The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-03

the Offices of this House. you will see that they have
nearly become sinecures They hold the Offices but have
Others to do the work Look at the clerks Office where
the report made in ls42 provided for eight clerks at 500
higher salaries Then sir messenger, at two dollars
day has grown and magned into clerk TO take charge
Of the stationery at salary of 81 800 year-how,
know not whether under the action of the Committee OF
Accounts or of the Speaker Of the cerkhe has
fitted up fancy store with show csses in which fancy
cles exhibited for sale to the members OF this House.
Again. sir: up to a few years ago within my recollec-
ton you had messenger in charge of the House Library
receiving 81 50a day during the session. and now you
have librarian at ST. 800 year. and discount when
Congress is not in session. and he has messenger to at
tend the orders Of members for books and documents
And them sir go down 10 where the documents folded
But few years ago you had messenger there attend
to that business. Now 1t has grown into department.
with superintendent at salary OF $780, with clerks
and messengers, and with books regularly opened and
kept in large commission business house
Of your importing cities with some forty fifty, sixty
messengers folders and employees each Of whom under
these annual compensation resolutions receives two hum
dred and fifty or two hundred dollars extra.
Then look in and around this hall You have two door
keepers there you go to the post Office believe there
are generally two stationed there-wo big stout able
bodied to pull one half Of the door open and
pull the other hall open, LaughteEI Go to that other
door, leading to the OF the Speaker and sergeanta
There two stout ablebodied men, each to
open half of the doornot it would me, to de-
termine who entitled and to admit those who have
to this hail. but TO let in everybody that and
asks admission And at the centre door, the Lord knows
how many able-bodied dookeepers there for have
never been able to ascertain Renewed laugherl Then
back Of the Speakers chair you have two or three
gers to fold papers for members while the House is in
son and to eech door leading to the ladies' gallery you
have messengers stationed all in the receipt Of
this $3.50 each extra under these compensation resou
tions. "a ~. 81
Two other messengers from per den, compensation OF
w 80 each have grown, in few years. one to clerk in
charge OF books to members and the other into reading
cerk--at salaries OF 81 ,800 49, t.f s.
Then look into the ofce Of the sergeant where
uspAth SAL IF ole
annual compensation is ST. a00who draws the checks for
the members pay and keeps the books of the ocea
senger with fixed salary of 200 to 90 the treasury
get the money and bring 1t here for the members and in
addition page at to dollars per day to wait the head
OF the office suppose who Is pretty well relieved from
all duty or service except that OF receiving his salary and
occasional summons arrest of absent member
rccusant witness for each arrest believe he
receives fee Of two dollars and mileage if out of the city
or at least travelling expenses
In the House post office similar provision has been made
in tho way of increasing compensation. As already
stated the salary OF the House postmaster has been in
creased from $500 So l60 and the five or six messen
gers in his office, whose compensation four Ave years
ago was but $2 80 day and that during the sessions of
Congress, if mistake not have permanent and Rx-
ed salary of Per annum. All interested in the
passage OF these resolutions passed in
disregard Of the express rules of the House. and in viola
ton of positive law Since my service commenced here
the sergeantatarms ATTENDED TO the duties Of the Office in
person He drew the drafts for the members pay and
kept the books and had messenger to go after money
Thus sir you have increased the number compensa
ton of your employees; and suppose that il this law
pass to have another exra-compensaton resolu
ton for the benefit Of the whole of them the close of
this session would ask my friends to pause and to con
slider what they doing 1t made the duty OF your
controlling and accounting officer execute The law
to scrunze every act and every requson for money
the treasury of the United States aud that is clear
and certain that is law and that he is authorized to pay
the money required,
Now what is the proper mode of action IL the comptro
Ter has done wrong or if the accounting officers have fallen
into error2 1t does seem me that this is such an
error should be rebuked by the Congress Of the United
II. Ia bn cOmm dpd
has the power to all the doubts of the comp
roer You can just as easily pass law increasing the
salaries OF clerks and officers and all the employees
of the House to the amount of twenty per cent to Gay
or one hundred cent specifying what s and saying
that money for that purpose appropriated out of the
treasury to pay it. Do So and there will be question
about the payment If you will Ak the salary of your
clerk at $bo oOo and SO place on the statuehook my
word for it, that whom au appropriation made and the
requisop to the Treasury Department. will be paid
without any trouble But what is to be the effect of this
bi2 AS said before there has not been which
am aware Of within the whole history of the
where any accounting officer has refused rejected the
clerks voucher when certified by the Committee Ac-
counts,
Again. sir this thing of paying the regular c,nnpensa
ton of your clerk and your officers is contingency
contingency of the House such ting cannot be
h cannot be specifically appropriated for in
stance contingencies are e repair Of desks and cbairs
TOR taking up tha serpes-pehaPs for supplying their
aces WIN others at long sessions for clerks TO your
ittees for limited time for the expenses attending
your investigating committees and for thousand other
tnings whlch cannot be enumerated-which cannot be
fcgeseen
But here have Offices es ablished by law and
provide for the payment of their incumbents by law Will
It be contended by gentlemen this floor that this
House cam by simple resolution increase the compensa
ton of the President of all the heads of departments
and of all the officers civil military naval and dplo
matte and then pay the increased compensation out
OF the contingent fund of the HOuse2 Now 1t happens
that this resolution of the 18th of August 1885, not
fined to the officers and employees of this House. but
those employed in the Office of the Superintendent OF
Public Printing Now, the Superintendent of Public
Printing is officer of the government and not of the
House. His Office is created by law. His salary fixed by
law at So year and he appointed by the President
by and with the advice and of the Senate Then
give extra compensation under the resolution OF
the House persons in that Office where ask is the limit
prevent you from applying the principle every other
Office in the country II the salary Of these officers not
sufficient increase it by law. say here that believe the
compensaons of the officers and employees about this
House good as BETTER perhaps than those paid
for similar services in any other branch of the
give your fourthclass hghest grade clerks in the
tive departments in this cymsn who required to be
at their duties all the round But Congress will de-
termne that their compensation is not enough, let 1t be
fixed by law; and for one whatever may be my opinion
about the law, will the appropriation to pay it, no
matter at what figure Congress may fix IT,
But sir, there is amendment proposed to the bill
which does not amount to much From March until next
December the clerk could settle his accounts at all be
there would be Committee Accounts to certify
to his disbursements None sir What is to be the effect
The House may get sort of indefinite appopria
ton for the contingent fund of the House My friend from
Virginia Mr. LnrcHER has amendment to move, that
nothing this shall be construed to authorize payment
for any books The members compensation bill of last