Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-12-19

In THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, on Wroxr.
DAY the House went into Committee oflhe Wbo,.
on the state of the Union, (Mr. Briggs in III.
Chair,) and resumed the consideration o( III.
bill to regulate and equalize the pay of the off.
GERS Of the Navy-the question being on the mo.
ton Of Mr. Harper, Of Penn. TO strike GU, s. IN
as the pay of Senior Captain, commandings
squadron, and inserting 81, 500
Mr.. Watmough spoke briefly in opposition "a
the motion, and mentioned that the sum pronos
ed to be allowed was not third of the amorn,
received by officers OF The same grade in tho
British service. Our officers We're necrssarIv
brought into competition in foreign ports with
those of the same rank receiving SIS 600 year
and were Obliged 10 reciprOcate with them The
courtesies and Civilties Of civilized life. They
bad also families at home, who were 10 be main
tanned in the meantime, and were, besides en-
titled to such Il compensation as would enable
them To save something beyond their acmalcm
rent expenses. He should not take this occa.
sion to enlarge and ampfy on the merits oftbe
navy in war and peace. He would leave The
subject with the remark, that the general prin.
cipes of the bill would be approved of BY the
House, as they had been veil considered, and
had met with the appreciation Of the Head Of
the Navy Department. Hoping that this amend.
ment would not prevail, he left it to the good
feeling and magnanimity OF the Committee 10
decide its fate.
Mr. Speight proposed some inquiries to which
Mr.. Warmough replied, that the bill provided
for no decrease in the salary Of any officer Tie
nav of the Assistant Surgeons was graduated
after delioeration and consultation with them
The whole addition proposed TO the present az
grcgate amount OF the pay, was two or three
hundred thousand dollars. The difference be-
tween the pay of the navy and the army, sprung
from the allowance Of prize money IN the navy
during war; no increase had taken place in Tie
pay of the navy since lis first organization and
no attention had been paid to the memorials
and petitions Of its honorable, highmnded, ard
mort fed officers.
Mr.. Fillmore rose TO make some inquiries. he
understood that both the subject oil the pay
the army and navy, were originally relerredto
a select committee. That committee reported
bill, to equaIize and regulate the pay OF ON.
GERS of the army and navy. But the plan OF
eunaIization was abandoned, and the regulation
of the pay Of the army left out OF the question
The amendment reported as substitute lOf Inc
bill. proposes only to regulate the pay oil lhe ma
Wy. Now, he would inquire whether tbe0II dld
not assume for the regulation OF the navy ue
of compensation allowed 10 'he aI.
nv. after adding to il the sum OF 72OOO do'di,
Der year, and whether the amendment rePoiVu
as a substitute did not make further addIoH
to the pay of the navy OF six or seven tHousaHu
dollars more. b,,
Mr.. Watmough replied that it was rue u'a.
the comm tee had abandoned iae tqnd'Ia'.a"
bill, having found the principle utterly 'lnP.%."
cable. 1t could be applied Without o"ns u
with the emoluments allowed III the army; WHY"
would derange lis Whole orsahiZauol, ~
not attempted tn increase the pay OF '''e "'m
That subject was left AT rest, ana inc Quinn
tee assumed the highest rate "hie d hdu U.s."
commended for the pay OF me army; W ". no
cretary of War. In taking D 5oo GoIdfs o. -"
of officers in command u ihr o
SQUADRON. the Committee had been governeag.
the established rule Of allowing dOuDe ,n.'a
to commanding officers on duty ana Oy "' -
concentrations OF the departments om.
Mr.. Mckennan was disposed to pay I"e V Ts
GERS of the Navy, and to pay them "eI e. tho
would give them an ample suf'ccncy iol ta'
support Of their families. Bot hr was wv , ~
vor Of going too far. The increase o. g'3 ,b %t
posed was too eXiravagant II a'u.O
$3.50. coo To the annual pay of tie Navy! 9TH in
Mr.. Ward spoke 1T considera"e va 81 the
opposition to the motion, and IN S"P.TT%a GLOW.
bh as reported from the COMMITTEE Gcer. he
ance Of $500 To the coGimandIhe o" "co..ary
considered as proper, moderate a''4s
for the interests OF the service. II m ad
Mr.. Sutherland was, lie said. as n'uO on,ra him
voca of the navy as the gentleman Ue'V h;lI ,ras
(Mr. Ward.) But he would say that tDe Wv L ave
not prepared in a manner that 1t ougt. " o1yo
been for this House. He stood mere ". .'cb as
cate of a class of men who had aded d r,Ie ma
any other to the glory and efficiency =, W. call
w; he meant the poor gunners, cd'p'TrrsS o men
makers, boat SWANS and riggers ~" "e;co n
who hold the poor Office Of gnnnefs, an o jim n
some importance in lime of war, the hien
smoke and fire, are by this bill 10 pe ,a 49, o.
10 300 dollars year, when absent Oh ,ocsiy,
waiting orders, whereas, at present. 'hel wv
400 dollars, or more. ne,
We could not 90 to war without thsse ,h.,
and he would not 60 for the bill uniess ~" -.
were taken care Of He would bring lG p,,
though not by pulling others down. p "seg
wonld pull down the pay Of the hignes' o pa'ss
in the list to 1000, or even 5000 doHafs ,s,,
han to curtail the pay Of those men, "p''
we're at home with their families. ..,.I
Mr. Watmongh loved these men OF slhoH IAN
fire; those men who in the words OF M ,nr,
ynshed soldier, were baptIsed IL IRE, d. -" Tt
lis colleague, and he had been persona
less Of their worth and valor, but the 'aI t.Soy
hat the bill proposed TO increase the pay VI ~"
cry men, while on duty, nearly one nU"''