The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-14

iht uil was teH IebOTttu to tile ncHdtcg
men was concurred in, and the bill was ordered TO
third reading. and subsequently read third time
Mr.. UNDERWOOD asked that the act to which the
bill referred might be read Or il not read, that its pro
visions might be explained by the chairman OF the Mill
tary Committee.
Mr., DAVIS of Mississippi That act provides for
half pay to the widows of officers and soldiers who have
been killei in the with Mexico, or who may have
died while their return from the seat OF war to the
United States This bill extends the act OF 1913 so as to
cover the of widows and orphans OF the soldiers
who have died after their return to the United States OF
wounds received and diseases incurred while IN the war
with Mexico in the line OF duty The law now IS. that
if wounded officer die after he has arrived at home,
instead of in Mexico or on his way home, the widow
and orphan shall receive nothing.
Mr.. BORLAND. If II be III order, have an amend
ment which wish TO offer 1t affects the interests of
great many soldiers. The amendment is this to extend
the benefit of the act TO the widows and orphans OF the
soldiers who volunteered to go to Mexico but who did
go TO the seat OF but served the frontiers OF
ths LIaiied States IN the lndran country.
The VICE PRESIDENT decided the amendment not
to be in order, but said 1t might be made by unanimous
Objection being made, Mr.. BORLAND moved to re-
consider the vote upon the third reading Of the bill.
Mr. DAVIS of Mississippi. hope the senator from
Arkansas will not press his amendment The bill which
is offered is only explanatory OF the provisions OF
The original BILL and in accordance with That is believed
to be lis true spirit and not TO extend Legislation.
would prefer TO consider this matter in separate BILL in
order not to embanass the one under consideration
hope. therefore, the senator will not press his motion
MIR BORLAND. My idea with regard TO the effect OF
this amendment is, that has the effect the other
BILL and that there is no new legislation upon the sub
ject 1t will be recoecied that in the act making appro-
priaons of public lands for soldiers who had served in
the Mexican war, when it was extended to individuals
who had served upon the frontier it gave rise to a
good deal of troubles but after long tune, 1t was decl-
ded that such the intention OF the law, and the
bounty lands given to those individuals. The same
question now comes up upon this bill, and my amend
ment cannot, therefore, embarass the bill at all II 1t be
the meaning of the act granting the bounty land that the
benefits OF the should extend TO the soldiers who had
served the frontiers against the Indians, for the very
same reason the meaning OF THIS act now before the
Senate should extend the benefit OF the pension laws to
the Individuals It, therefore, does not extend legis
laton, but is merely explanatory OF the act hope,
therefore, as my amendment will not change the charac-
Ter of the BILL but is merely explanatory OF IT, the Senate
will allow a reconsideration
The question being taken upon the motion to recon-
slider, it was disagreed to- and the bill was then passed
CIVIL AND DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATIONS.
Mr. ATHERTON moved that the Senate resume the
consideration of the bill making appropriations for the
civil and diplomatic expenses OF the government for the
year ending June 80, 1850.
Mr. WEBSTER expressed the hope that the resolu-
tons upon the table would be taken up and considered
The question being taken upon Mr.. ATHERroN's mo-
ton, II was agreed to.
The Senate accordingly, as in Committee of the
Whole resumed the consideration OF the general appro'
pration bill
Mr.. ATHERTON moved to amend the bill by insert
ing provision approprating $1,000 for survey of the
Potomac rlver which was agreed to.
Numerous amendments were submitted and acted upon
of which however we were unable 10 obtain copies.
Mr.. ATHERTON moved an amendment approprating
$4,000 for continuing the construction OF the custom
house at Savannah, Ga, and 100000 for the construc
ton OF custom house at Charleston y u WhCh was
agreed to.
Mr. BERRIEN desire to submit an amendment TO
| the bill, page l6, lines 377 and 3SS. | move to strike
the words siy thousand eight hundred and insert
"seven thousand three hundred" The object is TO place
the chief of the bureau OF medicine upon the same loot
ng the chiefs OF the other bureaus This matter has
been presented TO the Committee on Finance, and. has
received their individual appreciation but they have pre-
feled Mat this motion should be made in the Senate
send to the Secretary letter which desire shall be
read
A letter from the Navy Department. recommending the
object contemplated by the amendment was read accord
Mr. BREESE believe, sir. have voted to
increase the pay of officers of the government but have
always voted against it /; and would now, with great
10 twenty five hundred dollars shall, however, vote
in favor of the proposition of the senator from Georgia
matter OF sheer usce, contrary to my usual course
Mr. ATHERTON. | must say hope this amendment
will not prevail. 1t is increase of a salary now hxed
by law and it certainly is poor rule that will not work
both ways. AT the last session the Senate took the
ground order to many of the salaries from reduc
lion, that they would neither increase nor diminish the
in the general appropriation bill and as lar as possible
make the appropriations according to the existing laws
| Mr. BADGER. Will the honorable senator from New
Hampshire allow me to correct msapprehenslon IN re
gard to matter of fact into which he has fallen He
has said that the Senate rejected the provisions for d.
we did not stop there. recolec very well, upon my
motion to increase the salary of the Commissioner OF
Pensions from twenty five hundred to three thousand dol
lars, in order to put him upon ioong with Inc
remainder of the sentence was not heard.
| Mr. ATHERTON. That certainly was an exception
to the general rule The general rule that we establish
ed is, that would not interfere with salaries estaD
lished by law This amendment processes to be Tor I'M
purpose of placing this gentleman upon the same footing
with the heads OF other bureaus Well s this operates
very well as an argument for the increase of salaries
but it used as an argument for the dmlnuor
of salary 1t does not operate an argument Tor TN
dimnuiion of salary Ii the amendments adopted tn
salary of this officer will be thrtyve hundred dollars
What will follow Others will come forward, and say tina
they have right to the salary as Is allowed IN thu
instance and because the head OF one bureau has thirty
! five hund red dollars, they will claim that they al
should have the same. This argument for increasing
the salaries seems to operate Tor thei
dimnuiion. II TO suggest itself to gentle
men, that because has been raised above tn
usual price given to the officers of his grade, tina
THAT is a reason for the reduction OF that salary.
do not know sir, where shall end, II we begin I'M
system of increasing salaries either OF the heads OF bu
reaus or of clerks because there have been many appi
cations of the There has been one before tn
the ordnance department has asked for pay while actn
at the head of the bureau equal 10 that OF the head
the bureau himself The application was, OF course re
iected There various other applications OF the sam
sort but can scarcely how caf, without MAXIM
nyidous exceptions otherwise than to make no pro
visions for the increase OF salaries In the appropriate
bills
| Mr. BERRIEN. Ii grathes me to believe, sir, tina
! The chairman of the Committee on Finance does nc
make any objection this motion because he doubts OF Ii
merits but because he doubts the propnety OF the a
plcation considered itself His objection results iron
technical rule, which he supposes the commi'.ee nav
pre- scrbed TO themselves under the sanction OF the Sen
ate; and BY the statement which has been made by IN
senator from North Carolina, the chairman OF the Com
mee on Finance is at fault IN his recollection OF ina