The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-09-17

out they would nave made IL up AT nifty Six per
cent less than the prices OF 1919 III this were so,
he did not see why forty i've per cent. should be
paid under the prices of 1919. On referring TO the
various bids, the proposals next lowest were about
) 900 higher than those of Mr. Belt. The first
part of the Patent Office report is already stereo-
typed. There are six or seven hundred pages in
il. On that volume, if the contractor should be
allowed the prices of 1919, deductng forty five per
cent, the nett profit would be 1928 ,05l the work
already executed. He asked the House whether
they would pass the resolution with these facts
staring them in the face; and he thought the neccs
sity of its reference to the select committee APP
parent that he would not argue il farther.
Mr.. WENTWORTH said that the anxiety
of the House to have the printing executed was
OF the of delay and the could not
go until he got better prices. If the contract be
insisted on, the printing will be performed. The
select committee will report in the of two
three days
Mr. McWILLIE was Indifferent as to the refer
ence or direction of the report which he had made.
lie had been waiting for the action of the select
committee for month or two. The Committee
Printing do not come forward advocating the reso-
luton, but suggest the best mode if the House de-
sire the printing TO be done The proposition gives
more to the contractor than he has received
MIR. ORR. Did the House ever relieve Wendell
and Van Benthuysen!
Mr.. McWILLlE. No such case was referred to
our committee.
Mr. TAYLOR spoke Of the gross negligence of
Congress IN not providing for the speedy execution
OF the public printing. The contractors should
have been absolved, and others employed to do the
work. He had been told that the agricultural por-
ton OF the Patent Office report would not be finish
ed within four weeks. II the contractor will not
do the work, let the Clerk order it to be done He
protested against longer delay.
/ The report of the Committee on Printing was
then, under the operation of the previous question
referred to the Select Committee on Printing.
OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE
Mr.. BAYLY, from the Committee of Ways and
Means, reported bill to create the office of Assist
ant Secretary OF State.
ID III AN L.
table.
MIR. BAYLY was surprised at this motion-no
he was not surprised after what he had to- day
in reference 10 another bill. This reported
with the unanimous consent Of the Committee of
Ways and Means.
Mr.. JONES remarked that he did not consent
| Mr.. BAfLY spoke only of those who were pres
ent; and TO resist once disposition to place him
| In false attitude, he desired TO make few re-
| marks about the bill. 1t was the same that
commended by Mr.. Buchanan, and which, at the
| time 1t was brought forward, under former adj
niinlstration, met with no opposition. He moved TO
refsr the bill to the Committee of the Whole the
state of the Union, and would defend it when it
should come up for consideration.
MIR. RICHARDSON said that attack was in
fenced. Whenever an atte;lp; = made 20 create
number OF offices, some Democrats are always
! found TO advocate the bills. The gentleman from
Virginia had assigned no reason why this should
pass Was there any why there should be
| an Assistant Secretary of State,
Mr.. THOMPSON, Of Mississippi, remarked that
Mr.. Buchanan had urged the appointment of an
Assistant Secretary of state, on the ground that,
Tor want of adequate force, claims against foreign
governments are preferred, which, in many cases,
would not be sent abroad if they could previously
undergo examination here The result is, de
mand for satisfaction of Claims which would not
be presented If they could be previously examined
This bill was reported at the instance of the pre-
cent Secretary OF State, who wants have the as
sistant appointed by him. which he (Mr. IT, did
not think was right.
Mr.. RICHARDSON resumed. When all the facts
should come out, it would be found that the Sccre-
tary wants good place for favorite and good
situations for those who are hungry.
Mr.. STRONG inquired whether, since MIR. Blu
chanan made the recommendation, large portion
Of the business of the State Department had not
been transferred TO that of the Interior
MIR. RICHARDSON. One half of the business
has been transferred to that Department.
MIR. vINTON remarked tibet MIR. Buchanan
spoke Of an assistant as highly necessary.
Mr.. RICHARDSON. If the Secretary wants an
additional clerk, why not apply for one? / know
this-when you create such Offices, you are never
able to abolish them.
MIR. McCLERNAND was opposed 10 the creation
of assistant ut this late period in the session
The subject was important, and required some con-
sideration.
Mr.. JONES raised question, whether, for the
reasons which he stated, the Committee of Ways
and Means could make the report.
The SPEAKER replied that it was too late to
make that point of order.
Mr. RICHARDSON raised point that the Com
mittee OF Ways and Means had not jurisdiction
over this matter, although the gentleman from Vir-
ginia, MIR. BAYLY,) who is a learned and eloquent
special pleader, might endeayor TO show the con-
trary. There was not time 10 consider the subject
and he moved to lay the bill upon the table He
withdrew the motion at the requestof
MIR. BANLf, who said that the gentleman from
Illinois regarded the introduction Of the bill
extraordinary, and then moved 20 lay il on the
table without solitary word Of explanation.
One Of the committees had instructed him to re-
port the bill, and only asked that it be referred to
the Committee of the Whole on the state Of the
Union. The committee had no expectation Of
forcing IL through the House IL was pressed by
three Secretaries Of State. Mr.. Buchanan was
constantly urging on him the necessity Of the
measure. MIR. Clayton, and Mr. Webster, did the
same thing. The Committee Of Ways and Means
reported the bill by unanimous vote. As TO the
objection that the committee have no jurisdiction
this subject he said il did belong 10 that com
mttee. 1t required appropriation The De.
partmcnt Of the Interior came from the Committee
Of Ways aud Means; and the Assistant Secretary
Of the Treasury came from that committee. II the
bill be referred TO the Committee Of the Whole on
the state Of the Union, and there should not be time
10 discuss it, IL could go over the next session
No man can gain any thing Tor himself or his party
who opposcs measures Unfortunately. Let us
pass what Is right, and reject what is wrong. The
proposition 70 create the Office Of Assistant Secrc.
tary Of State was well received in 1896 by the De.
mocrstic party. il was reported by Mr.. Rath-
bun, Chairman Of the Judiciary Committee who
not friendly to Mr. Polk. II il true that some
Of the busness Of the State Department has been
transferred TO the Department Of the Interior but
none Of the specific business requiring an Assistant
Secretary Of State has been transferred.
Mr. McCLERNAND did not propose to 20 into
the merits Of the question: but he repeated that the
bill was not such az the Committee Of WAYS and
Means could properly take into consideration The
bill was intended to recast and reorCanize the
State Department, and 10 assign the proper number
Of clerks TO each class Of business An nppropria.
ton s necessary but the great object ia TO improve
the efficiency OF the Department, and the bill should
be referred 20 the Committee on Foreign Affairs
who will have time 10 look into the matter.
Mr. STANTON, Of Tennessee, said that, 90 far as
be was concerned, he should like 20 ace the bill put
on it, passage. The change proposed was abso
utey necessary, for the greater part Of the time Of
the Secretary was occupied with merely clerical
duties.
Mr.. BAYLY said that Mr.. Buchanan informed
him that the public interests absolutely required
the passage Of this bill The gentleman from South
Carolina, before him, had just remarked that Mr..
Calhoun thought that the public interests most
imperatvely demanded the passage Of a similar
measure. Mr.. Calhoun rigid economist
Here is the concurrent testimony Of Messrs. Cal
houn, Clayton, Buchanan, and Webster. In ac-
cordsnce with the promise which he made TO Mr.
RicHARpsoS, (as condition for obtaining the
floor, he moved 10 lay the bill on the table hoping