The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, Fourth Congress, Second Session Page: 1,525
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1525 HISTORY OF CONGRESS.____________1526
December, 1796.] Proceedings. [Senate,
Monday, December 19.
A message from the House of Representatives
informed the Senate that they have appointed a
joint committee, on their part, for enrolled bills,
and request the appointment of a joint committee
on the part of the Senate.
Ordered, That Mr. Stockton be of the joint
committee for enrolled bills on the part of the
Senate.
Tuesday, December 20.
The Vice President communicated to the Se-
nate a Letter from the Secretary for the Depart-
ment of State, with a report from the Director of
the Mint; which were read, and ordered to lie
on the table.
ALLOWANCES TO CLERKS OF THE SE-
NATE.
Mr. Tracy, from the committee appointed on
the 13th instant, on the motion for an extra al-
lowance to the principal and engrossing clerks in
the office of the Secretary of the Senate, reported :
"That, on the 5th day of February, 1796, an act
passed appropriating eleven thousand five hundred dol-
lars ' for expenses of fire-wood, stationery, printing work,
and all other contingent expenses of the two Houses
of Congress, for the year 1796.' They find that the
Senate directed the two dooorkeepers of the Senate to
be paid out of the contingent fund, for their services
during the session of June, 1795 ; and that, at the close
of the last session, the House of Representatives direct-
ed one hundred dollars each, to be paid out of the con-
tingent fund, to two of the clerks in Mr. Beckley's
office, for their extra services. There is no other in-
stance, since the commencement of the Government,
of clerks receiving allowances out of the contingent
fund.
" The committee find several instances of both Houses
having allowed their doorkeepers extra sums out of this
fund.
" The principal clerk is allowed by law three dollars
per diem, and the engrossing clerk two, during the ses-
sion. This sum, the committee do not hesitate to say,
ought to have been increased for the last session, espe-
cially as Mr. Beckley's clerks actually received one hun-
dred dollars each, in addition, for the same period, and
similar services.
" The laws of the United States have stated the
sums, from time to time, which were thought proper to
give the clerks and doorkeepers, and the sums are paid
quarterly out of the Treasury ; and the accounting offi-
cers of the Treasury have paid the extra sums of one
hundred dollars each, to Mr. Beckley's clerks, suppos-
ing themselves authorized by the resolution of the House
of Representatives.
" The words of the Constitution, on the subject of
drawing money out of the Treasury, are as follows, viz :
" ' No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but
in consequence of appropriations made by law; and a
regular statement and account of the receipts and ex-
penditures of all public money shall be published from
time to time.'
" The committee are of opinion that payment for all
such services as can properly be specified, and of
course become objects of a law, ought to be made out
of the Treasury, by virtue of a direct and specific ap-
propriation made by law, and not otherwise; and that
no appropriations ought to be made out of the contin-
gent fund, but for such services and necessary articles
of expenditure as, in their own nature, are contingent,
and cannot, with any propriety, become the objects of
an antecedent law.
" And although they are of opinion that it might be
well to appropriate by law the sum of one hundred dol-
lars each, to the clerks mentioned in the resolution re-
ferred to their consideration ; yet, they are fully of opin-
ion it would be improper to direct the payment of that
sum out of the contingent fund.
" They, therefore, report it as their opinion that it
will be improper for the Senate to adopt the resolution."
The report was read, and ordered to be printed
for the u-*e of the Senate.
Mr. Tracy notified the Senate that he should,
to-morrow, ask permission to introduce a bill for
granting to the principal and engrossing clerks in
the office of the Secretary of the Senate, each
one hundred dollars, in addition to the compensa-
tion allowed by law, ior extra services during the
last year.
Wednesday. December 21.
Theodore Sedgwick, appointed a Senator by
the State of Massachusetts, in place of Caleb
Strong, resigned, attended, produced his creden-
tials, and the oath required by Jaw being admin-
istered to him, he took his seat in the Senate.
Conformably to notice given yesterday, Mr.
Tracy had permission to introduce a bill lot
granting an extra allowance to the clerks in the
office of the Secretary of the Senate ; which bill
was read the first time, and ordered to a second
reading.
Thursday, December 22.
The Vice President communicated a Letter
from the Secretary for the Department of the
Treasury, accompanying statements of tonnage
and imports for one year preceding tlie first of
October, 1795; which were read, and ordered to
lie on the table.
The bill for granting an extra allowance to the
clerks in the office of the Secretary of the Senate,
was read the second time; and,being amended,it
was, by unanimous consent, read the third time.
Resolved, That this bill pass; that it be en-
grossed ; and that the title thereof be " An act for
granting an additional allowance to the clerks in
the office of the Secretary of the Senate."
Friday, December 23.
The Senate assembled, but transacted no bu-
siness.
Monday, December 26.
Ordered, That Messrs. Blount, Read, and
Sedgwick, be a committee to report a bill giving
effect to the laws of the United States within the
State of Tennessee.
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Gales, Joseph, 1761-1841. The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, Fourth Congress, Second Session, book, 1849; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc29470/m1/7/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.