The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-17

bin and the House bill the period limited three
The Senate the latter part OF The month OF January lS4e
He left New Orleans for the shmus OF Panama early in
The month OF March suppose now, that three years
from the time be entered upon the discharge of his duties
will not be sufficient for the completion OF this work
have left the period in the amendment blank In order TO
bring the attention OF The Senate to the subject hardly
known what period should be selected but propose
three years from January 1850 The truth is that only
very small part OF this work has yet been done The
initial point upon The Pacific coast has been fixed;
thing like nye miles OF the line has been towards
the ella; the conjunction OF the ella with the Coora-
do river has been ascertained and about one mile from
that point towards the coast has been marked and this,
believe, Is all that has been accomplished.
Mr.. BADGER. Say the first OF July, 1850.
Nj. SMITH Why do you prefer that date
Mr. BADGER Because il is the beginning OF the
Mr.. SMITH Very we'll Win the Secretary have
the goodness to insert the LIST OF july 1885, in the
MI. DAVIS, Of Mississippi. Mr., President, / wish to
move an amendment TO the amendment OF the senator
from Connecticut MIR. SMITB.1 / will say nothing
aboat the amount Of the salary fixed by the senator
think it small for the station but wish to make
mark about the position assumed by the honorable
tor as TO the amount OF work which has been executed
hold that great deal has been done; hold that the
grand problem has been solved which was to determine
the initial point and direction OF the line which connects
the boundary on the Pacific with the junction OF the
Gila and Colorado. Both extremiles have been settled
and il is simple operation, which any sur
yeyor PERFORM TO connect the two ends oil that line
Il is the simplest part OF the labor which remains TO be
u
labor by the length of the line which has to be The
senator mistaken when he supposes that very little has
been accomplished. The difficulty was TO establish the
initial point and the direction in which the line should
run Tor this, science and judgment We're required. That
has been performed upon both ends. OF the line
Now + s simple operation 81 9o surveying
river ella to the point where another constructive
line is 70 be established, to connect the branch Of the
ella with the intersection Of the boundary line and the
Rio Gande There will occur another high astronomical
problem TO be solved as that to which have reerre has
been done the rest all simple surveying and this ope-
ration may be rapidly performed | think no more time
will be necessary than has been allowed by the senator's
| first proposition.
The line that has been determined from San Diego to
peted funds have been furnished The Off
Ger IN command, who has acted the astronomer, has
directed this TO be tone by his lieutenant Ii is 10 trace
| the line, and set up the monuments along it
The amendment which propose to offer is to aid,
after the word "saryeyor" in the amendment Of the
senator IRON Connecticut, AMI the astronomer" and
alter the words doars per annum," The words = aud
either Of these duties being having been, performed
BY an officer OF the army that his pay during the lime OF
| the employment shall be increased 10 that sum
offer this amendment for the 70 lowing The
duty Of astronomer is quite d niie1 and requires
higher grade OF requirement than that OF Commits
sioner surveyor. The surveyor in fact -ubofi
nate officer 10 the astronomer The Mexican commits.
sioner and surveyor officers of nigh rank and OF
nigh grade OF compensation An officer Of our army has
heretofore been engaged in performing the duties of
| tronomer and, indeed do not know where else we
should 20 to get the astronomer who combines
Economical with Typographical anainmenis is prrha.s
nowhere else TO be found-ceriaiDy in such past
lion that he would accept this appointment II may
assumed then thai we compelled TO select officer
OF the army and when this is done il is neither just
polite thai be should be expected supp himself
the pa. Of captain Unless the provision herein pro.
posed be made, this will be the have referred to
know the condition OF the country The result is, that
the compensation ia the case supposed, and which. il
this amendment fail, will be the existing will be
hardly sufficient TO have servant and buy his supplies
OF absolute necessity When, therefore, you select an
officer competent for this duty and require him to sacr
hce all other considerations TO his Official cations,
you should give him adequate compensation, and shield
HIS professional and his national pride You should
take into account the station and the associations
service hope Tfee that this does not require further
: Mr. DICKINSON. The amendment offered by the
senator from Connecticut, [Mr SMIrH,l objec-
the salary of the officers and 10 limit the Term Of service
do not object TO the amendment OF the senator from
Mississippi, lMr. DAVIS although it takes the matter
little Of the channel had designed for this bill but
he thinks il necessary for the public service, shall
consume any time IN Directing TO IT, Let me say il is
very desirable TO get through with the bill.
Mr.. SMITH cordially approve Of the amendment
suggested by my honorable friend from Mississippi MIR
DAyBl lwish to call his attention, however, to pro-
vision contained in the House bill, having view, in
part the very object the honorable has adverted
to- The object OF that amendment is in the Pre-
sdent powe, to make an extra allowance TO officers OF
the army, when stationed the Pacific coast and espe
cially In California where we all know that their
lar pay not sufficient cover their expenses and
may be in consequence OF that fact that this provision has
been inserted in the House BILL in order that the Presi.
dent may be clothed with discretion in the matter TO
make such extra allowances may be Just and reasonable
TO the extra expenses OF the officers OF the regular
army that may be engaged in the service The amend
ment OF my honorable friend applies only 10 officer
the astronomer attached 10 the commission for running
the boundary suppose he will be from the corps OF
typographical engineers There will be other officers OF
that corps associated with him in that duty Colonel
Emory and some other officers originally detailed
Tor assistance in the discharge OF those duties suggest
therefore, that there ought TO be provision there
the House BILL TO cothe the President with the pewer OF
making such extra allowances to all those officers de-
be reasonable, in consequence Of the extraordinary
penses which they must necessarily incur.
Mr.. DAVIS, OF Mississippi | have no doubt that
there should be such general provision has been de-
scrbed by the honorable from Connecticut Mr.
SMITH for extra allowance to officers who sta.
toned on the Pacific coast in Oregon and in California
well the boundary survey, and hope that some
such provision may be adopted. Yet do not feel that
the amendment which have offered would be rendered
unnecessary even by such a general provision.
Thefact, Mr. President Is SIMPLY this: An officer is
selected for duty on the boundary survey; ii he be
signed TO his brevet rank, and have command equal to
that rank, he 10 allowed brevet pay But when, at
this time, the command is reduced below that due the
bevet rank understand the decision TO he that he is
then reduced TO his original pay. The proposition TO
which the senator refers is highly proper Officers
ing upon that services any other in Oregon and Cali
forna, should be provided for by some such arrange
kind. The duties are OF high dignity and great import
ance He Is associated with officers OF the Mexican SER
vice oil high rank and emolument II he should he a
lieutenant, his breve pay, IL allowed for the high