The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-14

unless a law shall pass through both branches Of ~
making il an appropriation particularly for thai Dor a
Ii takes away the whole OF that obligation which ma.
upon senators or upon representatives who feel bu
under the present arrangement, 10 pay Tor books al
they have been ordered. This amendment prohibits M
ordering OF them Another thing II provides against Y
the expenditure of the contingent fund in either Hos
Tor that purpose. Neither House can appropriate IN
money in the contingent fund. Neither The Senale a
the House would be justified in taking arihng iroS
the contingent fund to pay for any books that may b a.
dered. That is the design oil my amendment; and h
seems to il does moi effect that object will go
Mr. RUSK Mr. President. il has been announced 4,
the senator from New York that this is deficiency b
and that il is important for thai reason to act upon ~
day / think il would be advisable unless we iay h
bring on much discussion, both here and in the Houss
and submit to the senator from Maine whether /, NJ
better TO withdraw his motion now, and offer il when M
civil and diplomatic appropriation bill comes up
Mr.. HAMLiN asked for the yeas and nays on ri,
amendment which were ordered
Mr.. DICKINSON. Mr.. President hope the amend
ment OF the senator from Maine will not prevail, ami
mainly for the reason that il will produce discussion
the other House, and delay the passage OF the bill W.
shall report the civil and diplomatic appropriation bill Il
two three days. and i can be offered as an amendment
to that bill shall, therefore, vote against IT, ahou,A
agree that il il can be enacted, and become law
may be very useful do not want it in this bill
Mr. BADGER Mr.. President, desire that nv yos
may be understood to mean that do not vote against h
amendment solely account OF its being attached ta
deficiency bill, and that il is very likely to produce q,
bate object 10 the amendment on that account, and
object 10 il out. out II is provision to this effect
that because, either in fact in suppostion, the ,wo
houses in the judgment OF gentlemen, have bought
more books than they ought have done, or becaus
they have bought books OF kind that they ought NOT d
have bought we should fix a law upon ourselves ID
virtue OF which the Senate cannot vote to buy book
costing quarter Of dollar without going, cap ia hand
to the House OF Representatives, and getting their Der
mission and, on the other hand the House Of Repre-
.,h
and asking US Now, sir am opposed to such pro.
cedure Ii there abuses under the present system
believe they had better be submitted 70 than that the
two houses Of Congress should treat themselves with
such gross ndgnity TO say that neither OF them shall
be at liberty to purchase anything without going 10 The
other and asking permission beforehand and having
previous appropriation by law Under such circumstance
we could not purchase anything without first introducing
bill to appropriate money and authorize the purchase
hope such provision will not be adopted wish
merely TO add that shall vote against upon the genera
ground well upon the special one assigned BY my
The question being then taken. it decided 10 tho
negatve-yeas 20, nays 25-as follows:
YEAs--Messrs B.rnwell, Bsnlon, Chase. Davis Of Mi,
sisppl. Dodge of WISCONSIN, Dodge u I3wa, Downs Fetch
Turney, Underwood, Wales, Wnitconb and Yuee-s
NAYS--Messrs Atchison, Badger, Bell, Rcrren, csh
moa Green, Gwn, Houston, Hafter, Jones' Msagaa.
Morton, Phelps Rusk, Smith, 5ope, SPfuance, stageoa
Walker, and Winhrop-2
now be in order to strike out the whole $50 ooo'
The PRESIDENT. That motion is now il order
Mr. DODGE | make that motion. wish 10 say, 10
reply some observations of the senator iron Name
that understand this $4,000 is TO be added to $4,000
more, which the other bill contains The senator from
Maine remarks. ii understand him, that the House oil
Representatives have ordered these books. Now, sir,
understand that the appropriation OF the money Is The FIRST
order that is given for books and that no member
or clerk dare make an order until the money ia aprop
ated pay for them There is standing order or law
am sure, 10 purchase books The appropriation Of the
money constitutes the order Now, wish whether
this Senate after having very properly as think refused
to vote $4,000 to publish some work oil Mr. Palmer having
relation 10 eastern commerce, will now agree 10 vote
$50 900 for the purchase OF these old books and registers
of debates, to be sold and hawked about the streets
the manner which every one knows has frequently been
done.
Mr. DAVIS, Of Massachusetts MIR. President, wish
to ask the chairman of the committee whether II sP
pears from the civil and diplomatic bill for what hss
Mr. DICKINSON. Mr.. President. it says il is 10 na
Bile the Clerk OF the House OF Representatives to purehss
books, specifying such books as members OF the 9h
29ih, and 30th Congresses have had This present bill
says il is for "books ordered" That is the Language
the bill. The Committee on Finance took this view d
the question They do not propose TO recommend "a
any form. They considered il as improper subledia
Legislation. am opposed 10 il member OF the Sena
and as member OF the committee. II was unanimous!
concurred in by the members OF the committee that y
would not recommend any legislation for books Al TIE
time il is very delicate task for house 10 A
that they will not allow 10 the contingent fund OF The
other item when they ask for it, This item says y
10 pay for books ordered Perhaps they may not have
been actually ordered but that fact do not know nC
is there any parliamentary way OF ascertaining i i
would be better perhaps TO strike out all the money which
relates to book legislation, and to make naked arpo
pation oil $50 900 10 the contingent fund OF the House
and let them dispose OF il upon their own responsibility
II il is for debt ought TO be paid, however improperly
incurred think il would be well 10 let them exPenda
10 Their own way.
Mr.. DAVIS, OF Massachusetts Mr. President oals
agree with the views entertained by the chairman 81 tie
committee. think II - delicate question, and zoe
which IS very likely TO bring into dissgreeabe ds
puie and confiet with the House. They have made RE-
llmlnary arrangements 10 carry oui certain measures
which they have determined upon, and ii may moi Be
good policy TO refuse the appropriation. While say
this, agree with the chairman al the committee ehiel
IN the other view he takes Of the subject that Is, DIS
approve OF this policy OF purchasing books. am strong
iy inclined TO the opinion that The wiser and better wN
IN regard to the whole subject is TO let each house have
ITS own responsibility and II il choose 10 incur the
sponsibiy Of saying that certain number OF books
necessary for the OF the members, 10 order that M
may be better prepared for legislaton let them have To-
responsibility upon their shoulders OF purchase
those books hope we shall take care that there ag
be no abuse Of thus gowe, hereafter ln the Senate
Mr. BADGER Mr.. President, / wish 10 make Oa
additional remark upon the subject ! am eniiTelyW
posed 10 any proceeding by which one house Of Con
gress shall undertake 10 control the other in its ncea
tai expenditure II appears 10 that gentlemen DO a@
consider in what a hostile attitude this course would ne
cessariy place the two houses OF Congress recolrd
very well that few years ago The Senale ordered some
books TO be purchased, and they put into The appopa
ton bill, IN addition 10 their contingent fund, apfr
priaton 10 enable their Secretary to pay for them BY
the House oil Representatives, under the recommendanoa
ofthe Committee OF Ways and Means actually iein-el
to give their consent to the appropriation know bow
It was received by the Senate know how we ietu upon
the subject We felt that II was DdgnIiy ofeIea