The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-08

70 strict neutrality and manifested its sincerity 50 far
concerned by Withdrawing hospitality 20 our
The gross proceeds OF property captured since tho
blockade was Instituted and condemned prize prior
and ' speass sisls a net proceeds for disbtion
SO, sol 9s7. There are number Of important cases
sin before the courts which win largely Increase these
The value OF the Ia9 captured vessels will not be
than twenty million Ave hundred thousand dollars
and the vessels destroyed at least millions
of dollars making total valuation OF not less than
thirty Ono million I'VE hundred thousand dollars much
OF which was British property engaged in unneutral
commerce, and so justly captured and condemned
PENSION FUND.
The naval pension fund at We present time amounts
70 million Of dollars, to which another million or
dollars at least VIII be added the LIST OF January
next There received Ia July last, interest, in
currency the sum OF $780, 1873 This fund wholly de-
captured and condemned prize property most Of II was
foreign capital embarked in foreign bottoms TO aid the
nsurgents The income from this will II rightly
husDanded be ample TO meet the requirements OF the
government for the payment OF naval pensions, without
any tax upon the people
On tho ist OF November 1855. the navy pension roll
was as follows
s3l nvads, with annual pensions amounting
to-. ..-..................... Soo,6S1
1oso widows and orphans annually receiving. l7esi2
2027 persons receiving total amount $24s $40
Being increase during the year Of AS PERSONS re-
ceiving pensions amounting to s6s,s70
against pensioners who have lost both hands feet
both eyes In the naval service The act Of July 1854
gives Increased pensions where such injuries to
those in the military service but as the law construed
not 10 include persons In the naval service 1t IL beloved
that its operation not what was intended BY Congress
There several grades Of naval officers for whom
provision is made and it Is suggested that the PEN
sion act should be revised with view to include them
INCREASE OF SALARIES
The present compensation OF naval officers is In
sufficient for their support and for those necessary
penses which they are compelled to incur Only small
portion Of the life Of naval officer Is spent at homo with
his family and nconsiderabe part Of 1t Is passed
abroad foreign Stations where, when In command he
in the interchange or those oourtesies which
friendly feelings and give character to the service aud tho
country
While giving their tImo and thoughts and Krequired
their lives to their country these gallant men should not
be harassed with apprehensons that their families
suffering and In want In consequence of tho limited pay
which Is granted them by their government The
HANGED prices Of the nccessares Of Me- which are felt by
oil who are dependent on salaries or nxed INCOME have
been painfully severe naval officers. Their
appeals with force TO Congress, and, though always
TO unnecessary and unwse public expenditures,
have felt my duty to present for favorable conEdera
In this connection deem it proper also to the
suggestions made in my last annual report that for the
reasons then stated and which still exist, the interest
Of the and the country requires that
liberal remuneration should be paid to those who
charged with tho arduous and important clerical duties
Of this d. partment Their salaries at present do not
correspond with those paid for similar services in private
and are not 70 secure the right
class OF for this work without entang upon them
sacrifices which they ought not to DO required 10 make
EXPENSES AND ESTIMATES.
Tho policy Of the Department has been 10 prosecute
the with energy and ygor, and to avoid at all times
needless expenditure. In pursuance Of this policy
soon as the war approached It's termination prompt
and efficient measures adopted for reducing the
navy and the expenses The results OF these efforts
Of character which will be gratifying to the
try, as they are TO this Department
The available resources for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1885, were. $40 o91, I26
Expenditures during tho same time. u6 ISL, 675
Total. ....::... $23, 800, 46o
Appropriations not wanted and carried to
surplus fund. ...:.................... soo, 45s
the present FISCAL year Of ,4os, 900
Tho appropriations for the current year