Mr. HENDRICKS. In the best faith possible I wish to assist the Senfrom Massachusetts in perfecting this bill as nearly as possible, antfin that spirit I move to strike out all after the word “ resident” in the 9th line of the 3rd section down to and including the word “bureau” in line 14. The words which I propose to strike out are: And the Commissionershall. under the direction of the President and so far as the same shall be. in his judgment.necessaryfor the efficientand economical administration of the affairs of the bureau. appoint such agents, clerks and asstsasmaybe required for the proper conductof the bureau. I was willing, under the leadership of the Senfrom Maine. the other day, to give to the SecyTreasury a good deal of discretion; but in that bill we limited the Secretary to $160,000, and said that in the use of that much money he should have a discretion, but on that question the Senfrom Massachusetts, I think, and the Senfrom Illinois were very earnest in their arguments to show that such discretion ought not to be iven, but that when an office was to be create it ought to be done by law, and when a salary was to be paid it ought to be aid according to law. Even my confidence, fol owing the distinguished chairman of the ComFinance, was some what shaken by the earnest and able arguments of the 2 Senators to whom I have referred. Now, if they were unwilling upon principleand they said they stood upon principle alto gether, and not at all upon personal prejudice or jealousy of the Secretary ifupon principle they were unwilling to give that discretion to the SecyTreasury in the payment of clerks already provided for by law, under a limitation as to the amount, how is it that these distinguished Senators can ive to the Commissioner of the Freedmen’s ureau an unlimited and unrestricted discretion and power in the appointment of officers? Where is the limit? life may, in his own discretion, appoint such agents and clerks as he shall think the necessities of the bureau may require. Shall be appoint one or 10,000? That deends upon his discretion; and here distinctly it is proosed to give, not even to a Secretary, but to the head of a bureau, the power to increase the office holders of the country without limit or restriction.‘ I have thought it to be my duty to call the attention of Senators to the question of principle that I consider involved in this proposition.