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JOHN L. SMITH AND JAMES MCGAW.

FEBRUARY 9, 1855.-Laid upon the table, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. WALLEY, from the Committee of Claims, made the following

REPORT.

The Committe of Claims, to whom was referred a "joint resolution for the relief of John L. Smith and James McGaw," have considered the same, and report:

That it ought not to pass. Your committee have looked in vain for any precedent which would justify them in making a favorable report, while it is manifest that the passage of the joint resolution referred to them would be claimed as a precedent authorizing any members of territorial legislatures, exposed to attacks from Indians on their way from their homes to their respective seats of government, to employ an armed guard at the public expense, and that Congress should be expected to pay for the same. Your committee are unanimously of opinion that it would be unwise for Congress to provide a guard for members of the legislatures, or to pay the expense of such guard in whole or in part.

ARMY APPROPRIATIONS.

[To accompany bill H. R. No. 562.]

FEBRUARY 9, 1855.-Laid upon the table, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. PHELPS, from the Committee of Ways and Means, made the fol

lowing REPORT.

The Committee of Ways and Means, to whom were referred the amendments of the Senate of the United States to House bill No. 562, "making appropriations for the support of the army for the year ending the thirtieth of June, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six," beg leave to report:

They recommend that the House of Representatives do agree to the first, second, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, fifteenth, sixteenth, eighteenth, and twenty-third amendments of the Senate. That they do agree to the fifth amendment of the Senate with an amendment-strike out the whole of the amendment of the Senate, and insert in lieu thereof as follows: For repairs, preservation, and contingencies of arsenals, fifty thousand dollars, and for continuing the construction of the arsenal at Benicia, California, forty thousand dollars. And it is hereby provided, That the annual compensation of the civil superintendents of the national armories be twothousand dollars, without perquisites, allowances, or additions of any kind, and that the same be paid out of the appropriation for the national armories. That they do agree to the twenty-first amendment of the Senate, with an amendment-strike out the whole of the amendment of the Senate, and insert in lieu thereof as follows:

SEC. And be it further enacted, That the President, for the purpose of maintaining peace with the Indian tribes, of protecting the citizens on the routes of emigration in the Territories of the United States, and the citizens inhabiting said Territories, and to suppress Indian hostilities in the same, be, and he is hereby, authorized to call for and accept the services of any number of mounted volunteers not exceeding in all three thousand, officers and men, to be organized as hereinafter directed, who shall, as circumstances may direct, be employed as rangers, scouts, and spies, and serve for twelve months, unless sooner discharged: Provided, That the number of privates for each company of volunteers herein authorized shall not exceed sixtyfour: And provided further, That the said volunteers may be required to serve on foot, if circumstances should render such service necessary.

SEC. And be it further enacted, That the said volunteers shall furnish their own horses and horse equipments, and when mustered into the service shall be armed at the expense of the United States, and, until discharged therefrom, shall be subject to the rules and articles of war, and shall in all respects, not set forth in the provisions and limitations of this act, be organized in the same manner with the present regiment of mounted riflemen of the United States army.

SEC. And be it further enacted, That the said volunteers so offering their services may be accepted by the President in companies, squadrons, batallions or regiments-whose officers shall be appointed in the same manner prescribed by law in the several States and Territories to which said companies and squadrons shall belong.

SEC. And be it further enacted, That the volunteers who may be received into the service of the United States by virtue of this act, and who may be wounded or otherwise disabled in the service, shall be entitled to all the benefits which may be conferred by existing laws on other persons wounded or disabled in the service of the United States.

SEC. And be it further enacted, That the pay of the said volunteers, including compensation for the use and risk of horses not killed in action, shall be as follows: For officers of all grades, the pay and emoluments of the like grade in the present corps of mounted riflemen of the United States army; for sergeants, one dollar and twenty cents per day; for corporals, blacksmiths, farriers, and musicians, one dollar and ten cents per day, and for privates one dollar per day: Provided, however, That if any mounted volunteer, other than a commissioned officer, shall not keep himself provided with a serviceable horse and with serviceable horse equipments, the said volunteer shall serve on foot and shall forfeit one-half his daily pay during the period of such service dismounted. And provided, further, That the pay herein allowed shall be in lieu of all pay allowances and bounties now authorized by law, except rations, clothing, and commutation in money of clothing, and excepting all such claims as may be valid under existing laws for wounds or disability incurred in service, or for horses killed in action. Provided, further, That the Quartermaster's department may furnish the volunteer with horse equipments at the cost of the same to the government.

SEC. And be it further enacted, That the President be, and he is hereby, authorized to prescribe and to vary from time to time, as may be in his judgment expedient, the arms and equipments of the volunteers authorized to be accepted, or any portion thereof.

That they do agree to the twenty-second amendment of the Senate, with the exception of the sum of money therein appropriated, the committee having called for estimates of the amount needed to defray the expenses of the volunteer force; and when that is furnished, propose to insert the proper sum.

That they do not concur in the third, fourth, sixth, thirteenth, fourteenth, seventeenth, nineteenth, and twentieth amendments of the Senate.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington, January 8, 1855.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith, for the consideration of the Committee on Military Affairs, a communication from the Colonel of Ordnance, submitting an estimate of funds required for repairs, improvements, and new machinery at the national armories for the next fiscal year.

Approving the estimate, I recommend that the amount ($74,000) may be provided in the army bill now pending in the Senate. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. JAMES SHIELDS,

JEFF'N DAVIS,

Secretary of War.

Chairman of Committeee on Military Affairs, Senate.

Estimate of funds required for the national armories for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1856, in addition to the amount for that year heretofore estimated for Harper's Ferry armory.

1. For repairs and improvements and new machinery at

Springfied armory.....

2. For new machinery at Harper's Ferry armory

Total.....

$54,000

20,000

74,000

Remarks in explanation of the foregoing estimate.

The repairs and improvements at Springfield armory contemplate the rebuilding of the rolling-mill and forge, and to remove the rolling and forging operations now carried on in a very old and unsafe building at the lower water-shop, about a mile from the upper shop, to the middle-privilege, which is within one hundred rods of the latter. The present rolling-mill and forge cannot be used much longer, and an absolute abandonment of these branches will be forced, if an outlay is not soon made for these purposes.

The estimate for new machinery, at both armories, is for the purpose of making new machines, and the necessary alterations to those now on hand, to adapt them to work on the new-model rifle-musket with the Maynard primer. The appropriation is necessary to enable the national armories to change work to the improved model of rifled small-arms. The accompanying schedule states in detail the machines, &c., which are required. Of the whole amount, (viz: $27,000,) $7,000 are included in the previous estimate for Harper's Ferry armory, leaving only $20,000 additional for that armory.

ORDNANCE OFFICE,

January 3, 1855.

H. K. CRAIG,

Colonel of Ordnance.

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