Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-12-18
In THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE OK TrssD,

fka
House adjourned.
In THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE, OK Trrsr,,
On motion of Mr.. Watmough, the HonSo NJ,
ceeded to the consideration ofthe special ordO.
of the day, viz: " the bill to eGualize the nav n
the officers ofthe Navy of the United States
The House went into Committee ofthe WboI.
on the state Of the Union, Mr. Briggs in ,bs
Chair, and took up the said bill.
Some conversation took place as to the nro.
per course to be pursued; an amendment to,5s
bill as originally reported having been reported
by the Select Committee, in which Conversation
MIR Harper, Mr.. Hubbard, Mr.. Mason Of Va
and Mr.. Speight, participated.
Mr.. Harper then moved to amend the foInw.
inc clause Of The bill: "The Senior Cap,in
when commanding squadron, $500, "by Nrk.
ing out S., 500, and inserting $500.
Mr. Harper defended his proposition in few
remarks in which he declared to be his wish
tn be liberal to the Navy; but in this happy lime
Of peace, lie was disposed to believe that smaI
Ter allowance, in this case, would be sufficient
He should be ready to increase the compema.
ton in some other Of the clauses OF the BILL ashe
was anxious that the officers OF this branch ofue
service should be sufficiently compensated. He
desired TO see the officers so recompensed, tha,
tley should not be compelled to run themselves
into debt, or leave their families in destitute
condition. They ought to be- placed in his opin.
ion, more on an eqnaIity-the low classes being
raised and the higher reduced.
Mr.. Watmough then explained the object Of
the Select Committee, in reporting the amend.
ment which was now under consideration He
showed that the Select Committee, was appoint
ed in 1888, by resolution Ofthe House, and tia,
the object Of the appointment was to report an
equalization ofthe pay Of the army and navy.
That committee had accordingly taken up the
subject, examined. and made a report, which
they had intended to cover the whole ground
BY reference to that report, the House would
See all the principles on which the commltteehad
acted fully developed, and all the efforts which
had been made by the committee to save the
country from the increase of expenditure,
which seemed to be called for by an increase Of
the pay Of the navy, by reducing in the same
proportion the pay OF the army. A majority OF
that Select Committee had reported a bIII and
that bill had been investigated by the properde'
partments. Ii is ascertained by these depart
ments. that the equalization bill, in endeavorns
to effect what was right. both in relation 10 Inc
army and navy, had failed to accomplish maj
which the committee had intended to 90, so
to increase the pay ofthe navy and reducedm e
pay the army.
By a reference to documents on the hles,
would he seen that, instead OF the pay OF the az
my. being decreased by the bill, It had oeen az
tually increased to the amount ot 1oOo0 doha'S
although this was in some measure COHlptind'
led by reduction of 80, 600 dollars IN the a'CA.
ance which had been usually made oh'ef
these circumstances, the committee desleu
have the bill returned to them. IN order tna'sOT1
definite action might be had upon II as WOO'a
enlighten the House. THIS was accor"i".!
done. In fixing the pay of the services De
committee had before them the reports OF ue pe
partments The highest pay assumed W W.
commtte was founded on these reports, a"H y"
that basis they had arranged the pay u "'
other grades Of The service. .,,h.
He was happy to inform the House ;, ,n"' had
arrangement thus made by the commute .h sorvice
been deemed uneXceptionaoIe by u'e "
until within few days, when some rAc.pub no
had been made for the first time; ana VI ''%
held the evidence in his hand. lHr I"'" ,%o 70.
had taken the highest pay assuGeu y! I'D y" had
port of the Government to start ,to"'' "Gos NJ
pursued that scale through, in all Vht - 70.
the service. as established by the f"Fs u,' 5av
gulations, from its institution to the ,o,,ent
He stated that there had been some u'ss U.S., the
among the officers who had just e''..r Gv.
service, on the subject of the pay anu r"%e Ibis
en-, on the score Of seniority. To ren'o'e osin
feeling the Committee had equallzeo We ar r me
all cases where the responsibilities WV mich
same. He stated some further po'hls ~ DI;,ns If
The Committee had consulted inc Ier" ",b n
those who looked to promotion by u'e p''"
long service. ,,,,.,n,s
He did not know to what extent n's Io, . he y.
Intended to propose his amendments; ou Acme %
'ured him that no injustice had pee'l iran ~nul
he lower grades Of the service as ns Sist
find in going through the bill. He p ainn -. .s
compliment to the galantry of the oaho,i f,a5.
his hope that the man VINO na ud ear c,r
ulv served his country on the ocean, on. ~. en-
led her flag over every wave, would NOV y, and
cred TO walk through the streets IN wan ~ ,bc
He appealed to the members s ~
House to approach the subject win ina. r h,
which he was sure they entertained to"e 'u,sor
service, and not to be led away ny Inc '''u \,
dea that it had not been the intention y. n,
Committee TO do equal justice to all RANKS !"
ervice. A., r.
Mr.. Mann said thar he had looked al INC 4.
'ort with some considerable care, and WIN c orr
ire to come to the same conclusion as the ~ ~,
nittee. He wished to see in the report -"