The Patowmac Guardian, And Berkeley Advertiser

CONGRESS.

House of Representatives of the United States.

FRIDAY, December 2.

An engrossed bill, for the relief of D. Cooke and T. Campbell, was read a third time, passed, and sent to the Senate for their concurrence.

The bill relative to the election of President and Vice-President of the United States, and declaring the officer, who shall act as President, in case of vacancies in the offices both of President and Vice-President, was read a second time, and referred to a committee of the whole on Wednesday next.

Mr. Heister presented a memorial from the Society of the United Brethren for propagating the Gospel among the Heathens, praying confirmation of certain grants of land made to them by the United States. Referred to the committee on the land-office bill:

The House, in committee of the whole (Mr. Muhlenberg in the chair) proceeded to the bill making appropriations for the support of government during the year 1792.

Mr. Parker thought, that, before the present bill was passed, it would be necessary to inquire whether the public money, heretofore appropriated, had been properly expended.

Other gentlemen were of the same opinion, and alleged that it would be setting a precedent that might prove very dangerous, and introductive of many abuses, to suffer the accounts of the public expenditures to pass unexamined—the House of Representatives are the guardians of the public property, responsible for it to their constituents, and in duty bound to examine whether it be properly disposed of—the demands for the current year were considerably higher than those for the past; it was necessary to inquire into the causes of this increase:

Although no doubts were entertained of the integrity of the present officers of government, yet the examination was proper; it would convince the people that their interests were attended to, and would prove a useful example to some, as a precedent on future occasions, when such investigations may become absolutely necessary to prevent the embezzlement of the national wealth, by men of a different cast from those now in office: Such an examination ought to take place, as a thing of course, at the commencement of every session: The accounts of one year would be more easily examined than those of a longer period; abuses, if any should creep in, would thus be the sooner detected, and checked in the beginning of their progress, &c. &c.

On the other hand, it was said, that such an investigation, although very proper, had no connexion with the bill under consideration—whether the former appropriations had been properly applied or not, it was at all events necessary to provide for the expenses of the current year:—Several reasons were alleged for the present increase, such as the additional expense occasioned by the necessary augmentation of the army on the frontiers, the expense of making the census throughout the United States, the government of the Western Territory, &c. &c.

The committee rose, reported progress, and obtained leave to sit again.

On motion of Mr. Lawrence, the report of the Treasurer, containing an account of the receipts and expenditures of the public money, was ordered to be printed.

Mr. Gerry laid on the table a resolution, making it the duty of every officer entrusted with public money, to lay before the House, on the third Monday of every annual session of Congress, an account of all payments made by him, in pursuance of the appropriations of the preceding year; and if the particulars cannot be ascertained at the commencement of the session, they are to be afterwards reported to the House, as soon as they can be exhibited.

Mr. Fitzsimons laid on the table a resolution for the appointment of a committee, to examine and report upon the state of the treasury department; and that a similar committee be appointed on the second Monday after the commencement of each session of Congress.

Mr. Ames presented a memorial from the legislature of Massachusetts, respecting invalids; which was referred to the committee appointed to bring in a bill to explain and amend the acts, which relate to the seven years half-pay, promised to the widows or orphans of officers who died in the service of the United States, and to the claims of persons, who are or have been entitled to pensions, as invalids.

Adjourned.

To be continued.