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

A
whether they have contract executed or unexecuted
or whether they propose to buy the books hereafter
They ask for 50 much addition 10 their Contingent fund
10 % aSaS % ss Them that addition
want IT, They have incurred debt and is their bust
ness to pay i, whether concur in the business OF its
contraction or not II they have not yet ordered the
books. but propose do hereafter we do not propose
TO take part in that contract 10 sanction il but we
SIMPLY propose 10 give them the contingent fund for
which they ask and il cannot trust the representa-.
lives Of the sovereign people with their own contingent
iund, do not know whom we can trust The senator
desires to have this matter in certain form, and have
the Senate participate in it, and have il 90 out thus before
the people Now, lei say. sir that the House have
their own committees upon their contingent fund, and
upon the expenditure Of the public money Their ac
counts are open TO the inspection OF the people, item by
item, of every expenditure they make and whoeyer
wants TO make capital before the public may call il oui
and let the public know what il is The Committee on
Finance propose TO preserve the dignity of the relations
that should exist between the different branches Of the
legislative department OF the governlnent-o give the
money whetherthey have properly i'm
to do It hereafter There other way of proceeding
Give them the fund for which they have asked They
have the responsibility, and we not their masters
All ask is that they may have the fund they desire
They say il is to pay for books they have ordered
will not gansay or deny that that is the object do not
know what the facts are, nor will inquire Give them
the addition to their contingent fund.- and let them ex.
pend it in their own way
Mr. DODGE of Iowa. Mr.: President | have very
from North Carolina. He is very apprehensive of a
serious conflict with the House Of Representatives
should the Senate decline to consent TO this appropriation
and he thinks that the dignity Of the two houses is
deeply involved in this matter. To my apprehension il
question OF abuse, and not OF the dignity OF either
House The battle Of the books" is to be again fought
and fear from the signs Of the times that the books
are TO triumph Thought that victory the other day.
under the lead OF the senator from Missouri MIR BEN
T9s was @ complete as to put an end to this business
we sc0ched the snake, but It seems did not kill it,
want to persevere, and TO this abuse cannot be
stopped lam not the least troubled about the appre
hended conflict with the House respecting this book ap
propratioH Let the conflict come, and let if the
members OF the House are so intent on furnishing them
selves with books at the expense Of the people
danger the passage OF this bill do not myself believe,
i we strike il out that the House will insist think
thatn we bold out the battle will not last for great
while. take i that the new members, for whom the
donation Of books is intended are not very ANXIOUS to
sgnaze themselves for the obstnacy and
with which they may contend for them wish 10 see if
the efforts OF the senator from Missouri have so soon
bers who are 80 anxious to vote themselves seven hun
dred dollars worth OF books TO go upon the record that
the people may know who they are.
nat D. asked for the yeas and nays on his motion ;
Mr.. DAVIS, Of Mississippi Mr. President, when
was member of the House and during the first session
purchase books for members. have always done so
member OF the Senate and always expect TO do here
after But look upon this proposition very different
books for myself or for members OF this body of which
am member. The House have declared that they will
distribute certain books to members OF the present Con-
gIess heretofore distributed to members OF Congress.
The proposition now is whether the Senate shall or
shall not deprive the House OF the OF carrying out
the resolution OF that body am not disposed to charge
this 10 the contingent fund OF the House not DIS
posed to make myself responsible Tor the distribution
distribution OF the books OF The House ii the prop
ositon were 10 distribute books in the Senate, should
vote against II now, have always heretofore done;
but shall leave the House 10 its own responsibility, and
therefore shall not support the amendment OF the Com
mltiee on Finance
Mr. DOUGLAS l-havc a word to say upon this sub.
ject. This discussion has been going on for several
years about the purchase OF books in the two houses,
and hardly found who voted for il and yet,
somehow or other, the thing was always carried by
majority in each house. Now, sir, | believe | am the
only man in either house of Congress that ever voted
for books voted for them In the House asd in the
Senate, and will vote for them now in order that the
country may know that there is one man in the two
houses OF Congress that will vote for the purchase OF
books when there is majority in favor OF IT, Laugh.
MIR WHrTCoMB desire merely TO say that ii
to me that the proper course Tor the House 10 have
pursued TO have estimated the amount OF funds for
the purchase OF books II they wanted TO purchase
and OF the poprieiy OF their doing express no opn.
on-ihey should have charged to the contingent ex-
selves, and they alone would have been responsible.
But when the matter is brought before me TO get my
vote upon IT, shall feel constrained BY my whole course
Of conduct heretofore, TO vote against IT,
Mr.. HALE. As this seems 10 be a general time Tor
confession, have work to say have voted against
the printing OF books always-I am now speaking oil the
printing OF books-but somehow other have always
been voted down. There has been very economical
majority here's butt have never happened to hat the right
thing Some lime since we got mp proposition to print
5000 copies OF the Storm Kings report. Well, OPP
posed il bu, they voted down And there has never
been proposition however extraordinary, OF this kind
which have opposed, but IL voted down. i have
never succeeded getting proposition rejected; the
Senate have always professed friendly TO the
reform; but il not the right me--a good deal like
the subject Of the abolition OF slavery in the District OF
Columbia; there good many that are for il, but
they find the right time [Laughterl My friend
vote Laughter SO il has been in regard TO these
books: there has never been time TO begin
Now, 4 confess am convert TO that doctrine to-day
do not believe IL the time for 10 begin 10 be
nomica upon other folks responsibility think when
the Senate are in earnest about this matter, the time viii
then have for them 10 begin upon their own plum
der of books, laughter and not go into the House TO
STOP their plumber ready to start upon the race OF
economy with anybody but think we had better begin
here
was in the House OF Representatives at the same time
with the senator from Illinois, tMr DoUcLAs1 and |
voted with him for the purchase OF books the hr time
But 10 make clean breast oil II, will tell you what else
did, together with the rest We all voted against or
dering the yeas and nays; that none OF our names
were recorded on the journa tGreat laughier] re.
member that well, sir.
Mr. DOUGLAS, (interposng) desire TO know il the
| senator meant by ''we" ALL
Mr.. HALE. By zoe all, ! meant four hfths OF U.S. for
one. fifth could have ordered the yeas and nays.
was the only man, believe, that voted for the yeas and
nays against The four fhs that voted the other way.
That carries out my remark, that voted Tor the books
under the yeas and nays whenever the yeas and nays