The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-21

This Department Of the Interior has already drank up
all the duties OF the Secretary OF Warnot the time OF
Inc officer Tor BE- has nothing Y 40 . am nm told
Office, giving everything TO this one department., ii
there were no other reason than that There many
objections which can be urged against giving ii to this
oieer nnder All The and can see no good
objection urged against giving TO this Census Board
eept that OF taking Them from their ordinary duties. Well
a. this ims appresna ey sis MOI 70 oneIoas oal INA.
OF This census, which will last but very few months
and will give the advantage OF the experience Of three
Mr. BUTLER differ from my friend from New
York. There is thing that be done by one man
better than BY three. The three going consult
Is osa a. ale gwen .nsy cannot expect 10
pecial jurisdiction altogether to any departments
Of government II we have departments Of govern
make any one q them responsible L to give i il appro
pirate duties; and II this gentleman has this department.
let him have devoved upon him the responsibility OF per
better done by single individual than by many; and
have heard the thing suggested that the department has
anything to do, is exactly matters Of this kind
When The question shall up TO abolish that de-
parment of course lis duties will be devoved upon some
other one and, necessarily this duty will be performed
by the Secretary OF State Secretary OF War; Or anybody
do believe that business OF this kind cannot be done BY
Mr.. HUNTER nave no doubt the business will
the Census Board. think will be as well perform
ed BY one by the other We have bill pending here,
which introduced for the abolition Of The Home De-
partment do not know whether it will pass not,
but hope i will regarded the bill creating that de-
partment with apprehension at the time i was passed.
But % ar e this question = concernsd have no DOUBT
discharge the duties appropriately but would sooner
conde this business to the board than to the Secretary
Of the Interior will therefore vote for the amendment
Mi SHIELDS | take the liberty 10 state for the in.
formation Of my friend from New York. thing that
may perhaps have escaped his attention in this matter
and Is this that when the duties which were formerly
performed by the Secretary OF State transferred
from his department to this depar all the machinery
pertaining to these duties transferred ALSO and that
there in this Department Of the Interior, and in every
department. peculiar and special bureau for the conduct
and management and s,pcrntendence OF this particular
business transferred the Secretary Of the Interior
III take that from him and give IT to this board-to
three heads Of the must authorize these
men 10 establish something in the shape OF new ma
chnery So far as my experience goes, must say am
rather for aboshng the Board OF Census and getting rid
Of the secretary Of The board far as this duty is con-
cerned because, every gentleman on this floor Sees
honorable chairman and that secretary have been al
most at since the commencement of this year. Now.
is question between the chairman OF the committee
and The board and confess will stand by the commit
tee and by the chairman rather than by the secretary OF
the board has been question whether that secretary
is to control the decision OF the Senate, the committee
Of the Senate itself have no doubt he is very excel.
lent mana very worthy in his way but know,
when he appeared before committees he appeared TO
that the committee hau no power whatsoever 10
interfere with the powers tina. had been delegated
himthat they could not revise, review, or correct
any of the plans and preparations he had made SO far
as that is concerned, wish to get rid OF the census
board But Independent OF that, have had some expe
rence in these departments, and know that if you
transfer this matter to these three gentlemen has been
well said by the honorable from South Carolina,
[Mr. BUTLER,l one oil them must attend solely TO The
business They must fix the responsibility somewhere;
and that portion Of the Department Of the Interior which
is intended TO manage and conduct this business will
be unemployed. mention this TO my friend from New
York. because not disposed to vote that department
more power than the gentleman himself :
Mr.. DICKINSON. Ii has not escaped me that some OF
these duties transferred; but apprehend my hon
orabie friend from Illinois is mistaken in the fact that
there are bureau and clerk, with pen in hand, all
ready engage in this matter On the contrary, the
head Of the Department OF the Interior has employed
number of clerks whom he does not pretend that he was
authorized to employ By law but is now asking for com
law; and though it is not exactly proper to speak OF
what is going in the other branch Of Congress, will
state that they w9eas5 1sy
having bureaus and clerks he has had he has had
to employ them without authority Of law, and asks
that they may be paid
In regard 10 this matter Of patronage know nothing
about it, As to the clerk OF the board, do not know
his name, am that have his face at all
have had no conversation with any OF them. ] am
neither standing by the committee the Census Board,
but standing by what conceive 10 be the right OF the
matter With great Difference 70 my friend from Illinois
have vet 10 learnin complicated matter such as la
king the census in which dc not suppose all are to
participate in every minute matter OF the proceedings,
but only in such preparing for IT, giving directions,
and getting il upiha the experience OF three men is not
better than the wisdom OF And ii il is true that
nothing can be done efficiently unless il is given to
perhaps il will be well 10 centre the whole government
in the Secretary OF the Interior, rather than TO give the
department any trouble with regard to il.
Sir, il will be but few months that this matter viii be
before the Board OF Census. These officers meet
once or twice week, II necessary, and spend hours at
it and il their suggestions worth nothing to each
Other must say they unfit for their place Their
bringing OF their views together, and deyisng arrange
mems must be OF value and service They have already
secretary employed and that secretary has probabya
or bureau il you please where they may transact this
business, and will 90 ansactng and venture to say
will very lte, II il is continued here as elsewhere
have nothing do with this feeling that has grown up
do not comprehend nor do know, where the division
lines But wish to rest here and forever the IN
creasng OF this great, ovegown power and patronage
OF this Department OF the Interior predicted the evil
OF il when hurried through this Senate and passed
without discussion, even an opportunity Tor examna
ton; and my worst fears have been realized viii,
therefore, give vote 10 continue any unnecessary pa
tronage to Il intend TO treat properly and fairly but
Cor doing il.
Loaf On q dIvision--ayes IS, noes 10.
Mr. D., CRIMSON moved TO strike out "the Interior
and insert State so as 10 give the control of the sub
iect to the Secretary OF State.
Mr. DAWSON suggested 10 the senator from New
York 10 add 10 the words SECRETARY Of the Interior
the Census Board"
Mr. DICKINSON. had rather give II 10 the board
or 10 some district officer ant, as have number OF
propositions, will make this now.