The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-23

next place 10 give exobtant salary 10 this assistant
therefore wished 70 make this inquiry Ii seemed to
The committee, that although this person but an
agent although we admitted the great importance vi The
dulles TO be performed by him. and the high qualifications
10 be required OF him YET. looking the ex
pendnFe TINS hoard Is to cost the government and the
dlsceon which The President is 10 exercise IN selecting
person for this office, II might not be necessary 10 pay
nm as much as we pay 10 The principal agent admit
al once that If 10 provide substitute here WHO'S
TO be The principal OF business instead OF the agent
he not being competent discharge the duties required
OF him, then willing 10 give as high salary TO this
substitute 10 the other person. But that,
supposng that The agent appointed IS such man as he
should beand il be IS not then he should be removed
then It we give salary OF $1,000, as provided by the
Committee on Public Lands. We give an amount amply
sufficient 10 secure The services we need
Mr.. WELLER The services 10 be performed by the
assistant law agent precisely similar 10 those required
10 be performed by the principal law agent. lie Is re-
CURED TO have just much legal ability and knowledge
OF the English and Spanish languages as The other oIce
And for that reason, thought Il was proper that me
salary OF The assistant agent should be The same as tha
OF the principal law agent,
Now, as TO the question whether the law-agent IS com
peen 10 DISCHARGE the duties OF that post am moi pre-
pared 10 say. But ii he is not know OF no way by
which the legislative department OF this government can
now dispose Of him, When say that he does not I'M
that have received from oihers--no from what know
myself In my judgment, the officer appointed by the
President to take charge OF these claims that are pre-
scented before the board OF commss should be thor
oughy acquainted with the Spanish lang and should
be able to read The original OF all these grants that are IN
The Spanish language. The most, il not all, OF these
grants in Spanish and therefore i is important
that the law agent should be able to read Spanish him.
SELF in order to discharge undestandnsy The duties re-
CURED OF him under this law
believe these appointments have generally been very
unfortunate. believe the law agent is common law
lawyer sent out Into this country to try these causes all
OF which have TO be tried under the civil law, that having
been the law of the territory when we acquired IT, In
my Judgment the President of the United States should
have selected not only law agent acquainted with the
civil law but the commissioners themselves should have
been familiar with the science Of the civil law. But the
Pesden, of the United States, in the exercise Of that dis
creon vested in bin, has proper TO appoint others
And hold that il is proper that assistant should
be appointed The agent himself, in letter addressed
to the Department OF the INTERIOR has asked behave,
for the appointment of three additional agents, He
asked for increase in the number Of clerks, and also
increase in the number OF agents who are 10 Try these
causes. Now, the delegation from the Stale OF Cahfor-
MA looking 10 the interests OF that State, and desiring to
have this business facilitated much possible, IN order
that the Oldest parties in that State may be discharged at
once have agreed to recommend the appointment OF one
instead of three agents. asked for by the principal
law agent That the appointment OF this officer IS ne
cessary, have doubt In my judgment. It will be al
most impossible to execute the law OF 1851 within Iea-
sonabe lime, unless there i assistant counsel employed TO
represent the government OF the United States. II is tor
that reason that have advocated the appointment OF one
assistant law agent and moi OF three as was asked Tor
by the agent, well by the board OF commissioners
themselves. That will be amply sufficient 10 enabe the
government TO be properly represented IN The conducting
Of this business His compensation is 10 be the same as
that allotted by law TO person who performs similar
Mr.. FELCH. will moi object to the appointment of
this one assistant law agent Tor may be necessary 10
make the appointment; and would not have the SEN
aior from California [Mr. WELLEal understand me
10 object 10 giving hum fair and liberal compensation
much more liberal compensation than we have ever
given Tor any like services upon this side OF the con,
!nent. But let us look moment 10 the salaries that
have been provided. The commissioners received
each $4,000 per annum, and is now proposed to give
the salary to assistant law agent The principal
law agent also receives So 00) per annum, But there
other officers appointed who have important duties 10
perform IN connexion with the action OF this board
among them is a secretary. Now, the qualifications OF
The secretary OF that board are precisely The same as the
qualifications OF The law agent and the assistant law
agentpecsey the same as is required Tor those other OF
MIR WELLER believe it is not required that the
secretary clerk should be lawyer The act of 1851
requires the agent 10 be lawyer by profession, but
think there is such qualification necessary in clerk
Mr.. FEkCH: do not refer 10 the qualifications in
reference TO that particular point But refer to the
qualifications OF which we have been speaking-ihat s
the knowledge OF the Spanish and English languages,
which will enable this secretary perform the duties in
connexon with these old records which required IN
the settlement OF these claims His qualifications are,
them precisely the same In that respect the quaca
lions OF those other officers bis salary is fixed al the
sum OF $1,000 per annum: Now there are nve clerks
appointed in connexon with this board OF commissioners
whose Quah defined, but the salary which
is 10 he paid each of them is 81 500 per do
agent above that of the secretary OF this board GER
ainy see no reason Tor making equal 10 the salary Of
the commissioners themselves. do not think the quail
cations required the duties be performed, any
other considerations warrant the giving this exotbtanl
salary Tor this assistant law agent and although have
always voted with my friends from California lMessrs
GsIN and WELLERl for fixing these salaries at what
may be called liberal salaries yet think they should in
this be content with the e. 900 reported from the
Committee on Public Lands
The PRESIDING OFFICER Does the senator from
Michigan make motion 10 strike outl
Mr. FELCH No, sir.
MIR. WELLER. That is not 10 order, because "four'
has already been stricken out, and "six" inserted in COM
miiiee.
The PRESIDING OFFICER The motion is in order
10 strike out "sx" and insert "four" The bill is now
reported TO the Senate, and tie amendment is now open
10 amendment
Mr. FELCH. | understand the state Of the 10 be
this In committee of the whole motion made by
flour" and insert "six:n which was adopted.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. That making an
amendment to the amendment reported by the Commit
tee on Public Lands.
Mr. FELCH That amendment to the amendment has
been reported 10 the Senale but has not been
red in By the Senate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER When The Senate con- !
ours 10 the amendment amended in committee OF the
whole they will in the whole Of The amendments,
and will adopt The werd six"
Mr. FETCH II that is the state OF things, will move
TO strike out the word six" and insert flour"
Mr.. WELLER apprehend that is not quite in order,
because when The question comes up in the Senate upon
concurring in amendment made in committee of the
whole II is in order for any member 10 call for divis
ion and If senator wants separate upon that
portion OF the amendment which struck out -four and
inserted "sx,p all he has to 60 is TO ask for division
ANY question OF this character susceptible of division