Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-10-17
WASHINGTON.


W AShANoAONt OCIOOeT CeuhtOr bhles Oh
North Carolina, is appointed Superintendent of
the folding room of the House.
Naval Constructor Hook is detached from the
yard.
Naval Constructor Webb il detached from spe-
cial duty at New York, aud ordered to the New
York navy yard.
Naval Constructor Steele is detached from the
Washington Lazy yard, and appointed assistant to
Hook.
Naval Constructor Miutopy is detached from the
navy yard at Boston, end ordered to Washington
yard.
Nominations.
II was expected that large number Of presi-
dental nominations would be sent to the Senate
at to-days session, but the lists not complet-
ed in time to reach the Capitol before the senate
adjourned.
The nomination Of all persons appointed to Of
ice during the recess, and number of new APP
polntments will be transmitted to- morrow.
1t is probable that the President will TO- morrow
nominate TO the senate Gen. Harlan Of Kentucky,
as Associate Justice Of the Supreme Court
Theodore Roosevelt, Collector of the port Of New
York.
f. A. Merritt, naval officer, and Mr.. Benedict,
surveyor of the same port, at the Cabinet to day.
DEFINITELY settled upon these appointments.
Pensions.
The bill introduced by Senator Ingalls, to-day,
provides that all pensions which have been or
occurring from causes which originated in the
service OF the United States since March, 1861, or
IN consequence OF wounds or injuries received, or
disease contracted since said date shall commence
from the date OF death or discharge from the u.
). service of the person on whose account the
claim has been or shall hereafter be granted, or
from the termination of the right of the party
having prior titles to such pensions, provided that
the limitation herein described shall not apply to
claims by or IN behalf Of insane persous, or minor
N saA oil LII
vides that upon the passage of this act the com
missloners OF pensions shall cause q copy of the
same to be furnished each pension agent whose
duty 1t shall be to notify each pc nsioner upon his
roll VINO shall be entitled to areas of pensions I'M
der this act and it shall be further the duty of the
commissioners of pensions to pay or cause to be
paid to such pensioners, if the pensioners shall
nave died to the person or persons entitled to the
same, all such areas of pensions as the pensoner
may be entitled to, or if dead would have been en-
Tilted to under the provisions of the first section of
this act, had he or she survived.
Personal.
Speaker Randall to-day said that he had not vet
gwen any thought whatever to the composition of
the standing committees, but he will announce
them Monday or Wednesday of next week
Naval Matters.
The following Is statement of deficiencies for
which appropriations are asked for by the Secre-
tary of the Navy Pay of navy, amount due Sci.
claims arising upon areas of pay, &C.. naval hos
pltsi fund, pay of marine corps.
Other deficiencies exist for sums due for con-
structon and repairs, arising out of contracts with
individuals for clothing, steam, machinery, tim
bers, &c. These will be communicated At the an
preaching regular session.
The secretary states that the difficulties attend
ing the administration of the finances of his Office
have grown oat of the diversion of appropriations
from the special objects Of which they have been
a in. lar hu las axI akA,- Ia.
and different objects for which appropriations
have been insufficient. This has been occasoned
by the fact that Congress has frequently appropr-
ated less than the wants Of the service demanded
his was especially the case last year. The Sec
rotary continues
1t has been supposed necessary sometimes to
borrow temporarily from one fund to aid another,
but 1t does not seem that any such justification
can exist in cases where the borrowing is designed
to make mp deficient appropriations for special
purposes. Such a censure, he thinks, would be
manifestly attended with the consequence that IL
would enable the Secretary to ubst itute his own
ofcial discretion for the requirements Of the law
and as there would be no legal limit to this dis
cretion, deficiencies would exist not, according
to his pleasure.
He is unwilling to assume the responsibility
but prefers to administer the affairs of the depart
ment IN strict obedience to the will of Congress
thus deemlng at the commencement of his service
that he had not allowed section of the appropri.
s''ohS ioi tuc piSsSut uSChl ythE 10 Dt expended
before the year commenced.
His object, primarily, was to secure system of
administration by means of which the annual ap-
preparation of the department can be more easily
and accurately ascertaned, and the causes of q
deficiency be more certainly and satisfactorily
known. 1t is the right and duty of Congress to d.
rect such results to be accomplished as in its opin-
public necessities and interests may require
The Secretary states that he foudd 1t necessary
to omit the pay Of officers and men Of the navy,
NJ hn In VfA S.t h. 4.
made by Congress were insufficient
TO make the payments, without drawing upon the
for the present fiscal year 10 sd-
vance.
So he regarded It the better course to treat the
deficiency AS belonging to the last fiscal year, 10
avoid any deficiency for the present year unles, il
shall arise necessarily out Of the omission to make
the necessary appropriations. The present def |
cheney in the fund for the pay of the navy has |
from year TO year, back to the late war |
1t Is not therefore chargesble to any one year. |
but has been occasioned both by insufficient est- |
mates and insufficient appropriations, the latter
having been for eight of the nine last years con-
less than the estimates.
After entering into lengthy discussion of the |
manner in which money for pay officers and men |
has been borrowed from one fund and another |
the Secretary states that the amount annually due
officers and enlisted men of the navy, is settled by
the statute, and the department has no control |
over 1t, and has no such discretion as will enable
" W ccouOHilc III tue hunuhl Xpenu1tuTe, even II
desirable to do so.
Considering all the endorsements of the stu.
alton, ard to place this fund in the position de-
sired, so that the annual appropriations thereby
caused would be advisedly made by Congress-
the payments for April, May and |
June last, was absolutely unavoidable, unless q
portion of the appropriation for the present fiscal
year had been applied to that purpose. If this had
not been done the deficiency would have been
chargable to the present year, where it does not
properly belong, instead of last year, where it |
does belong.
There is now due on this account 81, 446 6S8 l6. |
for which it is necessary to ask an appropriation |
by Congress, There is also due for the same |
quarter the sum of S3ll 1888, advanced for for
eign service by the financial agents of the govern,
ment, in London, exclusive Of the sum shown on /
the pay rolls. There is also due to the officers on
account of arrearage and difference of pay, $3.50,
200. which added to the foregoing makes 81, 9OS,-
54269, due for the pay of the navy. and necessary
10 be appropriated for that purpose.
There is now due to the hospital fund $50 900,
which in consequence of the relation between this
and the pay fund, should be added to the forage
ing, making the total deficiency 81, 1855, Gal SO.
The pay of the officers and enlisted men in the
marine corps was deficient at the close Of the last
fiscal year, $i5. 2l95S, for which an appropriation
Is necessary. This makes the total deficiency
asked for by the Secretary, s., 003, 1861 n.
This appropriation, it is believed. will enable
he department to avail itself more substantially of
he advantages arising from more prompt settle
nents of the accounts of pay masters in making up
nal aat.t ..tn aAf ~.