The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-11

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. fUNps-EAlhANA-
GANcE.
Nearly an hour was consumed In the considera-
ton of bills of private character.
The House resolved itself into n Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union, (Mr. Burr in the
chair and proceeded to the consideration of the
Senate's amendments to the bill To supply def
ciencies in the appropriations for the support of
Government for the fiscal year ending thirtieth
June, 1850.
The following amendments having been read
viz:
ITO supply deficiency in the appropriation for
the contingent expenses of the House OF Represent
atives, for printing, binding, and engraving, and
other miscellaneous expenses for the present fscai
.'For contingent expenses Of the Senate, S2ls,-
OO0;"
Mr.. JONES Expressed his views against this
large amount for contingencies, and said that II
was enough to pay the Executive, Legislative, and
Judicial expenses OF majority OF the states OF the
Union.
Mr.. BAYLY agreed with the gentleman as to
the wasteful extravaganza OF the two Houses OF
Congress especially in the enormous item of print
ing and binding. He had voted in the House
against il. If he had been in the Senate he should
have pursued a similar course Of conduct. But the
two Houses have ordered it to be done, and the
question now was, whether the House shall pay
for what they themselves had ordered.
Mr.. CLEVELAND asked for the items which
were embraced in the contingencies; and
Mr.. BAYLY read a long list of them one for
publishing the proceedings OF the Senate, S2l 900
Mr.. STANTON, of TENNESSEE said that it would
be quite as appropriate for the House to examine
their own contingencies as those Of the Senate.
Mr. CLEVELAND remarked that the gentle
man had said that as he MIR. c. was disposed to
attack the contingent expenses Of the Senate, he
could more appropriately examine those OF the
House.
Mr. STANTON, of Tennessee, thought that gen.
tleInen ought to take the beam out OF their own
eyes before they take the beam out Of the eyes Of
others.
Mr. CARTER said, how men could get up such
wasteiulness matter OF novelty TO him. Cen
tlemen called upon TO vote blind and not per-
ntted TO inquire what the lords at the other end of
the Capitol do with the money. He supposed 1t
was vulgar, low matter for dlgnlhed Senators to
engage in 10 ascertain how the money came into
the public treasury; it not to be expected that
dignifed Senators should inquire how the hard
earned money of the laborng classes is expended.
Mr. STANTON, of Tennessee, did not intend to
imply that the House had not the privilege to exam
inc into the items for which appropriations are
voted. All he did say was, that the House should
much more appropriately show justification for
the expenditure Of their own fund. before hauling
the Senate over the Goals, if the gentleman from
Ohio would allow the cxpression for certainly the
operation of the gentleman would bear that name
He thought that responsibility rested on the Senate
and he should vote TOR that body any thing not inn
proper and extravagant. The items look tolerably
large but appropriate, and the books were such
the Senate ought TO have.
Mr.. CARTER would ask the gentleman what he
Mr.. STANTON understood il to mean what the
gentleman himself gets under that head from the
postmaster of the House-such as paper, pens, and
ink.
Mr. CARTER said that there was no account
kept in the Senate as in the House.
Mr.. STANTON thought that the House of Repre-
sentatives, considering their own conduct in rela
ton 20 the contingent fund, could very well allow
the Senate TO dispose of theirs.
Mr.. VENABLE said that while the House print
one hundred and fifty thousand copies of the report
of the Commissioner of Patents they ought to re-
frain from reflections, as TO extravaganza, upon
others. They who live in glass houses should not
throw stones.
Mr. CARTER The gentleman infiicts a castiga-
ton on me, lLaughter.l
Mr.. VENABLE. Not at all.
MIR. CARTER. At any rate, reproaches on those
who voted for the printing Of one hundred and
fifty thousand copies Of the Patent Office report
He justified that vote. The report reaches, not
members, but their constituents. Ii speaks and
tells them of the advancement and varied in
terests Of the republic. He would give the same
vote again. Although the House has two hundred
and thirty members, and they are brought into inn
mediate communication with their Constituents,
their contingent fund, deficiencies and all, is only
S3ll ,09l; while that Of the Senate, with sixty
members, amounts to S2SS 900, which has been
consumed. What becomes Of the money? Was IL
expended because Senators were more industrious
IN reaching their constituency than members of the
House are; The tenure Of the office Of Senators
shows this IL not so they not subject 70 the
deal Of popular vote. II the honorable Chairman
of the COMMITTEES Of Ways and Means could give
any possible for the expenditure Of 30 much
money, be should like 20 hear H.
Mr.. BAYLY repeated, that he did not approve
Of such large expenditures, but debts had been in.
CURED, and they must be paid.
MIR. CARTER wanted 20 pay the debts in such
manner would enable the representatives here 20
expose the extravaganza.
Mr.. TUCK said, that when IL became necessary
10 supervise the acts Of the Senate, IL time 10
have a new constitution. II could not be expected
that Senators should keep pocket memorandum
IL was a small matter, drop in the bucket; and
when they attempted TO inquire into the private
expenses Of the Senate, IL like "straining at
gnat and swallowing a camel"
Mr.. CLEVELAND said that he had made the
inquiry Of Mr.. BAyLY respecting the items Of the
contingent fund, that the reporters might tell the
story 20 the people, who were interested in know
ing what items are 10 be paid from this S2l3,0OO.
Mr.. TUCK remarked that be had not said that
the objects we're reasonable OF unreasonable; neither
did he approve nor condemn.
Mr.. CLEVELAND wished 10 be informed how
the people can know whether the conduct Of the
senate was proper or improper unless the items be
furnished.
Mr.. JONES said that his objections were not con
fined 10 the appropriation for the Senate, but equal
ly - ~ the contingent fund Of the House. There
was prOdigal and wasteful use Of the public mo-
ney. Where IL the authority Of the House OF the
Senate 10 contract debts, and bind the Government
for their payment About six hundred thousand
dollars have been appropriated for the contngcn-
cies Of the two Houses and perhaps not in this
broad land can tell where Il has all gone. Thirty
thousand dollars were wasted for the printing and
htbographing Of report which the House refused
90 print II l. said that this IL for the benefit Of the
people. Yes, when they get IL through the pockets
II members, u may BE- for their benefit Ere
Inonps and Abcrt's reports are cold by members 10
the book -mongers on Pennsylvania avenue, and
find their way TO their constituents unless
they pay for them.
Mr.. GERRY spoke against wssteful eTpendi-
tures, and insisted that The country had right 10
the items for which the House were called upon
" appropriate. He had been informed that APP
preparation made for certain territory
- large that the members % the legislature
wanted 10 know where the money came from.
They paid for their wine, segars, stationery. and
board; and there money still left. So they
voted one another saddle. II the Senators voted
themselves each saddle, be supposed that IL would
all be right
Mr.. MORSE protested against such notions oi
economy 80 had been advocated ia the hall, and
especially those Of the gentleman from Tennessee
(Nr. JotEs) who seems 10 think that every dollar
appropriated IL - much ont Of his pocket. II was
none Of the business Of the House to inquir re how
the contingent fund Of the Senate was expended
II was not in the Treasury Of the United States