The Washington union., 1858-03-02

have some legislation upon the subject now under consid
eaton and to fix and deterine the compensation of the
employees In and about the building The bill reported
by the committee liberal both to the number Of
employees and their compensation and he believed they
could obtain quite competent officers under 1t rs they
had.
the bill fixing the salary Of the Clerk OF the House at
$3 600 the salary of the chief clerk the Journal clerk
and Others at SO 500 each the reading clerk and his AS
ssants at 81. 30 each nine assistant clerks, each ~
$50 chief messenger In the Clerks Office ST. 500 mes
senger of the library 81 500 five assistant messengers,
each 81 200 aborer at $780, and one at 5000 per
annum two labores at $50 each per month during the
session the Doorkeeper 81 100 his assistant 81 100
five messengers each 81 500 fifteen messengers each
81 200 superintendent of the document room and his
assistants, each 81 750 superintendent Of the folding
room, 81 800 his assistant 81 500 four laboers each
$500 four at $50 per month and twenty pages ut ~
per day the messengers Of the House during the recess
to perform labor in the folding the postmaster OF
the House, 81 l60 his assistant, 81 1850 four messen
gers, each 81 500 three mail boys each $500 and two
mail boys each $50 per month two clerks each 81 800
to continue the alphabetical index of private claims
and that the Doorkeeer be authorized to employ not to
exceed wentyf men in the folding under the
direction of the Committee Accounts at compensa
ton of 81 so per day and to be allowed sufficient COM
pensaion for sending messages and dispatches the
sengers keep caryall and horse Mt 81 per day He
moved that the bill be referred to the Committee Of the
Whole on the state of the Union.
Mr. SMITH of Illinois, said he would go far any
gentleman in reducing the expenses Of the government
but would not with reducing the pay Of the
clerks and messengers around the hall.
Mr.. NICHOLS of Ohio remarked that the bill limited
its effect to the employed about the House, and
reached nowhere else If they desired to cut down the
salaries the motion which had been made to refer the
bill to the Committee Of the Whole the state of the
Union the proper one, and let it come from that
committee affecting all who receive salaries from the gov
eminent.
Mr. HASKIN Of New York, proposed to amend the
bill by repeating the recent compensation act for the
members of Congress- and restoring the eight dollars
diem compensation.
The SPEAKER decided that the amendment could not
be received pending the motion to commit the bill.
Mr. SMITH of Virginia. advocated the passage of the
BILL and deprecated the effort to kill it by attaching
irrelevant amendments.
bill be recommitted to the Committee Accounts, with
instructions to report how many clerks door and
other employees employed, and what compensa
| ton is paid to them.
| Mr. SMITH, Of Tennessee, said he had taken the
trouble investigate the amount which the passage
the bill would the government, and found that
would probably be $4,000 In his opinion, the bill
| should go to the Committee of the Whole.
Mr. STANTON, of Ohio expressed himself in favor OF
the bill He not the to oppose measure that
would effect needful reform because it did not meet hi
views in every particular. He demanded the previous
question pending which
| Mr. FLORENCE of Pennsylvania, moved that the
| House adjourn which motion agreed to--ayes 81
| noes 40.
And then, at rs minutes Of o'clock p. m, the House
| adjourned