New-York tribune., 1867-03-12

nue which will doubtless elicit some interesting par
ticuars II is alleged that the cost of keeping up
this branch of the service is about $l5O0OOO year,
| while the amount of revenue derived from TINS
source is only about one-twentieth part OF that
amount thus making the Government loser to a
considerable amount instead Of making the service,
| as it was designed TO be, means of revenue.
The President to-day in accordance with reso
luton of the Senate, transmitted to that body a
large mass of documents relative TO the claim to
military service asserted by the Governments OF
France and Prussia of subjects of those countries
who natuTalized in the United States, but who
returned thither The correspondence dates as far
back as 1859, and extends to December last. 1t ap
pears from letter written by Count Walewski that
French legislation does not confer a FTenchman
the right TO his nationality but he loses it
by positive law through naturalization in foreign
country. II the Frenchman. before he had lost that
quality, shall have emigated, thus placing himself
out of the way of the obligation of the
military service he would assuredy be punishable on
his return to France though he should have OBJ
tanned foreign naturalization, and he may be pros
ecuted as deserter if he has not satisfied se Oblga
ton of military service. Secretary Seward, in re-
peated letters, urges q modification of the French
military laws. Our Minister at Berlin, Mr.. Wright
speaks in his dispatches of the extreme Tgor of the
Prussian law, but in November, 1865, Count Bis
marck informed him there was no desire on the part
of the Prussian Government to arrest any American
citizen on his return to his native land on business
When however, a case was presented to the Govern
ment by the police authorities the law was impera
tive and the Government compelled to act. The gen
era difficulty could be adjusted only by treaty.
Many individual cases were presented and acted upon
by the Government.
A Committee from the New-York Fenian Head
quarters is here, and on the floor of the House
to-day talking with members They desire to get
some expression of sympathy from Congress IN be
half Of Ireland. They also claim belligerent rights
for the Irish Republic. An influential delegation is
here and will call upon the President and Cabinet to
Hrge an acknowledgment of the Irish Republic as a
belligerent power.
Considerable misapprehension having existed relat-
ing to pay of army officers under the act of March p
1867 the Second Controller of the Treasury has rem
dered the following decisions
The first section Of the act Of March q 1857 providing
for temporary increase OF the pay OF officers, &C. ap
lars or volunteers the date Of the act This appears
think r terD,in well from the debates on the
al officers of the army below the rank Of MJorGen
oral not those who nave been Gice m & ihe & M % %
longer ofcers OF the army, but citizens, with
clens RSoSgS the nssaSe Se " s per eentn@ to
their pay proper Is TO be paid from snteeedent date
the parties entitled 10 receive H. The Chairman OF the
Committee who reported the bin entirely In this
construction such being in his opinion, the undoubted
intent OF the law
The Second Controller has also written the follow
ing letter to tho Paymaster- General:
In reply to your letter Of the 9th nst give il as my
opinion that pay proper" within the meaning Of the
law used in the first section OF the Act Of March 2
1851 the pay pertaining 10 grade, and does not
ncude increase Of compensation depending upon par
tcular duty 1t follows that line officers acting Aides
de-camp, company officers in command of companies,
DC, entitled TO increase OF third upon the
addition they receive for the performance Of special ser
vice, they already receive than others OF their
grade. The difference in compensation should not lie
made greater without express direction ~ law by allow
ing per centum upon their extra pay Regimental
Adutants, CommiGsarios and QuaTtermastcrs, having
made grades by law entitled 20 the 5SB cent
upon what previously additional pay but whleh ia
now "a part Of this pay proper.