1878. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. 1603 

Dy Mr. WILLIAMS, of New York: The petitions of James L. Burpee, Charles Barher, and others; of Benjamin E. Wells,· John Rogers, 

and others; of Frederick C. Shelden, A. D. .Moorhouse, and others; of 

J. F. Pott-er, H. H. Smith, and others, and of C. H. Pike, P. Harris, 

and others, for the amendment of the laws to authorize payment of 

bounties to soldiers discharged for disabilities contract-ed in the service-to the Committee on Military Affairs. 

By Mr. WILLIAMS, of Michigan: The ~tition of John P. Clark 

and 120 other citizens of Wayne County, Michigan, for the betterprotection of the food-fishes of the great lakes and connecting straitsto the Committee on Commerce. 

By Mr. WILLIAMS, of Oregon: The petition of the publisher of 

the Democr:l:tic Times, Jacksonville, Oregon, for the abolition of the 

duty on type-to the CoiD.II;littee of Ways and Means. 

By Mr. WILSON: The petition of C. C. Martin & Co., Thompson & 

Jackson, and others, and of M. Reilly, Brown & Goode, Ogleboy & 

Sons, and others, for a uniform tariff on various grades of sugar, without regard to color or quality-to the same committee. 

Also, the petition of Jacob Altmyer and 391 others, of Benwood, 

West Virginia, against a change in the tariff on iron-to the same committee. 

Also, the petition of the publisher of the Ritchie Democrat, Cairo, 

West Virginia, for the abolition of the duty on type-to the same 

committee. 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 

SATURDAY, Marek 9, 1878. 

'(he House met at 12 o'cloek m., and was called to orfler uy Mr. BLACKBUR...~ as Speaker pro tentpore. 

Prayer by Rev. J. G. BUTLEB, D. D., of \Vashington, District of 

Columbia. 

The Journal of yASterday wna read and approved. 

CO~TAGIOUS OR L~FECTIOUS DISEASES. 

Mr. HARTRJDGE, by unanimous coment, introduced a biU (H. R. 

No. 3739) to prevent the introduction of contagious or infectious dis- cases into the United States; w bich was read a first and second time, 

referred to the Committee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed. 

TEXAS PACIFIC RAILROAD. 

Mr. STEPHENS, of Georgia, by unanimous consent, presente(l the 

following memoria_}, signed by numerous citizens of Augusta, Georgia, in favor of the Texas Pacific Railroad (which was referred to 

the Committee on the Pacific Railroad, and ordered to be printed in 

the RECORD: 

To the Honorahle Sen4te and Howie of Repre8e11.tativesr of the Congrus of the United Statu: 

Your petitioners, citizens of the State of G~rgia., representing the al!rlcultnral, 

commercial, and other intereais of the country, respectfully ask your attention to the measure nttw before your honorable bodies for the conRtruction of the Texas 

and Pacific Railroad from Vicksburgb, Mississippi, to San Diego, California. along or near the thi~y-second pamllel, by means of a. Jrnarantoo by t.he Gem•ral Gov- ernment of fhe mterest on the sum necefllia.ry for tho actual cost of the work, and 

pray that you will adopt such a law as will insure its early completion. In the opinion of your petitioners, the bills recently introduced into Congress by M~rs. STEl'RRNS, of Georgia., LAMAR, of Mississipdi, and otllers for a Governmrnt 

guarantee of interest OB the bonds of the Texa~~ an Pacillc Rallway Company, not to exceed a maximum of $20,000 per mile. or les11, should the actual cost of the 

work be less, with the ample security of o. first mot·tgage on all the property of the 

company; the retention of the dues for Government transportation of ali kinds, 

and of the proceeds of the sale of the company's lands, as well ·as bonds of the 

company, at the rate of $5 000 per mile, to ue sold in case of any default on its part 

in meetwg its interest ouli~ations, seem to furni!lh to the Government a. security so ample against possibJe•loss, that assi tance thus granted for this ~t work cannot. justly be regarded as a subsidy, but as a prudent, legitima.tel and constitn· 

tional method of ~ving aiSsistance to a great national enterpris(\, rrom which we udie'\'"e j!.rt.-at benefits would accrue to the whole country, and especially to our: sec. tion of the Union: . First. By giving employment to large nnmbers of laborers now in enforced idlene88. . Second. By opening up to cultivation vast areas of fertile lands, which otherwise must remain for generations unproductive, and turning the tide of foreign immigntion, not only into the unsettled rt>gions west of the Missi!U!ippi River, but into tli6 Southern Atlantic and Gulf States. 

Third. By vitalizing the vast amoUDt of dead capital now invested in unpM· ductive southern railroads. 

Fourth. By opening up new markets for Olll' surplus awicultural, mineral, and 

manufacturing products, and thereby stimulating into healthy development all our commercial and industrial interests. 

Fifth. By furnishing a shorter and better railway line across the continent, which 

will be open to traffic the whole year round, withou~ the possibility of interruption from snow blockades. , Sixth. By curt.a.iling and limiting the power of the present gigantic and danger- ous monopoly, known as the Union and <..:entral Pacific Railroads, and freeing com- merce frotp extortionate charges, hy providing a. competing line Ullder the control 

of the people, througi.J their representatives. 

Your petitiontt"S would further urge upon your honorable bodies the consideration of the following facts: 

First. That theGovernmt'nt has granted in principal and interest over 000,000 

and more tba.n tifty millions of acres of land for the construction of a transcontinental railway on or near the forty-first parallel of latitude, which i:~ so far north- ward~ to h~ of no p1 actical benefit to the people of the ~uthern States; notwith. 

sta11umg which, thtty are taxetl to pay the mte~st on thlS debt created whglly in 

the interest of another section of the Union. 

Second. That the Government Las ntJvor expended a doll:ir for a southern Pacific 

railway. 

In Vlt:W of these facta and consiuero:ions, yom: petitioners would ~estly pray 

for the passage of such a bill as would, in some merumre, equalize tbe bounties of 

the Go~ernment, by protiding the means for the early completion of the southern 

transcontinental highway known as the Tel:as and Pacific Railroad, and your . petitioners will ever pray. 

SESSION FOR DEllATE 0!\"LY. 

Mr. COVERT. I ask unanimous consent tbat a. session of the Honse 

be held on Monday evening next, at half-past seven o'clock, for the 

purpose of general debate. 

Mr. HALE. No business whatever to be transacted. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair hears no objection, and it 

is ordered accordingly. 

