The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-22

one word TO the general features Of this bill have
no soft OF objection 10 paying Leuenant Maury every
cent bis services are worth think com
plain OF me- since became member OF this or the other
branch OF Congress that have ever lifted up my voice
against paying liberal compensation 10 public officer
am willing TO compensate Them literally, very liberal
W but what object to is this system OF sticking these
thngs into appropriation bills, and passing them when
nobody has time to read them. Sill they creep in. one
alter another and you have then lot Of subordinate
bureaus created, without any investigation or examina-
on OF any sort oi knowledge the part Of Congress
OF what they are doing. This is the remedy, would
apply wipe them all out and then have liberal
TEN OF compensation and them if there is salary that
is too low, raise IT, II the compensation is not large
enough. make IT greater; but do not leave to the dis
creon OF your Secreares do not leave to the doubtful
construction given TO certificates of exmembers of Con-
gress do not leave 10 the doubtful construction OF
ascertanmens OF gentlemen who happen to know what
was IN the breast OF the men who framed the bill do
not leave 10 estimates not printed and laid before Con-
gres5, that Congress do not know what they about
4 but filed away in the departments Come back to the
constuiion-to lis plan, explicit express provisionss
that no money shall be taken from the treasury, except
ny virtue oil an appropriation by law
The senator says seem TO think the law oil 1885 has
acquired the force Of constitutional provision, and that
il cannot be amended by law. That is what COM
plain of-tha il is abuse to have il done in this way
but what complain OF is, that while that is the law,
while il is In force, while i is plain explicit and express
execution oil the law undertake, the face oil its pro-
visions BY virtue OF these papers, such have been sub
med in this case to pay greater amount OF money than
Sir, | have personal objects TO promote, ] do not
know this Mr. DAVIS; do not remember ever to have
heard of him. He may be learned that all the
sages of Greece He may be walking compendium OF
all the knowledge TO be gathered from gazing at the stars
NAV contain everything that Newton ever dreamed Of.
do not know what his altanments But II his sal
ary is not enough raise il but do not under such
vision this. suffer the plain provisions OF the law to be
violated. Wipe out what TO authorize anything OF
this sort; and then when officer is deserving OF
higher compensation, let him forward to the proper
department. get ecommenton Tor higher salary, sub
NIT it to committee OF Congress TO be examined, and
then come before Congress for increased pay and will
be Of the last men. while stand this floor, TO OBJ
ject to any such compensation
Mr.. BADGER. am not much in the habit Of using
high sounding adeciives, particularly of denunciatory
kind and therefore II hardly necessary for the
tor from New Hampshire 10 say that adectIves which
could apply would deter him from exposing the bald
features, he terms II, OF this abuse. Sir, would
slider myself, if were to very freely any of those
ephes OF denuncalion in which the gentleman abounds,
to be justly charged with approaching the gentleman's
manner for he seems TO have, whenever anything that
respects the navy comes up for consideration large
store OF epthetca expressions that anything in the
world bat complimentary. Nor do | hope by anything
which can urge TO persuade the senator from New
Hampshire into anything like candid fair view in
anything with regard TO the navy believe the only
class OF officers IN the service who, he TO think,
do not receive adequate compensation for their services
and who ought to receive additional remuneration that
corps OF reverend gentlemen called chaplans; in which
idea, confess, am inclined to concur with him, and
am only sorry that his charitable feelings stnted
as to embrace but one class OF porse"~ ---~~'~a .''
that service
But. Mr. President do not mean to go again into any
elaboration OF this matter wish, however. 10 suomrS
New Hampshire has stated to-day that he did expect
TO convince me- may say with equal truth, and think
with mach better foundation for the assertion that have
no hope that either anybody else will be able to
convince the from New Hampshire, and therefore
submit what have 10 say TO the Senate,
In the first place. the senator 10 think II matter
OF extreme improperly, and entirely without precedent,
that upon inquiry TO the meaning OF particular
provision contained in statute the views and opinions
OF those who concerned in passing should be re-
erred Permit 10 say 10 say that do not concur in
the opinion which the senator has expressed deceive
myself greatly is not considered by the OF
Justice always allowed in the Interpretation Of doubt
ul provisions OF statutes 10 refer TO the opinions that
entertained and expressed by those who aided IN
passing them or were coniemporaneous with them.
There is therefore, nothing al all Objectionable IN itself
in the particular reference that made in endeavorng
this provision Of the law The honorable senator may
think that these references rot entitled to certain
amount OF weight That is a question TO whom they
submitted for exposition, and whether they were
regular and legitimate to refer 10 in endeavoring
to fix what the meaning OF Congress in the passage
OF that law.
Another remark, and am done Upon the senator's
own system OF Interpretation, il is clear and evident that
the gentleman entitled 10 $1,000. He rejects the In
ierpreaton which put upon this clause oil the law
BY the Comptroller and which, think is just and
reasonable onetbat this $4,000 being appropriated among
other objects as pay to The superintendent and the su-
perniendent being directed TO be selected from the Off
GERS OF the navy, il the intention OF Congress that
be should be paid superintendent and not as an officer
OF The navy The senator rejects that Interpretation;
then how do we stand In The appropriations contained
in that same bill for the pay OF all the officers OF The
navy il included an appropriation for the payment OF
this gentleman, Mr. Davis as lieutenant Well, Con-
Qress puts an additional appropriation in the bill.
lieutenant may be selected and for the purpose OF
king this argument clear, may suppose that the
name OF Mr. Davis has been put and then there
appropriation OF SO 900 for the expenses OF Nautical
Almanac including the pay Of the superintendent Mr..
Davis Here there undenaby two appropriations
made 10 Mr. Dags-one under the general appropriation,
he being an officer OF the navy, and included in il under
special appropriations and the senator says that under
This second appropriation he is TO receive nothing but his
pay officer OF the navy. Well, be " 30. Then,
according to any Interpretation given, upon his
view OF the subject there is double appropriation for
This gentleman each case, he Gays, TO be regulated by
his pay officer OF the navy. Well, then as an of
hcer Independent oil his superntendence over the Naut
cal Almanac he was entitled to 81 500 year, and
superintendent he entitled pay officer OF the
navy experimenting the work-an additional sum, TO be
more and i makes $1,000. So then, IL to reject
reasonable fair Interpretation OF this law, and give II
technical the result follows unless the
aor maintains that Congress, having made general ap-
preparation for the pay OF this officer, and then made
special appropriation, intended the special appropriation
| 70 amount 10 nothing
/ Mr.. HUNTER. | would suggest TO the senator from
New Hampshire that perhaps his amendment s broader
than he designs Il TO be
Mr. HALE In order 10 relieve the minds OF senators,
withdraw II, and offer this as substitute;
/ "And estimaie or appropriation of money, in any
bill making appropriations shall anthorize the payment OF
any increased pey allowance, or compensation, in any
Whatever beyond the amount prescribed by law, In
case unless shall first be specific direction for
such extra pavne n designating the Of the officers
70 whom such extra payment shall be made"