The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-14


whatever is their due There are some who believe, and
believe upon good authority that these gentlemen will not
be allowed enough even under the original resolution
have some letters heTe-one from Mr. Walker, former
Secretary OF the Treasury, in which he says that they
ought TO be allowed 81 $50 each for these services have
another from Mr.. McCulloh, who thinks they ought to
be allowed 81 900, and also from Mr. Whittlesey
besides others.
think that the honorable senator from Kentucky is
spent some six months in laboring upon this work
though probably not more than -four months after they
advertised for Witnesses but they were engaged before
hand In the olce. know myself that il very in
trcate report which would take sometime TO examine it,
involves questions in relation to expenditures for
thing like two years They went over great mass Of
papers, examined testimony and has been said that they
have been seen working late atnght think that the
practice heretofore has been allow monthly for such
extra services at the rate that those performing them
The PRESfDiNG OFFICER The subject is moi before
the Senate No motion has been made to take the resolu
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. should make the motion, but
il any gentlemen wish 10 make reports from the commit
tees, | will not offer any obstruction to them.
Subsequently, on motion by MIR. UNDERWOOD, the
Senate proceeded the consideration OF the resolution.
in committee oil the whole the question being upon
the amendment reported from the Committee Of Claims
Mr. HUNTER. II Is not my purpose to make any re-
mark further than to ask that two letters may be read
which wlnot take long.
Ihe letters were accordingly read as follows:
DEAR SIR In reply your letter requesting
my knowledge Of The services rendered by DIR Collins and
state that these services we'll known me- and that
compensation Of 25O for each of these gentlemen would
'o'''' very 'fspJe'@1S.l, ). WALKER.
WAsHlNeroN, May 1. 1850.
me inform you what compensation shink would be
just TO Dr. Collins and Col Washington for their labor
MIR Walker speak OF the maiter his opinion h have
the honor that, for said labor, commencing with
month before testimony could Be- usey taken a from wit
nesses and testimony afterwards for quite fve months
ey daylight but until late in the night either al the First
AUDITORS office, or at their lodgings respectveythe work
tquy OF the claim the death of parties and the
ss ns
Of them would be very moderate compensation for their
opno1 II @ naSf ho Of
Walker, he remarked TO me that he had said to some
Twelve hundred and ify dollars each Of these genle
% %en would d be sa nods,ate o' their very ar
Wnh great respect yours, truly, -
Washington City.
8 would state that, frequently noticing lights were
whilst the aforesaid labors were went into
that apartment and saw the careful, searching, and
these manifesiy and avowedy were complete
at the earliest day possible, consistently with the faithful
execution oil their duty. j. w. Nee.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. If the senator will listen 10 a
statement will make, will be very brief resolution
passed the Senate think, the 9th OF August referring
claims to the auditors for investigation and adjustment
After the passage OF that resolution those gentlemen ad
versed that the 5th 9th OF October following the
persons interested in the claim to appear before them
to this gahon-agents, attorneys, &C.
asked one of the commissioners whether anything had
been done subsequent the passage OF the resolution and
prior TO the date liked for the meeting OF the
agents, and attorneys His TO that in substance
was that the papers had been collected between those
dates and did not understand from hm that anything
else than the collection OF the papers had been done be-
tween those dates The papers were here, believe sir
and regard the irosbe Of collecting the papers as
amounting 10 nothing. The time, then, which elapsed
between the meeting, according TO the advertisement in
the early part Of October, and the time OF the rendering OF
the report, in February following, four months and
few days The committee thought proper, for this extra
month, making sila. when the extra days consider
ed Now, sir, think that enough and have only TO
state the basis upon which my Judgment has been formed
and leave gentlemen TO decide Tor themselves | admit
sir thai members of Congress hardly valuable men
as valuable officers as others may have but still am
unwilling to undeate my own services SO far as TO pay
The allowance which we have made TO these gentlemen
together with the salary OF 900 which they receive from
the public treasury pays them at the rate OF si SO per
day The resoluon as proposed to be amended BY the
gentleman the way, MIR. HUsTER,l will pay them
at the rate OF SIC "A per day am not willing for my
self, TO acknowledge that my own services 10 the
country ought to be deprecated than third real
ly not willing TO deprecaie i TO one.haf OF theirs
do not see why sil a. per day would not be sutf
Ceht compensation lOI tneSt gentlemtI lnuceu,
the resolution OF the Senate passed. before they had
acted upon the matter at ALL II they had found i was IN
compatible with their other duties TO discharge this duty
thus imposed upon them, they might have declined The
services altogether. am glad tha-they rendered the
service but think that sll a per day isa sufficient
compensation.
MT. HUNTER Mr. President, I rise to call the at
tention OF the Senate fact II seems to me that
the senator from Kentucky Mr. USDrRwooDl bases him
self upon what he learns from oil the commissioners
in regard TO the time during which these parties
gagged upon this labor lie estimates the time they were
engaged at four months. happen TO have personal
knowledge on the subject and am certain they were
engaged six months, instead OF four II was very
laborious undertaking | have no doubt that the
senator is laborng under a msapprehenslon IN re-
gard TO the matter; and ! would refer him to those
officers of the government who know the particulars OF
the labor to correct him. believe that know enough
OF il myself to be able to say with confidence that was
exceedingly laborious case, which demanded great
deal OF time and attention and am certain that no
lawyer. would have undertaken il for less compsnsa
presented. will not delay the Senate longer. am
ready TO vote for the compensation have mentioned
Mr. HALE. MIR. President, am opposed 10 both OF
the amendments, the resolution, and ALL think rs all
wrong II is decidedly wrong, and wrong on more
grounds than
Sir think il is wrong to pay public officers out OF the
contingent fund OF the Senate think we are running
into the worst possible habits in the OF the contn
gent fund. Why, the other day, we resolved 10 pay
PENSION out OF the contingent fund One OF the aboers
engaged about the Capitol here got wounded and we
OF the Senate Now is proposed 10 pay auditors, who
are public officers for abos which they have performed
for the country out OF the contingent fund OF the Senate
III "a auditors of the treasury they have performed SER