The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-05
SPEECH OF HON. HOWELL COBB,

SPEECH OF HON. HOWELL COBB,
On the contingent expenses of Congress delivered in the
House Of Representatives January Fl, 1857.
Mr. COBe OF Georgia. have not very much TO say in
reference this bill but what have say propose to
address 70 the House. in order that they act upon this
bill in reference to the true question involved in it.
have listened with interest may say with pleasure 10
large portion Of the speech Of my friend from
and agree most fully and cordially with more than two
thirds Of that speech Therefore the House win not expect
TO reply to the arguments which be has made upon
those branches Of the question where We agree.
Let understand clearly aud distinctly the issue pre-
scented by this bill in order that IN voting for or against
it. we may pass Judgment upon the bill, and not upon
other question: Ny friend from Tennessee has endeav
ored TO show that under the existing law 1t IS wrong Tor
this House TO pass resolution giving extra compensation
to its clerks or other employees and the burden Of his
gument to sustain that proposition concur with
him fully and cordially have voted, on all ocea
sions against this compensation think the House
ought not adopt such resolutions think, with my
friend from Tennessee that you ought TO fix by law the
compensation Of your officers and that those engaged in
duties about this and the Senate chambers ought like all
other officers of the government TO receive the compensa
ton provided for by law-no more, no less
Then sir the House will that il does not seyolye
upon me to the argument of my friend from Tennes
upon that point He says that the difficulty which
gave rise TO this bill originated in Of these resolutions
That may be and before proceed TO argue what con-
ceive to be the bill before the House will dispose of that
branch OF the argument for do fully with the
gentleman In his views upon that subject The House
passed resolution giving extra compensation 10 the en-
ployees about the House. Ii the question had stopped
there, much Of the argument made by my friend would
have been applicable the But the House subse
queny in conjunction with the aud the executive
department passed law One law is binding an
other If one law prevented extra compensation being
voted the employees of the House the power which passed
that law being Congress and the Executive couli Iass
other law which would repeal by its provisions the first
law and authorize the payments and, accordingly, this
amount which voted by resolution and which per-
haps might not AMI ought not to have been paid under
the provisions of that resolution expressly provided
for in the act of the 30th Of June 1885, which made in
definite appropriation to enable the Clerk of the House TO
pay the additional compensation to its employees and 9TH
era authorized by the resolution of August l5 1856:
"a sufficient for that purpose hereby appropriated
ted and hereby added to the contingent fund OF the
House Of Representatives"
] that under that act passed with all the formay
of the former joint resolutions and of Congress they
were entitled legal question: to receive this additional
compensation.
this Comptroller of the Treasury but he mistaken h
he alleges those who defend his mistaken
when they aege that this is the first which has been
presented 10 him under the act of 1854 Numerous claims
have been paid under the provisions OF the act 10 which
my friend from Tennessee referred But he ssys that this
Comptroller paid them On account of precedents which
had existed but that whea the act of Goth july 1854
passed the Comptroller ceased pay these resolutions
giving extra compensation But the gentleman win 6nd
by turning journals of this House. and the
of your Clerk that the 2sth of july Immediately after
the passage of this act the Clerk Of this House d.
rected by resolution, pay Thomas j. Gait supern
tendent Of the folding ROOM the paid the
Librarian OF the House. to commence the LIST day of
July, 1853.
On the day another resolution was passed directing
the Clerk of this House pay Samuel H. Lamborn
perintendent of the House document the per
diem compensation then paid the messenger
the Speaker, commencing at the of that
Congress and to continue till otherwise ordered by the
House The amounts ordered by those resolutions have
been paid in the teeth of the law of the Goth of july 1854
under which the Comptroller refuses to pay the present
claim the clerks under the resolution of this Congress
In addition to that this Congress at the commencement
OF last session, passed resolution of similar character
You will recoect that we time in organizing
the House The Clerk Of the House discharged his duties
with much ability and fairness and satisfactorily to
the House. that they voted him additional compensation
for those services and that additional compensation
allowed and paid by this Comptroller in the teeth of the
law of the goth Of july 1854 under which he ustfes
himself in refusing to pay this claim.
say therefore, that this is the that has arisen
Why it is that the construction put by the Comp
troer on bis duties is made TO apply not resolution
passed by the House, but passed by Congress
TO carry out the provisions of that resolution when he has
allowed the compensation her cofore under that simple
oution for the Comptroller and his friends explain
confess cannot understand il.
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee. With the permission of the
gentleman from Georgia, will say that fancy he will
find examination that Mr.. Gait who in charge of
the foldngroom, and Mr. Lamborn who messenger in
the joint resolution of 1854 that they did receive the
benefit lit; and consequently that that does not APP
plys
Mr.. COBB of Georgia. What has my friend to say to
the last casethat of Colonel Foney, the Clerk of the
House2 He occupied the position which present
Clerk of the House occupies Nj JONES made response
Now sir want full justice done to this Comptroller b.
leve be has been faithful capable and efficient officer of
the government But when be manests great anxi
ETY. on the subject and takes upon himself to lecture this
House. not only in regard to its action in providing
ment for Its officers but in regard your providing
compensation for yourselves think that the House of Rep
Tsenatves has not yet sunk low that member of the
House may not be permitted to review the action of the
First Comptroller of the Treasury.
Now sir this dposes of the able argument of my friend
from Tennessee because agree with him in of his
remarks say with him, "et these resolutions for
compensation cease let these resolutions for distribution
of books Vote yourselves the salary which you
TO which they entitled and let the law stand and be
executed and enforced" stand with him up to that point
of his argument r. '~.
But the gentleman proceeds step further and there
we differ and differ widely. What is this bill which has
given rise TO this long review OF the action of the House
this subect Is there word in it in reference
compensation Is there word in il in reference the
employees of the House2 beg Mr. Speaker 10 read the
short and simple provisions OF this bill in order that may
bring to the mind OF the House clearly and distinctly my
reasons for giving it my cordial support:
The bill, as we propose to pass il, provides:
That all moneys appropriated for contingent
OF the Senate or House OF Representatives shall be dbured
by the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House.
specvey accounts which shall have been examined and
Y the committee appointed for such by
respective houses and certified by the chairman of such
committee, and not otherwise and such accounts when
approved and certified shall be admitted and by the
accounting officers of the treasury.
The simple provision of the bill is that the House and
senate shall have the entire and absolute control over the
disbursement of their contingent funds does provide
Tor this in all its length and breadthnothng more moth
ing less stand here to justify that provision NY friend