The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-27

n, WELLER II i well known that the Committee on
Military Affairs have no disposition TO hazard this BILL We
are satisfied unless the pay OF the officers OF the army
be increased at the present session o. CONGRESS very
sion but we design the time 10 correct what we con-
slider TO be abuse in the service II seems cannot make
the senator from Kentucky understand what mean by in
creasng expenses of the six or seven
hundred thousand dollars In consequences of the double
ration system will endeavor TO explain It, said when
up before that the distant posts must be supplied at
expense You must put up buildings tnere
they very expensive in sections OF the country
believe the buildings Fort Reading in California cost
over $4,000 IL was necessary as military posi- ~ .n
now because the settlement has filled up with inhapAh
and they are sufficiently strong to protect themselves
Those buildings you have TO sacrinee iney r VIII 20 SOY
perhaps for fifteen thousand dollars That an IL
iustraon the in which the expenses OF the gov
are increased in consequence of the OF
the double ration did not undertake. 10 say that any
commander of a regiment would divide up his command
In order multiply military posts, and thus enable MS
subordnaes draw double rations but sad that after
military posts were established there was strong pecu-
mary inducement for the officer In command to remain
there long after the necessity for It's establishment ceased
to exist That what said and in expressing that opn-
on was but reterang the experience OF those far more
learned on this subject than am
y friend from Tennessee proposes to abolish all allow
sr raoDs for combinations for servants for forage
for fuel and quarters and to substitute gross amount OF
money That viii operate very unequaly For instance
If you send officer TO California be will be compelled 10
pay four much for his fuel and quarters there as
fhe was stationed in the State of Missouri The best OIL
GERS in the army especially the poorer class would be
very unwilling go into country where fuel and quar-
very expensive twould operate very unequa
In my Judgment abolish all raons and allowances and
substitute pay proper, as proposed by the senator rom
Tennessee
Nv friend from Georgia interposes the objection that it
Is necessary that officers in command OF military posts
should receive double raons for the purpose OF entertain
ing The amendment which now offer gives the Pres-
dent Of the United States the authority TO allow double r
calIo oh he tor sal n
The President the commando rinchef had power to esab-
ish military posts therefore, propose leaving to the
President Of the United States the
dern-chief of the army to decide whether the officer in
command of any particular post shall be entitled to double
rations or not There is the whole question.
Now is the Senate willing to make any amendment to
this hill? Nv friend from Kentucky says he will vote for
no amendment though he may consider necessary
and proper He is afraid that If the bill be amended it
will be lost in the House of Representatives If that be the
general opinion of the Senate, doubt any PROPOSE
ton which may offer by way Of amendment Will be voted
down. :
giving notice that shall to amend the first section
of the bill.
The PRESIDENT pro ten.poys. No amendment Is now
In order The pending question is the amendment OF
the senator from California to the amendment reported by
the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. WILSON. give notice that when il is in order,
shall move to amend the first section of the bill by insert
ing after the words each commissioned officer of the
my the words "nnder the rank OF lieutenant cooneL
believe that ought to raise the pay of the majors tue
army think the pay of these officers is too small but il
seems that the pay of lieutenant colones of coone
and of the general officers of the army quite large enough
now and ought be increased The expenditures for
the army are very large When Mr. Calhoun was Secrea
ry of War; army OF six thousand men was supported
think for less than $300000o The expense OF soldier IN
the army that time about $685. 1t is 200
The expenditures made last year under the direction of the
Secretary of War than $l4,OOO,000. have an
estimates made out think by friend OF the Secretary Of
War; and published in the New Orleans Delta in which the
items exhibited showing that the disbursements under
chat officer during the past year about Sl9oOoooo
am willing TO vote to increase the pay of the subaern
officers OF the army but think the of the lieutenant
colones c0lones and generals is quite large enough at
the present time and that ought rather to reduce than
increase the expenditures of the War Department Of
government / In favor of q small army, but am
willing to pay that army we'll ] want it efhcent-an
honor the country; but believe the military depart
ment of our government at the present time costs more
than it should Its expenditures should be reduced
gather than increased.
Mr.. TOOMBS. will add word in support Of the
amendment OF the Committee Military Affairs. am
very willing to increase the pay Of the army but am not
willing to increase it in this way if can do II in any
other and tho discussion has been very conclusive to
that ought 10 do it in other way.
My honorable friend from Kentucky and the chairman of
she Committee Military Affairs differ to the extent of
six hundred thousand dollars upon the effect of
this single item of double raons have not recently
bad opportunity of looking into it. suppose the Mill
tary Committee have had opportunity to do must
look to them My friend from Kentucky says it cannot
possibly beyond sixty seventy thousand dollars and
the Military Committee say six hundred thousand
dollars, the single point of double raons think the
pay of the army ought to be the principle of the pay
the navy, that everybody may know what is paid them
sm willing to give them a fair compensation. Some few
stems in the pay growing ont of the nature of the service
which cannot be fixed definitely, willing should be
left the department Their mileage their quarters and
fuel necessarily changeabe but what be rendered
certain ought to he made certain.
This mode OF increasing the pay by raising the price of
ratons, multiplying raons, is vicious. concur with
the committee that the system of double rations some of
1t have had opportunity of seeing is bad It induces
est degree aiding the social intercourse of the army has
contrary effect shall vote for this amendment because
the donbe-raon System ia wrong and viii not consent
20 vote for the ncrtase of pay in any such FORM The
twenty dollars month will vote for An additional in
crease believe to be necessary but will not vote for
bill when there s senator here that tell what it
will come to.
Mr.. CASS have listened to all that has been said on
this subject with interest and agree very much with
what has fallen from those merbers who In favor Of
the passage of the bill especially agree with what the
honorable senator from Mississippi Mr. BRowN has said
Almost every word he said this subject meets my full
appreciation.
knew officer to get rich in it. There officers who
have been stationed in favorable locations who have
able perhaps to buy property and have been favored in
that respect but never yet knew officer get rich
his pay. have known great many officers die; they al
most all die poor and almost all leave poor and helpless
families 1t is not money-making profession. An officer
of the army is sent from end of the continent to the
ordered about wherever the necessities of the service
sometimes the within of his superiors may require
He has no option he must 20, leave the service
large proportion of themand in my opinion the more
the better families Those families they must take
care Of either with them, absent from them.
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