The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-06-27

With respect to the expediency OF modifying
the laws in relation TO the navy department, il
appears to me that some alterations are neces.
sary.
BY the act aathorisng the employment of an
additional naval force, passed at the last sessi
on of congress, it appears that the, executive is
restricted from sending our vessels. equipped
under that act. beyond uur coast Ifit shallnow
be deemed expedent to send any Of then, TO The
Mediterranean or any other foreign station, This
restriction ought to be removed or so modified rs
to give the executive power adequate to the pur-
pose.
laval myself Of this occasion respectfully to
submit to consideration the memorial of the Off
GERS ofthehavy,some time since presented to Con.
gress, acUpy ofwhicl,, with copies of letter from
my predecessor to Mr.. Montgomery, chairman of
the committee Of the II. of Representatives, da-
ted LIST April 1908, and Of letter from captain
cambridge to me upon the same subject, are
herewith transmitted and marked ID. Having
attentivcly perused this memorial, cannot with
held the expression Of my opinion that the pray
er there is perfectly reasonable.-National con-
sderations ought surely to induce us to foster that
Just and honorable pride, that truly patriotic am.
bition, to which our navy officers, and especially
those well skilled in seamanship, obviously sacri-
flee their pecuniary interests.
To another and not an gninteresting subject,
embraced by the queries which you have pro-
pounded to me, will also invite your serious at
tention. BY the act further to amend the several
acts for the establishment and regulation OF the
Treasury, War and Navy Departments, it is pro-
vided, that the commissions TO navy agents akall
not exceed per cent,lm, nor in any instance the
compensation allowed by law to the purveyor of
public supplies. The treasury construction of
this statute will appear by the papers Z and F
herewith sent. That construction prohibits
any allowance under any circumstances, for ei-
Their clerk hire, porters, Office rent, fuel or sta
tionary. The whole receipts of the agents are
confined to rsper centum, and the product of
that per centage is limited to 200e dollars per an
mum.
In our large seaport towns, and especially i.
Norfolk, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New-York,
our purchases will necessarily be extensive of
ten so much so, as to occupy exclusively the time
ct the agent.-m these places clerks must be in
dispensable, and porters highly useful and
wherever we have an agent it appears to me pro-
per, that the public should allow whatever the a.
gent many reasonably pay for office rent fuel and
stationary. 1t is not probable that the commits
sions TO the agents will in any other places than
those mentioned, viz. Norfolk, Baltimore, Phila-
delphia and New York, amount to 1000; and in
neither OF these places will the clear receipts Of
either of the agents amount to more than $50 per
annum, as will more particularly appear by the
accompanying exhibit marked G. In other pla.
cesthe commissions will not amount to as much
merchants counting house,
10 make the commissions amount to 1000 dol
lars, 1t would require that 200, 000 dollars Should
be dlsbursed & if an agent should disburse ono
million OF dollars, any sum exceeding that, the
gross amount of his pay for such disbursements
is limited to 1000 dollars the, nett amount of
Which cannot reasonably be calculated at more
than $50 dollars.
With this view of Gie subject, cannot rely
upon the present agents continuing to hold their
appointments, or upon other fit persons accept
ing such appointments, without the law in cues
ton being so modified as to make them reason
able allowance for their services, and the expen-
SEES MISE arably connected with the discharge of
their offic ial duties. In disbursing SO large
sum OF money, as an agent must disburse to emit.
tie him to the small compensation of S $50 per
ahnum, he hazards the loss of ten times as much,
from rregularity i'll vouchers, erroneous calcutta
tons, misinterpretation of instructions, from not
strictly conforming in each and every purchase
to the SPECIFIC restrictions of the existing law,
and from various other causes to which the most
correct men are & ever will be liable in greater
or less degree.
The copy of letter from Gen. Stricken, navy
agent at Baltimore, gentleman justly of high
standing in society, * am told as good an agent
as could be procured in any country, herewith
sent and marked III, will explain TO you his situa-
ton under the existing law and other agents, of
equai merit, are similarly situated.
Deemng il my duty, under the latitude you
have allowed, TO be perfectly explicit and full in
my communication to you upon this subject, and
being sincerely anxious to manage the business
OF the department in such manner as to promote
the interests o. the nation, trust shall not be
thought presumptuOus when suggest the indis-
pensable necessity OF being aided by able agents.
fiatter myself, sir, with belief, that have at
torded the information required, and regret
oh In I'll. x,Jnlto
moment.
am, with great respect,
Sir,
Your obt. servt.
PAUL HAMILTON.
Hon. .10seph anderson, Chairman efa
Committee 81 the Senate.
.(C)
Estimate of the annual expence of maintaining
Gun-Boat in actual service and of the annual
eXpence OF maintaining twenty four Cum Boats
in actual service at N. Orleans.
ONE CUN-BOAT.
PAY AND SUBSISTENCE
lieut.. commanding, S 50 per month, A rations
per day. 892
l lieut. 40 do. 8 rations 629
2 midshipmen, 10 do ration 6O2
boatswsn, 20 do. 2rations $50
! gunner, 20 do. rations SIS
steward, IL do. ration. 289
1854
Deduct one ration per day, for each Off
Ger, it being estimated in the article
ofprovisions, because each officer will
draw one ration in kind, 2,s55 rations
at 20 cents, 511
2,743
ordi v s io Az ~ W" Isesdo o f'''ons 1885
Marines snn