The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-07-24
DEFICIENCY BILL.

H-'Ao "AsA "OtuS1i uA sSASSJ
the two houses. At last accounts, the
House was acting upon the Senate's
amendments. The appropriation for the
Collins Steamers does not seem to be the
only sticking point in the bill. We copy
the following from the proceedings of
July 9th, to show the light in which
some of the members view what they
term "territorial extravaganza. Mr..
Meade, Virginia Democrat" it will
be seen, goes for reputation
The eighteenth amendment, to insert at
the end Of the clause in page l3,
appropriating $1,000 for the payment
OF Messrs. Babcock, Wilkinson, and Hol-
combe, for revising the laws of the Leg
islative Assembly of Minnesota, was
read as follows:
Provided, That hereafter no expen-
ses incurred by Territorial Legislature
shall be paid out of the Treasury of the
United States, unless previously sanction
ed by law"
Mr.. Houston. This amendment is at
tached by the Senate to provision in the
House bill making appropriations for codi-
flying the laws of Minnesota, and for sew
eral other things not previously authoriz-
ed by law. The restriction Of the Sem
ate, l think, is right.
Mr.. Meade. This strikes me as very
extraordinary amendment.
The Chairman. Unless the gentleman
submits an amendment, his remarks arc
not in order.
Mr.. Meade. My purpose in rising is
to ask of the chairman of the Committee
on Ways and Means what necessity there
is for provision by law that no money
shall be taken out of the Treasury con-
trary to law? Before he answers that
question, l would suggest TO the chairman
of the Committee on Ways and Means
that his position is unfavorable to be
heard by the House. l have been en-
deavoring to listen to his explanations,
but he carries on colloquy with those
around him, and l cannot hear. would
wish the gentleman would get some
oher seat for he is familiar with all
these things, and l should like TO hear the
explanations of the chairman of the Com
mittee on Ways and Means, as to the
necessity of providing by law that that
shall not be done which is contrary to
law.
Mr.. Houston. The necessity of this
amendment proceeds from tho fact that
the Territorial Legislature have been i'll
the habit of mourning expenses and LA
bi!ilies without authority of law; and l
illustrated it by referring to the case in
this bill. We appropriated, as the COM
mittee will remember, $500 to pay
three attorneys in Minnesota for codify-
ing the laws of that Territory. We APP
propriated other moneys to meet liahili-
ties which the Territory of Minnesota
have incurred before the money was ask
ed for, or any law passed authorizing or
justlIying it. Now it Is intended 10 put
a stop to all that sort of expenditure, and
that way Of mourning liability, which
will appeal to this Government and Con-
gress in way that Congress has never
been known to resist-for they come
here and say that they have already en-
pended 81 500, and already incurred the
liability. They have employed two at
torneys to codily the laws, and have in
CURED LIABILITY in various other things
and we are not able to resist an appeal
from the Territorial Delegate for the APP
preparation Of funds under such circum-
stances. This provision is intended to
say to the Territories, that unless Con-
gress passes law authorizing particular
expenditures to be made, they shall not
incur that liability.
Mr.. Meade. will ask the chairman
of the Committee on Ways and Means
whether there has been any money paid
out Of the Treasury contrary to law, or
not previously sanctioned by law, for
these expenditures?
MIR. Houston. The gentleman misap-
prehends the amendment. The amend
ment says, "that no expense incurred by
the Territorial Legislature shall be paid
out Of the Treasury of the United States
unless previously sanctioned by law" -
This is not intended to apply to the pay
ment of money out of the Treasury, but
to the mourning of expense on the part of
the Territorial Legislatures. The words
are not very fifty used.
Mr.. Meade. 1t seems to me that the
am ndment does not reach the case. If
no money has been paid out the Treasury
in consequence of these liabilities incur
red by Territorial Legislatures, then here
is corrective TO an evil which does not
exist. The evil l understand to be, that
Territorial Legislature goes on and in
ours liabilities without having previously
an appropriation made to meet them. Ii
this is the evil to be remedied, that amend
ment should be changed in phraseology,
SO as to inhibit the Legislatures of Ter.
ritories mourning such expenses.
Mr.. Jones, of Tennessee. If the gen.
tleman will permit me, l will read What
is now the lava proviso to the act of
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