The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-11

vail then the question viii recur upon the insertion ot
number SIX then upon three. and then upon other popo
slnons there should be any until the blank IS niied
Mr.. BRADBURY Do understand that the vote is
New Hampshre'
| Mr.. BRADBURY. beg leave 70 trouble the Senate
with single remark II will be perceived that the prop
oson to be voted is for longer period than have
proposed Even that term does not meet the views Of
some senator's who prefer one sill longer Others wish
the term 10 be only three years II is obvious that all
cannot be gatfed and would suggest that six years is
the medium PERIOD and one, therefore, which VIII be
likely TO unite the greatest number Of supporters The
subject much discussed the last session in the other
house. and six years was the term which commended
itself TO the majority. am satisfied that II is the term
which will be most generally satisfactory; and hope
that senators who have proposed extremes will not persist
in them, and that the term OF six years will be generally
Mr.. r.BUTLER should have greatly preferred term
stl! longer than Twelve years My preferences for an
Office like this is for life tenure. am willing, how
ever 60 for nine years But, sir, you reduce the
term Of Office to three years. as Is proposed BY my friend
who sits near me, Mr.. WHTcoMB,l or even in adopting
the term Of sx years. we shall run the risk OF incqrng
the bInaneiy, that these Offices will Be bestowed BY
the President as political rewards. Even at six years,
the objection is good and, BESIDES officers worthy Of the
place ought not 70 De brought here upon an uncertainty
Nine years. IL seems 10 me, is Teasonabe bn you 60
reducing the term to six three years, DO not know
that can give my sanction 10 the bill The offices will
be filled By SET ol political hacks and for my part am
in any other way as by such a board of officers.
Mr.. BRADBURY. Six years is the proposed tenure.
the same term as that Tor which senators
bold their office. If the officers well selected, they
will be likely to be permanent and the choice should
happen to be unfortunate then most certainly change
should be made see no reason 10 doubt thai the tenure
will be sufficiently permanent.
The question being then taken upon the proposition
submitted by Mr. HALE, TO make the term Of the commis
me- mn ysss was ,ssssd T. ne a, strange OBJ
liquty OF vision seizes when we come here. We
seem to get the idea that all Offices connected with the
federal government must be for longer terms and ior
larger salaries than those which similar functions
assigned at home Who is there who would propose that
the tenure of Office Of auditor or comptroller OF q
State government should be six years and yet there is
just much necessity for expeence there as there rs
here. and the facilities for gaining il are perhaps less
This is all that have to say ann IN favor OF the three-
MIR. BALDWIN confess, sir, that entertain some
doubts in regard TO the proprety OF enactng law OF
this description, unless we provide Tor judicial tenure
of Office for The persons who are TO CONSIDER certain con-
troverses between the United States and individuals,
which they are not authorized finally TO decide, but are
required to report to Congress for its subsequent action
But there certain controversies which, by the terms OF
this BILL this board thus constitutes are 10 decide be-
tween the United States and the individual claimants
They TO make this decision after going through all
the forms OF Judicial investigation The parties are to
be heard by their counses attorney TO be appointed
to represent the interests OF the government and es
mony is TO be taken in ordinary hgatons between
parties controversy and while there when tins tn.
utClue
States on one sde and the party gang with the Uni
ted States the othef-why is IT not an exercise oil
judicial power within the meaning OF the CONSTITUTIONS
which declares that Judicial power shall extend TO all
cases arising under this constitution. under The laws
OF the United States treaties made &c, to controversies
to which the United States shall be party Now, SO
far as the action OF this board is thai OF mere nves
gazing committee OF Congress, whose duty il is to ascer
tain the facts and report to Congress their ultimate de-
cson, they do ACT Judicial tribunal But so tar
they invested, by the terms OF this act, with
power deciding definitely and conclusively, after tga
ting controversy with the United States upon evidence
introduced one side and upon the other u appears
to me hsy &C. IN The character II aaon
who are 10 hold their ofee by the tenure OF good De-
havlor
GERS were only 10 do what already done now BY the
comp,rollers and heads OF the departments.
Mr.. BALDWIN. They are merely accounting oflcers,
and act demonstrsvely and not udiciay' as lhis bill
provides for the officers OF this board.
MIR. WHlTC0MB. The honorable senator from Con-
neccut abors under great misaPprehension There
no more power TO give to this board any supervising OF
decision of the accounting officers than rs gwen 10 those
accounting officers themselves
will saw while am up, that have an objection TO
that feature Of the bill am willing 70 make them sim.
ply an initiative board in reference TO the business TO be
acted on BY Congress- and al suitable time shall move
such an amendment. !,
The question being taken on the amendment, II was
agreed 10 on divislon-ayes as noes not counted.
The PRESIDING OFFICER stated that the other por-
tons OF the bill would he made TO conform to this amend.
ment wit instead OF eight, four years. and instead
Mr. DAVIS, Of Mississippi moved to amend by striking
out all from the word "it in the 24h ne down TO the
word States" in the 32d line, inclusive as follows;
Il shall be the duty Of the said board TO examine
quarterly public accounts In the several executive de-
OF the government and In the Patent Ofoe, and
make report the condition OF these accounts o. oil any
errors which may have been detected, either as 10 the
statement Of amounts the method in which they
kept These reports shall be made annually 70 Congress-
and quarterly the President OF the United States
think the board should consist oil men OF the highest
aanments and judIcial qualifications, and that as such
they will be the least OF all adapted to feretng out de-
fecis bunders and malfesances in the clerks. More
over Mr. President have already head for each de-
parment and FAR as able 10 Judge, organiza
divide the responsibility between the head OF the depart
ment and the commissioners think that responsibility
II divided will be great evil 10 the country and great
injury the efficiency Of the department II would re-
eve the head OF hedepartment from some labor, but
would strip him OF equal amount OF power and dig
nifty, and would greatly impair bis efficiency. These are
my main reasons for moving this amendment
MIR. HUNTER | hope the amendment OF the hon.
orable senator will not pass do not agree with the
senator from Mississippi that the effect OF this bill would
be TO divide the CONTROL by placing under two heads
hold that these gentlemen, having Judicial qualifications.
would be peculiarly fitted for this Office iisone OF those
matters that require special knowledge; and because
they devote their time exclusively to these SUBJECTS they
would be much more capable OF looking over these ac-
counts detecting errors, and asceanng what changes
should be made in them. These gentlemen now at the
heads OF the departments generally not perfectly
skilled in matters Of account They are politicians
men OF eminence-men OF general knowledge. but
none OF that special knowledge necessary TO ena-
bic them 10 carry out these Investigations and re-
forms. As proof OF IL. you have staneng rules in
the House OF Representatives that committees shall
be appointed for the purpose OF examining into the