National Republican., 1883-11-13
EXPENDITURES OF THE NAVY.
Annual Report or the Fourth Auditor Of
the Treasury Department.

the Treasury Department.
Tho annual report of Charles Beardslcy,
fourth auditor of the treasury shows from
vouchers examined that the expenditures of
the navy for tho last fiscal year woro
SI5,72l,50G The auditor says that, while the
appropriation for pay of the navy" had bal
anco to its credit Mt the close Of the year of
$s9l 5g2, after deduotiug its known liabilities,
it must be borne in mind that large portion
of il is offset by deficiencies In other appro-
priations yet made good by congress"
IL Is shown that payments abroad were
made by drafts on Seigman Brothers, London,
amounting to Sl,IS9,6O6 aud upon the socre-
tary of the navy to S36l,0G The commits
sion paid the London agents was S15,0i3. Mr..
Beardsley renews his suggestion of last year,
that the work of the London fiscal agents
could be equally we'll done by one Of tho navy
department's own disbursing officers with
little, If any, addition to the present expense.
In reference to longevity pay, the auditor
says: "rho act of March B. 1888, included
the provisions on this subject In tho act of
Aug. 3, 1889, and added some additional
words, which, if the provision were held to
be retroactive, would very much enlarge its
scone, and require several hundred thousand
dollars to satisfy claims already filed. Before
any settlements were made undor the act of
March 3, 1888 tho matter was presented by
l
general, with the inquiry whether under
either of said acts the party was entitled to
additional pay for services rendered prior to
their enactment. Tho attorney general, in
an elaborate opinion given on tho twenty
second of June, 1888, decided that neither of
| these acts is retroactive.
The fling of large number of claims for
mileage arising in travel performed abroad by
officers of the navy from 1885 to 1874, pre-
sents, in the auditors opinion, strong evil
denco of the proprety of some limitation be-
ing placed by law upon tho prosecution of
such stale demands.
The cases referred to arise under law of
1885. 1t was construed by tho attorney gem
eral, the secretary of tho navy, and the ac-
counting officers, and acquiesced in by the
officers interested, until the law was repealed
| by new legislation in 1874, although the
court of caims-establishe in 1555-was
open to them, had they desired to contest the
construction placed upon the law by the ex-
ecutive branch of the government.
Now, nearly ten years since tho repeal OF
| the law, upon a decision of tho supreme court
upon tho construction of law of 1876, some
what similar to that of 1885, mass of claims
arising between 1885 and 1874 are presented
and urged, A case under tho act of 1885 is
now before the supreme court, and should
Judgment be given against tho government q
largo sum will be required to meet claims
revived after years of acquiescence, some o
them nearly fifty years old. This statement
of facts shows very clearly the necessity o
some Limitation, or every act since the
foundation of the government may be opened
to now construction by decisions of the
supreme court rendered upon that which the
claimants, or their attorneys, conceive to bt
similar conditions.
The act of Feb. 90 1888, known as the
Japanese indemnity act" making an award
in the nature of prize money to the oflicor:
and crews of the United States ships Wyoming
and Takiang for services in 1868 and 1854
the auditor says has given rise to q class Of
claims for settlement requiring more thar
ordinary care OF the $140,000 awarded $95,.
$40 has been paid to 70 claimants of the II:
who are entitled to share.
The time that has elapsed since the service
was rendered adds much to the difficulty o.
settlement. The seamen are many of them
dead, and their families or relatives in ignor
ance that anything is due them, and in cases
where claims have been made, the required
evidence of identity, marriage, birth, oil
death, is difficult of access, or entirely out o
the power of the claimants to produce. since
the majority Of the applications are from per
sons Of slight education and careless habits
These causes make 1t frequently difficult t.
decide in conflicting cases, and largely in
creases the opportunities for fraudulent rep
reservations and claims, every case demand
ing the closest scrutiny. f.-
Tho above remark as to tho difficulty o
settlement duo to lapse of time apply forcibl,
to the case of the New Orleans award. Th
action was fought in April, 1862, the awar,
: was made in 1873; two installments wer
distributed in 1874 and 1875, but third in
stallmont of $l43,6i4 remains due to tn
, captors; and in this case absolute injustice |
added to the Inconvenience and expens
} placed upon the claimants by delay. TIL
award was made in 1873 by the suprem
court of tho District of Columbia, and affirmed
by the supreme court of tho United State
May 3, 1876; thus it became q debt due b,
the United States. If congress does not soo
: mako the necessary appropriation very fey
= of the men who forced tho passage of Fort
y; Jackson and Philip will be alive to enjo
; their due; many widows will suffer and ar
, suffering for want Of that which is theirs b.
; law.