!
Mr. HALL replied, on the authority Of the chair
man OF the select committee, who, he Understood
had obtained this Information from the Commits
sioner of Pensions The Barron claim origi-
nally seventeen thousand dollars, but commute
ton pay 10 the amount of more than thirty two
thousand were allowed. If other claims should be
increased in this proportion, three or four millions
of dollars will be taken out of the Treasury. He
repeated the bill did not impeach the decision OF
the DE- partment the action of any officer of the
Government. IL merely proposed to throw safe
guard around the treasury. He believed that the
House sufficiently understood the matter, and
moved the previous question.
The demand seconded, and under its opera
|
The bill passed 10 a second reading, and was or
dered to a third reading, and is as follows, viz:
BE IL enacted, ETC, That the proper officers OF this
Government, in adjudicating claims for halt-pay
Of the officers Of the State of Virginia, under the
third section of the act entitled An act TO provide
for hquidating and paying certain claims Of the
State of Virginia, approved July ., 1892, shall in
no allow commutation, or Communication and
interest, in lieu of hat-pay.
Mr.. BAYLY moved TO lay the bill upon the
table, but the motion did not preyail-yeas 80,
nays l27.
And under the operation Of the previous cues
ton, the bill was read u third time and passed
The title of the bill was read for approval, when
Mr.. BAYLY moved to amend SO to make it
read "and 10 deprive citizens of Virginia and Ken
lucky Of their vested rights" Such, ne said, was
the character Of the bill In 1892 act was passed
recognising the obligation of this Government to
iquidate certain claims of citizens of Virginia. In
that act, the Secretary Of the Treasury was made
the judge, as between the Government and the ci
tizens OF Virginia. BY subsequent law, the duty
was transferred 10 the Secretary Of the Interior.
} Here was question in controversy, in which Con-
gress recognised the claim, and constituted the tri
! bunal which was TO adjudicate. The Supreme
Court Of the United States has decided over nd
over again, that where a law makes an accounting
officer tribunal 10 adiudicate claims, the rights OF
claimants become vested, and that the Government
is absolutely bound by its decisions.
The gentleman was interrupted several times on
the ground that he was not combining himself 10 the
merits Of the question before the House
Mr.. BAYLY complained that the bill was not
rushed right through. And he Withdrew his mo-
ton 70 amend the title Of it.
Mr.. GILBERT, by unanimous consent, presented
certain Joint resolutions Of the Legislature of Cali
fornia, and gave notice Of sundry bills which be in
tended to Introduce but their titles were not read
nor do we know to what subjects they relate.
BRIG. CES. RILEY.
Mr.. HARRIS, Of Illinois, asked the unanimous
consent OF the House TO introduce a resolution TO
admit Bngadier General Riley to seat on the floor
of the House
Objection being made, he moved a suspension Of
the rules, but subsequently withdrew the motion.
TIE PUBLIC PRINTER
Mr.. MELVILLE, from the Committee on Print
ing, made report on the memorial Of WIN. NJ Belt
stating, among other things, that the contractor
will not be able to go with the printing of the
two Houses at the present rates. and that he is not
paid half the cost OF composition, paper and press
work, and concluding with the following joint
solution, viz:
Resoiued by the Senate and Houss Of Repvoenfa.
tires Of the United States Of duericain Congress as
fsmbisd, That William NJ. Belt contractor for GER
tain classes Of the public printing, be released from
bic contract under the provisions Of the Joint reso-
luton Of August 3, 1876, for the printing for the
3lst Congress, and that he be paid at the rate Of
forty five per cent reduction the prices Of print
ing under the joint resolution OF March g. 1919 for
/ all the work which has been delivered.
SIC. 2. Ind be u further resolUed, That Thomas
Richie and Messrs. Gales Seaton be appointed
by the two Houses 10 execute the printing con.
tfactcd for by the said William NJ. Belt, for the re-
mander Of the 3st Congress at tho price Of thirty
five percent reduction Dr short numbers and forty
five per cent. reduction for numbers above FIVE
thousand on the prices Of printing fixed by the Joint
resolution Of the Sd Of March, 1919; and that the
said Thomas Richie and Messrs. Gales and
Scaton be required to give bond with good and
sufficient sureties, 10 be approved by the Secretary
Of the Senate and the Clerk Of the House Of Rep
resentatiyes, for the prompt and proper execution
Of the printing contracted for by said WIN. NJ
Belt, at the rates aforcsaid and in any incon
vcnicnt delay should at any time be eHperinced by
either House in tho delivery Of its work, the said
Secretary and Clerk, respectively, shall be author
lied 90 employ ono or more printers to execute any
portion Of the work Of the Senate or the House
and charge the excess, IL any there be- TO the said
Thomas Ritchie and Messrs. Gales and Seaton.
SEC 3. ind be " ftpttu enaoisd, That all laws
and parts Of laws now in force, not in conformity
with the provisions Of this joint resolution, be and
the same are hereby repealed.
Mr.. McWILLlE offered few remarks in eY-
PLANTATION Of the report. For volume Of nine hun
dred pages toe present contractor received thirty
sir and quarter cents, without the binding By
the arrangement proposed, the comp ton would
, be increased TO eighty and half cents =
moro than double. One hundred and lightweight