The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-01-22
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Depsrtmens he was sometimes absent from sickness or
other so who performed the duties Of chief clerk
ON all such Was paid for those ser
vices and II go whom and what amount did he receive
Is not such substitute Of Mr. Dckns entitled TO the pay
for the services thus rendered upon every principle on
which the claim of Mr. Dickins ressf And then besides
would like to know whether Mr. Dckn5 has at any time
made reduction from his salary as chief clerk when be
absent from the duties Of his desk and when those du
ties were performed by another personf A
But my friend says introduced bill for the relief OF
William Carey Jones for services rendered in California
did not introduce the bill.
Mr. HAVEN The gentleman viii pardon me. simply
stated that believed Ire moved reconsideration, in or
der to bring the bill back before the House.
Mr.. LETOHER. No, sir. The gentleman irom Alabama
mr. CoBBl moved the reconsideration; but voted for
that b and will do the thing again under like cir
cumstances Let as zee what the facts regard to
that The heads OF departments Of the government
by the advice and Of the President appre
bend, ascertsniIg when portion OF Mexico became
part OF this goverrrrnt that there was an imperfect
knowledge in regard the land titles or ss to the man
in Which her grants of lands had previously been
made the absence of all knowledge of that country
then about to become Incorporated into the uni
ted States and necessity existing for private knowl
edge and Congress not being in session. appointed Mr.
William Carey Jones to go to California upon an assur-
ing the necessary information in regard to the grants made
by the several which preceded ours He col
eced that information and they promised to bring his
to the attention of Congress for such compensation
might be deemed proper. 1t was SO brought and a
compensation was allowed for the services rendered
He held Office 1t was nothing more then temporary
position of confidence and trust II my friend from New
York will take the trouble TO look at the correspondence
upon that subject between Mr. Battlefield and the head Of
the Interior Department he will find that the object of that
mission 10 collect information and furnish it to the
government Now, see sort of analogy between that
and the under consideration Mr. Jones held no
oil &c under this government and had no connection with
tin any way the world until this relation OF confidence
and trust established between him and the govern
ment for this special purpose alone
But this bill is only the pioneer of oEg train that
to follow. There two others Immediately upon the
heels Of on the private the case OF Michael
Nourse and the bill for the relief of Mr. Robb and there
others under consideration before the appropriate
mttees Iit is bcsome settled practice that
receive double compensation for double services you will
find before long that the number will multiply to very
serious extent And then besides ths while those par
Tics performing the duties OF the higher ocehat of
Secretary of State or Secretary of the Treasurywho is
performing the duties of the chief clerkship who is per-
forming the duties Immediately below him and on,
regularly going down through all the grades all of whose
duties may have been changed for the time being In order
have rendered.
1t strikes that the Secretary of State or Secretary Of
the Treasury at period Of time from 1929 to the pres
ent day, would have much he could discharge with
out the duties of chief clerk annexed TO IL.
Mr. SIMMONS. see in this bill provision for the pay
ment OF small amount some $780, for services chief
clerk 1t assumes to the time that when no
was performing services in the higher capacity. What
want to know Is whether this intended to pay him
clerk when he no. performing any Of these other du
ties And again. whether he has been paid chief clerk
during all the time covered BY this bill |?
Mr.. LETCHER. Unquesuonably he was for there
an annual appropriation to the salaries of clerks under
Mr.. SIMMONS would ask another question whether
che committees do right in recommending that the bill be
mot passed Why not deduct what has been paid for
nominal services inferior officer Of the compen-
sation that he Is in equity entitled to for whit he did
superior officer am much opposed to double com
pensaton as the gentleman be- but am In favor of
single compensation for services actually rendered
Mr. LETCHER Then suppose, as a matter Of course
dering the services chief clerk while Mr. Dickins was
occupying the higher PLACES and then following that he
would pay the next neror clerk performing the duties q
the chief clerk and 30 causing change in the clerk
ships all the way down through the department
Mr. SIMMONS. That would be IL we allowed double
salaries.
Nh. LErCHER. The Secretary of State was paid during
a the tine and row you would pay another Secretary Of
State for dendcally the time But desire to know
from the gentleman whether be is for carrying this thing
All the way out or whether he will take of the big
FISH, and leave the minnows look out for themselves
Are You for taking of the chief clerk of the Treasury
Department and then leave all the subordinate clerks
where they have performed other services get along as
bes. they can Win he give them only their regular pay
wRe nc VIII assign increased pay to chief clerks Other
isgood for the one ought to be eoand rule for the
othetha II they can get payment for the performance OF
for the performance Of the duties attaching to the lower
grade OF clerks ought also to be decreed,
But them again. does not the gentleman know that when
inns chief cerkshp was conferred It conferred on Mr.
Dcns with the full knowledge on his part Of the duties
incident to the posons Did he not know and had he
not right to expect inat during the period Of that SER
n
hgner class to be devoved upon him either by the sick
ness or temporary disability of the head of the department
himself?
And then, besides all thisw when you naugurate This
principle here you have to 60 back and grant the like
measure OF relief to the subordinate clerks Many of
those who would be entitled under II are dead and You
would have to hunt up their heirs md apporon
them the sum due TO their ancestor for his extra duties
while 10 ONCE They are to be brought here and this
tmng 10 DC carried regularly down through system
OF grauauon Until 1t embraces all the parties who were in
any way affected by the principle which you propose to es
taolsl by the passage Of this bill.
MIR. SIMMONS (nterruptiug) The gentleman will I'M
he ceased to perform the duties Of Vice President He was
only acting President but he entitled to the $4,000
per annum So on the principle the claimant is enti
tied to compensation for the duty actually performed in
tho higher position and not for that of the inferior one
Mr. LETCHER Unfortunately for my friends ustrs-
ton, is not seesnw like the present Mr. Tyler
dd not 60 into the presidency and two days. and
months He not shifting back and forth from one to
the other position But he went into the presidency in
obedience to the provision Of the constitution, which, in
the absence death Of the President devoves the pres
Dental duties him. And when Mr. Tyler went into the
presidency his compensation President began and his
compensation Vice President ended and nobody receiv
ed the latter compensation until the Senate of the United
States elected Vice President who stepped into his shoes
Mr.. SIMMONS. Does the gentleman say that Mr. Tyler
went in ne President?
Nr. LETCHER. say he went in as President and you
ought to be very much graed at it, for have doubt
you helped to place him in position where he might in
certain contingency succeed to the presidency.
Mr. SIMMONS The constitution says that the Vice
President shall perform the duties Of President in the alb
sence disability or death of the President Suppose the
President to be sick insane tho Vice President would
have to perform the duties and that principle should