The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-05-10

board who remains longest in The Office has knowledge
OF the precedents which they themselves SET the pnc
pies which they themselves adopt. and they viii be APP
piled as the precedents settled and made by court OF
justice to the various which come up. In pac-
ce, the younger members of the board will derive very
great advantage from the experience of the individual
who has been longest member of the board and who
in this way, has become familiar with all the actions Of
the board Those of that have been judicial Offices
and have had the settlement OF cases, know very well
the value, when we are young in Office. to be derived
from the experience OF those who are familiar with the
duties they called upon to discharge do think that
the plan Of the gentlemen gem who have arranged this bill
When new members come in, if there should be any
change, they will be qualifying themselves by experience
and by knowledge acquired from those who have served
longer upon the board and in this way its operations
will be extremely beneficial TO the country.
Again, Mr. President II you put in board to consist
q three gentlemen, and dismiss them from office every
suggested with a great deal OF force by the senator
from South Carolina. Mr.. BuTLERl Who will accept
Who will come here, and locate himself here, for an
risk the changes which may be made in i from political
considerations at the end OF the time My object Is to
get clear OF political considerations entirely in the lorna
ton OF this board want gentlemen who are upon il
look entirely and exclusively to the interests OF the
country, and the laws of the country which regulate
claims and enter into their settlement, without at all mix
ing themselves up with the political party considerations
Of the times 1--WE get board OF that Sort OF hon
est talented men, you will thousands and thousands
of dollars to the government As remarked the other
III. al
will save in one year enough pay the expenses 81 the
whole board for ten years Now sir, these, | think
are the that ought to influence the Senate
in The establishment OF such board; and am very
much afraid that il the proposition OF my friend from In.
diana mr. WHiTcoMB1 succeeds, it would subject the
board ~ its operations to those political considerations
whica nave mentioned and would retard its benef-
Gal opeatlon seems to in every respect there
fore hope 1t may stand it is think there is guard
as il now stands, which ought to give satisfaction.
perceive that the gentleman to whom we are indebted
al hat
years shall be the limit OF ie the attainment of which
the commissioners shall retire.
Mr. 4 q Ds sru'n ms his
provision is to be struck out Whether that will be SO
or not, am not aware but if it be retained this will
make one Limitation BY the lapse Of ime-merely by the
arrival OF the commissioners at the specified age By the
expiration OF the Term OF Office, too you have an addi-
tonal opportunity to get rid OF any commissioner who
should prove unacceptable; and finally the President OF
the United States has in accordance with the terms OF
the bill, a continuous power to remove.
Now, sir, with all these guards against want OF ecien
and incapacy, seems to that the provisions Of
is very well guarded-frst, by the limitation OF
age to sxy-fye years; second, by the Limitation OF the
term OF office TO Twelve yearsat the end Of which their
sdeation and thirdly by the provision that the Presi
dent shall have the power to remove. seems to me
that all these provisions are quite sufficient TO guard the
purity and efficiency OF the officers to be appointed un.
der il.
Mr. WHITCOMB asked leave to withdraw his call for
the yeas and nays upon his amendment, and leave
Mr. WHITCOMB now amend my motion, so as
to strike out the WORD twelve" leaving blank to be
filed upon subsequent consideration Of the appropriate
term TO be inserted
Mr. President some Of my friends desire to have the
period OF service graduated at two, four and six years
should prefer shorter periods than that
satisfied with the reasoning OF my friend from Kentucky
Mr.. UNDERwooDl upon this question. II IS said by
atos who learned lawyers that these officers must be
placed beyond the reach OF political nnuences-they
must not be politicians Very well, sir; presume that i
is expected that the first incumbens OF these Offices will
not be politicians and if the present Executive be
trusted TO exercise the power OF selecting in such way
as 10 prevent il, would like TO know why subsequent
Executives cannot be trusted TO do the same. How will
gentlemen meet that question. And again: how will
these officers be perfectly Tree from political Influences
il the President retains the power to remove as is
pressed upon the very face OF this bill
While am up, will say that the compensation in this
case has been fixed at $4,000 thought that S2,o 900
was more than enough Now, sir, no one OF the audi
tors OF the government who have the supervision and
examination OF every species Of accounts, has
ceved more than 50 900; and, sir undertake 10 say
that they do veold more labor than will fall upon these
commissioner Inc amount o. labor pressing upon the
pied every day in the year There is doubt in my
mind that this board will not be occupied efouih part
OF the time.
shall, however, limit any remarks have TO make TO
the smple proposition TO strike out the word twelve,
for the purpose OF inserting other number that may
be agreed upon by the Senate, and which, may be
~
the government There to be singular idea pre-
valling that In proportion officer is removed from
the local business OF The State and approaches the sphere
OF the general government he must be paid more II 1
could carry out my views, the should be the
would pay Slate officers than the officers OF the
general government. The fact is, in my opinion,
that the attraction towards the general government
great to endanger the preservation oil the equilibrium
between the two and OF the original purity OF gov
ernment
Mr. FOoTE. For my part would just as lief make
tleee or AZ In nf fsUel
years. being perfectly satisfied that corruption is likely
TO creep in. neglect Of duty almost certain occur II
we do not make the term OF Office great deal shorter
than that which is proposed. am utterly opposed to
the for life, TO at all approximatng 10 il,
have been for many years past and am perfectly
that great change going on in the public mind OF this
country in opposition TO the old doctrine this subject
and in favor Of short terms II is my deliberate opinion
that the term for such Office hsor all Offices, in
factshould be short one-not too short 10 be but
il seems to that four years will be quite long enough
am unwilling 10 trust such functionares those TO be
created by this bill for twelve years deem il highly
important that they should be kept in state Of periodical
responsibility 10 the government, and through the govern
ment to the people This particular doctrine has been
practically tested, and the value OF short terms been
actually ascerained in the State Of Mississippi even in
TERMS and popular election OF all important public officers
has been in successful operation in the State of Mss.
spp for almost twenty years. and has proved every way
satisfactory shall vote for striking out twelve, and
inserting some smaller number.
Mr.. BUTLER. Mr.. President, prefer the longest
term Of tenure OF office. may be permitted @ make
remark or two So lar from desiring to limit these
mssioners, who really judges, 10 term OF three
years, or any short term, OF those who would
prefer tenure for good behavior for life do not pro-
pose to go into discussion OF the theory OF this subject
with my friend from Mississippi, lMr. FoorE nor with