The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-26
of course, win be affected by this abolition


expense An inquiry made as to what rations Cen
era Scott would be entitled TO under this bill say not
ration. Who heard OF the commander OF an army
being in command OF post or drawing pay as such
Mr.. WELLER. Does the senator desire 10 know what
the ratons of the lieutenant general amount to under this
bilH He is now entitled 70 s2,e2s for rations
Mr. CRITTENDEN. did not ask any such question.
Mr.. WELLER If you increase the value of the ration
thirty cents he will then have $4392. The increase is
81, AGA in the rations.
Mr. oASs, Allow me to ask, is that allowing eighty
rations to the lieutenant general2
Mr. WELLER That Is allowing him forty single ra-
tons.
Mr. ORITTENDEN have heard il stated here that
General SCOTS raons forty eighty according to
different computations know nothing about that ques-
tom but why is General Scots compensation introduced
here guide the subject, when the bill has nothing
to do with it, except the gentleman says, 1t increases
the price of the ration from twenty to thirty cents Talk
of commander-inchef major general brigadier
general commanding department. being considered
commandant of post also, and having accumulated
pay that accounti There is such thing known TO
the service but what if there were These gentlemen all
agree that increase of pay necessary and they
would vote for ii in form another form, and in
any form almost but this One for change OF form
another for another for thing and some for
other and while all agree that there ought to be in
of pay the result of this contaet and confusion
| of opinion is, that they get no increase OF pay
The necessity OF increased pay has been acknowledged
years and yet hope to these needy has bean de-
erred from time to time and from year to year. until their
hearts sick and again to defer the subject
and decline passing bill which the House of Representa-
ves has sent because some other subject con-
nected with it that requires amendment and alteration
attempt to legislate in this way we shall pass no bill
now or at any other time. The acknowledged evil will
exist while stand harpiDg and hestatng to the diff
feent modes of granting relief the justice OF which all
would admit and would extend in another way without
much difference as to the extent
am for taking this bill as 1t came to us and voting
against all amendments see harm in the double ra-
ton; nor by any stretch of my imagination make
these ratons increase the of the army than
900 instead OF $780, 000 and man can do 1t by
statement Of the case have supposed that you have
nearly fifty have supposed the average rank Of officers
commanding posts that of captain and that is fixing
high average. The captains increased ratons would be
four per day and for year 1t would amount to S4as
that ALL Give the $43S one hundred and fifty cap
tans, and suppose each in command of post and that
4 only amounts to $65,000
| Mr. WELLER The senator from Kentucky does not
take into consideration another item That officer is en
tied ration for every years of service but that
ration is not doubled when he is in command of post
only the four rations that doubled Take colonel
in the infantry for instance who is entitled to six raons
He commands post and draws twelve rations. II he has
been forty in the service he draws eight raons fol-
that that he will be receiving from the treasury six dol
Mr. CRITTENDEN. 1 am giving the Senate my argu.
ment have supposed hundred and fifty posts which
nearly fifty more than there have supposed the
commanding officers OF the posts to be OF the rank OF cap
tain, which higher than the rank of officers command
ing one half your posts have made an average of all
and taking that average at four increased raons to
officer commanding post the whole increased cost IL
$65,000. 49,
NOW, SIR, by what MODE or arithmetic can tak aDOu
six or seven hundred thousand dollars the cosY There
is basis for it, 1t is all imagination it is oil consequent
and these consequences proceed to an extent far be-
yond my view my comprehension The from which
the gentleman derives his Information must be mistaken
there truth in arithmetic The fancied of gener
ais commanding posts do not exist Generals command de
parments, not posts Their allowances regulated In
aons and forage and everything else by special rules
pcable to the command of department What they arr
do not know. This bill does not affect them otherwise
than they indirectly affected by increase of the com
mutation price OF the ration; that is all.
The longevity ration does not much apply to most OF the
of posts but do gentlemen object to thu
longevity ration, it is csed2 DO they not think tina
officer who has stood by his colors through his lifetime
age advances upon him. as his rank is is emit
tied to something Is additional loaf of bread to ente
into the grave calculations of statesman to his pay
would that God might them to live to double the or
binary age of man for the patriotism and vaor they hav
displayed in the service of the country.
: Mr.. WELLER i think have right to complain tina
the senator from Kentucky is placing me in false posi-
ton before the Senate have said nothing against thu
longevity service ration. That is highly honorable
ration. So far from taking from officers entitled to it,
would extend it to general officers also they
Guided from the longevity ration The senator from Ken
lucky assume that have the longevity
ration, but say that is doing injustice to me- am
friend Of that ration, and would extend rather than dmin
Mr.. CRITTENDEN. wish to do the gentleman and hi
argument unarness but against the allowance which
this BILL as it from the House of Representatives
makes to an officer, he derives argument from th
longevity ration Certainly correct in that and ha
Mr.. WELLER That statement was simply made for thu
purpose of showing how much the officer receiving
with no other view.
; Mr. CRITTENDEN. 1 know that but from that, how
ever Is derived argument against the allowance OIL
double ratons to the officer commanding post. Is moi
that so9 do not wish to misunderstood the gentleman
far from it. know the liberalty of his character and
disposition, which frankly acknowledge. He has been
furnished with the facts from the departments other
sources on which he relies. l endeavorng to meet
them, and show the acy and weakness of the arguments
predcaed upon them If by chance, there should be
increase through the Of longevity raons that ought
NOT TO be the foundation of argument against the allow
ance Of double raons The additional loaf which is
qured by five years service In the army small compen-
saon for consistency and fidelity and ought not in any
the officer who receives it. That results from his age and
length of SERVICE and is founded distinct consdera-
ton altogether If you to make other regulation
by which you refuse him double ratons because he has
acquired by length of service two three longevity
TONS in fact take away those rations. In the of
three longevity ratons you take away from him four
TONS because hs bag three longevity ratons Is not that
making an argument against them2
Mr. President this little army Of ours much it may
to cost is the most glorious little army that any
try had EARTH 1t has filled the world with your
try; and such that with Mexico where such few
wrought out such wonders and made such conques
is pride and triumph to you throughout the history of
our country. think they entitled to liberal con-
sderation at your handle We not attempting egs-
late merely out Of motives of beraity but to see
| that they are competenty and well paid.
Some gentlemen against extending the increase of ra
ons double rations to officers of high rank commanding
posts or increasing the compensation of officers high
the rank colonel Why2 These ranks are generally obtain
ed after long and arduous service upon small pay and is it
not rights II not sound principle of policy that the