PERSO~AL EXPLANATIO~. 

Mr. DAVIS, of North Carolina. I desire to stat-e that on yesterday 

I expected to he under the necessity of l~wing for my home this 

morning. I received, however, lastnigllt a dispatch ad'vising me that 

tho business which I bad expected to call me borne had been postponed until Monday week. I should deem this explanation unneces- Jary but for the fact that anticipating my departure I had upon that 

expectation ob-tained leave of the House yesterday to make somo reports. 

DEFICIENCY APPROPPJATION BILL. 

.Mr. FOSTER, from the Committee on Appropriations, reported a bill 

(H. R. No. 3740) to provide for deficiencies in the appropriations for 

the service of the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 187t!, 

and for prior years, and for other purposes; which was read a first 

and second time, referred to the Committee of the Whole on the state 

of the Union, and ordered to be printed. 

Mr. FOSTER. I desire to giv-e notke that this bill will be called 

up as soon as the diplomatic and consular appropriation hill1s disposed of. 

TELEPHONIC CO~~"ECTION WITH GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 

Mr. ROBERTS, by unanimous consent, reported from the Committee of Accounts tho following resolution: 

Relioloed, That the ArC'bitect of tho Capitol be authorized to have a wire COD· 

nected with the wire frcru the Senate wmg of the Capitol to the Government 

Printing Office, so as to establish n CQnnection between the office of the Clerk of 

thoHousennd thePrintinJrOffice uy telephone: PTat,-ided, Thatthecostof saidconncction and telephone ihall not exceed f;>O, the same to be paid out of the contin. 

gent fund of the House. · 

Mr. O'NEILL. I would like to suggest the propriety of establishing a connection by telephone between the Clerk of the House and 

the Clerk of the Senate, by means of which memuers might obtain 

information as to the condition of bills in the Senate and as to nom- inations, confirmations, &c. This would be a matter of very great 

convenience and a great saving of trouble and time, as the Door- ke~er of the House iH now 6bliged, when we wish information of that 

kind, to send pages to the Senate. If I have the privilege I will move to amend this resolution in the manner I have indicated. 

Mr. ROBERTS. In expl3.11ation of this resolution I desire to say that 

there is already a. connection between the Senat-e and the Government 

Printing Office by telephone; _and the resolution proposes merely 

that this connection shall bo extended to the Honse, so that we may be 

able to communicate directly with the Government Printing Office 

by telephone. The expense contemplated is about $50; a.nd uncloubtedly the adoption of this improvement will be a great convenience. 

Mr. O'NEILL. Tho expense of connection by telephone between 

the office of the Clerk of the House and the Clerk's office of the Senate wonlU be almost nothing; I suppoSe it would not amount to more than $10 or $1!). Now we all know the convenience of telegraphic 

communication between this House and the various Departments of 

the. Government, whereby we can have a message answered telegraphically in a very short time instead of sending a note uy a me:s- senger and having to await the receiving of an answer in the same way. This connection which I propose between the House and the 

Senate is desirable for the same reason, and owing to the great distance between the two bodies would be a matter of very consicler 

able convenience. I may say here that I hope the time is not far 

distant when by some rearrangement of the architectnro of this 

Capitol the Honse and the Senate may be brought more closely 

together, so that when we wiBh to go to the Senate to bear an interesting debate or when Senators de~ire to come to this Honse it will 

not be necessary to consume five minutes or more of valuable time 

in passing from one body to the other. 

Mr. ROBERTS. I am in entire accord with the views of the gentleman from Pennsylvania, an<l if he will introdnoe a resolution to 

provide for the object indicated by him I will give it my hearty support. 

Mr. O'NEILL. I give notice that I will introduce such a resolution, and have it referred t.o the Committee of Acconnts. . · 

Mr. ROBERTS. I have no object.ion to the gentleman.offering an 

amendment to this resolution, if he so desires. 

Mr. O'NEILL. I will then moYe an amendment, which I think the 

gentleman will accept. 

Mr. ROBERTS. I will accept it on one condition: that the gentleman will name a sum which shall be the maximum cost. 

Mr. O'NEILL. I will say, then, not to ~xceed $50 in cost. 

The SPEA:KER pro tempore. The gentleman from P"'nnsylvania 

will reduce his amendment to writing. 

A ME)1BER. Say $100. 
1604 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. MARCH 9, 

Mr. O'NEILL. Some one says the whole cost shall not exceed $100. 

Mr. ROBERTS. I do not object to that. . Mr. SPRINGER. There is no objection to the amendment of th~ 

gentleman from Pennsylvania. 

Mr. SINGLETON. I insist on the regular order. 

The SPEAKER pro tcmp01·e. There waa no objection, when called 

for by the chairman, to the present consideration of this resolution, 

and the regular order is its consideration. 

Mr. SINGLETON. I thought we had fini!!>hed it. 

Mr. COX, of New York. Let the amenument be read. 

The Clerk read as follows: 

Add to the resolution, "and also for the same kind of connection between the 

Clerk's office of the House and the office of the Secretary of the Senate, not to exceed in cost 1100." 

The amendment was agreed to. 

The resolution, as amended, was then adopted. 

Mr. ROBERTS moved to reconsider the vote by which the resolut.ion was passed; and also moved that the motion to reconsider be 

laid on the table. 

The latter motion was agreed to. 

MAPS FOR THE HALL, 

¥r. TOWNSEND, of New York. I wish to ask consent of the House 

to offer the following reROlution for reference: 

Ruolved, That the Committee of Accounts be directed to procure two or more maps of tbe Uriited States of the lar,e:est size prepared in the Interior Department, 

and can e them to be mounted and bung in some conspicuous place in this Hall, 

the expense to be paid from the contingent fund of the House. · 

Mr. BLAIR. I move that resolution be referred to the Committee on ·Reform in the Civil Service. 

Mr. TOWNSEND, of New York. Oh, no. Mr. ROBERTS. I hope the gentleman will ins~rt "the Clerk of 

the House," as the Committee of Accounts has nothing to do with it. 

Mr. TOWNSEND, of..New York. I wish to refer the question of the 

propriety of the resolution to that committee. 

.Mr. ROBERTS. Very well. I do not object to that. 

• The resolution was referred to the Committee of Accounts._ 

PERSO~AL EXPLANATIOY. 

Mr. KELLEY. I rise to a. question of privilege. 

The SPEAKER pro tcmpo1·e. The gentleman will state it. 

