The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-13

resolution reported from the Committee on Naval Affairs
nstrucng said committee to inquire into and report upon
the legality of the orders OF the Secretary OF the Navy
giving assmilaed rank TO surgeons, assistant surgeons
and puses; and the expedency OF repeating or conhnu
ing the same by law.
Mr. f. proceeded to explain but was called 10 oidef,
the motion not being debatabie.
Mr. SCHENCK asked the general consent OF the House
TO explain the resolutions but, objection being made me
question was put upon the motion to reconsider ana de-
cided by ellers, in the atrmative-yeas "a nays 90
The question recurring again upon laying ne iesoiu
lion upon the table, IL wac decided In lhe negative ny
elleN-yeas so, nays 50.
The question recurring upon the adoption Oh inc reso
Mr.. SCHENCK addressed the House in explanation OF
the resolution Ii was simply inquiry into the egall
ty of the orders made BY the Secretary and no one
would commit hss IN AMY sspe 10 ss U o ~
ant surgeons and pursers IN the navy the rank OF lieu
tenant during the first twelve years OF their service and,
after that time, the rank of commanders There was, TO
say the least, question whether the gentlemen issuing
the orders (Mr Bancroft and Mr.. Mason) had not in
frnged upon the powers granted by The constitution to
Congress But suppose the orders were IN fact legal
was il not proper doubt existed relation 10 the
matter, TO ascertain what its position and TO SET
lie the point by law' Mr. s. was aware that there were
many plausible Arguments in favor of giving such assm-
lated rank One OF these arguments was that these
surgeons and pursers-cvilians men Of education and
frequently advanced IN yeaswers before allowed this
assimlated rank frequently placed in unpleasant posi-
tions--posilons degrading TO their feelngs-n con
sequence Of being outranked by younger officers
some OF them in many respects the interiors OF the for
good for anything must OF course oblge the Secretary
OF the Navy to put epauettes upon the shoulders OF the
chaplains in the navy The argument particularly failed
in the of pursers under the present mode of making
these appointments. Formerly that post was gwen to
| experienced merchans-men supposed to be emlnently
qualified to act as accountants on board the vessels to
which they appointed But, at the present day, the
appointments given to county lawyers editors
OF newspapers &c in many cases. Tor political services
said to have been performed.
Again, there great injustice in the terms OF the
orders in question. 1t would be found by reference to
the Navy Register that the euenants OF 1918 had not
vet obtained the rank of commanders. Thus these men
the military who had borne the brun OF the service,
and in many suffered for the good OF the country,
in whose service they had spent their lives, were super
seeded by civilians, who claimed to know than those
MIR. HOUSTON, Of Delaware, inquired Of the gentle
man from Ohio MIR srhsNrk] whether this assimated
military authority, or only nominal advancement?
| Mr.. SCHENCk acknowledged that IT did not, IN the
strict in which the gentleman had worded his in
quiry; but upon that very point doubt had arsen
and authority had been attempted under the rank confer
red, which had led to frequent conaictions This was
Navy should be put into some shape by law The pay Of
the lieutenants in the navy-son,e Of whom had spent
their lives in the servee-d not exceed the pay of OF
the assistant clerks of that House. Even when in
mand Of vessel, his salary did exceed that of the
Clerks first assistant The clerk provided by the House
day or two since for the Committee Of Claims, would
that attached them to the service' 1t was love of it
They looked for promotion, and expected it, as the
reward Of theft services. Additional rank was a
part Of their pay and yet the surgeons who received at
the start much larger salary, which increased
era hundred dollars every few years. allowed rank
which their services had not entitled them to- and which
was withheld from those who fought the guns and rep
resented their country with the bravery which American
seamen always exhibited. i.
quiry. but to the application made to the House by the
committee for instructions to do that which had the
power to do already
There was, however, another objection The Presi-
nd in
tee Of the Whole the state OF the Unions and the very
subject under present consideration, among others, was
presented to the House in that message The friends of
the gentleman from Ohio Mr. ScHENcK] had refused to let
that message go to the committees properly having charge
OF the various subjects treated therein but when they
wanted special subject upon which to operate IN the
committee which would, when the message referred,
have charge of the resolution was brought into the
House from that committee asking for instructions TO
consider that subject He (Mr R) heard that tbs was
| the commencement of new system ot parliamentary
usagc, sought to be introduced into that House In reply
to the gentlemaNs remarks in relation to the injustice Of
the ORDERS" he would say word only. The assmi-
lated" rank gave those upon whom was conferred the
rank of euenants, &c. only in courteses and aeeommo-
dations ship board The surgeons ard pursers former
y occupied sort of intermediate position between the
forecastle and the Quarterback and it TO relieve
them from the unpleasant consequences OF such posi-
ton that the assimated rank conferred 1t gave
Il epaulettes-no commissons-no additional pay.
Mr.. ROOT demanded the previous question; which
was seconded and the main question was ordered o be
now put )" and being put the yeas were 50, nays TO-
so the resolution was adopted
4 CLERKS IN PENSION OFFICE.
i Mr.. JONES. Mr.. Speaker, | desire to move, ii in
order, to discharge the Committee of the Whole the
state of the Union from the further consideration of the
joint resolution reported by the chairman of the Commit
ice on Revolutionary Pensions, providing for the employ
| Hent of additional clerks in the Pension Office.
4 The SPEAKER. 1t is not in order.
/ Mr.. JONES Cannot the House, by general consent,
discharge the Committee of the Whole the state of
the Union from the further consideration of the subject
4 The SPEAKER. The House, by unanimous consent,
can do ANYTHING
u Mr.. JONES. Then, sir, hope no gentleman will OBJ
ject This is subject of urgent and pressing necessity,
which the constituents of every member of this House
are interested These additional clerks be author
led and the the better For the information of
the House, will state that by conference with my col.
leauge tire chairman who reported this resolution it is
proposed should the subject be taken from the commit
tee in order to free from the rule which requires that
first considered in Committee of the Whole on the state
of the Unon to move to strike out much of the
luton proposes to make appropriation pay these
clerks, and pass the resolution providing merely for the
employment of the additional clerks in the Pension Or
ce leaving the appropriation to pay them be passed in
the general appropriation bill There is, satisfied
general disposition of this House to pass this measure
i in some form, and hope no objection will be made
! Objection being made by Mr.. MCKAY, the committee
were not discharged.
II TERMINATION OF DEBATE.
Il Mr.. BOYD submitted the usual resolution terminating
the debate in committee the Presidents message nj
2 O'Clock tomorrow.
II Mr.. X. HALL moved to lay the resolution upon the
table; upon which motion the yeas and nays were de-
manded, and ordered; and, being taken, resued-yeas