The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-22

In making the appropriation this item as asked for
ton Of the committee that the money should be expended
10 sccordanee with the objects specified and
70 ns oineer having charge OF the preparation OF the Alma
oac as recommended
). - "sAML F.vINToN.
Here. then, is the opinion OF Mr., Maury, who knows
that II in the mind of the man that penned the bill
and Of Mr. vinon who says that he thought So and has
no doubt that the OF the committee thought But
that Is not all Here is the letter OF the Secretary Of the
Navy addressed to the First Comptroller:
'NAvY DEPARTMENT, February 8. 1852
Slai appears from the files OF this department that
cal for he e%as nd an
lem Of W. 600 for The pay Of the superintendent Of the
S6i $780, including $4,000 for the payment OF duties
nautical books, charts, and instruments imported by
49, Is49 $4,000 appropriated refundng duties
that had already been paid by the Office while clause
required payment Of duties being deducted
the whole amount OF appropriation asked for was given and
the navy for the year ending 3Dh Junc 1850 thus show
ing in the opinion of this department. that was the in
tenton to conform in legislation the estimates of the de
parmenr and consequently 70 make the remuneration Of
the superintendent Of the Nautical Almanac S30oo in
9 IL is the opinion of this department that the law Of
Is the wish Of Ibis de parent that the office of sapern
tendent of the Nautical Almanac should occupy the posi-
,ion and be placed on The footing, originally contemplated
am very respectfully yGSr GIedisnt :sTs1n
Well, sir, upon that letter of the Secretary of the
Navy that certificate OF Mr. Maury, and that certificate
of Mr. Vinton, the First Comptroller OF the Treasury
makes up opinion that this officer is entitled not only
for the year is49 but since the payment OF 80 900
year, notwithstanding that the Senate voted last year
that they would pay IT, And since the Senate have
been in sesson-last Februarythat officer with these
papers, has been TO the department and drawn $4,000
year, commencing in 1S49.
have said in the amendment that want to repeal all
laws that authorize, that to authorize, such
payment this By the act of the Sd of March, IS49-
and think the honorable senator from North Carolina
will hear me witness OF that-Congress have provided
specifically they could that the salary there provided
shall be in full OF all compensation to the officers OF the
navy. The estimates submitted Congress add nothing
III But the Secretary says that t appears from the
files OF this department there is slowed away in the de-
partmen OF the Secretary Of the Navy estimate from
Mr. Maury, Superintendent of the National Observatory,
never submitted to Congress but Congress passed an
act giving them the they required and thereupon
is soemnly decided that it authorizes the Secretary. in
the lace of the OF March g. 1885, raise the salary
OF the lieutenant from 81 500 to So 900 year To show
that | am not mistaken in the facts, will read from
the letter OF Mr.. Dayton in answer 10 the inquiry. He
says:
"Agreeaby the circular OF the Secretary of The Treas
OF March 49, 1882 address my reply yon, and have
ne m honSr 20 sac na Ine M "a question was MADE
of the from this office, copy OF the let
his oce therein rered 10 and Of two eelSeales Tome
from Lieutenant NJ Mauy and the other from the Hon.
Davis In support o his claim i. herewith enclosed be-
eye that the first application Of Davis for
isas or $780, bur as i, was not in willing cannot speak
certainty date He was referred to the then
ed opndn adverse 10 bis Of
allowance made, first communicated this office
by the Navy Department in the letter Of February g. 1882
in the letter OF the 7h Of the same month"; Of which copy
Is also enclosed.
"The first payment to Lieutenant Davis at the rate OF
600 per annum, made ia March last but included
the difference between the pay he had received and that
of March, ls4s."
Thus it appears that since we have been in session at
this lime, and upon that application, and this certificate
OF Mr. Maury. who says he knows what in the
heart Of the who framed the bill and of Mr.. Vim
ton, who did not know member whose intention
otherwisesince last February the payment has been
made for the payment oil that officer from 549 to the
present time al that rate the lace OF the very decisive
vote OF the Senate when this matter last under
sderaion These are facts which appear by the doeu.
ments printed and laid upon senator's tables This last
document Misc No sl was laid upon our tables this
morning
To ma Ike this thing little more plain will state what
do not know, but have been informed by member Of
the Committee OF Ways and Means in the House OF Rep
resenaves that the application has been renewed at this
session, and the Committee OF Ways and Means in the
House of Representatives have expressly refused to sane
ton IT, Here, then, in the face OF an application made to
Congress and their REFUSAL direct and explicit TO sanction
any such allowance the claimant goes round, and By
getting certificate here and certificate there 10
what was in the minds OF the committee who reported
the bil OF the draughtsman who draughted H. and OBJ
aIns the back pay 10 the amount OF 80 900 year.
This is not the part OF the for the Comprol-
Ter OF the Treasury in the report which he makes usti-
flying his allowance does pretend that there any
express provision in the law He says he thinks
that the legislation which has been had heretofore leaves
il discretionary with the Secretary Of the Navy. will
read IL:
The Of 1850 and 1851 though they make approp
aons for the continued preparation Of the Almanac do
include in this appropriation the pay Of the
supernendent but the provision Tor the appointment OF
officer contained in the act OF 1919 Of remained
force and the Appropriated Is the ful called
for by estimates which Included this item the
before. II any distinction is therefore 10 be drawn
between the 1919 and those Of 1850 and 1851 think
the that be said Is that the latter leave hs
OF the supentendent well as the amount TO be
paid him. the discretion Of the Secretary Of the Navy
Then, SIR what is the act of 1885 worth What is the
provision worth that no compensation, except what is
provided by certain act shall be paid 10 officer OF the
navy any other officer II, upon estimates filed away
in these departments the Comptroller Of the Treasury
bis compensation by law but that il rests upon the
discretion OF the Secretary OF the Navy whether he shall
be paid or noti
have no hope to remedy this Abuse after abuse may
be exposed but the will be, the from
Virginia. the chairman OF the Committee on Finance, said
10 me the other day. that this s great country and that
il is small business 10 be looking after these things.
Here is one thing which wished TO have brought the
attention OF the Senate. have not introduced II upon
any doubtful mmors, but from the official records OF the
department printed by the order OF the Senate, and laid
upon our tables by which, IL 10 that not only
in violation, but in contempt OF the legislation OF Con-
gress money appears have been taken from the treas
ury and paid ou and the officer sci there 10 guard the
treasury instead OF enforcing the provision OF the act.
limiting the salaries comes the conclusion that IL rests
with the discretion Of the Secretary whether TO pay him
or not
Bot sir IL this construction OF the Comptroller s cor.
rect his salary ought to be % 500 year.