The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-31


various causes Of dsrangesnens. Before explain
ing the provisions Of Tho bail, he would premise
by saying that this was not . pension hiIl. !,
did not increase expenses, nor did Il diminish
them The first section provides, that whenever
officers become from age. or from wounds or dis
ability. received while "a servics. inca pabIs Of per-
forming duty, they shalt be placed on retired
list Dtsubif les arising from other causes will
not ent'tle officers to the bsneA.a Of the act. The
nrst sec IN farther provides, that when an officer
70 FOUND Incompetent for the performance Of the
duties Of his grade, he shall be plee~d on the re-
1t re u, re,a ming The paw provided bv Nv. TO-
gether with his service ration The next oflcer
IN rank shall succeed him, who shall receive only
thsspay proper OF his own grade but shah re-
ce've the allowances Of his predecessor. Mr.. B.
illustrated the operation Of the principle by refer
ring to the several grades Of officers in the amy
The second section provided against abuses that
might arise. When the President deems an Al.
Ger incompetent, but the officer himself believes
that he 10 competent, it 10 made the duty OF the
Secretary of War to summon board Of officers
Of superior rank, who shall determine the matter.
The third section provided that gallant officers
who from woupds Or Other disabilities received in
the service, are entitled 70 pensions. shall not be-
deprived thereof upon going on TO the retired list.
No member Of this House, no American citizen
could be desirous Of dspriving Of their pensions,
the gallant officers who had been wounded in the
battles of their country The fourth section makes
the provisions Of the bill applicable to the Marine
corps. Mr.. b. then vent TO state the great num-
Der Of officers reported in 1916, a. incompetent
for the performances Of duty, from causes spscifsd
In the bill before the committee. In the Mexican
war, brigades had been commanded hy captains
Justice required that whom officers performed the
dutis. of those higher grades, they should receive
the allowances given by law to that higher grade.
II Mr.. B. was 70 be told that the incompetent Off
provided for in this bill should be dismissed; IL
he was 10 b told that they were cankers ofa long
rsacs, he would ask the gentleman making the
out rank or pay. Lot any gentleman having the
heart make the proposition. Mr.. B. concluded
by expressing the desire, that tn House should
bring this matter to decision. FIe wished 70 see
whether the House would take the responsibility
OF refusing 10 do that which would not add to tbs
army expense, but would enforce the necsssarv
rigor into that arm ofthe service.
Some conversation here took place between
Msssrs. PARKER and BuRr, which was not heard
at the reporters desk.
Mr. GlDDiNGS moved to refer the bill to the
COMMITTEES Of the Whole on the state Of tho
Union, and proceeded to remark that the bill con-
tsmplated an increase Of expenses, when
Mr.. BURT, interrupting, restated the provi-
sion Of the bill, whereby it was shown that no ad-
ditional expenses would be incurred.
Mr.. GlDDlNGS, resuming, said he was un-
willing to let the subject pass without remark.
No more merit attached to officers for facing tho
opinion. He could find ten to one here, who have
less fear In tho former than in the latter It
was more appropriate to establish civil list for
those Congressman, who, on account Of their pe-
iical Independence, had incurred popular dis
pleasure. The establishments of a retired list OF
rmy officers was following the example Of Great
Britain, and other nations Of Europe, where the
people were borne down by taxation.
Mr.. J. A. KING submitted some remarks re-
lating to the necessity Of the measure. The bill
was we'll guarded, and had been sanctioned by the
proper officers Of the Government We were
called on to enact it, in order to increase the e.
fciency Of the army. He thought the bill would
effect that object We should act peremptory.
II the bill was referred to the COMMITTEES Of the
Whole, il would be consigned to the tomb Of all
the CapuIets. Mr.. X. closed by demanding the
previous question, which was ordered.
The main question also ordered.
Mr.. TOOMBS then moved to lay the bill on
the table, which motion prevailed-ayes "a,
maya 49,
ofthe vote.
Mr.. TOOMBS moved to Law the motion on the
table.
Mr.. McLANE rrised pc;n, Of order upon the
admissibility Of the last motion, but the Speaker
decided il in order.
Mr.. WENTWORTH then moved a reference
Of the bill to the Committee of the Whole. Mega
tived--ayes 81, nays l02.
Of Mr.. TooMss, it was decided in the affirmative
ayes 80, nays 81.
NEW YoaK n,Nr BILL
On motion of Mr.. ROBBINS, the House went
into Committee OF the hole on the bin estab-
fishing branch mint at New York, and one in
Snn Francisco.
Mr.. CARTIER in the Chair.
Mr.. CHANDLER, being entitled to the floor,
said that his amendment to the Senate bill for a
hiram oh mir At Nnw Vail ovid nN all
necessary 10 the public convenience. It provided
for an Assayer's Office in New York, and for a
mint and Assayer's Office IN California. Respect
ing the charge Of ircapacity alleged against the
mint at Philadelphia, lie stated that we were le-
gslatng not for the present, but for the future
The mint, one year ago, WINS not competent to
coin all the bullion accumulated thereat. But now
it competent TO do all that it might be required
even If another California was to present ITSELF
The largest coinage previous TO the last year,
was in 1647, when il was fourteen millions Of dol
lars. The famine in Ireland. and the general
failure of crops throughout Europe, then turned
the balance Of trade to this country. France, the
greatest coming country in the world, had never
exceeded twenty I'VE millions Of dollars. Great
Britain had never reached onethird Of that amount
except in the year when specie payments were re-
sumed in that country The whole amount coined
at Philadelphia, during the last year. was twenty
seven millions Of doars. Ten million pieces had
been coined. When that mint was established,
assay Of gold was not contemplated. In con-
sequence oftte influx of bullion, Congress had
appropriated $4,000 to provide for the Analysing
~ gold This provision was not carried into ef
fect until October last. The greatest difficulty ex
perienced al the mint was in analysing, not in
coming. Three or four months had been
sumed for th0former purpose. The mint was
now capable, in all its departments, Of coming
from seventy-R 10 one hundred millions of dol
lars. A. TO the charge that the coinage Of last
year was nearly all 10 double eagles, and vas
therefore easy, he said that the character of the
coinage depended upon the desire Of the person
deposi,ing the bullion. Mr.. c. then spoke of the
advantages Of that species of coin for commercial
purposes. He proceeded 10 read communica-
iion from the director Of the mint, which asserted
the capab'lity Of the mint to perform all that could
he required Off, even 10 the amount Of one hun
Ord millions Of dollars. He then proceeded to
show that the establishment Of mint at New
York would cost kfeen times as much ~ the
transportation OF bullion between that city and
Philsdsipkia. A mint at San Francisco would SUI
psrceds sntirsly the need Of one AT New York.
Mr.. G. closed by snumsrating the already large
"A C,r nf k