Mr. SPRAGUE. I move to take up forcon sideration the resolution which was offered by me some days since continuing throughout! the year the clerk of the ComMilAffrs, and the clerk of the ComDistCol. I will state that the object of this resolution is to put those 2 clerks on the same footing as the clerk of the ComPrintg and one or 2 other of the committee clerks of the Senate. The reason for this arises from the impossibility of getting clerks properly qualified, for the pay which the law provides for a.committee clerk during the 3 months of the short session and the 6 or 7 months of the long session. When I introduced the resolution the other day the Senfrom Iowa [Mr. Gimms] suggested that it should be referred to the select committee which was appointed to consider the compensation of the employees of the senate. I did not then have an opportunity to state to him that the reason why that course was not deemed proper to be pursued was that tichairman of that committee was in favor of this measure. Upon subsequent inquiry I ascertained that the object of the appointment of that committee was to equalize the pay of the clerks and other officers of the Senate with that of similar officers of the HoRep, and not to adjust the relative compensation of the various clerks in tlre Senate or the various committee clerks of the Senate to each other. It is well known that the ComMilAffrs have vast amounts of business, not only during the sessions of Congress, but in the intervals. ltis known to every member of that committee that the investigations necessary for perfect legislation on military subjects require most incessant work and high talents. ‘hat committee has now a clerk of that character. It is desirable, in order to obtain as perfect legislation as can be secured, that the business which comes before the committee shall have the revision of a competent hand. The individual who now occupies that post has had an experience of one or 2 cars in the War Dept, and is efficient in such a way that when matters are brought before the committee time is saved and more perfect legislation obtained. It is well known that in all the Executive Depts competent clerks are ooutin ed, and that the uy of the common est is $1, 200 a year; and licrc, where it should require the greatest care, and where there should be brought to the consideration of the committees all the information possible, the pay is interrupted by the expiration of the session, and important committees are obliged to procure cler s with the small pay that the pericm for the broken session of Congress allows. The question arises whether if we pass this resolution there will not then be left other committees of the Senate who will have clerks not receiving the y allowed to the clerk of the ComMilAffrs and the clerk of the ComDistCol. That suggestion, however, is answered by the fact that there are committees in the Senate who do not require this order of talent and who have no business to be attended to during the intervals between the sessions of Congress. I therefore submit the question to the Senate and ask for favorable consideration on the resolution I have proposed.