The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-11-07

noon Apart from the financial intelligence, the news
does appear to pc Of an important character The EN-
barassments approximations and pancs already noted IN
the money worlds Of Paris and London but the begin
ming of the end Mention is made in the despatch which
we publish this morning Of bread riots in several parts of
England.
Sir W. j. Codrngton has succeeded General Simpson as
commander-inchef OF the British forces in the Crmea
THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER AND THE PAY
OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL SCOTT.
The National ItsLigencer In its remarks yesterday upon
the proceedings Of the Executive in regard TO Gen. SCOTS
claim for brevet pay has made representations
of fact which require correction.
II is alleged that the remarks Of the Secretary OF War;
in submitting the case this Attorney General were not
communicated to General Scott made matter OF record
in the War Department This is to inssnaate that the pro-
ceedings the War Department were of covert nature
and liable to suspicion on that account.
The fact is that so the remarks of the Secretary
had been engrossed and signed copy was taken by the
copying press for the recording clerk and the original was
despatched to the Attorney General practice Of taking
press copies is common presume in all public well
private business Offices and in many such copies constitute
the only record that retained 1t IL however, the prac
tce in the War Department ranscribe these retained
copies into book kept for the purpose This, owing to
an accidental delay had been done when General Scott
called at the War Department to ask for the first tune
copy Of the Secretary remarks and he thus learned the
fact which has been disingenuousy used to throw susp
con upon the acts of the department is untrue in any
sense that no record of the papers retained in the
War Department.
Ii true copy furnished to Gen, Scott To have
furnished copy unasked would have been believe,
course without precedent in any executive department
Every courtesy consistent with official propriety
shown to Gen Scott upon the occasion in question In
his letter to the department he had requested that the
case should be referred to other funcionay of the
government his arguments might be sent in the
direction This done, and he promptly advised,
not only that the had been sent to the Attorney Gen
era but that the Attorney General had been informed
bay that Cen Scott desired to be heard before decision
should be made He further advised that the views Of
the department were adverse to his claim
We believe that all rghtminded persons will agree with
us that no consideration called upon the Secretary
TO tender to Gen. Scott unasked copy Of his communica
ton to the Attorney General and that every requirement
Of equity and courtesy fulfilled in giving the copy
coon as it was applied for.
The frivolous and groundless complaint is that the
Secretary having submitted 10 the Attorney General but
single point informed General Scott that his claim had
been submitted to the Attorney General.
What was the claim? To be paid under the act of 1898
lieutenant general giving to his brevet commission
retroactive effect include the whole period between
the date of his brevet rank and the date of the act Of Con-
gress revivng in qualified FORM the grade of lieutenant
general The Secretary of War did not believe that
law existed which fixed the pay of lieutenant general
that if the act of 1898 was revived in 1885, it could
confer right to be paid according to that grade for
services rendered as maor general ct time when no
such grade lieutenant general existed in army Gen
Scott based his claim the opposite view, and his ac-
aud his arguments in support of his view were sub
tted to the Attorney General that he might give opn
ion on the question OF law which governed the whole
case.
In this obvious sense the Secretary Of War informed
General Scott and informed him truly, that be had refer
red his claim to the law officer Of the government
But TO the assault upon the Presidents decision The
first thing to strike the readers mind must be that the In
ge does not complain that the President has not
ecuied in terms the joint resolution Of February 1885, but
that he has extended the operation Of that resolution
by regulations and thus given to General Scott
amount pay and allowances contemplated by the
law of 1885, which originally created the rank Of iauten
ant general in the army Of the United States
BY reference the various laws respecting rations
will be perceived that they have always had relation to the
pay proper of officers of the different grades While the
pay Of major general is hundred dollars per month
the double raions allowed him amount to but hum
dred and eighty dollars and it is believed that the his
tory the country furnishes example in which off,
GERS allowance by the way Of raons has exceeded his
pay proper Now observe the relation between Brevet
Lieutenant General SCOTS pay proper and allowance fo
raons under the decision Of the Presdent-pa.
proper $3.50 per MONTH forty raons per day $40 pei
month.
The Insgsncr says that the Presidents decision is
in effect deprive General Scott Of nearly three Mousano
dollars per gear How is this done2 just will b.
surprised learn that this charge is based upon tn
fact that the President declined to make regulation
giving Gen Scott double raonsthat is four hundred
and eighty dollars per monthnsead of single ratio ms
hundred and forty dollars per month provided
ny law. 1t does safety Gen. Scott that the Prcsiden
has decided that the resolution of February 1885, carrie
with it pay and allowances that is retroactive in it
operation and gives Gen. Scott the back pay of ten Mou
sand Jour hundred and five dollars and sxysrsn cents fol
constructive services rendered between March 49, ls4
February 5, 1855 in grade which, during that period
had in fact no existence
Under the heap OF collateral and mmaterisl matters
which introduced to up the true question: all dis
nct perception Of is withheld from the public mind TIL
only matter of complaint the part of the hteilgencer