The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-17
This was Ons If his
CLAIMS for HIRsso,

4
The history Of the commences with letter from the
which the Secretary says he has considered the
Of sixteen cents per mile and cannot
allow it, that tbs regulations give the allowance charged
only those officers who travel under written orders
and as General Scott did not travel under such orders
could not have mileage The regulation prescribes
that those who travel without written orders or at their
discretion should have only actual expenses 1t APP
pen Up 1881 the accounting officers had refused TO pass
this charge and hence the appeal to the Secretary Of War
which was made the ground that the General, being
senior officer Of the army authorized travel his
own authority The Secretary admits the authority but
says be travels his authority he be paid like
all officers who travel their authority-actua
pens and more that If by the remark that he senior
officer of the army be that he has no proper supe
in the language of the regulation give him orders
The argument fails for the President is such superior
Other similar accounts subsequently brought up by
the General and upon his written certificate that the jour
neys performed by authority Of the Secretary of War
the amount passed his credit but the decision
originally made withdrawn and stands TO bar any
further claim beyond actual expenses
In his allegation that the Secretary had
tuoasy raised the Secretary cites General SCOTS
letter of May, 1853 (p l5 in which the General
that he himself brought up the account from the
Auditor and left il with the chief clerk of the department
to be laid before the Secretary
Claim for Brspa Pay
This is the item which General Scott in his letter of July
3d. passingly sudes Up l5s and In his letter Of Au-
gust S. p 1851 he challenges the Secretary to discuss
tauntng him with observing mastery silence" in re-
gard to it, Again in his letter of September 49, he says
You shrk the question of hostility compensation &C.
Up. 2o41 and sgain in his letter of January 81 p AIS
You risk word the more recent question of
pay and emoluments' He also charges the Secretary
with secret hostility to the claim, and with having con-
ceaed his opposition 10 it. The only circumstances on
which this charge that the Secretary omitted TO
furnish General Scott copies of the remarks in opposition
bis claim when submitting it to the Attorney General
and that when General Scott applied the War Depart
copy in the absence of the Secretary it was not
found Immediately This General Scott considers as evil
dence Of design keep the proceedings from his knowl-
edge and anxousy endeavors to prove that the Secretary
endearored to defeat the bill in the Senate and hos
tile the claim for brevet pay but concealed his hostility
and attempted to divert attention from it.
To these specifications the Secretary in substance re-
plies that his opposition the bill revying the grade of
lieutenant general publicly declared by himself in de-
bate in the Senate aud he cauno imagine what mott We
rational man could suppose he had divert attention
after he entered the cabinet from his opposition to meas
ufe he bad publicly opposed before that whenever be
expressed any opinion in regard the BILL that opinion
must necessarily have been opposition TO it, but be did
not exert himself to defeat it R 2l7 As to his opposi-
ton the claim for brevet pay General Scott was inform
ed the 2sh of April had been referred to the At
orney General April 2s because the Secretary had not
the conclusion that it was legal claim that he
did furnish him copy Of his communication to the Attor-
ney General because it il the practice in the depart
ent to volunteer such information but it furnished
he applied for it that any design to sup
press PAPER the circumstances relied on TO establish IT.
the application made the War Office by his adde-camp
for it the long search by the Acting Secretary and clerks
and their that il could not be found are all c
tons of own applied for it but General Scott in
person and though there a momentary difficulty in
fading it. it found in a few hours (pp. All 7as) and
a copy furnished.
4 The Secretary further remarks that giving General
Scott opportunity Up 7o to be heard before the Ator-
ney General and to put in arguments of counsel upon
question submitted by the War Department be had ex-
tended to him courtesy before accorded to any
one.
The discussion then upon the intention of Con-
gess give Gen Scott brevet pay evidenced by The
debates Gen Scott page 2o4 that in the Senate
debate upon his bill in February, 1884, the intention to
give increased compensation clearly understood and
approved The Secretary in reply, page 2ls) declares
that the debate contains sentence that viii confirm
the allegation He cites passages from the remarks Of all
the speakers that OCCASION showing that sup
posed the bin would entitle Cen Scott money allow
anceony the opponents Of the bill urged that Gen. Scott
having obtained the rank would back for money
neither side have dreamed that the money and the
rank were both in the bill before them
The Secretary proceeds page 22o explain the pecu-
liar wording Of the BILL which framed according
to the opinion Of the Attorney General carry pay for
period long passed while there word on the sub
ject Of money in it, This be remarks is due the
junction of two features it, Had the rank of lieutenant
been created instead of being rerioe or had the
rank been confirmed by regular commission instead of by
breve in neither would the right of back pay have
attached II was only familiar with the brevet law
who would know that such commissions alone have been
held to carry back pay and that the revival of old
act of date anterior the period for whichthe back pay
was TO be claimed necessary to fulfil the conditions
under which brevei pay could be allowed II using
such words as fulfilled all these conditions and jet avoided
any reference whatever money that the Secretary
misses peculiar craft
The Secretary then notices feature which state in