The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-04-04

sdious distinction between tie employees OF the pres
and those OF preceding sessions.
| Sir | agree IN principle with what is said by the
honorable senator from Indiana, [Alr BRIGnT,l tha'
'hls Is an improper mode OF compensation We ought
sf 10 introduce some regular system Ii we do not pay
hem enPhg, we ought TO introduce system of sal
anes which will pay them enough am willing to go
into II the senator from Indiana will take that sub
Iect up al the hext session. Will be obliged 10 him. Nor
am 10 be unde rstood dispung the propreiy OF his
course, or blaming him for il now feel The truth Of
much that he has said; and the only point upon which
we diner This having been allowed always heretofore
ieel lndisposed now to make this exception and set
do not know, sir, but lhe proposition may be tight and
may be wrong. This much, however, will say, that
ieel there rs some imprOpreiy IN this practice Ii is
practice, however and as such, the present employees
seem 10 have some clam-l will not say is vested
right Every man feels that il is something like ga,u-
fly; and that Is what makes feel compelled as shall
hereafter, 10 go with that gentleman. II he will intro
trodrce bin in relation TO this matter will support il
and adhere to il, t+s-tAH# a#s. ~
think there is much in Che suggestion Of my friend
from Missouri lA1r. ArcHIsoS1 that had better vote
tins, as It is usual at this session, audhefeaer regulate
this matter by law or bya joint resolution; and TO
that Will not dlsNnte the matter only rise for the
purpose OF communicating my convictions asd OF
correcting mistake OF the senator from indiana shall
Committee on Finance being continued, II is TO be
given TO The other clerks the other is moi
insisted on, however, shall no, press this matter.
Mr.. PEARCE. i beg leave TO state, Tor the iniona-
on OF the Senate sir, that there is but one volume Of
the index to claims ha, has been prepared under the a
hority OF the Senate. do no, recollec another have
IL
been looking at it, 1t is alphabetical index Of claims
OF all eots and descriptions. whether for pensions dam
ages Tor faillfe Of contract for printing anything OF
that sorts and il does moi The principle upon
which the committees have decided those claims Now,
sir, with regard 10 House document OF the Sort there
is none such in existence that is mistake Under the
authority OF the House such document is in Piepaa-
ton, which il is supposed will answer The purpose
emplated by the motion OF the senator from New Hamp-
shire, [Mr. NoRRIs] It's in course Of preparation, bn'
will not be finished, understand, for considerable
time am told that II is intended in that document TO
exhibit The principles which have been decided But
there is no such document now in existence Whether
is necessary for both houses to authorize the publca
ton OF such o document is question that is for the
Senate 10 decide.
Mr.. NORRIS | would lihe 10 know OF the senator
from Marya whether that embraces The reports OF the
Committee OF Claims OF the Senate. understand not,
but merely embraces the reports OF the committees OF The
House Of Representatives, and has nothing TO do with
Mr. PEARCE. | have been told i, embraces all the
cases the Honse of Representatives and the Senate
which the committees have reported
I Mr.. CASS. Every member OF the Senate knows how
loosely such private claims are passed do not believe
there is one member OF the Senate in twenty that
tuaiy knows th real merits They have in most cases
~ depend upon the reports OF committees Now. seems
10 me, there should be sone that committee
charged with The data and with the facts, that when
caee arises he may know whether II has been presented
befcre-whe,her il is merely changed, or what is the
OF things in regard TO it 10 which the committee must
look You cannot expect them 10 devote sufficient time
t. n dIy saG do It. d oso seu q sfs ss msn
sequence then, is, that the committee give them hasly
examination, and they ore either hastily passed through
the Senate else they nger along session after session
sometimes for great many years. They are either pass
ed too suddenly, or altogether neglected Now DO think
,ha, TO enploya competent clerk who will keep the ira
dtios all in his head will be worth ten twenty times
the salary tha, will be paid TO him
Mr.. WhlTCUMB. arn member OF the Committee
OF Claims, and have been he.tang in my mind whether
be presumed that thought there was necessity for The
employment of this clerk during the recess am a
Trend TO The clerk now employed. and helped TO appoint
him wish him well but must say tba, do not see
any corresponding benefit 10 be derived from his
pioyment during the vacation. We have now, as has
seen already remarked. complete lst OF all the claims
that have been originated since The publication OF The
State papers, nohns the house in which they originated
The number of times they were before each branch the
nature OF the claims, and when and where they were
rejected Now understand the only use fora clerk is
the additional object OF looking through all The claims
and finding ou, the principle npon which each one IS
decided-how many claims are made Tor horses, how
derstand whether am mistaken in this matter II am
shall be very glad II ihe chairman oil The COMMITTEE
will indicate H.
Mr NORRIS The object is TO keep an alphabetical
list stating that such claim was presented AT such
time, and whether the report was favorable adverse
Mr. WItTCOMB. 4 think ii will be an exceedingly
hSaah s% as aS .Se. lf he 'ss os d 4. 20
eminent, and ascertain the legal principle upon which
they reported, aud to distinguish them, Now, there
are so many evanescen differences scarcely appreciable
and sometimes differences ha, the esul. OF the
price OF the moment thai II occurs to me tha, II would
be mpractcabe 10 do ii within any reasonable tme and
that, II it done, very little benefit would result
from IT,
The question being taken on the amendment 10 the
amendment OF the committee, II agreed to-ayes 90
noes 10.
Mr.. COOPER Nr President, do not rise to continue
the debate but think The resolution ought TO be amend
ed 10 one particular III recoect rightly 1t provides for
The continuance of mail wagon dunng The recess, and
very large amount OF documents sent during the
recess and that there is very btlle occasion for mail
wagon simply.
The PRESIDENT The resolution is 10 employ a
mail wagon TO convey documents.
MIR COOPER. All! if that is so, my amendment
will be unneces ssary.
MIR RUSK. j propose 10 amend the resolution, by ad-
ding Immediately after the clerk oil the Committee OF
Claims 1.-The clerk OF the Committee Finance, aud OF the
Committee the Post Ofhce and Post Roads" On this
amendment desire TO say buia word. As TO what EN-
poyment may be given TO the clerk OF the Committee on
Finance during the recess do not know but one thing
know very certanlyand that is he has very faith
fully discharged his duties during the session OF Con-
gress and he employed here during the recess OF
Congress- matter OF course he would be engaged al
something, erhaps under the direction OF the chairman
| OF the committee, or at his volition that would
prepare him very well Tor the discharge o his duties
Those duties of character those oil any
other clerk and have TO be performed with great apdly
SO far the clerk OF the Committee the Pos, Once
and Post Roads is concerned there be necessity oi
the continuance OF any clerk to any committee during ne
recess, that clerk ought TO be continued naa nor IN
tended to propose the continuance OF that clerk ior
knew that many of these things were done 1or he pur
nose OF giving employment TO certain indvduals-a eas
that is generally supposed to be the case. prepared,
the close OF the last session OF Congress- resolution
continue The employment of that clerk during the recess
d,d il with view OF bringing forward bill to NEE
The demand OF the country for reduction OF postage