The daily union., 1852-08-08

clerk oI the census thought he had been entitled 10
S30Oo year Tor his services, and upon that ground
the dfheuly arose furthermore stated that under the
uncertainty which existed in regard TO the meaning Of
congregational think the fair inference is, that they
Intended by The latter act TO supersede the former BY
the appointment of the experimenting clerk of the
census 10 supersede the secrearyship OF the board,
though they aid not abolish the board sxpressy-it is
important that the matter should be explained by a
declaratory law. This joint resolution has that object
IN view, and the purpose Tor which arose, before the
chair announced the decision against the reconsideration
was, that thought justice demanded, when pro-
posed 10 settle this question, that should provide that
this experimenting clerk Of the census should receive
$4,000 in consideration OF his arduous du,es and
the responsibilities attaching to them, whatever estimate
we may place upon the value OF this whole business OF
taking the in the which we provided by
law.
do not that there is any essential difference be-
tween u.s. except1hat the senator from Massachusetts
sapposes that we want 70 give the additional $500 il
should be brought forward in separate measure Now
sir, would il not be more economical in point of time,
well as OF expenditure, to 20 into that when have
this joint resolution before passing decaratoy law
gard TO the claim for salary Of the clerk of the board
that we may do justice at once in the whole matler' That
is my sole object.
cannot see any good reason why this should be made
separate question We readily determine il now
and we shall have but little time for the examination of
questions OF this kind Tor the remainder of the session
We can decide as well and in this joint resolution,
whether we will allow him the $4,000 or only 81, 500
cannot the force OF the argument that it ought to be
brought forward as separate measure, unless is ap
parent 10 this body that he ought not 10 be allowed the
larger sum. understand the senator from South Caro-
lima to say that he has no particular objections to this
individual being allowed the $4,000, but he objects to the
way in which This thing has been managed. We may
all feel some objection, but that does not disturb the
question OF interfere with the right or justice OF rea
sonable liberaliy to this gentleman in fixing bis salary
now, when propose 10 settle the construction under
these two laws That is all wished to lay before the
Senate and hope have made myself intelligibe.
Dae M ~. f. " M mr. dsss Ssose ,ss
ate, as | have the documents from the department
showing how these yarou, points arose. and i how 2.
s nsy been II aS upon
ted in March, ls49. That board authorized
to make the preparations TO take the census which has
point secretary They appointed secretary, at a
salary of 5000 per annum When we passed the law
prescribing how and in what the census should
tendent BY the Secretary OF the Interior and gave him
salary of $2,50O; but that law did not repeal
annu the existing Board OF Census their secretary.
When the law authorizing the to be taken went
into operaton the Secretary Of the Interior appointed the
secretary OF the Board OF Census the superintendent
Hence il was that he was the superintendent under the
law, and secretary the Census Board There being
law to prohibit him taking both salaries, it
thought, he still continued TO take the salary OF the
secretary of the Census Board.
A question then arose in the department. and it was
this: By the act Of Congress authorizing the taking Of
the census, the Census Board repealed annuled
That question submitted to the board ITSELF which
consisted Of Daniel Webster, John j. Crttenden, and
some other gentleman; and find, on the 30h OF Sep.
iernber 1851 the Secretary OF the Interior (M StuarD
directs the following letter TO the Census Board
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Washington, September &c. 1851.
GENTLEMEN, Mr.. J. c. G. Kennedy was appointed by
you secretary of the Census Board with salary OF 5000
e Of bs H. salary % 'n IN bs
Pacy is fixed BY law al S2 500 He has discharged the
duties of both officers but has claimed and received as his
A question has now been made by the accounting Off
am informed, as to the amount which be is to
ceve Ii is said that your board has completed
It's duties and 10 be regarded as dissolved and therefore
ssuon as secretary, but only as superintendent
have received no official notice from you OF the compile
ton OF duties or that your board has dissolved Itself
conceive that you the proper persons decide that
question, and that the accounting officers have no author
therefore ask the favor of you TO say whether you
gard your sbors ended, and secretary discharged
ceased 7
IL the other hand, yoa regard yourselves as still con-
will please say so, and advise hereafter when shall
conclude dissolve Census Board and release the
ALEX. sx 'fipfiASt II. II sTSt4RT, Secretary.
To the Hon. Daniel Webster, j. Cfttenden, and N n.
Hall, Members Of the Census Board
There is the inquiry whether the board dis
solved and the secretary discharged Here is the reply
WARRINGTON. September 80. 1851.
srR We have received your letter of to-day, and have
the honor reply that do consider the Census
Board of which members. as dissolved, or Mr. J.
g. g. Kennedy the secretary Of that board as discharged
ued and the appointed have not been finally
completed We regard the board still continuing, and
secretary still in office, and entitled such TO the
salary Of Sss 900 per snnum, and at that rate
We are, very respectfully, yoorss,, &c ,,n,,,,
DANIEL WEBSTER.
p S. When the board by its ofc acts shall be dis
solved, we will not fail TO make It known TO you =
D. W.
Hon. A. II. ii. STUART, Secretary OF the Interior.
Here was the board still in existence. Here was an
officer appointed secretary with the salary OF 600
That same individual appointed experimenting clerk
with salary OF 50 500 Now, Lake occasion here 10
observe, that Mr.. Kennedy has never demanded, nor
thought OF demanding, both salaries
Mr.. DAVIS. What has he demanded
Mr.. DAWSON. He demanded o., 900, the largest OF
the two salaries and has received II for years and
now il s proposed to take back $500 OF the amount, TO
reduce him TO the salary OF the experimenting clerk
when he has been discbarging both the duties OF the
secretary OF the board and experimenting clerk BY
what principle is il that undertake. when there
two existing salaries by our own act, and by own
down by joint resolution TO the lowest salary when he
discharges the duties OF both offices
What occurs thenl Mr. Stewart, seeing the position
in which things paced-and beg TO call the at,en-
ton OF my honorable friend, the from South Caro-
lima. chairman of the Jud icary Committee, fMr. Bur-
LER to this-and desiring TO avoid all the conflicts
growing out OF hasty legislation TO keep the government
correct and prevent the loss Of S25O0 additional by
own act confines the experimenting clerk one and
then asks as to do-what Toregulae legislation
as not TO give legal right TO individual claim two
separate and distinct salaries That individual disdaned
to do il he never did it, and thought OF such thing;
and il he had IL would not have been allowed by the
department Then Mr. Stuart directs the following
letter to the honorable chairman Of the Judiciary Com