The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-25

upon the ground that u would require great ana ~
creased quota oil clerical f0fce but that was denedtne
first thing after we came together we had 70 do was 70
attend this department. that found itself in such con-
thorty OF law and which deed Congress sanctioned and
allowed Them in the deficiency bill five clerks. Well,
sir, in that deficiency bill provision was made IN allow
ing those clerks, that thereafter the clerks should be
transferred from the other departments OF the government
in proportion TO the business transferred. Now, the
whole matter changed and this department makes 10
creased business and expense think had better LOOK
into he popeiy OF putting things back 70 where they
were before its creation II II does tighten the bust.
ness Of the other departments then Is certainly worse
than useless, far as taking labor from their hands -
concerned. 9E n
Il is true, that the Secretary OF the Interior has very
Finance asking an additional force Of eight ten clerks
and saying that he has called upon the other departments
and received answer as stated by the senator from 0no
This matter Of clerkshp have locked into with htle
care started off, in my position as chairman q the Com
mee on Finance to the departments II possible TO award
70 the various departments the nnmber Of clerks asked
for aud not disposed to stand upon tue matter OF cerkshp
satisfied myself that the more you grant the more yon
will have grant, and there will be end to il until
there i reform started 70 the executive S snss
tons upon the subject, but have been to the depart
ments, and convarsed with the heads Of the bureaus
where the clerks are employed They tell me the great
difficulty is thisl do not suppose il is applicable TO any
administration particularly do not say i is; do not
believe that il isbut they tell the difficulty is this
competent The heads OF the bureaus tell me that II they
can be permitted 10 employ their own clerks, and retain
them when they have got them learned and conversant
with the business OF their Offices, TO become really
competent they could reduce the clerical force which
is now employed al least one fourth and myself have
Congress come 70 ihem and brns their friends from the
country men who have rendered them political service.
and insist upon having them forced upon the
and to support their wishes, bring too much force Tor
human nature in the shape Of poor human secretary
SENATOR or anybody else TO bear, and the secretary y
compelled 70 give way. They force him To- give way,
man place. and il is done When they have got their
places il is said that they not only many OF them in
competent in point OF clerical qualities for that particular
purpose, but great many OF them incompetent Tor
any purpose whatever. They are not acquainted with
the business and The duties q clerk In the language
takes one Of The clerks all bis lime 10 learn some Of these
men, who are entirely inexperienced
Now, sir will for the present content myself with refu-
sing them any additional clerical force am satisfied that
this reform must begn and the great difficulty is in mem
bes OF Congress- and others forcing their friends upon the
departments The departments will have to commence
tency, and for other Acting upon that princi
pe am opposed 10 increasing the force BY our action
here will 20 on from bad to worse, until the abuse Will
become int0lerabe, and il will be growing and
grevous expense, Congress sits again in sixty days
Let them of in this reform then; and after calling
The attention OF Congress and the country 10 the fact
trust it will be remeded and the heads OF the bureaus
will be allowed TO employ their clerks accountable
men, SO that no incompetent persons will be forced upon
them
Mr.. BADGER II is obvious to all that we cannot get
Mr.. DlCktNSON. Let US try.
Mr.. BADGER There are at least fifteen sixteen
amendments TO be proposed yet II s absolutely necessa
~ also, that should have executive session for
few minutes to dispose OF the executive messages that are
now accumulated, by referring them to their appropriate
committees. Under these circumstances. l move that the
Senate postpone the further consideration Of this bill until
Monday next at III O'clock The Senate has ordered that
il shall that day and after at 10 o'clock in the
morning, and take up this matter within an hour
alter meeting After this motion shall have prevailed,
| shall move 10 70 into executive session.
| Mr.. FoOTE. am satisfied that the Senate now too
impatient 10 transact business properly am satisfied OF
mat have sons sgh Or ten ses %
laons They have received the double sanction OF the
committees OF the two houses As yet have had oppor
that they will occupy or three hours Of the attention
Of the Senate therefore, am in favor OF the PROPOSE.
ton now offered BY the senator from North Carolina
and close up this bill For every hour that adjourn
shall have to sit hours hereafter, late at night
and the public treasury will have 70 sueI amazingly
i Mr. F00TE. will suggest to the senator from New
York The grofPTety Of night session
| Mr. DICKINSON, No, no no night session.
i Mr. FOOTE II the senator will listen what have
TO say have some eight or ten amendments upon my
table which shall have offer, and they will necessarily
discussion and consume some two or three
Mr. CASS really hope that /. will no, be so. Why
can we not sit here now and finish this business The
chairman il right II will cost another day to get
through with this BILL il we postpone II now.
! Mr. DICKINSON. We can st here an hour longer.
As OIL amendments
the committee allowed very great share OF the amend
mems that submitted 70 them that within the
range and scope OF their duties. do not think this bill
ought be kept back for miscellaneous amendments
Lei sit hour longer now will have TO SIT all
night by and by, in consequences OF postponing tins
matter. M
Mr. FOOTE | beg leave to tell the honorable senator
thai they miscellaneous amendments but such as
are necessary 10 be adopted in connection with our dplo-
matte force | suggest that we take recess OF two
hours, and then take up this bill again But the senator
from New York says, si hour longer now, and pass
H. would like TO know in what shape the bill would
pass hour from II is in order, move that
| the Senate take a recess OF two hours now
sion OF Congress, oil any branch OF it, can help H.
have seen night sessions in the Senate and will not
i vote for them
4 A SENATOR. Lei us adjourn
i Mr.. FOOTE. l can assure the Senate that, IN my
opinion, hasty legislation is much mischievous than
4 night sessions. I think had better meet tonight.
4 For one, intend to remain sober will promise not to
take drop oil anything calculated to excite me unduy
Mr. BRIGHT. Upon this motion Of the senator from
Mississippi for recess, wish 10 make remark We
ought to have notice Of the change OF arrangements be
fore takes place, will put many oil to great in
object to night session tonight
Mr. BADGER. My motion TO postpone is not with
drawn.
further consideration OF the bill until Monday, il was
Mr. FOOTE. rise to move, as il is now in order,
that we take recess until O'Clock, and insist upon
i my motion Gentleman talk about diligence and the
great necessity Of serving the public and ask us 70 trans