Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wednesday, January 14, 1795.

Mr. Fitzsimons' resolution laid on the table some days ago, for a road being perfected between the southern and eastern states, the expense whereof to be defrayed out of the revenues of the post-office—was referred to a select committee.

Mr. Sedgwick next moved that the House should go into a committee, on the bill from the Senate, for establishing a purveyor of public supplies. If the thing was proper at all, it ought to be entered into immediately.

The House accordingly went into a committee on this subject, Mr. Cobb in the chair. Mr. Carnes wished to have some evidence that there was occasion for a purveyor of public supplies, with so large a salary as two thousand dollars;—otherwise, he should think himself obliged to vote against the proposal.

Mr. Sedgwick when the bill was first brought in, had approved of it in his own mind and on conversing with the Secretary of the Treasury, he learned, as the opinion of that gentleman, that it was an extremely economical and very necessary thing.

Mr. B. Bourne said, that there had been a message on this subject from the President, on the 11th of December last. This was accordingly read. It had enclosed, a memorial from the Secretary of the Treasury, on this establishment, which was also read.

Mr. Venable moved to alter one part of the bill, Instead of saying "under the direction and supervision of the Secretary of the Treasury;" he thought it better to say "under the direction of the Secretary at War." The supplies were for that department. Mr. Heister seconded this motion.

Mr. Fitzsimons thought the superintendence better as it stood.

Mr. Parker moved to strike out the first clause of the bill. He had objections both to the bill itself, and to the amendment suggested by the gentleman at his left hand. He thought that a naval agent should be appointed, and be responsible to the President only. The member was unwell, and so not able to speak very distinctly, or to state his reasons at full length.

Mr. Carnes thought the House had as yet too little information to decide whether the establishment was necessary or not. He believed that he should be disposed to vote with Mr. Parker, and then for a committee to enquire into the matter.

Mr. Sedgwick wished that the gentleman would not then begin by destroying the bill.

Mr. Carnes had no such design. He moved, therefore, that the committee should rise, report progress, and ask leave to sit again. This was accordingly done. But leave was not granted. The subject was referred to a select committee.

The House, on motion of Mr. W. Smith, went into a committee of the whole, in order to take into consideration the report of the select committee on a plan for discharging the national debt.

The report having been read by the Clerk. Mr. W. Smith moved that certain duties therein named should be continued, not to last, as proposed in the report of the committee; but that this term should be struck out, and the duties continued till other taxes could be substituted for discharging the public debt.

A debate ensued on this, of which some account will be given to-morrow.