Mr. KELLEY. I send to the desk the RECORD of this morning a.nd 

ask the Clerk to read tbe two paragraphs I have marked iu the speech 

tbe gentleman from Ohio made on the 6th instant. · The Clerk read as follows: 

Mr. GARFIELD said: 

Mr. <..:BAII!MA..N: It is not of my seeking or according to my desire that any interruption of work on the appropriation bills iB made by gener-al debate; 1m t the House 

by unanimous consent allowed the gentleman from Pennsylvanm [Mr. KEl.LEYftwo 

hours and a half )"esterday, which he devoted to the criticism of a speech which I 

made one hundred and nine days ago against the repeal of the resumption act, and 

if I take an hour to reply I can harilly be charged with a wanton delay of the pub· 

lie business. 

. * * * * * 

I am laboring under the ~;arne embarrassment I was under on t be 16th November, 

when I replied to some points made by the gentlrman·from Pennsylvania.. His 

speech then was withheld from the TIECORD, and I was compelled to reply to it as I 

remembered it. And now, after the speech, which was mo tly if not all in manu- script and for aught I know has been many weeks ready for <lelivery, was read 

deliberately to t be House, it does not appear in the R &conn of this morning; and I am al!&in compt'lled to tru11t to my memory of it, to the few notes I made while be 

rend it\ and to the brief notice contained in the morning papers. If I shall in any 

way m1srepresent his statements 1 be fault is mainly his own. Jam also embarrastoed now, as I was in Novemller, by tho fact that the gentle- man himself is not ht-re, for I dislike to make referenco to a member in bis ab- sence. But he sat in the committee-room of Ways and Means for two hours this 

morning, and be knew that I had the ftoor and that I must speak now if at all. 

Mr. KELLEY. That is all for the present. 

Mr. Speaker, a personal explanation is always a disagreeable duty, 

but at times it becomes an imperative duty. The paragraphs just read 

have in substance what went to the country from the reporters' gallery on these points, but the language is toned down. It is not what 

I found in the papers of the country, and is, I am assured by gentle- men who listened to the speech, much more moderate than that which was uttered upon the floor. 

I plead guilty to a ]apse of one hundred and nine days between the 

Rpeech of the gentleman of November 16 and my reply to it, but he 

will bear witness that though I had not heard his speech. as soon as I could read it and meet him I gave him notice that I wonld reply 

to it; and further that when I saw it announced that bA had been 

invited to go to New Hampshire to reply to the letters of Hon. William E. Chandler, and had accepted the invitation, I begged him not 

to go until I should have made my reply. It is, in fact, owing to my 

apprehension of his departure on that mission that be wa.s not able to 

say on~ hundred and twenty or probably one hundred and thirty days. 

For, sir, on. the 8th of November I met with an accident which came 

well-nigh, I am assured by my physician, crippling me for life. It was a.· wet day. I was hurrying on business for my constituents, and 

leaving the Interior Department I trod upon a substance that had 

softened, my foot went from under me, and I fell in such a way as serionsly to injur~ my spine. I did not appreciate tho possible con- sequences of the fall, though my physician did; and on the following Thursday, a week after the accjdent, I, against the protest of my physician, performed what I believed to be a duty to my cop.stitnents 

nnd tho country, and made my argument in. favor of t@ fl!pe~~ Q~ 

the resumption act. It proved to be an act of temerity, for I soon found myself unable to rise from my bed; and !:Iince then during t.he 

whole one hundred and nine days referred to by the gentleman I have 

been the victim of incessant and for many days at a timQ of more intense pain than I had ever endured through a day in my life. And 

yet I bave striven to perform in some sort of a way my essential duties 

as a member of the House. On the day on which the ~entleman spoke, 

when he said I had passed two hours in the comm1ttoe-room, I had 

occupied a lounge in that room in a recumbent position, but watching 

eacb step in the proceedings of the committee and giving its councils 

my best suggestions. 

Before it was uetermined to hold daily meetings of the committee 

I bad come to the room on Thursday after having been lifted from 

my bed and assisted to a carriage and lain there through the session 

of the committee to go back to my bed and remain until the next 

Saturday morning wben the committee would meet again and by tbe same process had been enabled t.o meet it and returning to my bed 

immediately had lain there until Monday morning when the committee was to meet again. And on most of the days on which we have 

met tbe gentleman has seen me physically unable to move about the room with freedom. Anxious as I have been to be on this floor and to 

attend to the private business of my constitue:cts I havo been wbo1ly 

unable to do so. When the vacation came I went to my home hoping for rest and 

the tender oftlcea of my family; but I found my son, the only one 

who ever grew to manhood, and who had just crossed its t.bresbbolU, 

the victim of an assassin's shot, from the effect of which bis life was 

saved as by a miracle, and with an operation before him which kept 

him under the surgeon's knife and instruments for more than fifty 

minutes. Concealing my own collflition from my family I devoted 

myself to him, who, needing tbe appliances of the hospital and t.he pres- ence at any time of its surgeons, was away from home and deprived o~ his mother's gentle offices, until I was utterly prostrated. I left my 

bed after days of confinement to return to Washington. So that but 

for the gentleman's purpose of replying to Chandler's letter in New: 

Hampshire the substance of my speech would still be concealed in 

the notes from which it was uttered. 

I feel that it was hardly just in the ·gentleman having associated 

with me iu the committee under these circumstances to send to the 

country through those accurate reporters the impression that I had 

been one hundred and nine days preparing to reply to his speech. 

Said he: 

I am laboring under the 11ame embarrassment I was under on the 16th November, when I replied to some points made by the gentleman from Pennsylvania. 

Yes, sir; I was not here. The effort ha-d been too much for me. I was away, and at my ).ledside I revised the notes of my speech while 

the gentleman was speaking. Dut had be preferred to ascertain the 

points and averments of the speech before he referred to them, or 

rather had he not relied upon his inner consciousness as the source from which oo obtain fr.cts and waited until the next day, be would 

have had before him in the RECORD what I had said; and could have 

replied to it. There was, tben, no necessity laid upon him of replying 

immediately and without examination of my remarks, as there seems to have been on the 6th instant, when he was to speak by favor. 

His speechSays the gentlemanthen was withheld from the REconn, and I was compelled to reply to it as I re- membered it. And now, after the speech, which was mostly if not all in manu- sci ipt and for aught I kn~w has been many .weeks ready for de?very, ~as read 

deliberately to tho House, 1t does not appear m the R&cono of this mm·mug; aud 

I am again compelled to trust to my memory of it, to the few notes I made while 

be read it, and to the brief notice contained in the morning papers. 

