Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-06-17

To the Editors.
Gentlemen: You will obige me by giving place in
the Intellgencer TO my letter of May 81, to the Hon.
Mr. Gilmer of Virginia, and to his reply TO the same
Discussion on the subject being now, as IT apPears,
closed in the House. justice to Inc as an officer and
citizen las we'll as to Mr. Glmer) and certainly in
order to right understanding Of the case since The
publication Of the speech in the widespread crcula-
lion Of the National lntegencer, impel me to make
this reasonable request. Very respectfully,
ypnr obcdent servant, r. JONES.
June G. 1912.
WAsHiyGros, May 81, 1912.
Sir: perceive, from the publication Of your speech
in the lntegencer O. this morning, the by way of
Illustrating the "cases Of abuse which had occurred IN
only the Compiroles Offices at the seat OF Co.
vernment (elative to pay and allowances according 10
hrevet) you cite the of the present Adutant-Oe-
neral of The army That you may best perceive the er-
70, into which you have fallen, doubtless nadver!en-
w. in this matter, beg leave respectfully to refer you
10 Document No 49, H. r. 18th Congress, I'd session,
being the Report Of the Committee on Military Affairs,
to which my petition TO Congress of February y 500
was reerred and the special act OF Congress, whch
accorded 10 the humble mrmorlast the pay TdtionS,
forage and the number of SERVANTS provided for his
rank by ggEvgT as Brigader General IN the army.
Will YOU do me the Justice, as well as the Congress
which passed the law to read the memorial and the ar
gument BY which the was supported:
In his letter 10 the President, OF October $780, MI.
Secretary Cass snys:
$50 far as be vet pay is allowed to officers on account
of their personal services the claim of General Jones
is a very strong have found him an able faith
full jealous officer and his services are of the same
nature and his liability TO expense the same, as other
military officers having trevet rank stationed at the
seat of Government. Were free to act agreeaby TO
nv wishes should allow the claim without hesitaton;
but as the Goes not appear to come within the
written rules on the subject, being of the class
cited in the argument as presidents, and should,
Ike these he determined nv The unwrltten rules
ofanalogy, the principles Of the service and the
nature Of military duies the is respectfully sub
united TO the President, together with General Jones
argument, which takes full and think just view
of the subject.
And Mr.. Butler, Secretary of War pro tenn when
called upon 10 examine the subject february s, lo37
says
1.-THE aborous, extensive, and important character
of the Aduant- Generals services justly entitled him
to the pay and emouents Of his brevet rank; espe-
cally as since his accession the brcvet rank OF bril-
gadier lie duties of The Office have greatly increased
in consequence of tie heavy military operations and
other special matters Which have demanded his at
,euton 1t is evident, also, that several OF tic pre-
cedenls cited by him Of the chiefs of bureaus who re-
ceive the pay and emoluments of their breret rank
are directly in point particularly those OF the Colonel
OF the Corps Of Engineers and the head of the Topo
graphical Bureau.
"The President, however, has always doubted wle-
tier The acts Of Congress, allowing brevet pay, were
intended to embrace OF this sort and, though
he has nterfered with the usage which he found IN
force when he came into Office, he has not deemed IT
cxpedient TO extend it To any case. Concurring
in these doubts, and being only temporarily charged
with the care Of the Department, | could not think =
proper TO grant the within application, without the
press authority of the President which, for the rea-
sons above stated, is necessarily withheld
And the Hon. MIR. Butler concludes by saying -
stUnder these circumstances, General Jones will be
obliged to appeal 10 Congress, and as think his case
of great merit | trust it may receive the early and
favorable action of that body -
And the did reccirc the fdroraJie, il not the
"eary ccon Of Congress. The bill did not pass un-
noticed 1t was scrn,nizcd strictly, and, on its pas.
sage first opposed b. that patriot and vgant sentinel
of the Treasury, the Hon. Mr.. Petrkn, of Pennsyl
yaua but after careful exaninat ton of the military
view of the case, and the argument which sustained
my claim, he became Of its most Jealous advocates
Sensibly alive TO the injurious impression which your
deductions, when made to appy 10 my case are calcu-
lated TO produce in and out OF Congress- and knowing
full well it the iahes from your thoughts treat
it unfairly trust it may comport with your Of
Justice let he known that by ia,c land by
Executive favor authority, for that was denied mel
entitled 10 receive the value Of my commission
Brgader. General ~ 6:tra.
lam, Sir, with great respect, your obt serv't,
Ofthc .7rmyU. s, and a citizen Of paginia.
The Hon. T. w. GiLMER,
A Representative in Congress from Virginia.
WAsHscroS, May 3st, 1912.
Sir: have received your letter of this date, with
the documen, to which you REFER calling my attention
TO the fact that in your the allowance ohrevet pay
NC was made under the authority of special act Of
Congress was aware Of this. Indeed, it appears on
the face Of the document from which cited few Of
the many cases reported, in which brevet pay, add.
,ona ratons, and allow for more than Office
at The same time had been admitted. My object in
the recent debate the army appropriation was to
show the propreiy of substituting fixed, specific COM
nensaiion in leu Of The various contingent and