CHAP. LXXIII.- An Act for the Relief of the Widows and Orphans of the Officers, Seamen, and Marines of the United States Sloop-of-war Albany, and for other Purposes.
| Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That for the purpose of fixing the time at which shall commence the pensions, under the existing laws, of the widows and orphan children of the officers, seamen, marines, and others in service, who were lost in the United States sloop-of-war Albany, as well as the time to which the pay of said officers, seamen, marines, and others in service shall be allowed, the eighteenth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, shall be deemed and taken to be the day on which the said sloop-of-war Albany foundered at set; and that, for the like purposes, the twenty-ninth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, shall be deemed and taken to be the day on which the United States brig Porpoise was lost in like manner.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the widow, or child, or children, and in case there be no widow, or child, or children, (as aforesaid,) then the parent or parents, and if there are no parents, the brothers and sisters, of the officers, seamen, marines, and others in service, who were lost in said sloop-of-war Albany and brig Porpoise, including captain’s clerk and assistant draughtsman, shall be entitled to and receive out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, a sum equal to twelve months’ pay of their respective deceased relations aforesaid, in addition to the pay due to the said deceased at the date of the loss of said vessels respectively. SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the proper accounting officers of the Treasury Department be and hereby are authorized and directed to settle the accounts of Nixon White, late purser in the navy, who was lost in the sloop-of-war Albany, with all his accounts and vouchers for expenditures and payments made by him, and with all the money, stores, and supplies procured for the use of said vessel, and to allow him a credit for whatever sum appears to be due from him on the books of the department. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the pensions and payments made to the proper representatives (as provided for in this act) of Passed Midshipman William K. Bridge, who was in command as acting lieutenant of the brig Porpoise when she was lost, and of the other passed midshipmen who were on board The Porpoise when she was lost, under orders from the Navy Department, as acting lieutenants as well as their pay from the time of their joining said vessel, shall be the same as though they were then duly commissioned and actually holding said rank of lieutenant. SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That for the purpose of fixing the time to which the pay of Passed Midshipman William C. Smith shall be allowed, the first day of May, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one shall be deemed and taken to be the day on which the said Smith was lost at sea. APPROVED, August 1, 1856. |