Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-07-07
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

An IMPORTANT DECISION. The public are
aware that for some years past the majority of
The House OF Representatives and the Comp
trOller vi the Treasury have been at logger
heads, as 1t were, relative to the power of the
former over their own contingent fund: leading
to dlsdgreeable misunderstanding at times be-
tween Comptroller Whittlesey and officers and
the Committee OF Accounts Of the House In
nearly every case the latter have carried the
point for which they contended for the time
beng 1t seems that the head Of the Treasury
department has recently devoted some time TO
the consideration of the law points involved in
these lnterminable disputes, and has made a
decision based on the law Of 1915, which de-
claTcs that
- No part Of the appropriation which may be
HSu" loi the contingent expenses of either House
OF Congress shall lie applied to any nth her Than
The ordinary expenditures oil the Senate and House.
OF Representatives respectively nor as extra al
I"wimce 10 any clerk messenger, or attendant of
thr Sdid TWO Houses, or either Of them, nor Is
pay IHent Or compensation TO any clerk InrsSen-
ger, or other attendant emDloyed by a resoIu-
non OF oIe "i sad Houses, nor in the purchase OF
books 10 be distributed To members -
nder this provision Of law, we hear. no fur
Their payment will be made from the Treasury
Oh the order of one House Of Congress. without
the concurrence Of the other. The embarrass-
ments that may grow out Of this requirement
will probably be obviated by action of Congress
u soon as they next come together. In the
meanwhile the Secretary is to be applauded no
less for the frmness with which he has directed
adherence to the clear letter of the law Of 1915.
than Tor the earnestness with which he has de-
voted himself to the task Of unraveling the
knotty difficulty involved in the question, He
Is very clear-headed man, az well az emnbat.
ically a practical business man, as is evident
throughout his share Of this matter. No tvo
qualiues are more important in the discharge
Of the public duties devolved ON him.
HE NEW COLLECTOR OF THE PoRr or Nrw
YORK.-With the exception of n few ioprnols
incapable OF seeing any thing whatever deserv-
Ing commentator in political opponent, the
press Of the city Of New York and ADJOINING
country freely EXPRESS confidence that Mr.,
collector Sehell's administration of the affairs
OF the New York Custom House, is destined N
De happy one for the public interest, and in
all other respects most successful one That
the Stars readers may comprehend that thew
nave substantial reasons for coming to this con-
eiusion, we quote the following brief paragraph
from the Corner aUd Enquirer, Of Saturday
last, that journal being, all know, politically.
as emphatically opposed to the Democracy as
any other in the land:
" The new Collector has fairly entered unou Iis
duties, and brings 10 his Office the good will and
wishes OF the solid men of all parties. who are
GcJO'"ed 10 see that department again i'm the hand
OF gentleman who is identified by residence in
ieIestS; ana business pursuits with this metr0Do-
Iis- hI. Schtll ) knowledge as LAWYER and his
IdmlIidrlty with local affairs render him entireI,,
rUlliPetehl 10 discharge his responsible duties
relying upon his own judgment and exn.rianr,'
without depending upon outside md i,a-ol'Ci
advisers, who under other Circumference 90 o.
seek ana obtain their own ends witLout 80 -
tOthe consequences suffered by the we'll ,naai
Oncldl, who bears the responsibility Tha ,nas
chants VIII be certain to find in Mr. ScbeII a Ii
position 10 promote their convenience h,, Us
means consistent with his obligations IN 10y
Inenti and We are glad 10 know that the Secre,,n,
OF The Treasury has paid him the deserved 60
PIin.rnt OF leaving much 10 his discrefion H.,
has hitherto been the subject Of arbitrary denaTt
mental RUE. MI Schell has appointed as his pri-
Vate secretary, Mr.. Gideon }. Tucker an occdp,n
News. ''' D"iiy
The ART AssOCIATIoy.-Tbi So conmona
able institution Of this city have made prepara.
tlons to commence the erection of fine exb;-
bitiOn hall on the north side of PennsvIvanio
avenue, near the corner of Thirteenth street =
alOcation Of all others best suited for their mr.
poses They require in all $500 for the
object and propose to raise it as far rs poss;bla
by private subscription. Already 500 have