Now, sir, there arc sources of information better than a man's own inner consciousness, and if be had inquired of any one of the five gen tie- men at tho reporters' desk he wouldhavelearned that the speech was 

not all or any part of it in manuscript. Here[holdingthem up] at·o 

the flimsy notes from which it was made which were thrown into my 

desk at its conclusion and which gentlemen may examine if theY. 

please. He says I spoke two hours and a. half; it would hardly have 

taken me that time to read what is scrawled so loosely upon these 

thirty pages of paper. Not only the reporters-for we kept them late 

in the afternoon-but their assistants could any a.nd all of them have 

told him that the imputation that the speech was in manuscript anll was intentionally withheld from the nex:t morning's RECORD by a man as infirm as he knew me to be was utterly-without foundation. 

But I am told, Mr. Speaker, by gentlemen that his statement on 

this point was more empha.tic than that which I have quoted, and the 

reports of the leading newspapers of the country confirm the reports 

of the gentlemen who listened to him: "It was a prepared s.peech "-

I do not pretend to quote his language, for I did not hear him-::" had 

been in manuscript for weeks, and was deliberately read." 

I now ask the Clerk to read from the marked passage on page 4. 

The Clerk read as follows: 

Mr. Chairman, here is a little history which I wish to read. The years be na1uecl were 1865 and 1800. On the 18th day of December, 1865, the following resolution was introduced into the House of Jlepresentati ves: "Resolved, That this Holll!e cordially concurs in the views. of the Secret.'\ry of 

the Treasury [Hugh McCulloch] in relrition to the necessity o:f-a contraction of tbe 

currency, With a view to as early a resmnption of specie payments as the business 

interestS of tile country will admit; a.nd wo hereby pledge co-opcr~tive action to !~s end as speed~ly as practicable." 
1878. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. 1605 

Here are the leas and na.ys recorded upon the Journal of the House: 144 yeas, 

and 6 nays; an among the yeas I: read the namo of Wn.LIAM D. Jr.EI+EY. 

:Ur. KELLEY. lli. Speaker, as I had occasion to say to the gentle- nmn in a former Congress, when he and the gentleman from New 

York [Mr. HEwrrr] had chided me with inconsistency on the silver 

question, I have had to acquire knowleclge by the usual process, not 

having been inspired on economic or other subjects, and knowing 

that I had slowly and with <lifficulty acquired knowledge I have never so cherished an opinion as not to be willing to abandon it when 

the logic of ·events, the teachings of the Almighty by the development of His providence, convinced me that I was in error. I then 

admitted that I had been led into confusion on the question of the 

standard of payment. We were not using gold or silver, and I had 

been fascinated by the idea of establishing if possible a single standard. . . Mr. ATKINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to a point of order. I dislike 

very much to make the point on my venerable friend, the father of 

the House as he is sometimes styled; but if the gentleman intends to 

enter into a political discus..~:~ion I must raise the point of order. 

Mr. KELLEY. I do not mean to enter into a political discUBsion. I 

desire only to allude to what relates to me personally, and will care- fully avoid a political discussion. With permission, I will now say 

to the House that if the body of the gentleman's speech requires discussion at my bands it shall have it hereafter and when such discussion will be in order. What I propose to say now will refer to what 

relates to myself personally, and that I will condense as much as possible. 

I voted in 1865 for the resolution produced by the gentleman and believed in it; but its passage brought me many communications on the 

subject, some of which came from such teachers as the late Stephen 

Colwell and Mr. Henry C. Carey. The vacation was at hand, and 

I devoted the leisure it gave me to the investigation of the question, 

and found that I had made a very grave mistake. It was, the gentleman says, December 18, 1865, and having been convinced of the error into which I bad fallen, I made.an elaborate argument against 

the policy of contracting the currency on the 3d of the following 

January. Then it was that I made the prediction wit.h which I 

opened my remarks on the 15th of November, predicting that if the course proposed by Mr. McCulloch were pursued the disastrous con- dition of affairs now upon us would surely be precipitated. I freely 

confess to an enlightenment by the great masters of economic science, 

an<l, more than that, I as freely admit that, having discovered that I 

had been propagating error, I have devoted the interim, to the extent 

of my power and ability, to undo any evil I might have wrought. 

So much for the contraction resolution. 

In connection with the charge that I a.<lvoca.ted the bill which demonetized the standard dollar I say that, though chairman of the 

Committee on Coinage, I wa.s as i~norant of the fact that it would 

demonetize the silver dollar or of Jts dropping the silver dollar from our system of coins as were those distinguished Senators Messrs. 

BLAINE and VooRHEES, who were then members of the House, and 

each of whom a few days since interrogated the other, "Did yon 

know it was dropped when the bill passed!" "No," said Mr. BLAL~E; 

"did you!" ''No," said Mr. VoORHEES. I do not think that there were three members in the House that knew it. I doubt whether 

Mr. Hooper, who in my absence from the Committee on Coinage and 

attendance on the Committee of Ways and Means managed the bill, 

knew it. I say this in justice to him. I now ask the Clerk to read 

two paragraphs from the Globe of May 27, 1872, from which it will 

be seen that Mr. Hooper gave an assurance to the House that the bill 

ma.de no change in our coinage. - The Clerk read as follows: 

Mr. HouUN. "Before the question is taken upon suspending the rules a.nd pa.ssing 

tho bill I hopo the gentleman from Massachusetts will explain tM leading changes 

made by this bill in the existing law, especially in reference to the coinage. It would seem that all the small coina~e of the country is intended to bo recoine(l. - Mr. HOOPER, of Massachusetts. This bill makes no chanrres in tho e.ril>ting law 

in that regard. It doe.s not require the recoinago of tho ~all coins. On tho (.'.()D· 

trary, I understand that the Secretary of the Tre.asury proposes to issuo an order to stop the coinage of all the minor coins, as there is now a. weat abundance of them 

in the country. The salaries are not increased; they remain as they were. 

Mr. KELLEY. I now. ask the Clerk to read the paragraph which 

I send up to him from the speech of the gentleman from Ohio, [Mr. 

GARFIELD.l 

The Clerk read as follows: 

If I read tho si~ms in the_politioa.l horizon aright, the time is just at hand when men who love their country, its honor and its plighted faith, men of both political parties, will stand together against this now heresy known as American finance. 

