Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-05-11

Compare the probable working of such system with the
present and can there be doubt the relative supeor
y between them Indeed, could we be worsed by any
change in the present mode Of hearing and determining p
claims by the two Houses of Congress In examining
this subject have turned with much interest to quite an
able report made in lS4S by former member oil the House
Nh Rockwell Of Connecticut 1t is report upon when ne
has obviously bestowed much investigation and aougn
was prepared to expect show ncompetency as
tribunal to determine claims, yet those which ne has there
collected show the neglect the inability Of Congress to
try such cases. astcunded me- He says;
six years. s999 petitions were presented to bosh
reported committees and in the ten sue
ceedng years there were IL petitions the
House OF Representatives. and not reported ON by
BY any committee-inore than halt the number.
The result Of his tables many of which are TO be found IN
that report to show that the proportion which the cases not
acted upon bear those acted upon by Congress increases
rapidly with the extension of territory and the addition
population. Nay, sir it shows rapid increase IN
this proportion, in short period of years, to prove an i'm
neutrality-suspicious. moral physical, will not attempt to
deermine-that Congress short time hence hear and
determine the half Of the private claims which VIII ue
ed it-cIaims which destined to increase In mum.
bgr and importance with growth in PoPuanon ana
wealth. Sir how is il possible that the House of Represen-
ta,ives mention that body because is the larger consisting
of some hundred and thirty membes) can investigate
properly complicated case OF account or pecunery ca
upon which chancellor with the assistance OF counsel ara
the proper officers might spend four, five, or perhaps SIX
weeks in order to do full justice to the parties And we oil
know that many such presented Tor our consdec
popae committees Il. is much expect that members
will uy themselves in the secret receses OF far away COM
room and devote weeks TO the examination OF an ou
obscure claim for which they are to get neither honor nor
profit It may be said perhaps that they will at least Sc
the pleasant of having done goou
and yet this is doubtful, for the time thus bestowed
have been lost to the consideration OF subjects OF gene
raj interest," in which their constituents were more deeply IN
terested | ".>
Mr. President if be probable that Congress is unable to
decide half of the private claims presented Tor lis consae
ration the argument conclusive in favor OF the proposed
change But there other considerations equally Persaa
sve. The proposed change would afford the ad
ional securities aud guarantees against false and improper
demands. As il stands the evidence upon which we
decide claims is entirely ser parit being prepared by The
petitioner himself, in his way and without the presence
OF any represent the interests of the Government
his petition fails he may withdraw his papers, as our rules are
now executed withhold such injurious to him on
former trial, and reproduce the with new face and
different of facts If the demand is very large, he
may such agency and influences as will keep ave
from year year and there being statute OF limitations to
bar him boe Congress, it is demonsable from the doctrine
of chances that in the end he must succeed Ninety nine
efusas nthe of hundred years will not bar him.
according practice but he succeeds on once tue
claim is satisfied and paid
But The smaller demands of claimants who have not the
to mainan long course OF litigation have not even
fair chance; for they rarely obtain thorough investigation
and full hearing This evil would be remeded by the pro-
posed board which would that the evidence was properly
carefully preserved and that the case was speedily
trel There would be excuse for reopenng cases
would be ocnqr DONE But there yet another reason Tor
r the change contemplated by this bill would do much to
protect the purity of Congress- and not only to protect 1t ao
soDuey, bat preserve from suspicion The CLAIMS upon
this Government are increasing much in number and
ntude and members Of Congress may be approached In 81
many ways, il not directly at least indirectly 70 ntees
them in the result that Is almost fearful 10 hinx o. n
At temptations to which they exposed S do not NEAR
10 disparge Congress body bel eve that would com
pare voraby with any other delberatve assembly OF ~het
have knowledge. So far as am acquainted Win lac'
hasa rb hFDD
member of either House, far back records run ane
this is saying great deal for the past But, Mr. prssden
be denied that the circumstances under which Con
gress placed subject to injurious suspicious IN this ma'e
Of claims As we grow the Temptations will increases and
the opportunities Of conuptng members by interesting e
in claims will become frequent and seductive a
every prudent would be glad to avail hmse OF any
means to remove Congress without the sphere OF sucn nnu
enc Sir the representatives Of the people ought not 10 oe
subjected such suspicious What would De our STAND
ing before the world, what our place IN the ahecons anu
confidence people, if such suspicious even shouu ever
attach ous We would place Congress almost beyond he
reach Of suspicion by the arrangement contemplated IN this
. bill They would hardly appropriate for claims not recon-
mended by The board and there would be heroom tor SIN
is,er il ucpces if their grants confined to regu
lary tried and affirmed by body having the qualification
! and qualities of court Of justice.
Mr. President there yet another argument to be urget
in of the bill the superior economy OF the pro
,sed arrangement The whole machinery OF the board
accounts will comparatively little. Three comm oners
If clerks and attorney, constitute the entire
To make the tribunal Efficient the salaries should be arg
enough command the best talents and the FIRST men OF t
country They should be with Judicial qualifications
with reputation enough respect and with some
special knowledge appropriate to the subjects with which
they will have DEAL They should he workiny-men, too
VIII, able and anxious win reputation in the ofce
which they fill. We may secure such men, We may III
the few offers with fit persons and the whole expenses
the board will probably not exceed S2O, 600 p annum
this expense is probable that board may DO wnlct
would give prompt, intelligent, and satisfactory decisions y
the presented for its considerations Now, s copa
this with the expense of aordpg such mperc 1usuce a.
Congress could render if TO attempt to near ana a
termne all the presented to It, Inc rules OF e iious
of Representatives devote days in every week. OF ore
third Of the working of the session. to the
Of the private calendar They do not devote the whole
this time that subject is rua but then they do not &C
upon half the petitions Whoever has served there Will no
doubt bat that days in the week would not a.od TN
House than time enough to act upon all the claims pre-
sented it. Such the estimate OF the time required o III
House ITSELF demonstrated by its own rules wou
be fair then, state that the OF trying these cases
Congress would be equal to onehird of its whole
mean the expense not only OF the members put OF th
machinery by which operate legislative podies
Now, find, by statement furnished me by Mr. Hickey
that the entire expense of Congress for the two ass
339 onehird Of this for the two sessions woua
something than $780, 900 the expense OF trying taese
claims by Congress 10 point of economy therefore there
can comparison between the two methods But
nsideration far beyond this that private claimants woua
have their tried speedily and sasactoryan advantage
which is difficult estimate, because IS to be measured
merely by the money which would save 10 those who
rultltss be heard, but by