New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-08
win yield an annual income Of eco 0oo sufficient for
the NJ tho entire RpnaOn roll affords


for themselves have created fund.- the income from
which VIII doubtless be ample for the payment OF the
authorized pension to those who have been wounded
and TO tue widows and orphans OF those who have been
killed In the service died from disease contracted IN
the line Of duty without calling npon the National Trea-
sury.
The pension roll the lst of November. 1854 was
follows:
76o nvsds with pensions amounting to-. $50 iol 10
go widows ana orphans amounting to...-..l925 S 10
coo persons receiving total amount Of le9,659 10
In this connection ask attention to the suggestions
Of the chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
relative to naval pensions. The act Of Congress np
proved July H. 1909. regulating pensions, makes pro-
vision for the new grades Of the nnyy-rear. admiral
commodore Lieutenant commander. &c-act,orized By
set Of Congress the 10th Of July OF the same yeer
The act should be revised TO include these grades,
and il is suggested tbBt better adaptation of the
amount of pension TO the responsibility OF the officer
might be adyantaceOusly made. The highest pay now
authorized Is ;hiIy dollars per mouth The family OF
captain receiving no more than me hihiy OF MASTER
commanding aud is q reduction Of twenty dollars per
month from the amount; formerly paid. The set OF Con
gress approved on the 4th of July las PROVIDES that
person the military service who shiti lose porn
feet shall receive pension Of sO per MONTH ana 'tose
who shall lose both hands s25 per MONTH As the law
not incude persons in the naval service
those who have suffered similar loss IN the navy con
time TO receive but eight or ten dollars per mohthan
inequality which il IL believed was not lnteIded l
suggest such changes in the law IS will place tie sailor
upon the same footing as the soldier.
PRIZR LAW.
The seventh section OF the act in relation to abaa'
doned and captured property. approved jury 1901 re-
verses the law of prize stood prior 70 the present
rebellion and also us adjudgod ard applied since TIE
commencement Of The rebellion by the courts IN tusr
exercise of prize Jurisdiction. Ii reyeres also for the
future the public policy Of the country upon the SUBJECT
manifested in the legislation Of Congress b0th before
the rebellion and since 10 commencement up 10 ile
date Of this act. .
This abrupt reverse, OF settled law and Of public poll
cy in regard 10 property seized taken upon any N
laId waters Of tie United States ty the naya iofccs
thereof was not. apprehead, wei considered end
does appear 10 have undergone DISCUSSION IN etuei
branch OF Congress. Whether the words 40 property
.oiztd taken upon any inland waters OF the United
States by the naval forces thereof comprehend not Only
cargoes bat vessels, may be quesiiOneGi but x can
hardly be supposed that Congress intended to deny that
naval vessels captured in naval conflict as az Now
Orleans, Memphis, or IN Mobile bay. are the legi
mate subject Of pize. The same is true also Of trans
ports armed or unarncd conveying the troops or Ml
niiions vi an enemy which may be captured IL seems
improbable that deprive such captures Of the chafac
ter of urzo could have been deliberately intended.
DO tie words any inland waters OF tho United
states" embrace the Chesapeake Dad Delaware Bays.
The Bay OF Mobile. and Lake Ponehartrant
Iy The terms OF this section the naval oicer Seize
or taking property las the option either TO send II ~ ~
the courts or turn il under the act Of NoTeh -
letJ to the Treasury agent. No one bnt the navI
sezer Las ihs option All other persons must urn 9'.r
their seizures 20 the Treasury agent II u dtcut 10
perceive tie purpose for which this distinction made
rGe property seized either liable to capture ana con
demnalon prize or II Is not. ~ IT ne 80 i!aole ne Is
hound 10 send IL t. the prize court. WHY them
liz have authority 10 un Il the Treasury agent
and II be not liable. Why should lhe hI'al seh
alone be relieved nom tie obligation Of sending u 10 tAs
Treasury agent a..
character Of prize or war from all property vhica
~ be captured By naval forces on tie inland waters
of Tho Unied States II respectfully submitted "Le"or
Il. repeal is not demanded by the highest
u public policy Tie inland waters Of the lhit'i
states con ttutc crush stations ofyast extent ahd 20
stusted 20 be of supreme importance III the
cuton Of iLis or indeed, of any maritime war IEcse
waters offer the readiest naval access to VAST ahous
OF commercial property belonging 10 those VINO sse 10"
waging war against the government. Inv pfppeIti
both public and private, fornd upon 'hese "ale,s anu
along their shores belonging to the enemy IS nhder 'e
pub,c law of war liable capture by naval beHlgerAets
and when captured ~ condemnation az prize q war
Nv the exercise Of this right naval force can reach
and capture property Which should be taken from an
enemy and which is Vet left untouched by our statutes
Upon the inland waters within the lSurrectoh4ry
region aiiordng access TO or egress rom ~. our
al vessels are now IN great Euinhers ana whe lc
war lasts will continue 10 be- engaged IN beigerent ~"
erations. Why should the law intervene ard GeprlYe
that part Of the navy Of one Of its primary phget,
rights II certainly could not have been intended 10
cripple he power OF the navy to cripple the enemy or
by law 10 hedge round and protect from capture anu
condemnation an euemy's property. The service on
inland waters in not less difficult perlos and haTassihS
than that on the sea that there should be this dscrin
nation against 1t, nor has II been less nscfa 70 'Ae
country.
oeeds II any capture the treasury than under The
law Of war because the sixth section authorizes the
allowance Of moiey TO "llorners, collectors VI ire
customs. and other persons rs an incentive 10 Vigil
,.e In protecting the public Interests In taking this
molety from the officers and crews who make the cap
urss and comforting II the infonsr or custom house
right to make capture prize OF war In all places and
upon MI property subject 10 the lew OF war IS one oil
the eHcouragements which maritime nations have ex
tended 70 their la.es IN ell time and ours hes oeen no
q <.
right Ia cutting OF the rcsoprces o. On enemy one OF
the chief methods ty which nations seek to brns war
10 n close
lion an ancient and rghiful proceeding should be aban
doned end rule adopted that must operate To our na
total injury in all wars. can see no reason upon
which conclude that in fighting down ms keDeoh
should all usage and law, elther as
against tho Rebels themselves or their ahettors or tne
property upon which they rely for their resources or
Why indeed shOuld relinquish any one bol'gerent
righ, ON the contrary it viii "a well 10 preserve to
navy upon all the waters where it cen oat OF heht
all it's rights II war unimplircd.
With these views the expediency of repeal OF the
7th section Of the act alluded 20 - recommended ana
the substitution in lis place of some provision Of ike Ell
feet TO that which is found the last section of the act
upon the same subject approved March Il, l-oa
CONTRACTS.
The p~esont contract system II open 70 many and &C.
r,ous objections. Whatever may hay. been ia merits
when originally established the condition Of the con'.
try end of trade las changed IA 10 render esson'ii
notifications necessary, II not the absosa'lon OF tue
system itself The instability of prices. and r,sias
market during the progress OF the war have made II
difficult aud in some instances almost impossible 10
procure offers for contracts 10 furnish YEAR,! supplies
Tor the Navy from honest and reliable contractors
nj rate which docs contemplate the highest mar.
ket price Of gold well as long delay IN the time OF
payment ANY change for the better III the CONDITION
o The country or the market will he gain 70 tie con
tractor who has an annual contract and correspond
ne lots 10 the Government.
proposal made the present year for the annai supply
of ilaI canvas which is mostly imported illustrates this
noipt The bids were received when exchange was nj
nearly the highest rate II has attained and from an
honorable and reliable contractor who has Tor years