The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-09
ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.


enh section the approved August 81 So2 entitled
M An act & Of jon shall be
suued 70 extend 70 all persons who were engaged ~ r.
during the war with Mexico
Mr. HUNTER. There is objection TO that. II is
putting the receivers the RE footing with the col
lectors. carrying out the provisions OF law OF 1852
The amendment was agreed TO.
a EXTRA PAY To MILITARY OFFICERS
Mr. SHIELDS | move 10 add the following
And BE- il farther enacted That the provisions the act
making appropriation for the support Of the army Tor the
ending soh June issl approved ash sspember
ed men the army Of the United States, serving in Cali
and d. s.ns & hereby extended to The commissioned OIL
and ensted serving during the same time in the
and that 80 much lhe moneys may necessary now
remaining nnapped Of said fund, be also applied to the
payment Of officers and enlisted serving in the ninth
military department aforesaid Provtdsd, That the pro-
visions Of the first section OF the entitled An act
ending tho SOth june 1861 approved September 2s s5O
granting pay officers and enlisted OF the army
serving in Oregon and California be extended TO the oii
and of the companies Of regiments OF mount
ed rifiemen that garsoned the post Fort Laramie. Ore
he amount which may be due shall be paid eu,
any moneys in the treasury otherwise appropriated
Mr. HUNTER This provision with regard to extra
pay was made the troo in California and Oregon on
account Of the extra prices OF living here and did not
extend 10 any others do not why it should be
tended 10 the troops in New Mexico any than to
those in Texas II 60 in this way, shall have
10 extend the same principle to the whole army.
Mr.. GWlN That is perfectly proper with regard 10
the two companies stationed at Fort Laramie Their
expenses great perhaps, those Of the troops
in California. As to the balance OF that amendment
think it should be acted upon separately, so that the
question may be taken to the two regiments stationed
at Fort Laramie separately from the companies in the
ninth military department in New Mexico. hope we
shall hszs yS;s on IT w If ss,s .hs 1m sa
the view presented by the senator from Virginia, Mr
HuNTER,l but upon further examination Of the ques-
ton, and after all the inquiries made at The department
l the conclusion that the expenses in New Mex
leo were quite great as they in Oregon and in
California, except for short time The principle
nuts them on the same footing with the others.
Mr.; RUSK; While justice s being done, | hope IT
will be extended 10 all alike. would like TO hear from
the chairman OF the Committee Military Affairs
whether the troops stationed on the Rio Gfande, in
the neghborhood OF FL Paso included in this apend
Mr. SHIELDS. This amendment will not include all
Of the troops OF Texas but it Includes portion who
were around Fl Paso.
Mr. HUNTER | see nothing in this but an extern
sion OF the system OF extra pay, until we shall include
the whole army. There well defined geographical
limit when we confined the provision those in Cali
forna and OREGON, and was given TO them on account
of the extraordinary prices there But the senator from
Illinois will find it difficult discriminate between those
who we're in the ninth military department, and those
compehended within the limits of that depart
ment; aad il commence il shall be obliged to 60
adding and giving this extra pay to all. hope we
shall stand where now stand am unwilling to pay
Mr. SHIELDS do not want to consume the time
of the Senate. | am very sorry commenced
giving extra pay. think we were wrong in commenc-
ing, but having commenced. want to put The troops in
New Mexico the same footing others, and then
stop wish TO extend the principle TO such points
Fort Laramie and Fl Paso for am satisfied that the
expenses there great Oregon and California
al that time. agree that when we have done that JUS
MIR GWIN. | differ entirely from the senator from
Illinois when he says that we should not have CON-
menced but II we 20 one step further than we have
heretofore gone, ought TO include the most meritor
Gus class Of officers and soldiers and that Is those who
served in California before 1850. The expenses were
much greater before 1850 than afterwards Those who
were there in is47, is4s, and 1s49 had much higher
prices pay than those in 1850 and here the chairman
OF the Military Committee proposes 10 extend 10 the Off
in New Mexico, where IL is notorious that during
that period tt expenses were not 80 great as in Caor
nia the benefits Of the act Of 1850, without giving to
those who served in California and Oregon in ls47 ls4s,
ls40 and 1850, when everything was extraordinarily
high hope that that question with regard 10 the ninth
cause will be compelled If il is, to ask amendment
extending the provision in California back 10 ls4s, ls49,
a. well as 1850 for know that the pay Of the officers
did not defray their expenses They ought to have
been provided for long therefore hope the ques-
ton will be divided. l in favor of that portion OF
The amendment relating to For, LARAMIE The other |
Mr.. SHIELDS. | ask for a vote. | do not want TO
consume the lime Of The Senate,
The PRESIDING OFFICER The senator from Cal
ifornia asks division OF the amendment The ques.
oa will therefore be frs, on that part preceding the
viso.
The question was taken, and il was rejected
Mr.. GWIN. Now. hope that the proviso will be
moved ~ separate section and have to state that il
proposes 10 ray two companies OF the rife regiment that
were stationed at Fort Laramie. II is limited pay
ment-hmed to the period within which the balance of
the regiment was paid t.HH t#e#
Mr.. SHIELDS offer that proviso IN the shape of an
additional section as follows:
Ssc. Awd BE- IL further enaced That the provisions OF
the fret section Of the entitled An making appro.
pratIons for the support OF the army for the ending
SAINT uI,er2
ing sxtra the officers and enlisted OF the army
serving In Oregon and California be Off
and men of two companies Of the regiment OF
cd nhemen which were parsoned the post of Fort
oupsd sid post. and the which may DO found due
them undss this shall be paid any moneys the
treasury NOT otherwise appropriated
Mr.. HUNTER My fear is. that this would be an
entering wedge 10 grazing great deal more extra
pensation 10 these officers and How can we dis
crim4hate between these men and those have jus,
excluded by our vote do not see how we can draw
the line Of distinction.
Mr.. SHIELDS This is very extraordinary case.
THIS post isolated post on the way to Oregon, and
n happened TO be outside The military department to
which we granted extra compensation. But the officers
o. ns post were subjected 10 much more Inconvenience
man hose any post the department, and their
snoa on higher grounds than any other, although the
wnepe m the same. My impression is. that ought
kve .ue oeneht OF the principle to all but as have
sesay ss,o am not going to contest that matter
eu.1u' S,hsVN, The adoption OF this amendment, il
ss $500 w. me, would produce inequality. | submitted
M.,;,s. .s, nss, 70 ihe chairman Of the Committee
Smm'y AsMre communication from a friend OF an
o"cei OF ihs army stationed at Fort Atkinson which
stated thai the ofcers and soldiers there yse nuhsred
hexaoronay expenses because OF the os;,io, nj ,bn,