Mr. WILSON,0 Iowa. Mr. Speaker, this bill proposes to establish a new precedent in the adjustment of cases of losses by naval officers. I believe that no bill has ever yet been passed which allowed more than $100 to each officer in such cases. But this bill proposes to allow for all clothing and elfects, whatever they may be, an amount which shall not exceed in the aggregate $5,000, which, if I rightly remember the number of names embraced in the bill, will be nearly1,000 dollars to each of the officers. Now, it seems to me that it is not best for us to establish this precedent. In cases where avessel has gone down in action. as was the ease with several vessels on the Mississippi and on the coast, the allowance, I believe, has, as I have stated, never exceeded $100 to each oliicer. The amount allowed to seamen, it' my recollection is correct, is 60 dollars. The general rule observed in relation to officers of the Navy is, I believe, an allowance of one month’s extra pay. But this bill proposes to establish a different rule: and it does seem to me that it may lead to a greater expenditure of money than a just regard for the Treasury of the Government Will warrant us in making. The officers of this vessel may have had with them no property but such as it was their duty to have as o cers of the Navy. If so, it might be well to pay them for that property, whatever it may have been. But they may have had with them proeitywhich it was not necessary for them to have upon that vessel. Gold watches, jewelry, and various articles of that kind may have been in their possession. Yet such things are not exclude by the terms of this bill. The bill proposes to pay for all “clothing and effects" which those officers had and which were lost by the sinking of that 'vessel. Now, sir, if any such bill has before been passed b Congress, it has escaped my attention, and have not been able to find it in the statutes. I hope, therefore, that this bill, instead of being passed, will either be reeommitted to the ComNavAffrs, in order that we may know from that committee whether they intend to establish a new precedent, a new line of action on the part of the Government toward these officers, or will be referred to the ComClaims, so that, if we are to pay for all the effects of these officers, that committee may determine the amount which on ht to be ai to each officer. I shall move that the bil be referred to the ComClaims, unless the Gentfrom Wisconsin would refer that it should be recommitted to the ComNavAffrs.