The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-01

Hampshire [AIr HALEl has stated the very instant we
require something practical, and that something IN the
very line OF their duty, which suppose Them emneny
qualified perform, they here and ask for extra
compensation II is this system OF granting extra com
pensaton, and giving preferred situations to officers IN
the navy and this outside influence which is exercised
TO keep them in those POSITIONS which than any
thing else delerioTaes the character OF the navy and
makes il great eleemosynary institution.
There are officers OF the navy who are as ignorant
practically OF the command OF ship any OF upon
this floor They are theoretically acquainted with what
is required but they cannot carry their knowledge into
practice We have officers oil the navy who, N placed
in command OF a ship to-day, would evince want OF
practical knowledge great as that oil any member OF
this body This arises from the fact that keep them
in situations where they precluded from acquiring The
practice OF their profession for Years al time These
preferred situations and the instant require
thing OF them which is OF practical character and with
in The line OF their duty they come here and ask for in
creased compensation.
agree with the senator from Massachusetts, [Mr DA-
vIs,l that il TO call upon scientific gentleman
great compensation. But | ask, have we not esab.
lshed this observatory DO detail officers and keep
them there for years. and do they not become experienced
in the performance of this identical duty by devotng
ordinary duties OF a naval officer We have officers
abroad al increased salaries 10 acquire this kind OF prac
teal knowledge and instead of taking the officers OF the
navy in rotation, and giving each oil them opportunity
to acquire this kind OF practical knowledge, keep the
identical officers in the situations Tor years. pre-
GLIDING others from obtaining them These situations
give them advantages which going officers do not
Joy and when call upon them to do what is simply
their duty, asked to give them extra compensa
ton.
Mr. CLEMENS There are some facts in connection
with this which ought TO be known TO the Senate
and 10 the country, and which, whether they have any
influence here not will have influence upon those
more strictly responsible TO the people than
Under the oil the 81 of March, s49 Lieutenant Davis
applied to the Fourth Auditor of the Treasury for SO 600
pay for experimenting the Nautical Almanac. The
Fourth Auditor rejected his claim. The Fourth Auditor
denied tina, he had the power 10 pay him. He then
to Congress and asked us 10 make appropriation Of
s., 900 for his benefit Upon my motion the $4,000 was
stricken out in this body Then under this act OF Congress
under which he had before denied the right pay him. the
Fourth Auditor, after the rejection by the Senate OF the
appropriation found the authority for the payment OF this
for two years back to Lieut. Davis; and. answer to
the letter Of the senator from New Hampshire Mr. HALE
he tells very grayely that while under The preceding
law-although this appropriation not in terms in
cludedhe could not pay it, yet under subsequent act OF
propration-which did not in terms exclude THE
justified in making this payment. According to his
sruction the terms of the must exclude it, Sir the jour
nal excluded il and by vote OF two 10 in this body
when he 10 ask for the appropriation rejected
it, Then the Fourth Auditor lakes the responsibility OF
making the payment in defiance of the Senate am OPP
posed TO any further appropriation was opposed to this
appropriation then but il was paid, and it would be
direct condemnation OF our own act if we 10
insert provision to justify the payment which has been
made in defiance of authority 1t has been paid under
the very law which he himsef-or his predecessor is
immateral which; 1t is the officer 10 whom reerwhich
the Fourth Auditor himself had declared did not justify
the payment After its rejection by Congress, he refers
TO that law and pays him the money.
have heard good deal about the propriely OF paying
talented gentleman, and all that Well, sir, there
great many accomplished officers and great many es
mabe gentlemen in the service OF the United States but
that does not justify them 10 putting their hands into the
public treasury These army and navy officers, it must
be remembered all they are to the government The
government educates them. The government supports
them and their services are due to the government
MIR. BORLAND, There is great deal of force and
pertnence in the observations made by the senator from
Alabama not because the amount OF the salary paid TO
Lieutenant Davis to any other officer OF the navy
too great but the principle that laid down yesterday
discussing the general character OF the deficiency bill
that it is wrong in itself, and deserves and should
ceve at the hands oil both houses OF Congress marked
reprobation. Some measures should be adopted 10
force the dsconnuance OF practice which has grown
up in this government which, during the last two or
three years appears 10 be accumuating in its enormy,
and which permits The Executive TO thrust his hand into
The public treasury, not only without authority OF law,
but in direct contrayention and contempt OF the law
Three thousand dollars constitute but small sum- and
The disposal OF them does not affect By its amount, the
character OF the government the interests OF the gov
erument but il il is paid away not merely without
hor,y Of law, but, the senator from Alabama Mr.
CLEMEssl has shown IN spite of the law, and alter the
refusal by two-ihird vote OF this body 10 sanction it,
il becomes the establishment OF principle, and the
ognon OF practice which would justify the Executive
in taking every dollar out OF the treasury and paying il
10 whomsoever he peases.
We see what has resulted from permitting such a
policy, and what il will lead TO- We see that
the expenses OF the government going increasing
ratio which must in few years be ruinous TO the
government itsef IL has gone increasing from the
OF this government up 10 the present date al
the rate OF twenty-five hundred per cent, from an ex
pendture of million nine hundred thousand dollars
per 10 forty three mill ions last year and
have good reason to believe, II will this year reach hiy
two millions. II has increased al the rate OF hun.
ded per for twelve years past and calculating on
this data, expenditure in 1864 twelve years hence,
will amount 10 hundred and four millions year; and
carrying the calculation up to 1876 just hundred years
from the birth OF this government, shall find that il
reaches two hundred and eight millions year How can
this government exist under such expenditure that
We find that millions millions OF dollars are expended
10 swell this amount without authorty-not only without
authority OF law but when the Executive here, and
asks Tor an appropriation OF money for certain pur
pose, aud tell him by decided vote that he SHALL not
nave it, he expends il contrary TO law he violates the
law, and treats the action OF Congress-he only legi.
mate and constitutional keeper OF the public pursewith
contempt. Ii remains 10 be whether Congress-ths
democratic Congress-aways preaching economy in the
and the propfety and necessity OF COM
pelng the administration 10 pursue constitutional and
legitimate course, will sanction such proceedings on the
part OF the Executive, and then 60 10 the country and
tell the people 10 turn this exravagant wing adminslra
ton OF Office.
Sir, whether Lieut.. Davis is entitled from his accom-
pshments receive one three, ten thousand dollars
year. has nothing do with the merits of this ques-
lion. The real question is whether the Executive shall
be permitted not only without the authority OF law, but
in violation OF the law 10 thrust bis hand into the
nry and carry out in any OF the departments at
his will.
MIR. BADGER. The honorable senator from Arkan-
reminds OF story once heard related in differ
legislative body from this OF certain preacher who
delivered discourse Sunday upon the text " The
comics feeble folk y and on the next Sunday he de-
vered precisely the upon the text There
-. al. IL 4