The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-22

Z.
the preference the unfinished business
Mr. BORLAND shall be compelled to vote for the
motion of the senator from Texas, though agree with
the from Virginia that II important TO pass the
app oprlaion bills. think the senator from Iowa has
put this Salte its true ground The railroad bill Is
subject Of too much importance 10 be passed by for any
thing, and this, he says. is crisis in It's fate which
action in relation 10 il will determpe think the
vote to-day upon this proposition will determine the ques
lion whether we are TO take any measure during this
session for the railroad Looking upon it the most
important question which has been presented. and is
pending here. shall for the motion TO postpone,
and shall vote TO take II up 10 the exclusion OF every
thing, and If 1t become necessary, will vote 10 exclude
everything else until il is disposed OF.
The yeas and nays were ordered on the motion to post
pone and, being taken, esulted-yeas a. nays 2o-as
follows;
Chase Clarke, Davis Dodge of sconsn, Dodge Of Iowa,
Douglas, Gtyer. Gwn. James. Jones Of Iowa, Jones OF
ds5~eea, Wade. Walker Wake and Wsis'tssa a,,..
NAYS-Messrs. Adams, Bayard, Bright, Bfodhead'
titnpareI Has, HamIla Hunter. Mallory. Mason. Nil,
roucey-25
So the motion was rejected.
sUpERfSrrsDESr THE CENSUS,
Mr. HOUSTON Mr. President very reluctant
to rise address the Senate when there is much anx
iely about the promotion OF different measures IN TINS
body; and If did not think it my duty, in my plain
sbIs s sensar from W Wisconsin. should make no remark
But sir, do not think i the policy OF the government
increase salaries disproporlionate to the duties TO be
performed by the officer and particularly when that Off
has claim which entitled him 10 a just and favor
able consideration OF this body. do not think, on the
present OCCASION that the gentleman at the head OF the
census bureau has even by his mission to Europe
nendei himself 10 the favorable consideration OF this
body.
Sir find in the history OF this transaction little to
commend, and If were disposed to be little rigid,
should say find much more TO censure than TO COM
mend 1t appears that prior to the great Worlds Fair in
London il was projected by the census bo ard that the De-
time be represented in Europe. Mr.. Kennedy select
ed as the delegate Tor that purpose. The board recon-
mended il, but there law appropatng the money
that would be necessary to carry out that purpose. Mr.
Kennedy made application to the first comptroller Of the
treasury for warrant Tor $4,000 TO pay his expenses
but that officer peremporly refused and the gentleman
disappeared although he said he had the authority of the
Secretary OF the INTERIOR but not IN writing Yes, sir,
he disappeared, and was not again seen by the compro
Ter OF the treasury until after he bad performed hs i'm
poItan mission appears. though. that instead OF re-
Of the Secretary Of the Interior, Mr. williamson disburs
ing clerk OF the Department OF the Interior ordered
to pay him ST. $50, for the expenses Of his journey TO
London and throughout Europe.
On his return he presented himself at the comprol-
les Office presenting, not, the Secretary says in his
communication, vouchers strictly to be considered
vouchers, but memorandum OF the bills OF his
penses at The various points at which he touched Mr.
kennedy's account was not passed to his credit II
objected to- and what was the consequence Why Mr.
Kennedy promised that he would get vouchers The
gentleman who is the first comptroller of the treasury
we all know, s little pertlnacious and particular about
the adjustment OF accounts He likes immensely to have
vouchers which he exhibit for all he does, that he
may be backed up. Well sir. IN these times oil general
eareessness, to say the least OF IT, think very well
TO have rcmembrancer now and then to assist man
grant is questionable. but that does not lessen the
nedy's accounts but Mr. Kennedy had received the
ney by order OF Mr. Stuart the Secretary of the INTERIOR
the mere d,etum of Mr. Stuart aud Mr. Kennedy had the
money in his pocket. He was independent of the comp
roler, but the comptroller TO make his cacula
tons, He called upon Mr.. Kennedy for his vouchers
and Mr. Kennedy SAID he could procure them, and that
he would do So That was perhaps early in April. do
not know exactly the time, but several months after
voucher had been furnished In August there
The comptroller, so Argus-eyed as he is. and such
bugbear and terror to honest men, no doubt sometimes
do know how often--thought he would start upon
the hunt himself. and be set out
There two little items al the outset for expenses
10 the great fair OF naions One item for expenses
from to London. That headed the account II
concluded by an item embracing all the charges from
London to Washington city again. That concluded the
account There were no vouchers for these charges
The comptroller wanted them, but he could not obtain
them SO he wrote to Mr. Collins, as il was on board
Of one of MIR. Coins's gallant steamships that MIR
Kennedy visited Europe and think he returned in the
same vessel, or in another OF that line. He wrote
10 Mr. Collins TO know whether that gentleman could
furnish voucher for the passage OF Mr. Kennedy 10 the
Words Fair and back again. Mr. Collins. by his reply,
said mo, cannot furnish any vouchers for the ex.
penses Incurred, because he incurred expense Mr..
the Post Office Department TO settle it. understood he
going the business oi the department, and OF
course ii was a graluy." But, sir, what does Mr..
Kennedy say about this How consistent is bei We
must all agree that he paid nothing or Mr. Collins tell s
story, and do not believe he does he has motive
TO doso Mr. Kennedy says
g" certify that the above OF 81 46s rs was neccs.
sary expended during my journey, and tails of my
actual outlay
He has sworn to that, but he has certified and
that may in that particular Office be considered good
voucher but II was not considered in the comptol-
ler's Office. The comptroller got information to The
amount necessary TO be expended by inquiry of other
gentlemen. There was Mr.. Mason, who visited the
Worlds Fair, and Taversed greater portion of Europe
than Mr. kennedy his statistical tour, and the
penses OF Mr.. Mason only amounted 10 about $500 There
was also Mr. Newton. whose travels were very little
short of Mr.; Kennedys and his expenses were only a
little upwards OF 5000. Mr. Kennedy certhes TO this
fact and if IL is not true, wha, attitude does be now
present before the world and what has he presented be-
tore the comptroller
II was required by resolution passed by the Senate
on the 9th OF August last and amended by subsequent
ment, that we should have information this sub
ject That resolution answered the oath of An.
gust, by Mr. Secretary Stuart OF the Department OF the
Interior. What does he say Why, sir, in the very
first sentence paragraph OF the report he says what
not supported by the facts OF the case Here is what he
says:
"siR In reply to tho resolution of the Senate of the
9th instant mod fled 10y that Of the lTh instant the
honor communicate report from the supcrintep
OF the with sundry papers connected Herewith
which beve will furnish all the information called for by
those resolutions"
Well. sir. that isa sweeping belief Now. how far is
he sustained in it by the facts He had called upon the
fret comptroller; the frs, comptroller had furnished
him an abstract OF the vouchers which he was cal led
upon to furnish by the resolution of the Senate. The