The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, Fifth Congress, [Second Session] Page: 1,317
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1317 HISTORY OF CONGRESS. * 1318
March, 1798.] ____________________ Military Appropriations. [H. ofR.
additional temporary agents to trade with the
Indians.
Mr. Gallatin moved to strike out this article.
He thought there was as many agents already as
were useful; besides, the law confined the expense
in this respect to $15,000, so that if these addi-
tional agents were to be provided, it must be by
a supplementary law.
Mr. Harpjsr said, whether two additional agents
are necessary or not, is mere matter of opinion,
and he was inclined to take the opinion of the
President and Secretary of War, before that of
the gentleman from Pennsylvania. Mr. H. in-
sisted upon the President's right to appoint more
agents, if he thought them necessary.
The motion to strike out was carried—34 to 29.
Mr. Harper moved an additional item of
100,000 rations at ten cents, under the head of
the Indian Department, for the use of the In-
dians who visit the posts, which was negatived—
28 to 27.
The item of $169,000 for cannon and arms,
was agreed to be omitted, and considered in the
bill which relates to the purchasing of foundries.
Mr. Harper'then proposed two additional items
to make good the deficiencies of last year, which
were agreed to in blank.
The committee then rose, and the House took
up the amendments reported by the committee.
All were agreed to until the Quartermaster's
Department came under consideration, when
Mr. Gallatin moved to strike out $200,000,
for' the purpose of inserting $150,000. A great
part of this expense was incurred in transporting
our troops from one place to another, and now
they were stationed, he thought the sum he had
mentioned would be very ample. Indeed, he
should not have been in favor of so large a sum,
only that some vessels would be necessary to be
built on the Lakes.
Mr. Harper said, this appropriation was in-
cluded last year along with the Indian Depart-
ment, defensive protection, bounties, &c, for
which $300,000 were appropriated, and they
found there was a deficiency of $50,000. He
could not say under what head this deficiency
arose, but it was chiefly under that of Quarter-
master's Department. As the estimate was
$200,000, he hoped that sum would be agreed to,
as the Secretary of War was more likely to know
what was necessary than any gentleman in that
House could be.
Mr. Gallatin contended, that on a comparison
with the expenses of former years, the sum he
proposed was quite large enough. The deficiency
of last year of $50,000, which the gentleman had
mentioned, ought not to have taken place. The
Secretary of War was not justified in expending
more in these contingencies than was appropria-
ted, (except in case of necessity,) otherwise the
Secretary of War, and not Congress, regulated
the expenditure of money. It would be necessary
to inquire into this business, and except some
pressing necessity could be shown for going be-
yond the appropriation, he should consider the
Secretary of War as highly blameable for having
done so, as the appropriation is the only check
which the Legislature has over the contingent
expenses.
Mr. J. Williams agreed with the gentleman
from Pennsylvania that the expenses of the Quar-
termaster's Department ought not to be so large
now, that our troops are stationary, as heretofore;
but he thought these objections ought to have
been made in Committee of the Whole; and if
there existed doubts as to'the justness of the ac-
counts in this business, the report had better be
recommitted until they were examined, as the
two gentlemen of the Committee of Ways and
Means seemed to differ so widely.
It being past the usual hour for adjournment, a
motion was made to adjourn, and carred—so the
question on this point was not taken.
Tuesday, March 27.
The bill from the Senate for an amicable set-
tlement of limits with the State of Georgia, was
passed with amendments.
Mr. Sewall moved for the order of the day on
the bill from the Senate to authorize the Presi-
dent to purchase one or more foundries.
EMBEZZLEMENT OF WAGES.
Mr. D. Foster, from the Committee of Claims,
proposed a resolution to the House to the follow-
ing effect, which was ordered to lie on the table :
Resolved, That the accounting officers of the Trea-
sury be, and they are hereby, directed to adjust and
settle the accounts for wages of those non-commis-
sioned officers and soldiers in the iate 4th Massachu-
setts regiment on the continental establishment, whose
certificates were delivered to agents in pursuance of an
act of Congress, and which shall be found to have been
embezzled by them, and who consequently remain un-
paid for their services; and all such sums which shall
be allowed to such officers and soldiers shall be charged
to the account of the agents by whom they were em-
bezzled.
EXCHANGE NEWSPAPERS.
The Speaker laid before the House a report of
the Assistant Postmaster General on the petition
of the printers of the Baltimore newspapers. The
report states that the irregularities complained of
are much exaggerated ; that there were a few
instances of delay during the winter, on account
of the obstructed state of the ferry over the Sus-
quehannah, for which the contractors have not-
withstanding been called to account. The report
also states that the great number of exchange
papers which pass between the printers of news-
papers is very troublesome; it mentions that there
are fifteen newspapers printed in this city, the
printers of which receive 1,000 papers in a week,
and supposing Philadelphia to receive one-ninth
part of all the exchange papers which pass through
the post office, it makes the number about 9.000 a
week, many of which it is believed are of little
use. and are never read by the printers who re-
ceive them. The report suggests, therefore, the
propriety of either withdrawing this privilege
I altogether, or limiting the number of papers to be
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Gales, Joseph, 1761-1841. The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, Fifth Congress, [Second Session], book, 1851; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc29472/m1/53/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.