It was in the spirit of this same doctrine that tho ~entleman from Pennsylvania two years ago went to Ohio, to the borders of my dtstrict, to the lead~g town in 

the district of my colleague here, [Mr. McKnn.EY,] and at a time of strilres in tho center of that great iron re~on, when the question between capital and labor, 

between employers and emplOyed, had been pushed to the verp;~ of violence, and 

addressed an excited throng; and, if the papers did not report nim incorrectly, ho 

warned the mill-owners, the capitalists, that the time was not far distant when 

labor mil!ht take ca.pital by the throat. We came near having scenes of riot awak· 

ened by the wild flash of his communistic torch. 

He sought not only to destroy his party in Ohio, but to elect to our governorship a man who denounced gold and sil\'er coin as a barren ideality. The people of biB 

district were not inclined to forgetwhathe had done when the elections of last year were coming on; and there are men now on this floor who courteously and tenderly, because of his years, ability, and long service, wrote to his people advising them to trust him arrain, and expressing the belief that the scenes of 1876 would not be 

repeated; anl on those assurances bois hero to-day-here to-day to assail those 

who believe in redeeming the plight~d promises of the nation. 

Mr. KELLEY. I denounce that passage as the production of 

distempered imagination. That I went to Youngstown and that I 

delivered an address there is true. I went there upon the invitation 

of leading citizens of that town and of the :Maboning Valley, without distinction of party, to discuss a non-partisan question, the interconvertible-bond system. There sat upon the stage from which I 

spoke the bankers and business men of the town and vicinity. The 

proscenium boxes were filled with ladies, and the body of the hall 

with working and business men. I saw no excited mob or crowd. I 

made no communistic address. I uttered no threat that labor would 

take capital by the throat. - When the address was over, my rooms were thronged with intelligent gentlemen who loitered with me until after midnight. The next 

day being Sunday, I visited, with a prominent banker of the town; 

who waa also largely engaged in the iron trade, a leading Presbyterian church, and, the service being over, I wa-s kindly treated by a score and more of the gentlemen I encountered in the aisle and near the 

threshold of the edifice. I dined with the gentleman referrE>..d to and 

his family. We sat on the piazza. of his handsome home on the main 

street, and received a. succession of callers until about five o'clock, 

when I was driven to visit some of the more remote iron-fields of the 

neighborhood and the homes of their proprietors. 

I heard nothing of communism or of danger of riot from any of 

these people. I saw, and they, more familiar with the people, seemed 

to have seen no indications of the kind. It was not until the papers came from Cleveland or Cincinnati that any apprehension could possibly have been raised in their minds. Then there came in the organs 

of the contractionists what purported to be, and no doubt was, a spe~ 

cial dispatch sent by somebody giving this extraordinary account of 

the occasion. The whole scene as described by that dispatch was, as is the statement I am now about to treat and for which the gentle- man is responsible, the creation of a distempered and ill-governed 

imagination. 

The gentleman, continuing his remarks and referring to me, says: 

He sought not only to destroy his party in Ohio, but to elect to our governorship a. man who denonnoed gold and silver com as a. barren ideality. 

My address was non-partisan. Neither the democratic nor therepublican party of Ohio was committed to or against the convertiblebond system, and I discussed it with its bearing on- the ·currency question, and on the safety of savings-banks, then beginning to feel the 

peril into which they have now come. 

The people of his district were not inclined to forget what he had done when the 

elections of last year were coming on; and there are men now on this floor who 

courteously and tenderly, because of his yearsThen numbering sixty-twoability, and long service, wrote to his people advising them to trust him again, 

and- . 

A.s I have rea.d it elsewhere '' a1J1Jealing to them. to trUBt him again;" 

but I read it here in the REcORDaclvising thom to trust him again, and expressing the belief that the scenes of 1876 

would not be repeated; and on thoso assurances he i.<i here to-day-here to-day to assail those who believe in redeeming tho plighted promises of the nation. 

I wonder whether those appeals had not caused my election in 1860 

and 1862 and for the eight times that my election had preceded the one then pending. Now, sir, there sits upon this floor no man who . ever to my know ledge wrote such a letter. If there be one, I ask him 

to state it. ·If he is under obligation of confidence to mo I remit the 

obligation. If he feels that the restraints which bind gentlemen in 

such matters restrain him, I appeal to bim as a duty to me to state it. _ Sir, one letter was written. My friend Mr. FosTER and I were then more intimate than now, by reason of the close proximity of our seats 

in this Hall and of our interest in Governor Hayes, upon whose prospects we frequently conferred, and I laid before him, as I did before 

my friend DANFORD, many letters received from constituents. 

Efforts were being made in my district, as there had been at each of 

the ejght preceding elections by which I had been returned, to nominate another man for Congress ; and some of my friends who wrote me seemed to be troubled by the fact that those who were seeking 

to defeat me, who were a small portion of my constituents, were stating that Governor Hayes desired my defegt as punishment for 

my ha.'Ving gone into Ohio, aa was said, to electioneer for Mr. Allen. 

With these communications came threats that if the candidate for the 

Presidency interposed to force a nomination on the fourth congressional district of Pennsylvania. some of the people W<?uld turn upon 

the republican candidate for Presidency. 

In view of these facts it was arranged that my friend FosTER, who 

represented the candida,t-e for the Presidency, should write a letter 

that would answer a double purpose. [Loud and continued laughter.] 

I pray you, Mr. Speaker, to bear in wind that, if dirty linen is to be 

washed here to-day, I did not introduce the bundle; 

Mr. CRITTENDEN. Let the washing go on. [Laughter.] 

Mr. KELLEY. Mr. FoSTER did address a letter to a gentleman 

whom I named, Mr. D.P. Southworth, a confidential friend of mine, 

saying that he bad no authority to speak for him, but that be was the 

congressional representative of Governor Hayes, [laughter;] that he 

knew the kindly relations between the Governor and Mr. KELLEY, 

and that he had reason to believe, and felt free. to say, that Governor 

Hayes desired the return of Mr. KELLEY. [Renewed laughter.] . That letter was given to me, and having from the time I heard that 

the gentleman from Ohio had made the assertion that I had requested 
1606 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. MARcH 9, 

an appeal in my behalf challenged my .memory, I can recall bnt one person to whom it was shown. That was Mr. Southworth, the gentle- man t.o whom it was addressed, who rea(l it a.nd at my request handed 

it back to me. So far I remember the facts ina general way. I would ue glad to yiel<l to my friend from Ohio [Mr. FosTER] if I have misstated them in any essential particular. I have not attempted to give a verbatim report of the letter. 

