Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-01-07

doubt that various shoals and distractions laid down IN
| charts have no existence
The officers whether employed IN professional dutcs
or SC 1;tic pursuits, are stated b. lieutenant ""Res
10 be ardent and interchangeable Their eScr;'ons ana
there is reason to believe, that if no discoveries
are made of unknown lands or islands, Il VIII DC De-
| cause none exist in that region of the globe
The steam irgatc Fulton has been employed during
the past season under Captain Perry, who IS charged
with their supcrintendence in prosecuting various eS
periments with PaShan guns, circunstani'a report
os which daily expected. There IS little reason 10
,ubt ths. the results will be highly interesting and m
| portant 49,.
The SURVEYS directed By acts of Congress have hcca
prosecuted to The extent o. the means placed al me
disposal OF the Department. Under the act OF me ~
| If March 1897 the United States schooner ExpeF-
| men, and steamer Engineer, loaned by the War De-
partmcnt have been employed under The direction OF
Lieutenant GyEn IN surveying the ha:D"Fs o. beau
! fort and " Wilmington. North Carolina -hese surveys
have been completed, ana VIII De ia'u oe4"'e S""5tess
al the present session.
The Tinted S.atus brig Consort is fitting cot m
der Lieutenant G!gnn for the purpose OF completing
other surveys dc,ed by the same act which were re-
Gnorshed IN cocarcnce OF the sickness OF ms ohcers
Il !; confidently a..ciyG:cd that the whole viii be com
nl.ed and report made 10 Congress previous to It's
adjournment.
r. rnnuion with tic provisions Of the second sec
tom ofihe making appropra ior he haVa! service
! &c ,bc year $50" tHo steam !rEateS have been com
nenccr: enc al Sew York, TIE ether at PhiIadc gila
The enr.nc and boilers have been contracted for, and
are nov; in progress. These two vessels viii be built
IN tho same model to be propelled by vertical the
other BY engines inclined lane of the sane pow
er. with view test their respective advantages and
disadvantages there being great diversity OF opinion
on this question among practical engineers The thrd
steam frigate authorized by the act Aforesaid, has not
vet been put on the stocks, II beng ~ contemplation
10 adop, model presented b. distinguished officer
of the navy 10 be propelled bya different description of
machinery.
| nv vonr direction. the schooner Granpus, under
| Lieutenant Paine sailed from Norfolk IN September
last for lie coast Of Newfoundland with instructions
"a ncurc into the nature and Of the seizure and
condemnation Of certain American vessels engaged IN
he fisheries Lieut. Pane has returned after perform
| ING this duty in satisfactory manner, ana reported
| tie result of his cruise.
| The frequent and increasing violations OF the laws
for the suppression Of Tic slave trade the coast OF
Africa BY vessels owned By foreigners, but prosttut
ing the flag oe the IT, S to their nearlous purposes. in
duced you direct that two astsalng vessels OF the
smaller class, should be fitted out, for the purpose OF
arresting these violations Of laws and Of the rights
Of the people Of Africa One viii probably have sailed
before this report is received, and the other is only
waiting the completion Of necessary repairs 10
follow with al practicable despatch
Wary pension fuad-Thc Number ci;nTai,d pension
ers is $50 and tie sum annually required TO pay them
IS S3.,c4I "A. The number OF widow pensioners IS
$50, and tie annual amount Of Their pensions IS S62,
O6i. The number of minor children pensioners is rs,
and the amount Of t.cr pensions is Sl4,3lI; making
an aggregate oil Sul pens oNcls, iio,i-~ "a
The amount Of stocks the credit OF he Navy pension
fund, lst ofOct 1898, was S390,s"2 %
| On the lst Of Oct, 1882 col, l39 GG
Difference Sl39GG3 25
Which sum was applied to the payment Of pensions
granted by Of Congress, and accounts reported by
the Fourth Auditor and Second Comptroller.
About $50 GOO will be required to pay PENSIONS which
will become due the lst Of January, $40, and to meet
arrearages as they nay BE- reported.
4 brlo 81 hn,,p hnrn
been invested in bank State, and corporation stocks,
which greatly deprcciatcd the above stat
ed probably be realized By the sale CT less than
$50 900 S9G,00o OF stocks. lu the hope that they
may in degree from this state Of drprcs-
sion, and unwilling 10 make great sacrifice would
suggest that the subject be brought TO the early aten.
ton of Congress.
On the Sd Of March, 1857, the cupita Of the navy
pension fund was 81 3d. and previously to the
act Of Congress OF that date 'for the equitable
administration Ct the navy pension fund the annual
interest and dividends sufficient TO dciray al the
expenditures. Under this act the navy pension fund
has decreased with increasing CELEBRITY large portion
of the pensions granted in conformity with il Prov
SONS involving arrca;aErs commencing many years
4 terror - It's passage.
The ,cnsto;.s ,nvaids now the list FOR life,
and not during the continuance Of disability, was the
case before the passage o; The a.: OF ~. m Q! jnIr,
ls3,: these 10 widows until thy sal! marry die;
and those children until they attain the age Of TWEEN
one years. II is therefore certain that AZ the end OF
two years. al farticSt, navy pension tid VIII De
hausted Under the existing laws there is not lie least
prospect of any decrease in the number of pensioners
or the amount of their PENSIONS and, consequently,
Congress will be called upon to redeem the pledge
tanned in the ninth section of the Of Odd April,
1900 make good any deficiency in the navy pension
fund arising out Of lis own legislation.
The frs; section OF the of Sd March, 1887, pro-
vdes that pensions TO widows children shall be paid
from the date Of the demise of the husbands or fathers
The only condition Isl that the demise shall have hap
l,r,
made in regard TO the Of death, Of the
period OF service Of the deceased; al placed the
same footing and all alike partake Of the national
bounty.
Arrearges pensions for than thirty years
years, in one instance involving the payment Of more
$4,000, have been paid under this section, which has
mainly caused the rapid dnnutiCn of fund original
ly constituted fec The sole purpose of providing fer
officers and nly, disabled in the naval service
claim has bCca presented account OF in
dridual who died n $3.50 about month after his entry
into the service AID i: allowed, large will be
CURED pay it, Eut not being certain that tbs first
section intended 70 authorize such profusc cxpcn-
dure of the navy tension fund, have suspended the
pay :nert, and refer the Clam for the decision Ct
Congress.
7 The second section Of the same act provides hat
"peas:ons watch may have been granted which
shall hereafter be granted, TO officers, seaien, and
Marines in the naval service, disabled By wounds
or injuries received the lire of their duty, shall
commence from the time when they were disa-
bled" 1t has been found impossible 10 discriminate,
with any degree Of accuracy, in occurring nj
such remote periods, to the precise time at which
the disability commenced, and the date OF the wound
injury has necessarily been assumed, that of the
commencement of the pension, although, in many
cases, there were strong circumstances indicating that
the disability did not until long afterwards II
may also be remarked that under this OF the act
of Sd Of March 1887, in connection with the 9Th
ton of the Of 2d April, 1896, persons wounded,
otherwise injured, thirty thiry-fVe wears ago, Gay
receive pcns!"ns commencing from the time w,,n the
Injuries sustained, although they have rcnained
i'll the service SINCE in the enjoyment of full pay,
and must continue TO do until Congress shall other
! wise direct.
Under the liberal construction given to the navy PEN
sion laws of the United States, has been heretofore
assumed that full pensions and full pay may be allowed
at one and the same time, TO the same persons; and
| sometimes il has not been considered necessary or
even discretionary III executing these laws, exclude
persons afflicted with diseases and inr.ntcs. 20 which
mankind are subjected in every situations and unGer all