The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-02

much whether it would be Improvement do not know
who may be the TO I'll this Office. have heard the
Of one who Is pretened-l will not give il myse-and
will say that have heard him read and read great deal ia
the other wing of this Capitol and more discordan
fling tone than he possesses have heard laugh
ter do not know however, who ID TO be selected for tnis
Office have doubt that If the resolution passes and The
Secretary is left to himself he will make udcious selec
ton possible But IS very difficult tbog TO select
competent person for the Office OF reading clerk and very
much appehend that If take this step, instead of
form, will have alteration very much for the worse,
upon the score of reading.
Mr.. WALKER. wish to join with the honorable senator
from Virginia. Mr. Mason in saying that do not think
this about the In which the reading our
Secretary's table is performed, universally made.
Mr. BUTLER | do not think it is.
Mr.. WALKER. For my part can bear testimony
with honorable senator from Virginia that the reading at
that deskpontng to the desk of the Secretary the
BEST have heard in like situation anywhere If the
tor from illinois [Mr DOUGLAS hear distinctly what
read here let him complain OF those who stand behind him
and him, and make noise by their movements and
conversation and not complain OF clerk Secretary
Several SENATORS. That is right. That 10 the difficulty
here.
Mr.. WALKER. It will be very difficult to obtain per-
who will discharge the duties conte pate better
than they discharged. have person
who could read the various handwrngs sent to HIM more
readily than present efficient officer recoect but one
where has made mistake and that wasfo peculiar
that remember that was very much amused at the mis-
reading. As he became Of the mistake Immediately
after making it and corrected il the contrast between the
readings rendered the more apparent and amusing
In re,dng when he to the word Railroad, he read
it ralrod" Laughter and that IS the only mistake that
recoect he made There was nothing very strange IN
mistake either for it occurred during the Time when
had the subject of Pennsylvania iron under discussion and
agitation and do wonder that railroad iron and rail-
rod iron should closely and intimately blended
| and connected in the mind of the reader.
In regard to the complaints OF which the honorable sena
tor from Illinois speaks confess that cannot imagine
where he has heard much of it. He doubtless expert
difficulty ia respect to understanding easily and
readily what read the desk Of Secretary But the
defect think he attributes to the wrong His seat
here in the circle of Seats close the lobby, and
there is great deal of noise and confusion near him
But that is the fault Of officers the Secre,arys
DESK He may, and doubtless does have much more
of complaint than the rest of who not subjected to
the noise and confuson that surrounds him. and which
is caused by the persons sitting behind him.
We have the testimony Of the honorable senator from
Virginia. that if the prominent spoken of to fill this
cerkshp be selected shall be taking step, not in
the way of progress but step backward as far as the
convenience of the Senate is concerned 1t proposed to
bring clerk here, IN experience who Is to rank
with the old corps of clerks, nay who is to stand above
hem take precedence of them put them down below
him. Such that think might be Justly COM
planned Of and hope it will be pursued think
have tried officers sufficiently to prove that they
will successfully stand the test and by bringing in this
clerk and placing him above those have, will not
only be doing injustice TO ourselves but to the feel
ngs and interests of men whom after long trial, have
ever found faithful and competent. | think would be
running some risk in doing this thing, and sorry to
see honorable from Illinois lending the weight of
his influence in aid Of this resolution. think would be
better to postpone this solution proposed until the next
ton and reflection before act in this matter.
Mr.. BU TIER obtained the floor, but gave way TO
Mr. PHELPS, who said; rise simply 10 remark, that
during the short period of my services In this body have
never yet heard complaint of the reading at Secre
arys desk That short period amounts to about ,hr
years during which time we have had the same Sece
ary, and believe, the clerk that we now have.
have heard complaints that the reading the desk could
not be heard and have very often had occasion make
that complaint myself; hut the difficulty is the desk
of the Secretary but has grown of the practice which
practice has itself grown up since the of
experience in this body of admitting all sorts Of foksifI
may that expressionupon this floor IL is the
fusion produced by Introduction of persons who
business here that has produced the whole of
complaint.
would repeat the question here which has been asked
before What necessity is there for acting now What
duties would this clerk have peorm Is there any
deficiency in the force employed the Sscretarys desk
nowl IL seems to me 1t would be waste Of the public
money appoint elefk this time--s reading clerk
whose salary would from th ill the first Mon
day December next during which period he would have
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair would beg
suggest the honorable that the Of
the resolution has modified 1t in such way that the
clerk would upon his duties I'LL the session.
1 MIR. ADAMS And the Secretary viii, of course, have
until the session TO make his selection.
Il Mr. PHELPS. Then have only say that think the
next Congress take Of their affairs without
assistance at this late period Of this session. Indeed
may well speak plainly upon this subject can but
gard this movement increase the patronage OF this
body. As to the selection which is be made
TESS that reminded Of what done by pre-
siding officer of meeting the State Of Rhode
Island believe, which meeting convened for the pur-
pose of eeetng member of legislature Of that State
There Tom Hazard who had represented that
town for many years until his re-eeilon had become
matter Of The presiding officer opened the
ing and then called upon the people ITO bring their
for Tom Hazard for town representative" Lhughter]
II Mr. BR0DHEAD called for the reading of the amend
ment modified, and II accordingly read, as follows;
Rsoped That the Secretary of the Senate be authorized
10 employ clerk who shall, under his direction read at
the delk Of the Secretary and discharge such other duties
the Secretary may assign and who shall receive the
compensation the chief clerk of the Senate the compen
sstion with the first day Of the
sion
objection this resolution other than would do might
do great INJUSTICE the corps Of clerks now have
agree with those gentlemen who against this bringing in
Of to rank clerks. do not agree with my
colleague, Mr.. DOUGLAS that the reading have
bad Indifferent On the contrary, when contrast the
reading with the reading the House OF Representa-
lives, say that think have excellent reading.
There they have bawng and shouting, but here rave
reading; clerk reads like a gentleman should have
hesitation however, voting for something of this kind
were not thai by adopting this resoIu
ton present chief clerk Of the faithful Off
OF this body would be superseded by the clerk
Mr.. ADAMS. Not at all.
Mr. SHIELDS. Will this new clerk be placed above
| the one have
Mr., ADAMS. He will not
Mr.. WALKER. That must be the effect of this resolu-
| ton. at any rate.
Mr.. SHIELDS. think mysolf that would be the effect
Of this resolution and that would be doing injustice. We
oil know that present clerk has discharged his duties
faithfully and to the satisfaction Of all only here, but
elsewhere lie has performed amount Of labor that,
when come look it, almost astonishes Every