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

afford tribunal other than Congress for the nvesga
ton and determination of these by predecessor OF
mine upon this floor (Colone John Taylor of Caolne,)
who proposed scheme by which they wee to be heard and
decided by the United States courts He borrowed the idea,
doubtless from his State, which permits herself to be
sued and judgment be given for ogains her. as in the
cases of prvae individuals so far our experience has
gone the Commonwealth suffers no injury from the privilege
thus given to private individuals, while airds them speedy
justice and entire satisfaction. We do not propose 10 go so
far in this bill that offered by him we do not propose
give the board accounts final jurisdiction IN claims founded
upon equitable considerations. Their duty Will consist IN ex-
amnng the cases. and stating to Congress the facts and Pn
cpes upon which their opinions based nnd will be for
Congress appropriate not, for the saact on OF these
Claims as it may think proper.
Mr. President, believe that such an institution as TINS
board Of would prove great service TO the country
and become the end Of the most valuable features IN
the organization of departments It would promote he
dispatch of business in federal legislature ana remove
from them fruitful of corruption would Ieeve
private claimants from the expense and the anxiety OF wnat
is row. in fact tedious and costly species Of litigation
before Congress- and take away from that body the great re-
who have claims against u.s. Blu, nowhere would I'D
ence be sautay and purifying than in the executive
Departments themselves II would give uniformity ana sys
tenn to the decisions of claims in the Departments wouu
promote the dispatch Of public business, oy
provements in the system Of accounts, ana seeing .as a
connected with the machinery OF public accounts paaJ
their duties faithfully. The good would thus oe s'muaeI
10 the faithful performance of their duties, ana tns iuo ~
worthless would be exposed and, it is to be hopeo'
after they thus brought to the notice OF 'ne
power. r -.
Mr. President if ever we check this system OF pro-
scripion from which the public service suffers SO mucn
sroy it. fear cannot-the process Will commences uous
some such body this. The Investigations anu fopo
nch men as il hoped these wlbc-impaia, expenenceu,
with much special knowledge of the subject, and' a"o' "
independent for unless independent Of Pon'ica nus
they will be almost worthless-wond 40 muen - . 5
encourage merit, and to force the expulsion OF aons M
unfit men from offices Of which they are unworthy. oP
the trust to be reposed in such body, and upon tne
may be hereafter bas d, perhaps. most valuable s =
cd pnhpYf
rona (M McKay) was the first to propose IN TINS county,
and which was borrowed from system thai Is saiu y
admirably in Great Britain mean system OF eAalha
and promotion amongst the clerks as we nave - .e
and navv Give them the privilege of trial before such acou
as this before the appointing and removing power ac's
any suggestion Of either appointment promouo, na officials
and you will corps OF administrative as f
as valuable and efficient in their sphere as are 'he
our army or navy in their respective departments. "n SUI
board this the system Of which speak wouu . ~
introduce itself. Incompetent men wou.d g'aouany
,uppart of political influence and the places Tor whin y
were unfit because the examining board would itse oe O.
empt from such influences, and bring TO me dchae " s
duties weight Of experience, knowledge anu
which would give them the public commence - may 70
said that this NAV be all done now by the heads OF the Depart
ment. and that these are duties whch 'hey i'su'
aely discharge. , Ill Co..
Not So MI President as have said before, our oecre
tares may bs good administrative oftlcers anu ye
unskled n matters OF account and the machinery p
4 statements Of public receipts and disbursements a y y
ected and condensed. Indeed, it would hau'y e.
USUALLY politicians; able men, it is true, sked III Seea
politics and the larger of put Wu
previous knowledge of the details OF which nave P,
and not remaning long enough IN office 70
or suggest reforms One Of the great
such reforms would be regulate appointments ano
according to official merit and this IS no! 10 DC
from the heads of Departments who exposed 70 ssey
species Of political infuence-aways politicians themselves
, and sometimes candidates for still higher once W
may be said that this board will be exposed 70 ns
Auences hope not Mr.. President for its usefulness VI"
, | I wis
been made more secure afraid to associate any
other dy with the Executive in the power OF
should encounter the constitutional scIuP'es " 81 ~ L
tors on this floor who would otherwise favor the o''
no such scrupe myself but respect those Of ohes oa
have endeavored to give independence and securny'
far as possible by making the term OF service ione NH IN
the sense of Congress will pc manifested should 'nls u
pass-and the natural proprieies OF the case sho"
selves to be such-that Executive woua eve, 80
commissioner of this board for other causes na ''oeo
would Justify the amoton Of judge.
Mr. President have given such reasons as s''Ae M
in favor Of the general merits OF some such measure . ~
proposed have given too, my views o. we "" -
but do not believe that it is either perfect OF miou p
) hans some seious faults. Amend it as we may
have agreed, far as am concerned 10 suPpo ea e
amendments which will be proposed by the Senator rom
he made around u.s. and still the BILL have no DOUBT, VII,
be imperfect Time will Develop defects, experience VIII
suggest Improvements, and the system mere, as
will require patience perseverance, ana ,a thu, this
BILL as it is proposed be amended will prove a. lea eas 20 %
good beginning of useful undertaking. II VIII Dc tne @
first and trust, good STEP Time aud experience wiz sa
improve and perhaps remodel it but II we commences M
have no doubt that shall be pleased with Tvs
s~st operations and continue until becomes one Of tue
mos. valuable popular departments in our
organization. Mr.. President may we not vtu.. @ Wv n,S
bdv upon the proposed change from the fact that we coud
hardly be worse by any change which be made 10 tne
presen. system We will make the bill as valuable ana com
pe,e as we can but hope who iaSos some ee
vv,lt ,inst
may be imperfect unless he is very sure that ne can
stitue something Even rude beginning may DC
good beginning and trust that ready 10 make IL
+ WHOLESALE DEsERTIoN.-A letter from oaii
/ Francisco, dated on the lst April, says:
Iae news from Oregon men ons the deserton OF hea