Now, sir, my relations with my constituents are peculiar. They 

elected me to Congress in 1860, and at intervals of two years they 

have continnerl to return me. They know my faults and foibles. They 

know that I will sometimes roll ther, probably as an inheritance from 

my Irish ancestry rather than a vicious habit. They know, too, that I 

have a will of my own, and that when suffering from dyspepsia I am sometimes rude. They know also that I have difficulty in recognizing 

individuals and therefore often pass without notice persons to whom I 

on<Tht to speak familiarly, and thus appear to be supercilious. They ar: aware of all these and many graver faults, for I have lived among 

them now nearly sixty-four years. I w~ a member in my young days 

of the volunteer fire department. My name is still borne honorably 

(having neen there since before I was sixteen years of age) on the roll 

of one of the military companies of Philadelphia. I have pro3ecuted 

the pleas and defended criminals and conducted civil suits in her 

courts, and presided for nearly ten years (in company with three very 

able jurists who could supply my deficiencies) over the ·court which 

for the large city of Philadelphia had the teclmical jurisdiction of all 

the courts of Westminster, of the exchequer, and of the lord high chancellor; which took charge of the apprentice boy who complained of 

his master; which sentenced the convicted murderer who had been 

tried by its judges; which reviewed the proceedings of magistra~es 

and sat at 11isi p1'ius j which settled the accounts of executors, admmistrators, and the trustees of such corporations as the late United 

States Bank; which, after argument by counsel from several States 

of the Union, divorced such distinguished parties as the late Pierce 

Butler from his then wife, formerly :Miss Fanny Kemble, as well as unhappy people of less note. 

I say my constituents know me in the grain; and the suggestion 

that they should have been influenced by the appeal of some loving 

friend of mine from Ohio-perhaps the gentleman himself-for the 

ninth time to forgive my faults and send me here will seem to a good 

many of them very preposterous ; and if they doubted the estimate 

of the gentleman's character implied by my recent speech they will 

fiurl confirmation of it in what he has said in this connection about 

them and their Representatiye. 

Mr. Speaker, the word ."trick" is a very offensive word; and I 

probably have not sufficiently practiced its pronunciation ~s t~e 

gentleman seems to have taken offense at my way of prononncmg 1t, 

because I do not like the word. But it is expressive, and we all have 

to use it sometimes. I remember that when I first came into this 

House the then Speaker, Hon. Galusha A. Grow, when the subject of 

revising the reporters' notes of speeches for the Globe was under discussion, laid down the role that there was a class of utterances which a member had no right to rense without the consent of another party, 

and that was innuendoes or direct as!Sertions involving the character 

of a member. I have heanl Hon. Schuyler Coliax, during his long 

term in the office of Speaker, rea~rm that doctrine sev.~al times. 

And if I bad used broad, bold, and free language when assa1lmg a gentleman in his al>scnce from the House I would have let it go into 

the REconD, or expressing to him my regret for its use would have 

asked leave to make such modification as I would have put before 

him. Had I in any such case tempered down my language so that 

he could not have it in full to reply to, and perhaps to move to ex- punge it., I would feel that I had been guilty of a" trick." 

Mr. FOSTER. Mr. SpeakerThe SPEAKER p1·o tempore. Does the gentleman rise to a personal 

explanation! 

1\lr. FOSTER. Yes, sir. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Pennsyl- vania [Mr. KELLEY] unquestionably bas among his papers the letter 

to which he bas referred. I do not recollect precisely what it con- tained; the general substance of it, I think, he has given correctly. 

My only purpose in rising is to state a little more clearly the reasons that induceu the writing of it. 

The gentleman fromPennsylvania seemed annoyed at an effort that was being made in his district by certain parties against his renom- ination on the ground that he hau gone to Ohio in 1875 and hau 

stumped the State against Governor Bayes. It was charged (as he 

represented to me) that it would be a discourteous act toward Governor Hayes~ then the candidate of the republican party for the 

Presidency, to nominate my friend from Pennsylvania as republican 

candidate fo"rCongress in his district in Philadelphia. 

We ba<l a .good many talks about the matter, sitting as the gentleman says very·near to each other, on opposite sides of the same aisle. 

The conference extendeu probably to my friend General GARFIELD, 

and I know to my coneague, [Mr. DANFORD.] Several !mggestions were made, among them t.bat I should go to Philadelphia, on my way 

to New York I believe, and should there be serenaded and should say 

in substance what was afterward incorporated in the letter. [Great 

laughter.] But my laborious duties here on the Committee on Appropriations would not permit me to carry out that programme. I would 

have been very glad 1o have stopped a.t the Continental Hotel and to 

have been serenaded by a band of music and to have been called out 

perhaps by the company to which the gentleman belonged in former 

times-a tire company I believe. [Laughter.] 

I have always had, and have now, a very high regard for the gentleman from Pennsylvania. He has always been my fiiend here, in 

my younger days wa.s my friend, and I suspect he is my friend now. I did not believe that Governor Hayes cared two cents whether my 

friend from Pennsylvania was nominated or not; it was a matter of no great interest to him, [laughter;] and I felt confident he would 

not feel himself treated unkindly 1f my friend from Pennsylvania. were renominated. For myself I desired to see him renominated ; I 

hope he may stay here for many years to come ; I hoped so then and 

I hope so now. I wrote the letter referred to at his solicitation, and was very ~lad afterward to be informed by him that it ha.d been of 

great serVIce to him. 

Air. KELLEY. That it bad been of service I plead guilty to having said. Aa throwing a little light on the subject of who wanted me noininated and why it was desirable, it is known to some people 

here that when the campaign opened a republican candidate for Congress, a. greenbacker, a convertil>le-bond man, who had been renom- inated and re-elected as such at the preceding election, would be a very convenient thing to have about the house in certain districts in 

Indiana, Ohio, and the interior of Pennsylvania, where the greenback 

heresy, as it was called, was prevailing, [laughter, 1 and at the request 

of the Stat.e committees of those three States, backed by letters from 

eminent personages who were not on these committees, I consented to 

go as the republican member favoring greenbacks and convertible 

bonds, who had been renominated by the republican party and had 

been re-elected by it, at the last election, to Indiana and Ohio and 

through t.he infected districts of Pennsylvania. [Laughter.] In com- menting upon the gentleman's assertion that I had excited riot, -that 

I pad taught communism in Youngstown, it is pertinent to remark 

that Youngstown was one of the places to which I was specially urged 

to go, and where it was arranged I should go so as to have a. little 

loose time, and further to say that the gentleman now representing 

the Yotmgstown district has, within three weeks, told me that the 

leading men-I think of his district or of that county; it may be of 

Youngstown alone-had appealed to him most urgently to get me to 

go to that town and address them on the tariff and kindred subjects. 

