Mr. WILSON. Mr. President, at the opening of the war the then clerk of the Military Committee was allowed the sum proposed by the resolution submitted by the Senfrom RhdIsland. He had been for many years in the office and was very thoroughly posted in military matters and matters pertaining to the war Dept; but, owing to causes not connected with his office, he had to leave that place, and it was with some difficulty that we could obtain another man fit for the place. We found one in the person of Mr. White, now the editor of the Chicago Tribune, a gentleman of rare intelligence and ability; but he was only with us for a short time, and then we had to find another. We have now a clerk who has had a great deal of experience, having been in the War Dept for some time. He received there $1, 800 a year, being a 4th class clerk, and having a very important position. There are but few men in the service anywhere who understand matters pertaining 1866. owns. 3607 to Qie War Dept or military claims or anything connected with the Army as well as he does. He is our clerk now at a compensation of 6 dollars a day during the session. When this session ends, of course his connection with the committee must end, because he cannot afford to remain with us and be our clerk at the next session for 3 months. He would not get any compensation of any a ount. He is a very competent man, and I be 'eve will e a great loss to the committee; at any rate, e certainly will be to me, for I do not know where I can get a decent man who can be with us any length of time for the pay allowed. Gentlemen may come with us diming a long session and get some 12 or 13 100 dollars; but then for the 3 months' session a clerk would get only 5 or 600 dollars aycar. No man can afford to come to us and stay for that. I should be glad to have a ermanent clerk for our committee, and I he love itwould be a saving to the Government to have it, for we have an im mense number of cases coming to us which the clerk we now have either knows about or can at once inform himselfin regard to. I shall be very glad to have the clerk of our committee made a permanent clerk.