Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-01-04
ny mistake or error of Judgment, if the ser

cslpaDIe oi1cefJ eItnlr Oy feSerVaIlonOr cropping
Facts which have come to my knowledge, assure
me that it would be but reasonable to provide a
.yearspay for the officers who have been sudden
ly dropped from service upon which they had
heretofore so exclusively depended without any
consideration for future selfrelianec.
"But, sir, cannot conclude this branch of my
Report, without doing justice to the officers of
the Board. From the spirit and temper with
which they entered upon painful and unsought
duty, and from the earnestness and diligence
with which they searched the records of the De-
partment, I deem it but an act of simple justice
to express my conviction that they were actuated
by elevated considerations, and that their aim
was truth, impartiality, and the good of the ser
vice; and although from the liability of man to
err, there may be discovered here and there a
mistake of judgment, have an abiding conyic-
ton that history will prove that this work rein
vigorated the Navy, impaired to it robust and
active health, inspired the hearts of the young
and gallant officers hitherto Dropping with hope
less dependency, with fresh energy and con-
tentmcnt with the service; warned the thought
less and the indolent to quit the haunts of idle
ness and seek the path ofdluty leading to honor,
and caused the country to repOSe with more
pride and confidence in the belief of the inyinci-
bility of this right arm of defence. have no
hesitation, and take much pleasure in saying
that have already witnessedits happy effect in
Tue new Impulse anu seen
felt at the Department.
And, Sir, though the number reported incom-
potent seems large andmay well attract attention.
is that circumstance of itself sufficient to Justify
reflection upon Board who were bound under
the law to make careful examination. and re-
| port the names of all whom they adiudge incon-
pstsHt Of sEsry and a6St ii
but r small number foffieers had become ineffi-
eient, would the Secretaries Of the Navy for.the
last fifteen years have again and again urged with
almost pertinacious zeal, that some stringent
measure of reform was Indispensable save the
| Navy frOmimpending ruin? Would Committees,
session after session, have reported and pressed
such measures? Would grave members have a.
risen as they did in Congress, and have seriously
moved to abolish the Navy and begin again, if
but small defect existed? Would the Senate,
every session, for some years, have, almost with
unanimity, passed the measure for relieving the
service of the Inefficient and for mparting vigor
and health by promoting able and brave officers
before age had crippled their energies and inn
paired their usefulness? Would the press in al
most every town and yilag have Illuminated its
thunders for reform, and have teelnedwith ar
ticles of laudation and approval when the. meas
urc prevailed, if but small number of the in
capable blocked up the path to promotion? Or
had it become manifest to all, to statesman and
citizen, that something radical, thorough and
searching must be administered to secure the
Navy from the dangers which imperilled it, and
emancipate it, if possible from thcwcight which
seemed so surely to be burdening and dressing
it down."
The regulations prescribed which have here
tofore been published. the correspondence with
and the report of the Board, accompany this re-
port
!, REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL.
The Postmaster General suggests that the
ranking privilege be restricted 10 public doctl-
Ements and letters on public business merely;
Ealso, the charge of full rates upon newspapers
lin all cases, instead OF half rates. when paid
Iquarterly in advance He recommends compul-
Esory prepayment by stamps of postage on books,
pamphlets, circulars, and all other transient
matters He again urges the six months mo-
ticc to the Collins steamers in discontinuancc,
the extra pay voted them in July, 1852. lie
presses this subject at some length and with
Icvidentsmalignity.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
The Secretary of War urges increased COM
lpensation to army officers, aud a revision 6fathe
Law respecting their allowance. Also, that sthe
Eproyision of the last Congress, increasing the;
Epay of the rank and file, be extended to all en-
listed men. Also, an increase of medical corps,
and the addition OF five military storekeepers.
He recommends Iiudiciolls continuance of sea-
coast defences, and especially renews the ,sug-
gestion forsthe fortifying of Ship Island to de-
fend the approaches to New Orleans. He pre-
Sents, also 4 neat and forcible argument in favor
of the Pacific Railroad as means Of national
defence, but avoids recommending its cOnStruc-
ton by Governmental aid, although he distinctly
| intimates disposition to favor such aid
PENSION REPORT.
Synopsis Of the 4naudtreportot the Commission.
er9t Pensions J0r the Year Ending June 80,
1906. .E--.--
ARMY PENSIONS.
Original applications and applications for in
crease of old pensions admitted, viz:
lob Revolutionary soldiers, amount of
yearly rate s7,s1GoG
s5S Revolutionary widows, amount of
yearly rate 55,167.T0
8oz Half-pay widows, amount ofysar \ ). -
500 Inyalils, amount of yearly rate 25,os6,e1
2,o77 Total s187 362.87
Amount of arrearages due on the above to
the date of issuing the certificate, was $780,
1850.
Amount paid out by Army Pension Agents,
al per returns, viz:
10 Revolutionary soldiers $126,379.96
To widows of Revolutionary soldiers 566, 11487
To Half-pay widows 21S,y7S,65
To Inyatids 454,5sss3
$1,366, O61.S1
The number ofpensions on the roll of the sew
eral agencies, saS. follows:
T26 Revolutionary soldiers, yearly a:
mount sft4b9a3.S8'
5,552 widows of Revolutionary soldiers,
yearly amounD 10, 219.42
2,4sS haltpay widows, yearly a
mount l82O5o.1o-
500 invalfds, yearly amount H858t55
IL, $50 now. on roll Total 81, 126, s4zS5
There have been added to the roll during the
year ZIG new pensioners, and ,6SS withdrawn.
by deaths and transfersto the Treasury These
transfers are of such pensions. as remain un-
claimed for II months, but very few are again
paid at any other agency, the petitioners being
dead.
Three hundred and forty-three Revolutionary
soldiers have died during the past year.
NAVY PENSION.
fsar, orI e.,