1 do not see my friend here, but I am quite sure he would confirm 

this statement if prese:ut. 

Mr. McKINLEY. Aa the gentleman from Pennsylvania refers to 

me, it iB proper to say that some weeks ago I received a telegram 

from a number of prominent gentlemen of Youngstown, in my district, requesting me to invite the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania to address a tariff meeting to be held in that city and to urge 

him to attend and speak upon a subject in which they had so groat 

interest. 

Mr. CONGER. 'Vas there a serenade promised f · [Laughter.] 

Mr. GARFIELD. I shall not take the time of the Honse many 

minutes in response. If in any woru I said the other day I did the 

slightest injustice to a gentlema,u who I know has long been in ill 

health, I should be most ready to acknowledge it and atone for it. It 

woulq have been an outrageous wrong on my part to make his ilbess 

the occasion of any advantage t.o myself or any dispara~ement to 

him; and if anybody here thought I did so, every such man lS entitled 

to my humblest apology for so doing. 

But if there was anything in the world I &'l.id which can be so con- strued I am utterly unconscious of it. I have known of the gentleman's illness, and he has had my sympathy on account of it. 

But it was only a little strange that long illness, which usually 

brings gentleness of spirit, should not have infused a little more of 

the spirit of gentleness in his more than two hours' personal attack on me. 

Aa to the points which have been made I have only this thing to 

say: If I have misrepresented any word or thought of his, I owe him an humble apology. and will make it any time and anywhere. He is 

mistaken in supposing that my speech a-s printed in tho RECORD of 

this morning is different from the speech as delive~d in the Honse. 

I added a few of the authorities to which I refen-ecl, and did so in 

accordance with my suggestion to the Honse that I would do so to save the time of readinO' them. I have rarely made ~ few verbal 

corrections in any speech, and in no case have transcended the established usage of the House. Those who heard me can judge. 

I represented him, he says, as reporting the bill and declaring 'in 

the Honse for the demonetization of silver. He now tells the House 

that he did not know the demonetization of the sliver dollar wa.s in 

tho bill. How can that be possible f I read from his speech of 1873, 

Congressional Globe, page :!331. 

In reply to a question by ~lr. PoTIER, of New York, he said: 

It bas become impossible to retain American ailvor in thi11 country oxcept in 

collections of curiosities. * * * All exporienco has shown that yon must ha\'~ 

one standard coin. which shall be a legal tender for all ot.hers. an4l then you may 

promote your domestic convenience by having a subsidiary coinage of l!lilver. 

'This was said in d.irect answer to tho question of the gentleman 

from New York [Mr. PoiTE.r.] about the abandonment of the silver 

dollar. He says that Mr. Holman drew out from Mr. Hooper an answer which indicated that ~Ir. Hooper did not underst.aud the silver dollar 

was changed. 

The question which Mr. Holman put was: "Does it make any change 
1878. CONGRESSIONAL RECOR.D-HOUSE. 1607 

in the coinage of the subsidiary coin'" and Mr. Hooper answered pher I ha-d with me, he is here on the floor and will certify, if neces- " No, the subsidiary coinage goes on as before." That is my under- sary, that he did not use his pencil that evening, as there were plenty 

standing of the passage. of othen to do so, and that -the reports they maile were to go to the · 

But no matter about that, the bill which the gentleman from Penn- papers. sylvania held in his hand and asked the Hoose to pass dropped from I made diligent search in the little time allowed me this morningthe law the silver dollar. His committee dropped it on the recommen- for, as the gent.Ieman's spe-ech did not appear the day after it was dation of the Secretary of the Treasury, which was in print and had made, or yesterday, I did not know whether it would appear t-olongbeforebeenreferred to his committee, and in thelongreportofMr. day-for the Globe of February 17, 1872, bot could not find it. It 

Knox, Comptroller of the Currency, it was urged that the silver dol- has just been handed to me. I have often been held up as the chair- - Jar should be dropped. Upon those reports the bill was drawn which man of the committee which passed that bill and that engineered it. 

did drop it, and the gentleman h~lding it in his hand said the com- I was nominally the chairman of the committee, but Mr. Hooper, of 

mittee had gone over it, every line, and it ought to pass. The demo- Massachusetts, had charge of the bill a.ud I attended to my duties as cratic gentleman from Illinois, not now here, rose and stated that he a member of the Committee of Ways and Means. I will ask the Clerk 

had gone over the bill thoroughly, line by line, and he was satisfied to read from the Globe referred to the paragraph I have marked, 

that it ought to pass. which will show the House that I had nothing to do with managing 

I trust it will be clearly seen that I did not misrepresent him in the bill that was pll8Sed and that ili was then denied that it W3.8 the 

this. work of the committee. 

Now the gentle~an reiterates constantly in his speech to-day, as he The Clerk read as follows: 

did in his speech of Tuesday last, that my facts are drawn frot;n my Mr. Mc~EELY. I have never seen a majority of the committee present, a-nd I 

inner consciousness, and be decla.res that the statement I made m re- wish to find out something about this bill. I hope il.IJ a. membec of the committee 

d h. h · y to 'd t b f · t' t d it will not be present-ed . . gar to 18 speec m oungs wn,sa1 o e 0 commnms lC en ency, Mr. KELLEY. I beg leave to sa.y my duties as member of the Committee of was the fruit of my distempered imagination; that_ that too came out Ways and Means have required me to be in attendance elsewhere. I have not 

of my inner cpnsciousness. Let us see.. . been able to give as ~nch attention to the Committee on Coinage, Weight-s, and 

When the gentleman made that de mal I sent to the Ltbrary and Measures as~ should like, :md th.erefore requested th.e gentleman from Ma.ssachnh h th l f th D ·1 c· · t' C . · '1 f seth! to act rn my place as cha.uman of the committee. I have never hall the ave now ere e vo nme ? .e a1 Y mctnna 1 _ommercta . or pleasure of meeting the gentleman from llhnois (Mr. McNeely] at any meeting of 

1875. 'when the volume arnved It Beemed that the dtstempered lDl- the committee when I was there. This bill was under consideration at all the 

agination of which he spoke changed from mine to that of another meetings of the committee which I attenued, and I believe the report now made man 1 to have been the action of the committee. I was about to ask that a day may be • EY I hi 1 f th J! -t t' assignerl for tho consideration of the bill. Mr. KELL · see t s yo ume now or e J.ll~ tme. Mr. McNEELY. I have never myself seen at any meeting of the collliDittee the 

Mr. GARFIELD. I send 1t to the desk and· ask the Clerk to read gentleman who ha.sjust addressed the House. 

from the issue of July 11, 1875, the passage I have marked, to see what a leading Ohio journal said and how they recorded the speech 

to which I referred. 

