Monday, April 19.
Navy Pensions.
An engrossed bill for the relief of widows and orphans of certain persons who have died, or may hereafter die, in the naval service of the United States, was read the third time; and, on the question that the same do pass, it was resolved in the affirmative—yeas 34, nays 29.
Compensation of Collectors.
The House went into Committee of the Whole on the bill to amend the act fixing the compensation of officers employed in the collection of duties on imposts and tonnage.
This bill allows certain compensations to collectors of ports, provided the clear annual receipt does not exceed $5,000. A motion was made to strike out $5,000, for the purpose of introducing $4,000.
It was contended that this latter sum was sufficient compensation to any collector; that it greatly exceeded most of the compensations allowed to the Federal officers; and that as money was appreciating, it became necessary to reduce the salaries of officers generally.
In reply it was observed that very few collectors would receive so large a sum as $5,000—none other than those of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and perhaps Charleston; that the responsibility attached to these officers was greater than that attached to any other, as in some instances two million of dollars passed through their hands; that the temptation to violate duty was proportionably great; and that, from these considerations, it became the Government to afford them a liberal compensation; and that the sum was considerably below that heretofore allowed.
The question was taken on striking out $5,000, and lost—yeas 26.
Mr. Stanley moved to strike out that part of the bill which deducted from the compensations made to the collectors of Newbern and Edenton, the sum of $250, heretofore allowed beyond their fees.
For this motion he assigned several reasons: among which were the inadequacy of the compensations, viz: about $1,600 to the duties performed, which were, notwithstanding the small amount of duties, very burdensome, owing to the smallness of the cargoes imported, and theirs being greatly inferior to the compensations allowed to the collectors of Wilmington and Petersburg.
Mr. S. Smith informed the committee that the principle on which the several compensations had been graduated was, that when the gross emoluments exceed $2,000, the salary heretofore allowed by law, in addition to the emoluments, should be withdrawn. This was the fact in relation to the ports of Newbern and Edenton; and as the duties in each of these ports did not exceed $45,000, the compensation seemed adequate; he was, however, far from being tenacious, and would have little objection to a vote of the House which should increase it. Motion lost—yeas 25.
The committee rose, and reported the bill without amendment.
Mr. Southard renewed the motion to strike out $5,000, for the purpose of inserting $4,000, (the same motion made in committee,) and assigned substantially the same reasons above stated.
Messrs. Stanley, Bacon, and Smilie, delivered a few observations for, and Mr. Huger against the motion, which was taken by yeas and nays, on the call of Mr. Southard, and lost—yeas 31, nays 40.