Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-03-05

bills that Senators were personally concerned or
ous to have taken IN preference TO others The civil
and diplomatic bill Of vital Importance 70 the
public and should have priority all others and not be
left to the last moment until Senator's, out and
hausted would have to yield TO what their Judgments
might otherwise condemn.
Mr.. HUNTER said the Senator from Texas, (Mr.
HoUsTos who ought TO have been entitled TO the floor
had eourteousy yielded and he hoped less courtesy
would be shown by others.
Mr.. WALKER would inform the Senator from Kentucky
Mr. UNDERwooD) that if he expected Benefits land
bill to be acted without debate he very much mis-
taken Mr. W. should feel il duty to the people of his
State to oppose that bill to the fullest extent ohs ability
Mr. BADGER suggested by way Of compromise, that
they take up Benefits land BILL the homestead, the ter
rtora and the census, and pass them them all IN one
batch (Laughter.)
regard 1t as test vote Of the disposition Of the Senate
Mr. BORLAND would observe before the vote was taken,
in reply to the Senator from North Carolina, r MAN
GUM that the bill for printing the of the
no fayorte neither had he any other interest than
what was common TO every Senator
The question having been taken Mr.. HUNTERS
ton, it was decided in the Affirmative, as follows:
YEAS-Messrs Adams Atchison, Badger, Bell, Borland
Bradbury Bright Brodhead Brooke, Charlton, Chase Coop
Dawson Dodge Of Wisconsin, Dodge Of Iowa, Douglas
Downs, Fech Fitzpatrick, Geyer Hsmn Houston, Hunter
James, Mallory, Mangum, Miller, Morton Pearce Petit
Phelps, Pratt, Rusk, Sebastian Shields sumner Toucey
Walker, and Weller-39
NAYSMessrs. Fish, Foot, Jones of Tennessee Seward
Spruance, Underwood, and Wade
| On motion Of Mr. WALKER, the Committee on Frauds
discharged from the consideration Of the memorial Of
Mr. Kennedy the Superintendent Of the Census, asking
that committee be appointed to investigate charges
made against him in debate in the Senate
| Mr.. BORLAND, from the Committee Printing, re-
ported in favor of printing 1000 copies of the report Of
the Secretary at War respecting canal around the Falls
of the Ohio and 1000 copies Of the report of the Secre
OF the Navy respecting the coal fields and coal mines
| on the Western waters.
THE CIVIL AND DIPLOMATIC BILL.
The civil and diplomatic appropriation bill then
taken up, and the amendments of the Committee FL
nance were offered.
The amendment relating to the classification of the
clerks of the several Departments and fixing the salaries
Of the same, led to discussion.
| Mr.. HUNTER explained the object of the amendment
and showed how the clerks had been classified and their
salaries graded.
Mr. PETIT moved strike out so much of the amend
constituted board for the examination of clerks
declaring it to be attended with inconvenience and might
be partial in its operation.
Mr.. HUNTER regarded it as essential if they were to
have competent and efficient persons in the public De-
partments. He instanced case of young who
had been appointed in Of the departments who had
been asked by the Secretary to sit down and write him
letter of acceptance that the young man. after several
trials had torn up the letters and left the Office had
he presented himself afterwards
Mr.. JONES' of Tennessee inquired if the chairman of
the Committee Finance contemplated increase Of
salaries of the heads of departments He thought the
dignity and honor of their position required increase
OF their salaries which VIGOROUSLY inadequate and
he should be unwilling increase the pay of the subor
dnates and leave the heads Of departments where they
were.
The question was then taken on Mr. PETTIrs amend
ment, and 1T was decided in the negative.
The next amendment of the Committee on Finance was
appropriation of 240 900 build houses for the Vice
President and Heads of Departments provided that the
amount shall not exceed that sum.
This amendment also led to discussion
Mr.. BORLAND thought, if this amendment to pre-
vail that it would require further amendment so as to
extend the boon TO Senators and members of the House.
who on the average had the expense to incur and
full much labor to perform He thought the better
mode would be to increase the salaries if they in
sufficient and he was not prepared to say they were
not than to build houses which would have the effect
to control their style and habit of living Heads of De-
partments selected from different portions of the
Unon-some might be fond Of display, and others of
painness and reracy and If these establishments were
erected public officers might be compelled live in
more expensive style than they might otherwise be dis
posed TO do
Mr.: HUNTER defended the amendment, and pointed
out the advantages that would result from the Govern
ment making an investment in houses which were every
day gaining in value the best addition that could be
made to the salaries Of these ocers-tha property in
this city constantly increasing in value and that
rents must rise proportiona and future these officers
would be compelled to pay greatly increased price
Mr.. BRADBURY opposed the amendment. If the
salaries were inadequate raise them but if the plan Of
the committee were adopted, they would be constantly
called on for expenditures in improvements changes and
the like. He moved to strike out the amendment and
substitute another giving $4,000 per to each Of
the officers named.
Mr.. BUTLER was in favor Of increasing salaries de-
caring that however paradoxca it might appear high
salaries were the cheapest in the end and gave his
sons for the assertion He opposed to this house
building systematic principle Of progressive Democracy
In regard to houses built by Government "much mine
his had something in il repusive his feelings That
was the with the Presidents house. where every man
seemed privileged to enter at pleasure and he presumed
it would be the If they built houses for other officers
Of the Government.
Mr. RUSk in favor Of increasing the salaries Of
these officers who performed much labor and were so
poorly paid but he was opposed to building having
tendency TO create another system of public contracts
which always ended to the disadvantage of Government
and interest Of contractors He would be willing to 10
as high as eight nay to ten thousand for their salaries
but must oppose the other plan.
Mr.. DOWNS argued in favor of the amendment as orr
ginaly proposed by the committee 1t should be recol-
lected that Washington was mot large city, and that
frequently there great difficulty in obtaining suitable
houses for heads of Departments When gentlemen were
called TO fill these stations they had sometimes 10
neglect their public duties in pursuit Of residences and
insisted that Government ought well prepare houses
for them as mansion for the Executive lie did not
think the objections urged by the Senator from South
Carolina, the "much mine as his principle, ought to
have any weight
Mr.. MASON sustained the orr gna amendment in favor
of providing houses the best mode OF increasing saa
res He did not think there any thing to be appre
hended from mproperintruson into public edfces for if
persons were found so lost to proprety push them
selves in gentemens residences they would be very
taught to know better.
Mr.. BUTLER alluded to complaints he had heard OF
such intrusons which, the grounds Of the President at
least, were felt to be most annoying
After some further remarks from Messrs B0RLAND,
DODGE, Of Iowa, BRADBURY, and others, the question
was taken by yeas and nays and decided in the negative
follows.