The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-01-29

The lille to forty fifty planters In LOUISIANA 10 the
plantations upon which they living, and which have
belonged 10 them for period oil something hun
bred years. The difficulty that has occurred is this
The original title, under which these parties claim, was
issued BY the officers of The French Crown upon The
Isl Of June. 1903 Now, appears that the province Of
louisiana coded 10 Spain by secret treaty upon The
ID OF November. 1852 1ha, treaty was not made kol rn
In Louisiana until The 2is of April, 1904. The grant
made, therefore, by the officers OF France while the
Spanish Crown really IN possession Of The territory
They were acting, as they believed. by vriae OF
thory vested in them colonial officers OF The French
government. The treaty was kept secret BY The two
kingdoms until the year 1854. The Supreme Court OF
the United States has held that the grants made by the
officers OF the government de faeio possession OF The
country made without lie and that persons claim
ing title under such grants cannot hold their claims
against The government OF The United States The
sequence has BEEN that parties who purchased IN good
faith IRON ds facto officers OF the government, with appar
en authority 10 make these grants have been deprived
OF the property upon which they and their ancestors have
lived Tor ee generaons The object Of this bill is TO
confirm the title OF these parties, will nenton that
great part OF the claim consists OF swamp lands and it
appears that some twenty thirty miles OF eyees have
been built around them BY the propetos, who have also
established Immense draining machines upon them
that The whole vaae of the land 10 TACT has been derived
from the labor OF the persons who settled upon them. II
appears to me that tins simple statement OF the facts will
suffice to secure 10 the parties favorable conside alton
oil their claims.
The bill was reported to the Senate ordered to be en-
crossed Tor third read'ng read the third time, and
passed.
THOMAS pEMBER
The Senate proceeded. in committee of the whole.
to the consideration Of the bill tor The relief of Thomas
Pcmber, providing for the payment the claimant of the
difference OF compensation between capain's clerk and
purser board the steamer Vixen from October 49,
1913, to June 30 1850. and also board the shp E!ec
a from say is47 re e February SI', g ISIS
Committee on Naval Affairs, and explains itself. Mr.,
Pember captains clerk and there being pur-
was called upon to perform the duties OF that office
He did So faithfuy and he has the certificates of the
officers under whom he served as the tahiulness with
which be discharged his trust The bill is pay the diff
ference between the salary which he actually received
captains clerk, and that paid pursers. 1t following
the precedent set in numerous
The bill reported to the Senate ordered TO be
engrossed for third reading, read the third tme and
passed.
SAMUEL MICKuM.
The bill for the relief OF Samuel Mickum was read
second time, and considered in committee of The
whole
Il directs the proper accounting officers pay to Sam
ael Mckum $3.50 so, being the difference between the
pay received by him messenger in the Navy Depart
meni and that received by the messengers in the other
departments, from November 60 1899, June So 1851
MIR. BRIGHT. Is there report
Mr. MALLORY. That bill also came from the Com
mee on Naval Affairs. Mr. Mickum is the peculiar
OF the Secretary OF the Navy. and received
but $3.50 per annun while performing more responsible
duties than those performed by messengers in other de-
parmenis who received 500. MIR. sJohn Y Mason,
when Secretary Of the Navy, recommended tina, sal
AIRY of Mr.. Micknm should be Increased. Mr.. Graham
same Recommendation.
Mr. WELLER This is Retrospective. /, goes back
to 1889.
Mr. MALLORY. Yes sir. The sum Of $3.50 makes
the difference between The salary he actually received
and that recommended 10 BE- paid TO him for the services
performed.
Mr. WELLER This bin goes back 10 the year 1889.
Now, If The salary Inadequate and il the inc nbrni
was satisfied with it, he ought have resigned. No
doubt there were other persons who would have accepted
the Office ut the salary fixed by law. | cannot the
pfoprety OF holding the office from 1889 10 1851 and
then coming here and asking that be passed in
cTeasing his salary Tor that period 1t is very possible
indeed, il Is gu te keiytna his pay Dsutc eni, and
that ought to increase IT, Al toe time, should
be unwlns back and pay him the increased salary
from $50 TO 1851,
Mr. MALLORY. In ls45. as before stated, MT John
Y Mason, then being Secretary OF the Navy. made AN
appeal 10 The Finance Committee OF the Senate 10 in.
crease this compensation His letter 10 Mr.. Evans, OF
Maine, then chairman OF that committee, is 10 these
words:
II the honor invite the avoreb BILE attention or the
Committee Finance TO the salary Of the pal
ths department, who receives bur $3.50 year,
while the ia all bureaus OF department
receive 500 On the 18th Of Decembsr called The
ton OF The chairman OF tue Committee oil Ways and Means
the House the subject. but appears have escaped
his notice The services Of Mr. Miczuni reoceied 10
my entire satisfaction thar addition oil
$50 year be made nj. salary from The date OF ap
pointmentyiz' November ~. 1889 Tn,s wood requirs
S25i % TO the Both Of June, 1916
Of ~ 100 for 1850 the civil appropriation bill
now beiofe The Senate
Mr.. Kennedy, in 1852, says;
"Ihsve read your memorial and the pa pers accompany
ing H. aud have no hesitation IA bearing testimony to toe
flithiuness aud pfomplness with which you have dis
charged the duties required OF YOU
The propriey OF increasing the salary is strongly rec
by Nj. Kennedy ~ Ibis letter Mr. Dsb5in,
The present Secretary Of The Navy, has written still
stronger letter upon The subject, which among the
papers MIR Mckum has been induced TO hold 10 this
Office with The salary Of $780, under The almost positive
certainty Of having i increased every year
The addition o, $50 year will place him equal.
ny with The other messensers in the same department II
is simply THIS principle OF equality thai the bill has been
reported.
Mr.. ADAMS. understand that there are other mes.
senges who receive less than S6Jo-some receiv
ing salary as low as $780, while they perform duties
Responsible those performed By messengers who
paid salary OF 900. | do not know what propriey
there can be N paying one messenger more than an.
other for similar duties IL has been done by law, how
ever beg leave 10 say that the Committee Reirench
meni and Reform have IN contemplation general bill 10
reference the compensation and organization OF the
different departments and hope that by obtaining in
formation from the Secretaries, we snail be able to do
Justice ell The employees, OF as nearly as II can be
Ione Ifhs OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, mefilcrous man
be paid an additional amount, have doubt there
others in the difficulty and who ought 10 be pro-
vided for as well as be.
Mr.. BADGER. My friend and colleague upon the
Committee Relrenchmen mistakes the purpose OF thus
bill. Ii is for paying the difference. The salary has al
ready been increased This amount will not be included
N such bill as he speaks OF as being under consdeFa-
ion by the Committee on Relrenchneni. This is meri-
ofious clam and has been earnestly recommended by /
Every Secretary The department Tor the last dozen
years
Mr. WELLER. | shall vote for it, but throw the
espnnsbiiIty upon The senator from North Carolina.
The bill was reported 10 the Senate, ordered TO be en-
crossed for third reading, read the third time, and
jassed.