The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-04-04
SENATE. SPECIAL SESSION.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 1851.
In coNrNUATfos
EXTRA COMPENSATION.

| EXTRA COMPENSATION,
Mr. NORRlS moved 10 amend by adding the follow
| ing:
Resored, That the clerk Of the Committee OF Claims, ap-
pointed under resolution of the Senate Of January, 1890
be continued through the vacation and hat he pe EN-
played = eaare'lng classified index and digest OF their
MI. HUSk. move, as an amendment TO that amend
men that The clerks of the Committee Finance anu
the ceik Of the COMMITTEES on the Post Office and Post
Congress al the rate OF compensation hereioors
/ allowed.
The PRESIDENT That is not 70 ordeg as the amend
ment offered by The senator from New HamrshiFeIs an
amendment TO an amendment
Mr. HUNTER. II viii be, if the senator shall accept
| il as part oi his amendment
| Mr.. NORRIS. This amendment shoud stand upon its
own mefs, and am willing it should be moved after
my amendment is voted on will throw no obstacle in
the way The amendment propose rests on this
ground ProyiJes that the clerk shall be retained du
ring the recess for The purpose OF completing classified
index and digest the various reports heretofore made
by the Committee OF Claims will merely state that
the clerk has been engaged in that work in his leisure
hours, and has taken the minutes ny 10 The lih Con-
gress and il, according 10 this poposiori he shall be
continued during the vacation will pIosaby enabis
fled index Of the claims, of various kinds, that have
been decided in that committee, for the purpose OF refer
ence That index will be accompanied by report fr
short digest of the decisions made, which will enable
that committee readily 10 decide all cases BY turning TO
the peceens which have been before set This will ia
c,tae their progress and relieve them IRON great deal
MI CASS will simply observe, Mr.. President. that
was opposed 10 that resolution; but have made some
inquiries which have satisfied me Of lis mertoious char
acler and shall vote for It,
| Mr.. NORRIS ! will merely add that this is the re-
quest of the committee They have recommended this to
| the attention OF the Senate and ! hope II Will be
MIR. BRIGHT. intend, before The resolution is
adopted, 10 move 10 strike out so much OF IT as relates 10
clerks Of committees. OF what service will clerks
/ OF committees be to Congress during The recess o.
Cong,ess' The senator from New Hampshire says, 10
classify and prepare the business The class o. cases ;
that he Ieikfs lo-taims before Congress-hase been
classified, arranged and ihdexed by lhe House OF Repre-
sena,ives. The very same cases--thc very same char
acter OF BY name and date, and report and the
number Of the eperwe have already; we can turn to
them BY going into any Of the Libraries here we can gel
volume end turn 10 the precedent al once All that having
been done reference 10 these claims necessity
for continuing clerk ur6h that ground, single day
do not The least practical necessity tot continuing
any clerk any Of the standing committees OF li5 body
| have been nembe- of that committee. should be
glad TO retain the clerk wish we had the money 10 give
away; but cannot go for il Tor the reason that do not
believe there is any need OF cefks and we ought not 10
cosnqs NJ h ys1 sy M 10. q Of s sssi =
few remarks upon this subject Sir, believe this
amendment OF my friend over the way ought 10 be
adopted into this resolution II il is amended he pro-
posed, still shall vote against IT, according to my pres
ent conticuons but The amendment would give me a
disposition ID tote for III Thing could be done OF The
kind Now, sir, if you win look at the formidable files
dnd single member that would consent 10 find out
which had been adjudisaed upon BY the committees
or By Congress Ii is literally looking for needle in
hay stack You want TO find principle settled in regard
TO payment iof property destroyed during the war OF
1912 upon the frontier, under The acts OF 1916 and lsl7
you cannot find any such principle, unless you can reco
lec the name OF the particular case. You cannot hnd
the report that contains the principle unless you know
precisely the particular case in which II is involved
Now sir This proposition OF my friend comes from the
Committee OF Claims. OF which am member, with
view OF getting such classification oil the cases as
will show the principles which have been settled
by the action Of committees of Congress upon all
the variety of cases which come before the Commit.
lee Of Claims to make something valuable out oil
this classification. Then, sir when you wish to find a
principle in regard 10 horse-and you know there y al
know where 10 look Tor III II you want TO lind prnci-
pie with regard TO the burning OF house, you will know
where to look Tor IT or II you want to hnd principle
with regard TO the destruction OF ship IN the employ OF
the government, or OF any other vessel, you VIII know
exactly where 10 look for IL And sir, without naming
the thousands oi classes OF CLAIMS you can nave hen
all classified, bound aud stitched can make book
that will show the subsequent committees that VIII have
10 act upon claims all the principles which have been de-
cided by their predecessors the object OF this CON-
mitee to get out work OF that sort, through the agency
OF the present clerk thathey have IN Their employ nen
who has turned HE attention to thus Classification with
the view have stated Sir, II = very valuable, and VIII
be very essential II we can get Al.
One word more. You have refused 10 pass the bill
providing for the settlement OF private claims through
board Of commissioners. BY the rejection OF that bills
the action upon all the private claims that may be pre-
sen,ed az anst the government There is telling when
we shall get clear OF that class OF subjects, which
sumo 40 much time OF the committees OF the two bodies
and II that thing is 10 continue, II will be matter OF
great Importance to those committees TO have the acton
OF their predecessors all those various classes OF
claims so that they iufn TO The very principle that
they want. Now, sir you have no index OF principles
at all and this is the main object which have IN view
sppa2sr Hy n. ,,0,,o, from oa
ana suggested ha, should make proposition to
,inue the clerk 10 the Committee Finance have
such intention, There necessity for continuing
that clerk. ] regard this proposition TO compensate
the clerks, much Tor what they have yet 10 do as
for what they have done and II the clerks OF the other
committees are thus compensated, believe the clerk OF
the Committee Finance Is az much entitled to II as
any; and believe there is no who is familiar with
the services be has rendered at this session. who will not
say The same thing But if this proposition should iail,
shall make no moton upon The subject and sr u the
clerk of the Committee OF Claims receives this extra com
pensaion then maintain that order 10 render equal
Justice. all the other clerks ought 10 receive it, can
only answer for the clerk OF the committee TO which
belong and no one has labored with fidelity
industry and ability. than the clerk OF the Committee on
Finance. 5a gal ga8r 85ua sl.a I'LL
| Mr.. UNDERWOOD. (interposing) Will my friend
allow me 10 say this is new proposition to pay any
extra compensation The proposition before 10 have
him work during the reeeas. f fguN 81 gt
/ Mr. HUNTER As to that, sir, rather think that the
labor is not the thing which is necessary think "a
the work he will render during the vacation it probably
/ will not amount To much. understand these matters
have been ndexed befoeDdexed by order o the Houss
OF Representatives My friend near me from Pennsylva
MIA, MIR BRopHEADl understand to say. who Is more
the Hou have had that done already So far that
concerned, therefore, imagine II Is entirely unnecessary
and the whole effect of il will be TO render him the
pensation for past services.