office, was not properly from fees, but in-
cluded what the State pays in addition. The
fees of the office were only $1.100 in 1863,
and were only $900 in 1862. The salary of
$1,950, is made up of $200 paid as his salary
as judge of the land office, $50 from the leg-
islature for sending the list of certificates to
the counties, and $500 for keeping the
chancery record allowed by the legislature.
So that really we are increasing it above the
office fees $600 over what it was last year,
and $900 over what it was the year before.
We «re increasing the fees of the office very
considerably.
Mr, CLARKE. The statement which I read
was not of the fees but of the salary which
he bad been receiving. I stated that these
amounts, $2,840 in 1858, down to $1,950 in
1863, were made up of different items, partly
fees and partly fixed salaries. The salary
proposed of $2,000 would not really be as
much as the commissioner of the land office
has been receiving for the past six years for
his services. It is true that the fees do not
cover his salary; but the State has been
making an appropriation of $500 to him as
keeper of the chancery records, $200 as judge
of the land office, and $50 for sending list of
certificates to the county commissioners,
making $750 out of the treasury, fixed annual
salary in addition to the office fees. Now,
we propose to take the fees of his office and
give him a fair salary, which will coverall
the important duties which be has to dis-
charge, It is true that i) committee there
was one proposition to give him $2,000 and
another to give him $1,500; and it was
agreed upon to report $1,800, because those
who wanted to give $2,000 could not get
more. I think that several of the committee
considered $2,000 a fair salary.
Mr. DAVIS, of Washington, demanded the
yeas and nays, end they were ordered.
The question being taken upon increasing
the salary of the commissioner of the land
office from $1,800 to $2,000, the result was—
yeas 30, nays 24—as follows :
Yeas—Messrs. Goldsborough, "President ;
Barron, Bond, Brooks, Clarke, Gushing,
Dellinger, Earle, Edelen, Galloway Greene,
Hebb, McComas, Mitchell, Nyman, Parker,
Purnell, Robinette, Russell, Sands, Scott,
Smith, of Worcester, Sneary, Stirling, Stock-
bridge, Swope, Sykes, Thomas, Todd, Val-
liant—30
Nays—Messrs. Abbott, Annan, Audoun,
Brown, Cunningham, Daniel, Davis, of
Washington, Duvall, Ecker, Farrow, Hatch,
Hollyday, Hopkins, Hopper, King, Lee, Mar-
key, Mayhugh, Morgan, Murray, Parran,
Schley, Wickard, Wooden—24.
The amendment was accordingly agreed
to.
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE moved to insert the words
" payable quarterly.' '
The PRESIDENT. It is always the practice |
of the treasury department to pay quarterly,
except some few officers around the State
house, who are paid monthly.
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE. Then I withdraw the
amendment.
No further amendment was offered.
STATE LIBRARIAN.
The next section in order being section 3,
relating to the librarian, although it had
been acted upon.
The PRESIDENT said: The chair will em-
brace this occasion, as an act of justice to the
librarian, to ask the clerk to read a letter
which he has received from him.
The letter was read as follows ;
STATE LIBRARY,
ANNAPOLIS, Aug. 4, 1864.
Gen. H. H. Goldsborough :
My esteemed sir: I know you would not
intentionally do any man injustice, much less
your humble servant; but your remark to
the convention yesterday that "you did not
suppose the distributing of the laws, journals,
and documents would cost more than $20 or
$30," certainly did me great injustice, as
you will see by the statement herewith an-
nexed, which is below rather than above the
cost of distributing (if all were to be paid.)
The only possible way the librarian can save
anything out of the appropriation of $150
for distributing, is to do part of the actual
labor himself, which the law intended to be
paid for out of the appropriation. For in-
stance, here are forty packages to be put up,
(for every State and territory in the United
States and library of Congress, with library
associations throughout the country that may
apply for them.) Now, if the librarian chose
of evenings and mornings, before and after
library hours, to do this labor, why should
he not receive the pay for it as well as to pay
some other person to do it?
All the items, with slight variations, all
this estimate of distributing in the State of
Maryland I paid myself.
The estimate of express to the States and
Territories is below the actual cost. I paid
on one book last Tuesday from New York
$1, from Boston ,$1.50, and so in proportion
to size of package.
Yours very sincerely,
H. P. JORDAN.
In the State of Maryland:
Twenty-two boxes........ $27 50
Packing and drayage on
same.......................... 39 50
Freight on boxes............. 29 50
To expenses to and from
Baltimore, four trips,.... 8 00
To expenses while in Balti-
more....................... 12 00
—$116 50 |
