Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-01-13

wAsH1Naror NEWS AND GOSSIP.
VIRGINIA LAND scRIp-FISAL DECISION OF
TIE SECRETARY OF rHE INTERIOR.
a few days since, that the Attorney General
had rendered his opinion in one Of the ques-
tions submitted to him by the Secretary of the
Interior-that respecting ''supernumerarys SER
vice." and that he would probably give sep
arate opinion respecting what is called dead
service I" in the course of few days.
= We learn that on yesterday, this latter opin.
ion was received, and that the Secretary has
taken up and promptly decided all the ques-
tons which were submitted to him respecting
these claims to land scrip. and that his decis-
ion is, in substance
LIST. That he is required by the act of Con.
gress: thoroughly to revise the proofs in each
case and to Judge whether the issue of the
warrant by the authorities of the State of Vir-
ginia was sanctioned by the laws of that COM
mOnwealth or not !, but that in cases when his
mind might be equally balanced or nearly so,
his respect for the Judgment of tho Executive
Of Virginia would induce him to sustain it.
= I'd. That the warrant, as issued by Virginia,
for the services of stewards and other warrant
officers in her State navy, for tho bounty ap-
portioncd to those of one grade higher rank
In the army, should be satisfied by the issue of
scrip. if otherwise entitled. - IN
Sd. That no officer is entitled to double
allowance of bounty land. al +nE
4th. That while there is room to doubt, in
a strictly legal view, yet considering the
equity likewise, those officers who were trans
ferred to Virginia by the Continental Con-
gress, were entitled to the warrants issued to
tkem by Virginia. ,.~
5th. That supernumerary service, and what
is termed "dead service, "a will be recognized
in accordance with the views expressed by
the Attorney General. f1
9th. That the act of Congress of February
70, 1858, does not apply to these Virginia
land warrants, and that they are assignable.
OF INTEREST TO, PERSONS IN THE PUBLIC
SERyIcE.-It is ruled in the transaction of
business with the departments here, that adj
vances to officers are authorized by the joint
section of the act-of July 81, 1928, only when
officers are employed in distant service. Then
advances when made are, in theory, author
lied by the President. to whom the power is
given by the act, and the officers, &C., in our
ships Of war were formerly paid by the pur.
sers, till the act of Aug 26, 1912, which pro-
hibits them from making any advances of the
governments funds, or even of their own, and
they cannot now be allowed to make advances
under any circumstances; but navy agents
may be directed to do so by the Navy De-
partment.
By the act of January Is, 1925 emo money
appropriated by the appropriation acts shall
be paid to any person for his compensation,
who is in arrears to the United States, until
such person shall have accounted for, and
paid into the treasury, all sums for which he
may be liable" and until that is done, an
officer can receive no advance, even when
ordered on distant service.
A SOLDIERS CLOTHING ALLOWANCE w hen
soldier has drawn clothing in advance, but
no mere than he was entitled to at the time of
issue, and is subsequently discharged under
circumstances in which no fault can be inpu
ted to him, no deduction is made from his paw
on account of the clothing received. This de-
cision Is in accordance with opinions of the
Attorney General, given November s, 1886,
and June 20, 1916.
STEAMER NASHVILLE FOR HAvRE.-We
are authorized to say that this steamer, which
is to take the place Of Humboldt" and was
! expected to sill from New York for Havre on
the 14th inst, cannot be got ready to leave
before Monday, the 10Th inst, at noon. Sin.
gle rate of postage by this line 20 cents, which
pays to Havre-leaving the French postage
IL cents the quarter ounce, to be collected in
France; newspapers two cents each, prepay
ment required.
The PAY OF THE SENIOR SURGEON OF A
FLEET to the decisions here, a
surgeon in the Navy receives no additional
compensation in consequence of his being the
Senior in squadron. To entitle him to the
pay assigned by law to n Surgeon of the
Fleet, he must have q positive appointment
The act of May "a, 1923, authorizing tba,
grade, provides, that the President Of the
/ United States may designate and appoint to
every feet. or squadron, an experienced and
intelligent surgeon, to be denominated Sur.
geon Of the Fleet. There must be a selection
by the President, or by the Score Lary Of the
Navy, who represents him in naval affairs. or
by the Commander of the Squadron, with the
subsequent approval of the Secretary The
right OF surgeon, therefore, to the pay OF
Fleet Surgeon, does not depend upon his being
the Senior Surgeon of the Squadron, nor even
upon his having performed the duties usually
discharged by Surgeon of the Fleet. bui
upon the question, whether or not he had re.
ceired an appointment to that grade.
| EXTRA PAY AND ARREARAsEs OF Pay-Un.
der the reading of the law prevailing in the
Departments, extra pay and arrearages of nav
may be legally paid to the mother of the de-
ceased soldier, he being an illegitimate son
and leaving neither wife nor child.
An IMPORTANT DECISION AS TO THE PAyxryr
| OF DRAFT ON THE GOVERNMENT Auusrter.
master at Santa Fc drew his draft on the Qua
termaster's Department, in the form of a set
of exchange. The payee was killed by the
Indians, and the first of the set of exchange
then on his person, was lost. Held, that the
drawer had no right to order the draft to be
paid to any other person.
The PAY OF SICK NAVY OrrrcERs-Navv
officers who are permitted to return from a
foreign station, as passengers merely, in con-
sequence of sickness, and who do not return
to their vessels, are not entitled to dutv nav
during the passage home. Under the act of
March 8, 1885, they could not properly be al
lowed the pay assigned to officers on duty. >,
even although they should not be formally de.
tached Nor can any allowance be m ale to
the officers for expenses incurred by reason of
sickness, without disregarding the restrictions
OF the "a section Of the act, March 3, 1885.