The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-16
TWO CENTS.

Mr.. HALE offered an amendment TO the effect that the
total pay and allowances Of brgdier general shall not
excee live thousand dollars per annum in time Of peace
except for actual travel
Mr.. DAVIS showed that the sums allowed for
taton for quarters, &c. under Executive control
aad il was not thing requiring Legislative action.
Mr. HALE Withdrew the amendment, expressing his
confidence in the Judgment OF the chairman of the
mittee.
Mr. DAVIS did not wish to be understood saying
that he thought there abuses in regard to com
mutation but lac thought the attempt 10 correct them
would only make them
Mr. HALE said he would try other amendment, to
the effect that the pay and emolumens OF Lieutenant
General shall not exceed ten thousand dollars per
/ Mr. DAVIS made an explanation, and
| Mr. HALE also withdrew that amendment.
Mr. PUGH moved to amend the bill by inserting sub
ttue for the first section that the act entitled 'An act
to increase the pay of officers Of the army, approved
February "a 1857 shall be repealed from and after the
| 30th OF eine 1883, and the pay and allowances OF all
officers of the army including the military storekeepels
shall be that prescribed by the laws formerly in force
oept as hereinafter provided Mr. T. said that
asked to equaze the pay OF the officers in the army and
by bringing up tue pay of the latter to that of the
former but he trusted TO equaze them by bringing the
pay of officers Of the army down He in favor of
trenchment and to show that he in earnest about
the matter, and willing begin at home, he said
that if this amendment should prevail, he should follow
up the movement by proposition to reduce the pay Of
members Of Congress.
Mr. lvEI,SON remarked that the pay of the officers of
tue amy increased two years ago not becausc
All Dul tlc expenses OI
living had so largely increased That also the
why the pay OF members of Congress increased.
Now to cut the pay down TO what it was then would
have the effect TO drive out of the service all the best
officers and fill their places with trash Their pay
then down TO the starvation point, and the officers
were compelled to resign; but since their pay in
creased the number Of designations has been much
duced To adopt this amendment would be detrimental
u the best interests of the service by driving out the
faithful and intelligent officers and filling their places
with others utterly unqualified TO discharge their duties
! Mr.. PUGH replied that the expenses of living of pub
lie officers the only expenses that down,
If we we're to believe the representations here they were
constantly and steadily increasing. But is not the
peusc of living of the great of the country also
increasing and they not less able to bear the increased
! burden of taxation
Mr. WILSON hoped the senator from Ohio would with
draw Ills amendment This bill had been carefully PEE
pared by the Committee Military Affairs it was bill
for retrenchment, and which would reduce expenditures
and it ought to receive the vote of every member of Con
gress. If the bill should be loaded down with PROPOSE
ons of this character he feared that it would not become
a law during the present session.
Mr. MALLORY felt deep interest in this subject aud
hoped the pay Of officers of the army would be
duced because he wished to raise the pay of naval officers
| to the same standard.
| Mr. PUGH defended the proplic!y of his amendment
and
| Mr.. DAVIS opposed it
Mr.. TOOMBS thought the pay of army officers too
high it was higher than the compensation of the
| order of talent In any other profession btigader
general receives than United States senator
and he thought 1t required higher degree of talent
to govern this great country than it did to govern
Brigade especially in time OF peace aud there had not
been than haa-dozen years of since the
! oluton.
Mr. HALE reiterated the assertion that he had here
ofore made, that standing armies were dangerous to
+ liberty.
| The question being taken, the amendment was reject
ed, follows:
lEAsMesrs. Chandler Clay Douglas Hnlin I,ran johnson
o Tennessee Polk rugh, sldcl stuart Tocmbs rrumbul and
NAYsMessrs, Alien Bates, Bell Benjamin Bgc Bright
Days Dxon pooltie Dnrkce rcs cndcn Fitch FzpntricE
foot Groen ln fannond Houston, Iverson Kennedy King,
mons, Thompson Of Kentucky, Ward, Wilson, and Yucc4l
The bill was read third time and passed
THE PENSION DIIJr
Mr., CLINGMAN submitted resolution requesting the
Secretary of the Interior 10 lay before the Senate any
estimate which he may have OF the probable amount that
will be required TO satisfy the claims arising from the
House bill No 259 before the Senate entitled IAN
act granting pensions to the officers and soldiers of the
with Great Britain of 1872 aud those engaged in
Indian during that period
Mr. CLAY stated that the information which the sen.
ator desired had already been furnished.
Mr. CLINGMAN hoped il would be printed for the in
formation of the Senate.
Mr.. CLAY said he would take this onnartunity TO give
notice that lie would report that bill tq,morow morning
and ask the sense of the Senate on the report which he
should present lie thought it due to the Senate
and the country that our action this subject should be
senator from North Carolina, would be presented to the
Senate in that report and he hoped those would be pres
ent who felt interested in the matter When that sub
jec should be disposed of he should ask the Senate 10
take up the bill to rcorganze the collection districts in
the United States.
ACQUISITION CUBA.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the bill
making appropriations to facilitate the acquisition of the
island Of CuLa Ly negotiation.
Mr.. CRIFTENpEN said that Cuba had always been a
subject of anxiety and interest TO this country IL be-
longs TO Spain and policy has been decided that we
will acquiesce in her possession But il is far more i'm
portnt and desirable to than ii is her We desire
to acquire it and, at any rate this insist upon
that she shall transfer it no one but ourselves We
cannot with due regard to rights and our own
interest suffer 1t to go into the hands any other coun
try We have avowed this before the world We have
offered to purchase Cuba, hut Spain has refused to sell
He willing that the President should negotiate with
Spain and those negotiations us often as he might
deem ii expedient but in order to do this Legislative
action necessary He has "a right independently of
Congress- to negotae Tor that for any other object
with the Spanish government This right founded upon
the constitution, and is not derivabc from Congress on
contollable by Congress II the President can obtun
from her Wy negotiation cessop Of the island OF Cuba
he thought there were few who would not be prepared
t. hail that acquisition with Joy. Mr. C. remarked
that he desired TO take his whole responsibility upon
this great subject, and TO express his opinions
thoroughly in regard 10 II. It was his duty |
10 do let the President go on IL his Judgment die
tates that course, and enlcayor to acquire Cuba He
will distinguish his administration IL he can make sat
O. felt bound to confess that he did not look upon the
pt tiuti