Jenks's Portland Gazette

From the New-York Evening Post.

OUR SAVING ADMINISTRATION.

The following information is from a gentleman who was present when the circumstance took place. Just before Congress rose, Mr. Griswold moved that an estimate for the contingent expenses of the House of Representatives of the United States, for the year 1802, should be laid before the House. The economists were thunderstruck: to refuse would bring on a debate, and expose them to the imputation of withholding from the people information respecting public money; to comply would be to expose themselves to the charge of having incurred unnecessary expense, of which they on all proper occasions affect to feel much horror. On hearing the motion, they were every one silent; Randolph turned pale as ashes: Bacon's knees smote together; and the countenance of Mr. Giles became first red and then livid—

"Sair gloom'd his dark brow, blood-red his cheek grew,

Wild flash'd the fire frae his red rolling ee."

All was silent as death, until at last Mr. Samuel Smith, having once been a General, assumed courage and muttered out, that they would vote for the motion if it was entered so as to comprise an estimate of the expenses for 1798. No mortal can conceive what the expense of '98 had to do with this motion; but it shows how steadily the majority fix at least one eye on their dear popularity. Smith had a confused recollection, that in '98 the contingent expenses were unusually high, but he forgot to remember what occasioned it, or precisely how high they were. Mr. Griswold comprehended his drift, and perceived at once that the noble General had only got clear of the mud to stick deeper in the mire; he closed at once with the proposal. Here follow the different estimates:—

Estimate for the Contingent Expenses of the House of Representatives, of the United States, for the year 1802.

1. An arrearage for stationery due to Mr. Oswald, the late Clerk, beyond the appropriation for 1801, 780

2. Resolution of the House of 10th of December, to pay five dollars per day to the doorkeeper, 750

3. Act of the 26th January for the expenses of the library, 650

4. Resolution of the House for a ventilator, 56

5. Resolution of the House to pay the expenses of Mr. Hunter's funeral, 250

Dollars, 2,486

The reader will now please to recollect that in '98 Congress was in session eight months, and that the present estimate (excepting indeed the last conjectural item) is made for 4 months only. We perceive then that the amount of the expenses for the present session of 4 months is 2,900 dollars, 76 cents greater than that for the session of '98 of eight months. Considering the present session four and the other eight months, it will not be much wide of the truth to take one half the latter sum and set against the former, by which it will be seen that the present House of Representatives have expended better than nine thousand nine hundred and fifty dollars more in proportion than the House of '98 did—all which, together with one thousand one hundred and seventy dollars, has, as we shall presently see, very cleverly been put into the pocket of Mr. Duane.

Clerk Beckley, who was ordered to furnish the estimate, very officiously and impertinently undertakes to add his own remarks by way of accounting for the terrifying amount of expenditure. The first five items, he says, are extraordinary demands, and not usually chargeable to the contingent fund of the House; the 750 additional dollars to the door-keeper, is indeed an extraordinary item, but he was a good republican; so let that pass. We perceive too that Mr. Duane, another good republican, and what is a still greater recommendation with our Godwinian President, a foreigner, gets out of this money:—

At least one half of the conjectural sum of 1,714, 857

4. Same services done for the Senate, and stationery estimated at (more or less) 9000

Reward of Patriotism 11,057

A pretty decent sum truly; it would buy on an average ten snug New England farms, well stocked. But what New England farmer has done as much, lied as much, worn as much, deceived as much for the good President, as this foreign renegado? Verily I say unto you he hath his reward.

6.	Printing business of the session to wit: Mr. Duane's bill to the 1st of April, Mr. Smith's do.	4000
3800
1200
Rapine Conrad, for binding, folding, and stitching papers,	600
7. Stationery—Mr. Duane's account to the	1000
8. Newspapers to the members by order of the House,	1000
9. Fuel, Candles, syrup and every other	1000
contingency,	15286
10. Printing since first April (conjectural)	1714
	17,000
Statement of Disbursements for the House of Representatives of the United States, made by the Clerk	of said House, for contingent expenses incurred in the year 1798.
Dolls. Cts. Paid for Printing, Stationery and Book-binding, Newspapers, Fuel, Furniture and Joiner's work, Labor and Repairs, Candles, Syrup and lime juice, Additional Clerk hire,	8556 2224 1640 475 288 434 54 337 86