The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-03-05

s,d one hundred OF which shall be deposited IN the
H., Depaltmeni for the use OF officers OF The Navy 3
AZ, u.nrR>nAM replied at some length to the OBJ
;..,,,ns urped against the resolution.
Tovards the close Of his remarks, he look occa-
,.C., 10 the infamous calumny OF the Globe
- ~ southern Wing memoirs, published In that
:" ovening and repelled with disdain the i'm
f'f. a,,ennred 10 be fastened upon himself and
f;aAs while he also commented with just
"' i. coarse Of the habitual and systematic
s''e'"y =, character and iasifer Of Congressional
uho has the editorial charge Of the Off
eial organ OF the Administrator
'@ r.,,,,e prowls abou, the halls Of Congress,
"'l -. .n,e,s fol- SANDER and msrepresenta-
- no character OF The most distinguished and
ha,,,able men in Congress, and seemingly bent on
.,h.,ino The materials for elaborate pervtrsion aud
Justification .
Mr. S,urH made few remarks in reply to Mr.
Eabersham. The question was then taken on The
,.souti m. and II was negaliyed-fea 81, Nays W
Mr. JONES, OF Virginia, asked that the House
hould proceed to the consideration OF the bill Tor
continuing The Office OF Commissioner OF Pensions,
which was accordingly taken up; and the question
heing on the amendment of Mr.. Profit to reduce The
s,lary OF the Commissioner from $4,000 to $500, and
carried in the affirmative Ayes 20, Nays %
The next amendment, offered BY Mr. Davis, for
making general reduction Of salaries OF officers OF
the General Government, pro RATA was rejected.
The bin was then ordered to third reading
And the question on the hna passage o me Dill
Mr. HoPrM.N said that, il in order, he would now
move 10 recommt the bin iorlhe purpose oil striking
out the Ali section. That section provided that the
Naval Pension Fund whici had always been under
the direction of the Secretary of the Navy should
now be transferred to the charge OF the agenI-Mr.
Edwards In the first place, that pension fund did
not come out Of The ordinary resources OF The 90
.yerpmen, II had been created BY the galantry of
The Navy in The war Of 1912 10, and IA; and they
had always looked 10 the Secretary Of the Navy as
their trustee 10 fulfil The objects for which the fund had
been created. II The 4h section should be struck
ont there was another bill coming from the Senate
which had especial reference 10 the naval pension
fund of the United States; and when this bill came
~ there would be time 10 discuss its provisions, and
to make such arrangements as to the manner in
which the fund should hereafter be managed, as
Nigh, be thought advisable This was the only mo-
tive which he now had in moving to recommit the
bill for the purpose Of striking out the 4th section.
Il might give much dissatisfaction to the officers Of
The Navy thai the guardian TO whom they had right
10 LOOK SnUulu Dc IeledSeu from responsibility
that the fund should be mingled up with the other
funds Of the Government, and TO be accounted for,
the Secretary of the Navy, but to The Secreta-
RI OF War.
Mr.. JONES, Of Virginia, would give brief expla-
nation in regard to this proposition. He was de-
sirouS TO have done SO before, and would have done
80 had il been for the necessity which existed
that the bill should be acted upon without delay. II
that portion of this fund had been created
under the enactment of Congress, and consisted of
prize money taken in the war of 1912, 'l3, and a.
and which was set apart for this purpose. Another
portion, called the Naval Hospital Fund, consisted
Of portion of the wages OF officers and seamen be-
longing 10 the Navy. This fund, heretofore, had
been under the direction ofthe Secretary of The Ma
w but, owing to communication from that officer
himself (Mr. J. supposed the matter was taken up
in anoth branch of the Legislature, and this
uon Of the bill incorporated into it, Mr. j. here
read extract from the report OF the Department,
10 show that the section had been introduced at the
instance of the Secretary Of the Navy himself. i
The labor imposed upon the Secretary Of the Navy
was so great that he could not discharge the duties,
and the consequence that they must of necessi-
ty be devolyed upon a subordinate clerk. In the
present case, the proposition TO put The fund in
charge Of the Commissioner of Pensions, where
there would be sufficient responsibility; and, al
though would not be direct the Secretary Of the
Navy, yet il would be direct to an officer Of equal
grade with The Secretary of the Navy The fund
would be in the charge Of a naval officer who had
performed faithful public service, and there would
be more responsibility, and a prospect OF better
discharge Of the duty than under existing arrange
mentS coupled to the additional prospect of uniior
nifty of decision through the whole system Of pen
sion laws.
Mr.. ]. then moved the previous question, but
withdrew it at the request OF Mr.. Hoffman, and on
the pledge OF that gentleman to renew ii.
Mr. HOFFMAN, said that the very difficulty which
he had apprehended from want of time had now
presented itself. II was important that this bill
should be passed to-day; and neither the patience
nor the time of the House would admit Of salsfac-
tory investigation now. Ii was for this reason that
he had submitted his motion in such general terms
Ii the House should hereafter think thai this 4h
section right, they could after having come to
deliberate Judgment incorporate it into the Naval
Pension Fund Bill, when it should come up in the
course OF two or three weeks. II, however, the
House should now pass the section without under
standing its effect, listening 10 the arguments
which might be urged against it, il would be TOO late,
when The Naval Pension Fund Bill should come up,
10 make The desirable alteration He did not there
lore, mean TO offer any substitute at present; he
merely wished the House TO strike out the section
SO as TO give time for consideration.
THIS proposition contemplated very important
change, SO far it regarded the interests of the
Navy and yet the change might be right or might
De wrong, 1t was most important change-preg-
nant with good as with evil to that body The
amendment had never passed through the Commit
zee on Naval Affairs, which was the appropriate
committee TO have passed judgment upon il, and 10
daVe presented it 10 the House. Now, if the House