Mr. POMEROY. If the Senator will in vestigate this subject he will see that we have actually placed the salaries in the Interior Dept, if this bill should pass, so far as the heads of bureaus are concerned, lower than in the War Dept, andI think lower than in the Navy Dept. That was the understanding of the committee, in view of this increase of 33%. that has been allowed by the SecyNavy. I will only add that in trying to report this bill according to the recommendation of the SecyInterior and those who are best informed of what would promote the public service, the committee agreed to report it in the manner in which.it has been reported. We do not increase, as has been stated, the aggregate expense, but we do undertake to secure the best class of men that can be employed by giving certain heads of bureaus more compensation than they have heretofore had, and we are informed that it is necessary It was stated to us over and over again that.they could not retain in the service competent men at a salary of $1, 800. By this bill a new grade at $2,000 is created in each of these bureaus. They can retain men at that price in the servrce whom they cannot retain at $1, 800. The object of the Government is to get competent men in these places. As was said by the Senfrom Maine yesterday, there is no difficulty in getting 1200 dollar clerks. There are plenty of those, and there is a great pressure for such places; but when clerks are if that has advanced to $1, 800 they become so familiar with the duties of the office and understand the laws, and cspecially in the Land Oliice the land laws so well, that they resign and go outside and commence practicing, and thus, in that way, the best 0 were are lost to the Dept, because they can make more money outside than in the Dept. This increase was urged upon us strenuously, because these men have to decide most important questions. Every case in every land office in the U.S. where there has been a dispute and a contest is referred to Washington. Law questions, at. least as important as the judges of our courts have to decide, are every day referred to the heads of these branches of the service, and they have to decide them. If a mistake is made, it takes months, to say nothing of the expense, in correcting that mistake. The branch thatI particularly investigated requires not only competent but. prac ticed and experienced men. A new man going in there is worth almost nothing in comparison with those who have remained for years. This clamor of turning out experienced and faithful and tried men and puttingin new ones, although it is patriotic and commendable, will not promote, as I believe, the public service in that Dept. I was much interested in what the Senfrom Maine said yesterday, from his own experience in the Treasury Dept, that the service falls to pieces if let in the hands of inexperienced and incompetent persons; and that is the reason why we nmde this change. I am satisfied, from my own familiarity with the Interior Dept, that the service will be greatly promoted if We can secure the services of the men whom we can obtain by giving them the salaries provided for in this bill.