Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-08-13
Sb.033 b6


This account accompanied by vouchers showing
the employment OF the schooner SC. But in relation
the last item, the vouchers show that the charge
set up Tor the purpose of covering loss Treasury
noes during the war. Mr. Wise himself says, under
date Of lIth Nov. 1878
"The cause OF my founding the charge on the pay.
ments 10 mechlnics, is, firs performing duty
not strictly appcraining TO my grade Secondly; That
the Department has rejected charges Of loss Teasu-
ny poes, but has made allowances in another way
equivalent for such losses. And thirdly: Because /
slider ii but justice that should bear the loss actu-
ally sustained on tho Treasury notes received by
public officer TO be dis5urscd Tor public purposes"
The account is marked on the back, "Allowed: J. c.
c.. aud was passed TO the credit OF Mr.. Wise: This
WAS in 1873
This allowance not to have been considered an
authoritative precedent for any other of like
In 1921, Purser Todd of the New York Yard, advanced
claim for commission on payments to mechanics and
laborers, which was submitted by Constant Freeman,
Fourth Auditor, to Smith Thompson then Secretary OF
The Navy and by him rejected in the following words
"ln answer 10 the within note, have TO state that
know OF no law authorizing allowance OF any per
ccnage TO Pursers in Navy Yards upon disbursements
to mechanics and lahorcrs."
Nothing further seems TO have been heard OF these
claims until 1925, when they again presented by
Purser Todd. The Fourth Auditor, DIR. Watkins then
allowed the claim, amounting TO So 600, without consult
ing the Secretary of the Navy at all In 1926 lie also
allowed and passed TO the credit OF the Purser,
$I9i3 49, going back to 9th Oct 1918, and coming up
to July 18th, 1926.
About this time, claim of similar nature was sub
itled to the Secretary u the Navy, Mr. Southland. On
the 9TH August, 1926 lac gave the following opinion ad
dressed to the Fourth AUDITOR
"i have examined the claim Of Pursers at our Navy
Yards TO allowance beyond their ordinary and set
tied compensation for paying the men, mechanics and
Iaborcrs
"fhe claim rests the assumption chat this Is en- er-
frd du do not perceive how this proved 10 be an
extra duty than any and every duty performed by
officers at our Navy Yards. They are all such as
have been imposed on the officers since the estab-
Ishment Of the Yards. The payment Of the men
mechanics and iabOers is duty to tho
Purser, than the experimenting the building Of ship il
extra duty to Captain 1t the very object for which
ne is placed at the Yard, and without which his pre-
ssnce would be very little if at ALL necessary and for
being stationary 10 perform which, lie receives the al
lowaGce OF house rent &C. 1t is EXPRESSLY prescribed
TO him By the regulations See page 81 Of the printed
Rules and Regulations for the service.
"As do not therefore, sec any principle on which
Tire allowance can be justified, cannot hereafter APP
prove it,"
Upon rccep; OF this decisive negative Of the claim
the Chief Clerk Of this office directed the allowances
made upon the authority OF the accounting officers oily
to be re-charged, but this countermanded by the
Fourth Auditor. No further allowances of that cinrac-
ter appear 10 have been made during the year 1926
la tho year 1927 an allowance Of $685. for paving
mechanics and aboters, made ~ Purser Glenn s..
Hunt, on the Philadelphia station by authority Of the
Fourth Auditor, under The name Of clerk hire
During the year 1898, the following allowances were
made under me same nrne, and by the SHoyiiY
TO purser Winn from 1926, s255O 90
DO n. G.. Ludlow. from