Savage, Executrix v. United States was a United States Supreme Court case that dealt with the issue of whether the United States was liable for damages caused by the negligence of its employees. The case arose when the executrix of a deceased man, Savage, brought a claim against the United States for damages caused by the negligence of its employees in the construction of a bridge. The executrix argued that the United States was liable for the damages because it had a duty to ensure that its employees acted with reasonable care. The Supreme Court held that the United States was liable for the damages caused by its employees. The Court reasoned that the United States had a duty to ensure that its employees acted with reasonable care, and that this duty extended to the construction of the bridge. The Court also held that the United States was liable for the damages even though the employees were not acting within the scope of their employment. The Court reasoned that the United States was liable because it had a duty to ensure that its employees acted with reasonable care, and that this duty extended to the construction of the bridge. In conclusion, the Supreme Court held that the United States was liable for the damages caused by its employees in the construction of the bridge. The Court reasoned that the United States had a duty to ensure that its employees acted with reasonable care, and that this duty extended to the construction of the bridge.

In Savage, Executrix v. United States, the Supreme Court was tasked with determining whether a widow of an officer in the Navy had a right to receive pension payments from the government after her husband's death. The majority opinion held that she did not have such rights because her husband died before Congress passed legislation providing for pensions to widows and children of deceased officers. Justice Field dissented on this decision, arguing that under existing law at the time of his death, there was no doubt that Mrs. Savage had a vested right to receive pension payments from the government due to her late husband’s service in the Navy during wartime. He argued further that it would be unjust for Congress or any other branch of government to take away these rights without just compensation as provided by Article I Section 10 Clause 1 of Constitution which states “No State shall pass any Bill impairing Contracts." Therefore he concluded that Mrs. Savage should be allowed to collect pension payments based on her late husband’s service record even though they were not explicitly granted by statute at time when he died