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tible matters, but those merely corrosive, and substances that ignite by friction, shall all be placed in equal security against fire; so that in case a steamboat, from any cause, takes fire, all on board may know where the combustible and dangerous articles are deposited, and be enabled to act with an understanding of their real situation. This knowledge would, doubtless, in many instances, enable the passengers and crew to save themselves and the boat, while a want of it might create a panic that would end in one of those frightful calamities that have too often attended our inland navigation, and from which our Atlantic steamers have by no means escaped.

No statistics showing the amount of this business, nor any suggestion that the trade suffers for want of other mode of conveyance than that furnished by passenger steamboats, has been made to the committee, and they unanimously recommend that no legislation be had upon the subject, and they ask to be discharged from any further consideration of the same.

SARAH IRVING.

[To accompany bill H. R. No. 697.]

JANUARY 30, 1855.

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

REPORT.

The Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the petition of Sarah Irving, asking that she may receive, for the services of her late husband, the difference between the salary as clerk in the Census department and that of superintendent, for the time actually employed as such, have had the same under consideration, and beg leave to report:

That, by an order of the Secretary of the Interior, dated May 30, 1851, William Irving was appointed acting superintendent of the seventh census, during the absence of the superintendent, in accordance with which order he entered upon the discharge of such duties on the said 30th day of May, and continued to discharge the same until the 22d day of September following, to the entire satisfaction of the department.

It further appeared to your committee that the superintendent was absent from the country on the business of the department, and that the Secretary of the Interior was fully authorized by law to appoint officers from time to time, as might be necessary for the proper discharge of the duties of the Census department; and that he appointed a clerk, who was receiving one thousand dollars per annum, to discharge the duties of superintendent, whose salary was fixed at the rate of twenty-five hundred dollars per annum.

Your committee recommend that the prayer of the petitioner be granted, and therefore beg leave to report the accompanying bill.

LIEUTENANT JOHN CLARK.

JANUARY 30, 1855.-Laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. Howe, from the Committee on Military Affairs, made the following

REPORT.

The Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the petition of Lieutenant John Clark, of Pennsylvania, for arrearages of pay on account of services as third lieutenant in the 22d regiment of United States infantry in the war of 1812, respectfully submit the following report:

The petitioner, John Clark, formerly a lieutenant of the 22d regiment of United States infantry, states that in May, 1814, he addressed to the Secretary of War a letter of resignation, which he transmitted to the colonel of his regiment, from whom he received in reply an order directing him to repair to his place of residence, there to remain till he should receive an answer from the Secretary of War. He complied with this order, and remained a long time waiting for instructions from the War Department, but never received any. Not receiving notice of the acceptance of his resignation, he considered himself as in the service, and subject to orders, and, in compliance with the orders of his colonel, did remain waiting orders from the War Department, and did not engage in other pursuits. That, having subsequently found it necessary to repair to the seat of government to adjust and settle his public accounts, he was informed that an order accepting his resignation was issued on the 18th of June, 1814; and the accounting officers admitted to his credit a charge for his service up to that date only. Upon investigation, it was found that the acceptance of his resignation had been directed to him at Brownsville, New York, and not at Brownsville, Pennsylvania, the place at which he was serving, and at which place his resignation was dated. That he never received said order, and did not know of its existence until the settlement aforesaid at the seat of government, and of course could have no influence upon his action, and therefore claims such allowance as would have been legally due to him, under the order of his said colonel, if said order accepting his resignation had never been issued-an account for which from June 18, 1814, to June 30, 1815, amounting to $792 44, accompanied his petition when presented to the Senate during the second session of the 21st Congress. Said petition was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs on the 3d

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