The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-03-29

mind, have inserted in this bill, of its own ac-
cord, pretty respectable item for g books"
and, what is remarkable, there was not Dem
ocratlc patriot on the floor even TO ask the ayes
and noes when the book item came before the
House And the cost of buying these books
will be charged to " Wing expenditures for the
year," Wing extravaganza"
Enough, however, on these points, which
are preparatory to asking attention TO a brief
but pthy speech from the Hon. Mr.. Mason,
Democratic member from Kentucky.
''Mr. MASON said have read the Deficiency
bill, and have listened to the debate upon it during
the last two or three days, and have not discov
cred any new light, since the chairman of the
Committee of Ways and Means maze his speech,
to change my opinion on any item in it,
CHOW, sir, l am as much in favor of economy and
of reducing the expenses of the Government, as
any member on this floor. My votes show it. But,
sir. do not consider this place to show your de-
voton to economy Let these same gentlemen,
who upon the various committees OF the House,
bring in measures to be voted upon, and acted
upon, practically to reduce the expenditures of the
Government. Let the Military Committee bring
in bill to reduce the army, if il is proper to do So
to reduce the expenses of the Naval Department
and so with all the other committees of the House
who have charge of the various subjects But ,chen
they fail TO do this and ieaue in force ia,os trhich
compel the Government to erpend money. 10
stop the appropriations here and let the Government
drafts be protested?
Now, sir, have not satisfied myself, from any
observations have yet been able make that
this is an economical House-Whigs or Demo-
crats pro- slavery men or anti slavery men. have
yet to the first bill come up here proposing to
take money out of the treasury, and not passed.
have hundreds Of thousands of dollars voted
away here in bill to make bounty land warrants
assignable. You may bring up any proposition
here for increasing the expenditures of the Govern
ment, or the contingent fund OF this House, and it
will go through, it does not matter whether by
Wing Democratic votes Can you refuse
to pass the appropriation in this bill of S75 900
for the contingent fund of this House? You
haze Increased the number If your officers; you
buy books, you order the Clerk to buy stationry
and you ,cithhoid from him the means TO pay
for things that your orders haze compelled
him TO purchass? Is it not 30 with every other
item in the bilR The contingent fund of this
House in Mr.. Van Buren's time 100000;
you appropriated $500 900 last year and here was
additional appropriation of $780, 900 asked for
deficiencies. The committee have made it S75-
900; but they might just well have made it
800, 900, unless the House intends put stop to
these extravagant estimates Of approx ration After
the estimates were made last year, a simple solu-
ton was passed to pay the employees of the House
$3.50 apiece extra; that took $4,000. Another
resolution passed to bind the Congressional
Globe, which took about 1000 more. Then there
was a large sum paid for Gales and Seaton's Re-
ports, which laid away for the worms to eat,
for nobody has ever opened them Here the
hammer fell