The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-08-10
WAsnINeroN, July %. 1851

SIR have read with pain and surprise the report Of
your remarks in the House of Representatives the 10th
inst while the army bill under discussion and they
calculated to do great injustice to me in common with
the other members of the lighthouse board il allowed
remain unanswered take leave TO say that the statement
that the lighthouse board dollars day extra
pay for their services and which, according TO the report
of your remarks in the Globe of the 10th inst, repeat
eddy made by yon during the debate is wholly incorrect
doubtless inadvertently your part but nevertheless in
correct and think il due to justice and TO truth and
reasonable in expect that the should be ae
knowledged in the public and official manner that the
statement was made.
The lighthouse board is composed of the Secretary Of
the Treasury president Commodore Shubrick United
States navy chairman Gen Totten, chief engineer; and
Col kearney corps Of Typographical engineers Professor
Bache superintendent coast survey Professor Henry,
citizen Commander Du Pont United States navy Lieut.
Thornton A. jenkins, United States navy and Breye
Captain iardcastle corps of Typographical engineers
All these gentlemen receive the pay and emoumen
thorzed by law for their respective positions outside
the lighthouse board but not one cent more, account
of duties performed by them in the lighthouse service
The law emphatcaliy prohibits it, and that law was
framed who is not in civil life sanctioned approved
and recommended to the favorable consideration Of Con-
grcs by c ANS of the highest standing and respectable
ty in this country by officers of the highest rank in the
army and navy and by the late Secretary of the Treasury
| himself
Had there beeu any design or desire on the part of the
trainers of this law to practise fraud upon the country
obtain the passage of act merely for their pc
cunry benefit it is not to be supposed they would have
taken such special pain. they did to hedge it around
with provisos, which in all probability would have
been thought of by others in the course of legislation
| In your published remarks you give official letter
from TO the Secretary, in which it is distinctly stated
that army and navy officers serving lighthouse duty
prohibited from receiving any compensation and
the proviso TO the seventeenth section of the says that
additional salary shall be allowed any civil, military
naval officer who shall be employed in the ght-housc
board who may be in any attached to the light
house service of the United States under this act Yet
the face of official letter. used part of your argu
men and of the law, charged with receiving and
with having received two dollars per day and above
our proper pay and allowances.
must be permitted to say, in all courtesy, that if the
statements contained in printed remarks referred TO-
correct not of the members of the lighthouse
board should escape disgrace both officers and ndivi
uals but ii due to them that they should be thus
condemned and branded until the proofs submitted
sustain the charge made against them.
You reported have said in your place in the House
of Representatives during the discussion referred the
10th ns and in reference this charge prove what
have said-it cannot be denied
The information upon which you doubtless relied TO
tain your statements is wholly unreliable and consider
my duty TO deny the charge you have made against the
lighthouse board, and now do in the broadest and
emphatic terms. By referring to and examining the
of the disbursements Of all appropriations for
lighthouse service since the organization of the lighthouse
board you will find that | am fully sustained in making
this denial.
Respectfully, THORNTON A. JENKINS,
Lieut.. u, $ navy.