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

Their information in relation to it, He had received no
satisfactory Information from The COMMITTEES as TO the in
creased expenditure that would he oceasioned by the
doption oil the measure before the Senate. H..
had made some examination Of he subject, aud was
vinced that no benefits would result to the u States to
compensate for the increased expense. The presen,
compensation allowed TO Pursers in the Navy six
hundred and sixty dollsrsper annun. and the bill pro-
posed TO give those placed in ships of the rt cass
two hou.and five hundred dollars year. while ,e pay
OF Captain OF th- same vessel il only one Thousand
| nine hundred and fifty dollars. Purser Of irigae
! IL TO receive two thousand dollars per auuum still lar
ger salary than that OF Captain. Purser of soop
OF war IL to receive thousand six hundred dollars
per annum sum exceeding by four hundred dollars,
the pay OF Master Comm ndant; and the Pur,ers oi
smaller vessels were TO receive thirteen hundi cd dol
Ears per annum, being much higher salary than that
received by Leutendnts. Mr.. F. could conceive OF no
advantages to be produced by the passage Of the bill
which would authorize this dispropor.ion between the
pay oil Pursers and other officers of the Navy, besides
the increased charge on the Government MIR. +. here
entered into calculation, che wing the difference OF ex.
pense between the present pay and that which would
be produced by the bill, increasing the compensation OF
Pnses more than one hundred per cent, and fixing the
compensation OF Purser of the second grade, higher
ihan that oil Captain OF the first grade
| Mr.. Hayne said, f any thing certain, ths bill
would reduce the compensation OF Pursers in the Navy
at least one-ha twas the object of the committee.
IN framing the BILL to reduce the profits OF the Pnrsers,
and this, he had doubt would be it's practical effect
1t may be true has been observed by the gentleman
from Connecticut, tha,it will prove additional charge
to the Treasury; and he would explain how this might
result. He would say that the measure an inpor-
tan one to the al Interests OF very meritoous class
OF our public servants-he meant our seamen. The
old system has been found 10 be defective by all con-
nectej with the naval service Those above all othr
whom il the duty, the tounden duty of the Gov
eminent u protcct-the brave aud hardy who be
our nag upon the ocean-have heretofore been wholly
dvested OF large portion OF their pay, by the opera
ton OF system by which the Pursers derived their
compensation not from the pay provided for them by
Congress. as alleged by the Senator from Come
but from the profits which they derive from the good.
disposed o. >" The crew The plan heretofore pursued
was TO permit the Pursers to lay in the stores for the
supply oil the Gre during The cruise, and attempt
had been made 10 rcgrl'e the per ccntage the rs
cost OF these stores and nit the Purser TO the prices
thus regulated. And what, said Me- III has been the
ehec OF this system! The Pursers were permitted TO
| lay in the goods-they were his own-the money by
which they had been purchased had been advanced by
the Lifted States; and per centage, varying from 10
TO 40 or 90 per cent, permitted be added TO the
prime cost IL therefore manifesy became the inter
est OF the Puser TO purchase the supplies at high
pice as possible aud also dispose Of many OF these
supplies az rossibie because his comp did
chiefly arise from the salary appropriated by Congress-
but from the piofs the sale of the goods dspos ID
10 tho crews Th- consequence OF this plan has bsen
hat in settling the accounts at The termina alton Of
cruise, Ii has b. en- found tha large part of the pay
the seamen goes ino the pockets of the Pursers and
those who, oil all Others most require the legslsive
protection OF Congress- may thus be cruelty and unjust.
Iy stripped OF heir earnings. But this all the
evil TO which this system naturally led Though the
law hai prescribed that the profits should exceed
certain per centage the original cost vet the Purser
having The meaOs OF purchasing put in his own hands
he was enabled TO lay in The at different places
and 10 charge the Ignorant and careless sailor to what
ever extent cupidity and avArice might promp, him.
without much chance OF detection.
Mr H. produced document rom the Navy Depart
intent, developing one instance of the hgran abuses
which had grown out OF he present system. In this
case, tho Purser had purcha,ed certain articles at
90 and old them FOR So so These facts had beet dis
closed TO The Navy ID pAriment the fIaud proved, and
tie Purser convicted and cashiered. Yet, said Mr. ii
Will one is detected, il is than probable that ma
ny may escae The crews are, in many cases, griev-
ou'y mpo.ed on. / hid been stated hat in some Of
our public vessels. the profs Of the Pur.er had in
single year. amounted 10 ten thousand doar and the
earnings are almost entirely drawn from the Earning
o: The saii9f and As he said before, the higher e pu
chascs were made, and the goods disposed Of
greater the amount TO which these profits were swell.
ed BY an accurate eaIculaon would be found that IN
provisions OF this bill woull produce saving to
amount three times "a great the pay OF these Off
GERS IL prevents the Purer from purcha sing any sup.
plies on his own account; II prevents him from pocket
| ing several thousand dollars rer annum of the sal
ors eernings; and, at the time, allow him an
| adequate compensation for his services. Surprising,
sid Mr.. H., that the observation oil the gentleman
from Connecticut be correct, will any pretend to
i siy that TO save from 90 10 perhaps 500 geo per an
NUN, was not an object worthy Of attention. though il
was TO be saved to the sailors and not to the Govern
men This, he said would he the consequ of tn
BILL it, IA it had been calculated that an addition of
per cent. the first cost. would the additional
expense incurred by the Government. But he could
see no reason for compromising the Purser by high
commissions to be drawn ont of the pay of the unio-
ura'e sailor. Why permit prof, OF 80 per cent in
cases, and 100 per cent in Others as appeared
from the proceedings in the before referred TO- 10
be drawn from dllant tars? He would saw that
Justice and sound policy rendered it necessary that
healthy system should be established for the protection
OF this merorioHs class Of our citizens, powerfully
tho most improvident.
i The Senator from Maine (NIr Holmes) thought that
10 per cent advance on the invoice too great That
SUN, said Mr. H.. fixed by the advice OF the Navy
Commissioners, who had ample opportunities OF know
ing what was necessary, and intended to tn
losses inevitable from the p'rsbabe articles among the
supplies. Here Mr.. Hayne read an extract of let
Ter from the Navy Commissioners to the Committee on
Naval AHiirs showing that the per centsge merely
protection 10 the u. States from inevitable los aud
to cover the increased expen'e this bill To
secure the Government, and to project the bravs and
hardy sailor in the entire enjoyment OF his rights, his
privilege and his pay were the objects the Committee
had in view, and thee objects, tdey believed would
be best attained by the bill under consideration.
| Mr.. Dckerson thought that The committee had net
adopted the best plan that might be devised medy
the evils complained Of though he had doubt the v
had endedvOred 10 do and pursued the best light
their research afforded them He believed that il
admitted, all hands that, uader the present system,
the Pursers amply compensated, but abuses had
up under That system, for which a remedy i. TO
be sought. How those abuses be correclel The
COMMITTEES appeared to think that the best way was to
increase their salaries lie would bring them back 10
lhc old salaries; and il any should be found abuse
trust reposed in them by the Governfn4nt let them be
adhered. There could always be found mode OF
reaching those who violated the laws teaied for their
observance. MIR. ID. said he had no doubt hut many
persons have here made large sums very unjust
w. lie had doubt but The committee that reported
the bill intended to rerencb, but il appeared him
that ne her the interests Of the treasury the tar
would be much promoted by the bill lie thought that,
il proper and rigid accountability required Of that