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

are described Let them turn 10 the quartermasers de-
partment, and undertake 10 examine that wilderness of
papers Unless the quaTtermaser should guide them,
they would never learn anything In the engineers bu-
reau. or in any other old or long established department
they might learn something, but they could NOT do any
head OF any bureau is to suppose that he is ncom-
petent and unwilling TO do his duytha he is unwilling
,o punish the clerks in his Office by reporting their de-
nquences, and that he requires examination in order
make him do IT, hold ii also to be reflection upon
the department The senator says these committees have
not time 10 perform the labor Will this board have
have much less instead Of much more time.
MT HUNTER i viii only state that this board is no
new thing They have had such board organized for
long lime IN France, and It has had to perform more
labor than would be required here and they have done
1t faithfully and efficiently They sit three times week.
yet they are able to perform very large amount Of
Mr.. DAVIS. II should be remembered that they are
not nation OF soveregns, as we are. and very large
number Of our sovereign people have claims before Con-
| ing officers OF this and OF other countries.
The question being then taken the amendment OF
W ER%ooD aSesS sosa Ma president, SOM. d i. sem
aiors IN this quarter appears did not vote upon this
question but when it was being taken, asked what il
was will therefore make remark or two, and per-
haPs BY that time they will understand sufficiently
well TO vote one way or the other II is proposed by the
gentleman from Mississippi to strike from the bill so
much Of as requires this board TO examine into the
counts OF all the departments quarterly and TO report
them to the President quarterly, and to Congress
ally voted with the gentleman from Mississippi to
strike out and did II upon the ground that this board
anime these accounts. well 10 settle the various
claims that come before them | think il belongs to
Congress 10 make an annual examination into all these
Offices but have never known it done was once ap-
pointed, when member OF the other house, to examine
into the accounts OF OF these departments; and we
but were unabe 70 ~ ana q ad e e ~ en-
examination; and | suppose there has never yet been
an examination and report OF this sort Why sir. in
y 70 make an o eas y he ness snd "a
report upon their condition. the nature of their accounts
the services rendered by the officers and the in
which everything presents itself and the same ought To
be done here. But whether il win be done is another
matter. could give you instance after instance show
ing the proprety Of having i done. do not suppose
10 whom land warrant has been granted; and unless
you know the company, the regiment. and the name
of the soldier besides doubt very much whether you
can find whether it is granted to the widow. father,
brothers, sisters. whether you can find the claim
ant al all
But will not go into this subject could give fact
But believe this board will not have the time 10 do it
of themselves and if Congress shall act hereafter as
they have acted heretofore do not that anything Of
this board about establish can perform all these
duties which they called upon to perform, and then
settle all the claims which may be brought against the
government 1t seems to they will hardly have the
power TO perform them; and therefore, this bill
king initiative step in the great reform and win be cal
cuaied TO do great good am not disposed to burden at
leisure, assure my friend from Virginia will 90 with
ham to occupy their time benefcially. But do think
there rs some reason in the suggestion made BY the gen.
uemanl from mississippi, and therefore had Tathen il
should be stricken out hope we have now quorum,
and can vote on the question.
Mr. CASS desired merely TO observe that be had pos
10 it only pesupposed that the board could not do their
duty There would be nothing lost by trying the expert
ment, as was proposed and that board should at any
tfsftsr fkatf
quired Of them, il would be time enough remedy the
evil The objection. therefore. he considered TO be an
: MSr. UNDERWOOD. One remark further. II was
suggested by The senator that there priority given
to either class OF duties. Now, you impose upon Them
more than they can perform, which are they to neglect
the claims or the accounts Ii does to that
about 10 burden them with than they can per-
form; and ii you do not prescribe which they shall ne
glect perhaps il will be preext for neglecting the
MIR. CASS. | believe they can do the whole but il
they do not It will not then be too late to provide
The question being taken upon the amendment, was
lost on dlyison-ayes ~, noes IS.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. [ believe the committee who
have prepared this bill have neglected ule matter
which deem important; and that is. TO provdefor
senger think is necessary for the convenient dis
patch OF the business OF the board that one should be
provided, and therefore move an amendment in the
twelfth secton sixth line, after the word per annum
by inserting and messenger whose salary shall be
- dollars per annum." l do not know exactly what
salary be ought TO receive; but think should Be absut
five six hundred dollars and il there is no objection,
will move that sum- The section provides that il they
the clerk and assistants they shall report Con-
gress at the next session. have stated in my amend
ment in reference TO the messenger, that they need not
report TO Congress- giving them discretion reference TO
the employment OF ltle Office OF this Indeed,
do not see much proprety in the provision OF the bill
qung the board 10 report upon the removal OF the clerks
have, therefore. qualified after the requsion that they
shall report TO Congress in reference TO the clerks. AZ fol-
lows; And said board may remove their messenger
without reporting 10 Congress" aa
Mr. WHlTCOMB suggested that the amendment be
modified by inserting messenger in lieu OF chief
u Mr. UNDERWOOD. /, appears to me tina, the assist.
ant clerk hardly necessarily required but do not
know but the committee who had investigated this mat
Ter bad sufficient for providing these constrants
would myself prefer the modihcaon OF the gentleman
from Indiana, but did not wish 10 interfere with what
the committee have done. They may have some good
reason for making the bill such is win, however,
accept the modification. The motion win then be 70 strike
out" chief clerk. al salary Of - dollars" and insert
The question being taken on the amendment, it was
Mr.. WHITCOMB. / move to amend the fifth line Of
the 18th section, BY striking out the word eighteen, and
insert IN lieu thereof the word fourteen. will state,
while up, that understand that 81 200 10 the high
est sasy OF any clerk except the head clerk In any de-
Mr.. DAWSON move division Of the question,
and first TO take the question upon striking out
The PRESIDING OFFICER II is not divisible.
Mr.. DAWSON Then would say that that Office is
one OF the most laborious that we are to have. The
clerk is have nearly much capacity as the commits
sioner, and the labor will be excessive. The salary OF
500 is not too much in my Judgment, II u not enough
ior person to come here and settle down with family
- h.vs n IN hav