Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-04-13

condemned, and the Purser had to purchase more
Lay in stores them how WILL said Mr. T. and the Of.
feet will be the same; they will become damaged;
somebody must purchase more to supply their place.
and that somebody will be tho Purser. II the ration
were made TO cSnsst IT little tes sugar, and tobacco;
comforts which the sailor will have and can only now
| obtain from the Purser, will be done 10 remedy
tho existing ev'. than any thing that be Effected
by this bill He (Mr. Tazswell) was wiling howev-
err to try The experiment as the plan had been proposed
| by the Navy Department, and sanctioned by the
higher oicers OF ,he Navy, and having certain CON
| hdence in hi. own opinions.
Mr. Benton said that twenty odd years exp ,rence
had concluivey proved his mind that the plan pro
posed by the bill was defective and would he pro uc-
tive OF more injury than good. He spoke Of the plan of
supplying the Indians with goods, through the nsru~
mentally OF salared agents. who had interest In The
purchases they made. The system began under the
administration of President Washington, in 1876, and
was adopted from the most benz violent purpo es The
object was the supplying the Indians with goods snd
delivering them from the injuries of private ader.; il
was begun like the preseat bill, experiment. and
continued nearly thirty year, before could be got rid
of, as an annual expense of 20 COO dollars with total
less oil the whole capital Of 900 dollars Under th.
SYSTEM such goods were furnished TO the Indians as
never before were given to any human being-yood.
mat were their scorn and con,empt-that would fall TO
| pieces on being handled. The great difficulty was in
getting rid Of this .ystem, there being per ons
interested in keeping up goods for the supply Of the
Indians having been in almost every instance, purcha
ed oil the most WORTHLESS quality, from the personal friends
oil the purchasers. IT, said Mr.. b. couli be found
as pure as angels 10 purchase naval Stores in the first
instance aud as pure as angels to take charge Of them
md deliver them out to the Of the vessels, he
wouh say that the system proposed by the bill was
good cne but that not the case he did no, be-
ieve 1t would turn out to be better than the system he
mad spoken OF for supplying the Indians with goods.
He did not think it would work WE'LL il would end rs
did the tobacco system, spoken of by the gentieman
from Virginia and it would be found exceedingly diff.
cult to get rid OF it.
Mr. Hayne said he believed that under the presen,
system, all would admit tina, great and crying evils
stei ana nat some remedy ought to be sought for their
removal Thote who d al be .n long acquainte with
inc naval service, who knew its wants and nsces,ie,-
Its advantages and dsfect.-bo.e whose judgments on
such subjects could best DO relied on, had been resort
ed TO- ard Tho light which their experience Afforded
had guided the committee in framing the bill under CEN
'idera,on The Navy Commissioners had bee applied
to Tor Information, and their views had been nearly fol-
lowed out in the bill H. thought, therefore, that il
ought 10 he favorably received lie thanked the gem
tleman from New Jersey (r. Dekersonl for the Gre
dit he had given the committees for their endcavor. to
frame bill to counteract existing evils but he could
not agree with that gentleman, thu all the evils com
pained OF could be easily removed By enforcing .si.
accountability atthe Navy Department Sir said Mr.
that has already been riel, and it was fund i'm
practicable. He thought that the rations ought 10 be
regulated so that the President might make such chan
ges az The service, the circumstances and the times
CURED hut he could not with the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Tazewe that the ration ought to lie tn
same as in the French in the Eogsh service. There
must be an allowance mic for the ibit. the customs
aud education Of the sailors of the different nations Ia
the Engi'h service, the sailor furnished with hi.
beer of the double purpose Of administering his app.
N'e the brewer; AMI the French had
their medSre days In the ration OF grog, he thought
that some wh)lesome regulation might be introduced,
AMI he might go with his friend fron Virginia far
enough tha subject. But h. thought that no rrpu.
laton ought TO be adopted ht would totally deprive
The sailor OF all those luxurics 10 which he had been
accustomed previous 10 entering the service but no
Government could allow them all the luxutes 10 which
they had been accustomed in civil life. The coffee
sugar used in France and the great quantity Of beer in
England, could no; be allowed TO the sailor.
Mr. H. said, that tho average salary OF the purser a,
present IL between and three nj
while some as had already been stated, received ten
thoufand per annum. OF this. the pay and raious AL
lowed by Government amounted 10 about $50 dollars
The amount was drawn out of the pockets OF the un-
iortunat. sailor The proposed bill would reduce the
emolument At last half. and thi. entire saving
would remain in the pockets of the crew. while they
would he better supplied.
In reply TO the ohecii urged by the Senator from
Miss uf, (Mr Benton) he would say that the supple.
TO the crews Of public vessels would like all other
supplies TO the IVY, he subi-ct 10 that
would be siipped in COOL order. accompanied with an
invoice which would be delivered 10 the Captain, and
Kept by him as check the Purser IT, therefore
appeared TO him, that unless there gross and pasa
BILE neglect the part OF al concerne ed thi, Department
OF The nava, service mus. be well administered. No
such check ~as forced OH the Indian agent. The SOL
dier no. obliged TO purchase from the
ravagant price; he has opportunities of scpplyn
himself with whatever he vans; while the sailor is
compelled TO purchase and 10 take such articles he
can get from The Purser The object of all pre-
vent great injuries; oremedy crying evils but whether
| this object would be attained he could not say.
Mr.. Foot apprehended that the increased salaries of
the Pursers would be but small portion OF the extra
expense TO tho Government II the bill passed all the
stores necessary for cruise would be laid in before
ship left the United Sst,s-whereas when they touch.
ed at foreign ports many stores could be purchased
% per cent ess than here for instance could b.
purchased IN the West Ind"s for about cents per
pound. IL would be better, under all considerations to
reduce the premium Of the Purser and establish such
guards as 10 secure his responsibility.
Mi. smith OF Maryland, said, il was known that pre-
gious to embarking for cruise, the government was
obliged TO furnish the Purser with the capital nec.s-
sary TO lay in stores for the voyage vessel intended
Tor the service in the Pacific would require mode
rate calculation $780, 900; less than this would MT be
sufficient The interest this sum is S 800 per an
mum Sir said Mr. s., the sailor il being dincren,
from all other men, ella ses OF men, their great oh
jet was to srend their pay. they get
sion OF it, The Senator from Missouri, Mr. .nton
more than three months at without going into port
and that all they have got do i to go ashore and pir
chase whatever their wants demand. Now, Sir said
MIR. ). II is true, they are seldom than three
months before going ashore but they have got no
ney TO supply their demands. Jack wants ftoic and
Du' have il. He goes to the Purser for money; but he
~ told h cannot have any until he returns home. Jack
| insists on the money and must have il. Sir, said Mr.
g., have lately been made acquainted with an ane cdoie
of sailor in This situation, who, after having been re-
fused money by the Purser. was induced TO take pair
OF boots from the Purser al The price OF $40,
and Immediately went ashore and sold them for So. Sir
said he, this is the way the poor hardy and ihoug
sailor loses his earnings and the Pursers make their for
tunes He would vote for The bill it ssod upon the
whole, he thought IL y toeraby good one.
The question was then taken, and the bill passed by
| the following vote
! YEAS-Messrs. Adams, Barton, Bibb, Burnett
| DlIt ErsI; -,