Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-03-03

fee is created by law Bis salary e x9d ~ law o. so9o
year; ana be appointed By the President o ana WIN
The advice and nseut Of the senate. Ihsa ~ YOU "a
give compensation under the resolution OF me hoass
to persons in that Office where ask Is the limit TO pre-
you from applying the principle TO every oher once
in the country? the salary Of these officers IS not sum
Client increase It by law, say here, that bells ve me
compensatiOns Of the 0ters and employees ABOUT tus
blouse good as better perhaps nan those Pala
for similar services n any other 9raneh o. tns G9se'9
ment Your clerks here have 81 500 year. That Is
what YOU give your fourth class highest gadel clerks IN
the Executive Departments in this typen woo are re.
CURED b. at their duties al the year Togn1 bnt Con
rss will determine that their compensation is not enough
let it De fixed by law and l. for one, WhaeTer may be my
opinion about the law VII vote the appropriation to pay
it, no matter at what figure Congress may TX 1t
But sir tn re amendment proposed 70 the Dill,
which does not amount to much. From Msreh until next
December the Clerk could not settle his accounts 81 all be
there would be Committee on Accounts TO certify
n his disbursements None sir What 10 be the ehsci
The House may get some sort Of indefinite epPropra
lion for The contingent fund Of the House Ny friend from
Virginia IAF. LetcheF has an amendment to move, that
nothing this shah be construed to pay ment
f0i any books The members compensation bill OF last
session provides that such books heretofore furnished TO
members shall hereafter when ordered, De PAID ca q me
cOpers sion 10 members But this bill provides that the
ceT Of your Committee Accounts shall be conclu-
sive on these very accounting officers Then sir, suppose
you pass another resolution get ilO your c1ntngeut
fund some money! TbnHt saying one HoTd ABOUT BOOKS
your CLERK makes TGquatOn on the Secretary OF the
Treasury for the contingent expenses Of the hOnse; ne
sends him $20000 the Clerk takes and pays Tor books
for MEMBERS the COMMITTEE on Accounts certify that has
been paid under the resolution Of the House, the Auditors
Office Of the sury will under this law, be bound TO
give him credit for it. He may draw another 100000 get
similar vouchers aud in obedience to the resolution Of
the House. get credit for its expenditure; and until
under indefinite appropriate for the contingent fund
your compensation law defeated far as the provision
in reference to books is Concerned
Now Mr. Speaker, 90 not place this question: and the
passage ofths bill on the Comptroller IS man. be-.
leve be honest Though he differs with me in
politics IN t2tJ still believe he honest be-
lieve be faithful officer, and endeavOrs always to dis
charge his duties lfhs has erred ia this which do not
believe he has erred the right side And would
h those upon hom similar dutgs ma degove short
time to reflect what hey will do IN the event OF the pas
sage Of this hen the Senate of the United States
adjourned Sunday she 4h Of March, S49 welt to their
quarters this city, aud assembled the next day to wit
ness the Inauguration and conrm tue nominations Of Gen
era Taylor they took Fuctve mileage for that extra
session The Secretary of The Senate paid that cOnsruc
tive mileage The Comptroller now arragre ed here refused
pay that money lie refused to give credit to the Sc.
creary for having paid that mileage as be conceived with
law ana violation Of it, and the Secretary did
get his accounts settled until 1880 when the question came
up here They then forced on an appropriation bill this
provision:
The certificates which have been or may Re granted by
the Presiding Officers Of the Senate and House OF Repre-
senRtyes respecting The amount Of compensation due to
the members Of their several Houses and to such dele
gates are and ought to be deemed, held, and TAKEN and
hereby declared to be conclusive on the Departments
and off Of the Governments Of the United States"
Congress passed that into law. Now, sir, fyOu should
certify that there $50 900 due to q member Of this
House then the clmptrOllHg officer Of toe Treasury, in
obedience to that law would have 10 give credit for
hen was paid. He is not allowed by that law to 90
back aud whether there IS any law to authorize it
And this bill pass it will be liable TO the objection
II 20 pass this bill the Clerk viii make requsItOD be
will get the money, and pay out to those the &C
counting cers Deli not entitled TO it, yet they will
have to give credit for it Now, sir, les preserve
the law Ii you did intend to increase this pay substitute
for this another that you intended include the
clerks the cers and Oher employees Of the Legislative
department ben you shall have passed that law there
viii be doubt CIf Guilty 10 granting the reQulsllOu
and setting the paid cut in pursuance OF such
Law.