Arkansas democratic banner., 1851-03-25
Congressional Proceedings.
THIRTY FIRST coNsREss-sECoND SESSION.
 WAsmScToS, Feb. IS 1880 TIFF WIn0W nR IEIrP f.fNI uE.. r,r,r,,r


 bill for tue relief of the widow of the late Lieu. tenant Colonel William Grey, of Arkansas; which was rad first aud second time by is title Mr. B. said; now move that. the bill be put upon IS passage; and as 1 shall not ask that any other bull which shall report from that commit lee be pat upon it's passage, and the gentleman ff0n Arkansas 1f. JoHssoNl takes very erea, interest tins bill, whose term of service expisey esith the present session ef Conxfass am the more earnest thGt should feeEfre iimeufase con sdcEation of the House. shall be greatly obliged 1f the House allow me five minutes to explain the general merits of the biil, sftcr which hope 1t will be disposed of ar once. r
 Mir Speaker this bill Is for the relief of the wid. ow of Inc late Lieutenant Colonel W iliam Grey. Of the Slate of Arkansas, whose husband rose from the rank of pnvaie soldier to that of lieutenant colonel of lui battalion of infantry and dragoons who volunteered from the State of Arkansas in the Mexican war. He enlisted as private soldier but was elected to the command of a battalion of infantry consisting of three companies, and two companies of dragToonS. He commanded that bat talon with great credit to himself and benefit to his country; but inaSmueh aS hr and aj0Fity Of the troops under his command were infantry, the Department paid hun only the compensation of a lieutenant colonel Of infantry. suppose that by some construction Of the rules Of that Department he was entitled 10 no higher pay. They recom- mended that he should receive relief from Con gfeSS. His widow, 1 am informed, Is entirely des- utute, and that IS my only excuse for asking this House now to take up and pass this bill. 1 be- lreve that merits of the bill well understood not single member on this floor would object to It's immediate passage.
 Mr Williams moved that the bill be referred to the Committee of the whole House.
 NIT Burt. l would remark that the bill asks only the difference between the pay of lieutenant colonel of Infantry and dragcons. l ask that the bin be read
 It was read.
 The Speaker said the bill could only be eonSid- cred by unanimous consent.
 Mr Giddings objected.
 Mir Burt said the bill makes no appropriation, and on this account he thought it did not require the unanimous consent of the House to entertain the bill.
 The Speaker said that the bill provided an ap- preparation of money out of the Treasury to pay the additional compensation provided in the bill.
 Mr Gddings withdrew his objection NIT Fowler asked if the bill required an appro- pfiaioni
 The Speaker replied in the affirmative
 Mir Fowler asked what was tine amount asked to be approprlatedl
 Mir Burt said t merely asked to raise his pay to that of lieutenant colonel of cavalry instead of the pay of that grade in the infantry
 Mir JOHNSON, of Arkansas. This gentleman has held the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Ar my, and has performed q highly merIto, ious ser Yice.
 During the Mexican war he commander pat talion of troops. These troops consisted of two companles of cavalry and three of infantry. The Department determined that, as a majority of his troops were infantry, he should receive pay as an officer of infantry only. Now, his services were rendered more as officer of cavalry than that of infantry The deparune It thought they had not the power to pay hlm more than for the service of an officer of infantry, but they recommended his case tO Congress for relief.
 tl. of llasat t,fT. dueed to destitute circumstances Her husbsud died soon after the close of the war. and left his accounts unadiuSted It is for these reasons that this bull has been presented IL seems 10 Iue to be very meritotious case. The bll allows only the difference of SIS per mouth greater than the De partInent was permitted to allow. 1 hope the bill win receive the favorable consideration of the House.
 Mir Fowler. l do not know that the case IS not a meritorious one; when am called upon to put my haxd into the Treasury want to know how much IS to be appropriated. Now, as do not know the amount which IS demanded think have the right to ask If can get that information.
 NIT JOHNSON, of Arkansas Well; sir, SIX months, 1 understand, Is the time for which the servlce continued. Now, the bi asks for an in- crease on hls pay of SIS pef month. The gentle man can make the calculation for himself
 NIT Fowler. That IS something definite; l know what that means
  having been engroSsed; Il was lead third time and passed.
 PAYMENT FOR HORSES.
 MT Caldwell from the same committee, to which had been referred the bill of the House to amend an act entitled "An act to provide for the payment of horses and other property lost or destroyed in the military scry,ce of the United States" approx ed Sd March, 4si9, reported the same back with amendments
 Mir Caldwell asked that the Llll be put on it's passage.
 NIT Phelps asked that the bill be read. with the amendne ntS. and Said that he would endeavor to give Il bret explanation m order to show that 1t ought to be passed.
 The bll was read, aS follows:
 Be tt eaaeteJ by the Senate and H,lse of Rsgre- ssnsaiires ef tse Uaitsd States q AHer,ea a Con-. gross aseHtbaed, That the above reeitcd act be- and the same is hereby so amended as to embrace the claims of any field, staff, other officer, mount ed nlihtlsman, volunteer, ranger, or cavalry who has sustained, or shall sustain damage by the abandonment or destruction of horse or horSes, and equipage, CT either, by the order of the Com mandIng General or other commandlng oE superior oftceT, quartefmaSter, wagon master, or by the loss of horse oI hoF5es, aud eQgip9ge, or either n consequence of his being unable to procure sufficient supply of forage. when incumbent upon hnm by the terms of his appointment or enlistment to furnish hs own forage, or he shall have received communication ln money therefor, m conseq nence of having sDld abandoned, or otherwise disposed of hS horse of horses and esiuipage, or either be cause ordered by hEs officer to embark and leave the same, and the United States failed to supplyi transportation therefor, or by the loss of horse or horses and cqulpagd, or either, m consequence of said horse oa horses and eiupage, CT either having escaped. strayed or beea stolen or ininred, os by any otheT unavoidable aceideat wllateyeT, CT by having, by osdeI of the Commanding General, of other commanding CT superior officer, turl.ei over hts horse or horses, and eqaipaee either, to any quartennaster, or other authorized agent of the United States, whether reeep. therefor IS pfo- doced or not, esby having ridden his hsSe or kor- ses on e1psess, oE any other severe and fatigaing duty, by order Of hls Commanding Geneszi or other commanding CT superior officer; Prsclied, Ina, in the adjudication and settlement of the claims un- der this act and the act to which | K anendatory there shall hereafter be deducted from tue value ol such horse oI noises, and eqRipage, or C her property, only such payment as tke claimant shah have received for the and risk of, of for for age for. such hosse hoTses after the loss there of, and before be was again renounted; and in