Mr. WILSON. Certainly; that is what I mean. It was passed 3 days before the Senator went out of office, and therefore he did not have time to put it in execution. We have placed money in the hands of the Secretaries to employ additional labor, and allowed them to classify the persons employed. I have no objection to that. I have no objection to voting an sum of money that is required to employ additional clerks in the Treasury Dept, and letti the Secretary classify them as 1st, secon, 3rd, or 4th class clerks. I do not believe that any additional labor is necesSaryin that Dept. I think the Dept is exceedingly crowded at the present time with clerks; that there is an extra number of them there; and I think that is the opinion of everybody who knows anything about the subject. But the question here is simply whether we are to continue and put in the hands of the SecyTreasury a sum of mone for him to distribute, according to his own pTeas are, among clerks whose salaries are now fixed by law. I said yesterday that I did not believe in the thing when it was passed, and I do not believe in it now. It was passed at a time and under circumstances when, we all know, but little opposition was made to such measures. I doubted it then. I believe it has created a great deal of discontent in the office. It may be that there are some clerks in that de art mant who will not remain there; but I have serious doubt whether a single man will resign his place because he cannot get increased compensation. There is a change going on in the country. The fixed salaries are now worth more than they were a year ago., There are 1000s and tens of 1000s of very able men who have been thrown out of the military service who are now seeking employment. It is not so difficult to get able men as it was 2 furs ago when we employed so many in them. I din opposed upon principle to this system, and inten to vote to pay as Ivoted yesterda on the subject, and I voted yesterday, ulthoug political allusions were made, Without any eeling on that subject. That was not the motive that prompted me. I have no disposition to renew that matter today. If we did, we should have a lecture upon taste, which has got to be very customary ere in the Senate. This thing has sprung up very much lately. Instead of allowing Senators to express themselves as they choose and take the responsibility of their own acts, they are told how things ought to be done. I do not believe in it very much. I never accustom myself to that kind of lecturing. I say my say here in a very plain way, and if Senators choose to reply to it, very well. If they do not like it, very well. if they do not like it. I am sorry for it, because I do not wish to displease anybody. I simply say that this is a continuation of the sole original act of this kind that I think has ever been passed in the history of the Government. It originated on the 2d day of March, 1865, and we propose now to continue it. I doubted its expediency then. I believe it has worked discontent. If it was necessary at that time, I think the necessity has passed away, and I am up osed to renewmg it. now.