1st Session. No. 254. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. JUNE 7, 1852. Ordered to be printed. Mr. GWIN made the following REPORT: The Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the memorial of Hans Nelson, alias Hans Knatson, praying to be allowed pay due him as a seaman in the navy of the United States, have had the same under consideration, and report: That there is nothing accompanying the petition in the nature of proof, and it is stated that no evidence of service can be furnished by the Navy Department. The claim rests solely upon the bare statement of the claimant. The committee therefore ask to be discharged froin its further consideration. 1st Session. No. 255. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. JUNE 7, 1852. Mr. HAMLIN made the following REPORT: The Committee on Commerce, to which was referred a resolve directing an inquiry into the expediency of abolishing by law the exaction of twenty cents from the monthly wages of seamen in the merchant service of the United States and of boatmen on the western waters, constituting what is called hospital money, so that when sick or disabled they may enjoy their present privileges at the marine hospitals without the the present tax, having considered said subject, report: That in their opinion no legislation is necessary, and that the committee concur generally in the views expressed in a letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, which is adopted as a part of this report. The committee therefore asked to be discharged from the further consideration of said resolution. TREASURY DEPARTMENT. May 20, 1852. SIR: I acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 19th instant, requesting the views of this department on a resolution of the Senate, directing the Committee on Commerce to consider the expediency of abolishing the law exacting twenty cents per month hospital money from the seamen and boatmen of the United States, so that when sick or disabled they may enjoy their present privileges at the marine hospitals without having made the above monthly contribution; and in reply I have the honor to state, that whilst the department duly appreciates and freely acknowledges the valuable services rendered by the seamen of the United States, both in peace and war, it can see no good reason why they should be entitled, during sickness or inability, to gratuitous relief from the public treasury, whilst a similar boon is denied to every other class of citizens whose well being and comfort is equally essential to the public good, and whose services are as valuable and necessary to the general prosperity of the nation at large. Whilst these hospitals are maintained at a very heavy expense for the exclusive relief of sick and disabled seamen, and all other classes of citizens are rigidly excluded from the benefits of them, it appears but just and proper that the seamen should at least contribute in part towards their support. On the strict principles of equity towards the citizens at large, the expenditure for the relief of sick and disabled seamen should be limited to the amount collected for the hospital fund, whereas in addition to the sum thus received, which amounts to about $120,000 per annum, the appropriation asked from Congress for the coming fiscal year to cover the deficiency of unavoidable expenditure for their relief is $200,000 more; and in addition to this, is the large expenditure already made or to be made for the purchase of sites and erection of the buildings, of which five new ones have been completed and put into operation during the past year and three more will be completed in the course of the next year, besides three others authorized to be built, and there are various applications now before Congress for the erection of others at different points. The whole number of hospitals built or authorized is seventeen. The system of collecting a hospital fund by a small annual contribution from the parties for whose relief it is exclusively expended, has existed with great advantage since the establishment of this government, and prevails in many of the commercial nations of Europe. The contribution is so light as to be in no way oppressive, and to a class who are notoriously improvident in their pecuniary matters, it would make but little if any difference to the real comfort or enjoyment of the vast majority of them if it was materially increased, but which the department by no means recommend should be done. Congress has recently adopted the same system for the army by levying even a larger monthly contribution upon the pay of the soldiers, in order to afford them relief in sickness and old age, besides directing certain other funds should be applied to the purpose, particularly unclaimed pay of soldiers dying in the service. This plan might be advantageously adopted for increasing the marine hospital fund, so far as such unclaimed pay might be due seamen dying whilst in public employ. This unclaimed pay would be most appropriately applied to the increase of the hospital fund for the relief of sick seamen, and would to that extent lessen the annual demand upon the treasury to supply the heavy deficiency in that fund. Under all the circumstances alluded to above, the department is not prepared to recommend the repeal of the present law, requiring a contribution of twenty cents per month from each seaman towards the support of hospitals maintained exclusively for their relief, the benefits of which are so essential to that class of citizens, and the advantages so far outweighing the small sum they contribute towards these establishments, which as has been shown, is greatly less than one-half the actual outlay. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. H. HAMLIN, Chairman Committee on Commerce. THO. CORWIN, Secretary of the Treasury. |