The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-11


voted 10 The principles Of the bill. and thiQ i matter Of
such great necessity to the country, hatI willing
give up my views reference TO this particular amend
sage OF the bill Ipreier the amendment offered BY the
gentleman from New Hampshire. I prefer that they
should not be removed at the discretion Of the President
and danger resulting from the insertion OF that
amendment in the bill But as have just remarked, il
the amendment will at all endangeI the passage OF the
bill, am for giving II up, IN order 70 secure the bill
which believe 70 be one Of 50 much Importance 70 The
country. have in my desk report 10 make, ii ever
get an opportunity OF doing it, to pay some OF the clerks
of The departments additional compensation. Some
thousand dollars according TO the action OF the Commit
lee OF Claims, we propose TO pay for the investigation
OF single case Il took them, perhaps, out OF Office
hours, something like four months to make the invest
CATION Of single case growing out OF the military trans
actions in the supply Of the departments during the
OF 1872 THIS IS solitary case but there are many
cases OF the same kind, OF daily occurrence But win
not 30 nto particulars Time j. too precious for any
thing Of Thai kind. see no objection whatever TO the
amendment but if gentlemen think proper to withdraw
IT. think is OF much greater importance to vote than
to sPeak
Maine who says thai II will withdraw my amendment
he will move TO strike out the whole line relating TO that
subleci-,did understand the senator from Mainei
Mr. BRADBURY. made that suggestion
MIR. HALE Upon that suggestion, withdraw the
amendment, if can have the consent OF the Senate 10 do
Mr.. BRADBURY. / feel bound 10 offer The amead
nent as the senator from New Hampshire has withdrawn
his and IN consequence OF the suggestion that made
supposng that It would receive the appreciation Of the
senator from Virginia, Mr. HuSTERl 10 doing so, how
ever, desire TO add that regard the bill as handing in
effect precisely the same, whether the clause is stricken
out or not. y Is wholly immaterial
had my own choice, would make il full and give
9 longer term. ! would make il an independent board
But know that il we attempt that, it will not pass; and
so have come 10 the conclusion that unless get
vote upon to-day, the bill will fail for want OF lime
IL the bill is not right and proper it stands,
whole let it be voted down and il is right. we should
.t1fs1x M
Hampshire, matter of general proprety, but know
that cannot be done. believe we pass the bill as il
is. II we have the officers removable By the President,
i will only be because is usual in such bills; and that
is the general impression Of what right. they not
judicial officers Even il now stands, cannot be
worse of than we are at present Tins board will try
such referred to it by the deparimens-such
cases decided by comptrolles and heads Of
departments-who much removable by the Presi-
dent the members OF this board would be. And as to
the other class of duties propose that they should per-
iorm how should be worse of. if they removable
by the President, than we are nows Tne board would
only examine the cases they would not decide them
finally The matter oil Appropriation would be entirely
within power ltseems to therefore, so fas as the
removing power concerned, could not be worse of
than we now are. The board could be no more under
The control Of the President than those whose places they
supply in those matters under his control. BY
passing IT, we may make beginning and have no
doubt that, il is, it will be great advantage.
When il has been tested BY time and experience we can
improve it, hope the friends Of the bill will agree to
vote uPonit for unless we can vote upon il today fear
il is lost
Mr. WHITCoMB. This is suitable occasion Tor me
10 report OF my remarks made upon this hlli
when it last under consideration. represented
saying that was In favor OF keeping tins board be-
yond the reach OF executive removal That is lusi the
opposite OF what desired 10 asd TO be understood
The only alluslon made 10 the subject OF removal by The
Executive was that the object sought TO be obtained BY
the Trainer OF the bill as now before u.s. IN extending the
time to twelve years, in fact defeated by the power
granted 10 the Executive 10 remove al pleasure am IN
favor of maintaining that feature OF the bill as II now
stands can conde in the regard Tor weisre
upon the parr OF the President in the exercise OF that
power well as confde in the purity and the IN
iegrity OF the action OF this board
Mr.. TURNEY. think, sir, that we ought not to
strike out these words In fact doubt very much The
poprey OF passing the bill al all This board is 10 give
decisions upon questions involving claims 10 large
amount, by OF which decisions money will be ex
tracied from the treasury which otherwise could not be
extracted Now requires the concurrent opinion and
decision OF the auditor and comptroller TO obtain money
from the treasury Here you raise revising board 70
revise the decisions o the auditor and comptroller II
they refuse allow claim you grant an appeal to the
claimant 10 this board and provided the -ajory of this
board-hat is, two OF these commIssoners-sha over
rule tne comptroller anu , auupa ,p ,ns 1sc''on = SUN
this far from throwing guards around the treasury. TO
be breaking down the checks to corruption. ts proposed
now provide thai these officers shall not be removable
by the President Ii is motto assert il in so many words.
II true; but the language y now IN the bull that they
shall be removable by the Presidents and striking that
out you will TO implied that the sense OF the
dency OF creating board revise the decisions OF the
auditor and comptroller II is breaking down the
guards around the treasury, instead OF creating an addi-
tional one 10 protect II.
So far as the bill provides for that class OF claims to
come before Congress- regard II as very important
bill-a bill OF vast importance doubt whether any
board consisting o three members can perform The duties
which will be laid upon them in examining all the claims
which come before Congress, and also act revIsory
court the adjudication of the auditor and comptroller
| doubt whether you not imposing more labor upon
them than IL will be possible for three 10 perform.
troller would be brought before this board well as
every claim that required labor TO enable the parties TO
understand them and 10 give correct decision. And 10
allow this board TO the decision OF the auditor
and comptroller may present the anomalous spectacle oil
two permitting money to be drawn IRON the ueas,
that il ought not TO be- The auditor and comptroller
agree that the money ought not to be paid and one OF the
board agrees with them The other two members oil the
board however, decide that ought TO be paid, and their
decision prevails Thus the decision OF two men weighs
than the decision OF three and that when the two
would draw money from the treasury and the three
would preserve il. This strikes me as being wrong
Mr.. HUNTER, Qnlerposing) II the senator will al
low me, this board of accounts will not be allowed 10
try any excepting those referred to them by the
heads OF departments and il referred TO them
which have been decided, il is by way OF appeal great
many in which judicial decision - involved VIII
be referred to the board.
Mr. TURNEY. understand that perfectly well, sir.
Mr. SHIELDS, (interposing) Will the senator from
Tennessee permit me 10 ask the senator from Virginia
whether the decisions Of the board will be final or advi-
sorry in these cases.
Mr.. HUNTER The decision Is conclusive, where ca
ses are referred them BY the heads OF departments
Mr. TURNEY resumed. Il is proposed 70 change
the practice even since the formation OF our government
Las 4huxuu dn