The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-06
NEWS BY THE NAILS
Our washington CorresponAsnss.

Our Washington Corrospondsnse.s
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 1851.
SENATORS GWim and Benton, AID California Lend
IHles-d Select COMMITTEE of the House, and
Secretary StSavt.
Senators Gwin and Benton are squabblng about
the manner in which land titles in CaIiforna shall
be defined. Yesterday, Mr.. Benton made "thst
same old speech" about the noble achievements Of
his extraordinary son-in.lsw, the gallant Fremont,
which almost every Senator now has by heart
After the delivery, the Senate adjourned over 70
Monday, when Messrs. Ewing and Mangum arc
expected to make ga few more speeches" in justi-
cation Of the removal from Office of General Lane
and Colonel Weller. Mr.. Mangum will make q
good sh owing, and say something worth hearing,
as he always does when he addresses the Senate.
But all that Mr.. Ewing can say will only serve TO
make his own course more and more ridiculous
General Lane and Colonel Weller were removed
solely upon political grounds, and ne who stands
up before the country and declares to the contrary,
should expect the country TO disbslleve him. His
skull must be vastly thick to arrive at any other
conclusion
Some time ago, the House of Representatives
ordered a select committee to be raised, 10 look
after the rights of those 10 whom land bountiee
have been granted, and to ascertain whether any
additional clerical force would be required IN tho
pension office, and IN the Third Auditors office.
folows:-Mr. Robinson, Of Indiana. Chairman:
MIR. Miller, of Ohio; Mr.. Mason, of Ken,ucky;
Mr.. Briggs, of New York. and Mr.. Williams OF
Tennessee-the first three democrats the other
two wings.
The committee waited on Mr. Secretary Stuart,
of the Interior Department, who sent for the chief
clerk of the pension office, and, perhaps, other
clerks, who represented IL the committee that the
business of the pension office completely over
whelmng-that vast amount OF letters was re-
ceived daily, far more than could be opened and
read even, without being further attended to-that
the office had no horse and vehicle TO take letters
between II and the city post office, and that the
messenger not able to take them-;hat all was
confusion and disorder account Of the great
amount of business hch had accumulated, be-
of the inadequate clerical force of the office
and that to have the business properly attended
TO, there must be granted by Congress thirty-seyen
additional clerks.
The committee also called on the Secretary OF
the Treasury and The Third Auditor, to ascertain
whether any additional cleriea force would be-
needed in the office of the Third Auditor, and
found that twenty more clerks were there required.
Subsequently, the committee concluded to take
the testimony of some of the clerks, under oath,
on the subject
This was done, and in consequence of il, the
committee ascertained the fact that Mr.. Secretary
Stuart had already appointed, and set TO W rk,
tweLty-one additional clerks. and had appointed
sixteen more, who were TO have places upon the
contingency that Congress would grant the whole
additional force of thrty-sevcn clerks asked fer.
The committee consider this gross usurpaton
of power the part of the Secretary of the inte-
Tior, and said 10 have draw up report on tho
subject, ccnsuring that funcnonary in severe terms,
which report will, il Is presumed, be submitted 10
the House on Monday next