The Clerk read as follows: 

(Special telegram to the Commercial.] 

YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, July 10. 

Tlie audience that assembled to hear Judge KELLEY last ni•Tht was by no means as large as was anticipated, for a.<>ide from his financial theory his pig-iron record bad maae him re~arded here as the peculiar champion of protection. From eight hundred to one thon83Dcl. made up largely of workingmen from the mills, gathered in 

the Opera-House. Thojnd,e:o spoke nearly two hours. The abstract of his speech sent will give a tolerably fair idea of his remarks, with the exception of the pero- ration. In this be entered upon a defense of the Ohio democracy against the sans culottes editorial in the New York Tribune of the 6th . .Nothing but a verbatim re- port would do the communistic violence of this justice. After referring to the 

French ro>olnti<m, in whicl1 he said the people, sans breeches, sans food, starving, naked, crushed to• the earth, rose and through blood worked tho regeneration of 

France, he exclaimed: "I warn yon, bankers and bnllionists, that unless you desist 

from your plunder and robbing a mob may be at your doors and a knife at your t.broat." It is worth remarking that during this portion of tho speech the pen of 

the stenographer KELLEY brou,e:bt with bini was idle. This defense of the democracy was besides a violation of the compact under which he came: that he would 

apeak for or against no party. Aa I came from the meeting I met at the door of - tho Opera House one of the most prominent coal operator8 and iron manufacturers 

of the State, who bas hitherto been under~tood to be a. w-een backer, and asked him 

what be thought of it. He exclaimed, excitedly: "The man is crazy. He is a rank communist." If your reporter may be allowed to express an opinion he would 

MY that had Founier lived be would hav-e N'joieed to see this day, though he 

might have been ashamed of so much stupidity in a disciple. 

Mr. GARFIELD. The leading citizens who 11eard his speech and 

the Cleveland papers in which it was reported concur in the general 

accuracy of the report just read. For ten years I represente(l Youngstown on this floor, and am familiar with its people and its history. I 

submit whether the evidence I have offered did not warrant me in 

saying the other day that he went to Youngstown, assailed the party 

to whteh be belonged, and made a dangeroUB communistic speech, in 

which he attempted to array labor against capital and the employed 

agaiDBt the employer, and bring us to the verge of serious trouble. 

The suggestion that I drew all tbis from my inner consciousness, that 

it was the work of somebody's distempered im::~.gination,either mine "or that of the public press, is no reply. I am sorry we havo not the 

full report of t.he gentleman's short-hand reporter, t.hat he might read us those disputed passages. But it appears from tho Commercial that 

the gentlema.n's reporter was idle during· that flamin~ perorat-ion. Now in regard to the other matter of the last falls campaign. I 

know it was generally understood hero that recommendations w'3re 

solicited for the renomination of the gentleman. I was consulted on tbe subject; and if I had had the same faith that some of my asso- ciates bad in the gentleman's restoration to his party I doubtless 

would have been glad to join in their effort. 

Mr. Speaker, I again beg the pardon of the House for occupying its 

time in questions so personal as these. I leave the whole case, hoping 

that I may not be considered as having drawn the materials of my 

late speech from my inner consciousness, hut from stubborn facts. 

Mr. KELLEY. I desire just one moment, if the House will indulge me. _ The report you have just heard read descriptive of the size of the 

audience and tbe action of my clerk, the phonographer who accom- panied me, and in these particulars contradicting w-hat was given to 

the general press, was written by one who saw neither the audience nor the speaker nor the stenographer whose paralysis he described. 

[Laughter.] He drew a graphic picture of the scene in stra.nge con- trast to that of the reporters who saw all these. As to the phonograORDER OF BUSTh""ESS. 

Mr. SINGLETON. I move that the rules be suspended and that 

the House resolve itself into Committee of the Whole on the state - of tho Union, for the purpose of taking up one of the appropriation 

bills, the consular and diplomatic bill. 

Mr. BANKS. Haa there been a morning hourf 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. There has been no morning hour. 

[Cries of" Regular order."] , Mr. HALE. I think there is no doubt that the House can at any 

time before or after tho morning hour suspend the rules and go i11to 

Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Tbe gentleman from Maine has anticipated the decision of the Chair. The regular order is the motion of 

the gentleman from :Mississippi, [Mr. SL~GLETON,] that the House go 

into Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union. 

l!Ir. POUND: At the request of many members, I desire to call up 

tho motion which I made on the 17th of January last to recoDBider the 

vote by which the House disposed of the report of the Committee on Public Buildings aml Grounds relative to electrical annunciators for 

calling pages. And while the Clerk is looking up that report I desire 

to make a statement to the House in explanation of it, and I trust 

they will give me their attention for but a moment. 

Mr. FINLEY. I desire to inquire what is tho pending motion T 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair would stat-e to the gentle- man from Ohio that the Clerk is engaged in looking up the motion to 

which tho gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. PoUND] alludes. 

1\Ir. POUND. I hope the House will allow me to say a. word of 

explanation while the Clerk is looking up the report. 

Mr. EDEN. Is debate in order! 

The SPEAKER prQ tempo1'e. The Chair would state that it is not. -Mr. EDEN. Then I object to debate. 

The SPEAKER p1·o tempore. The gentleman from Wisconsin asks 

that while the Clerk is hunting up the record he may make a statement to the House. 

lli: EDEN. But we cannot hear anything he says. . The SPEAKER pro tf!rnpore. That is the fault of no one but the 

member!'! on tho floor. The gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. POUND] 

will resume his seat nntil order is restored in th~ Hall. 

Mr. WRIGHT. I move th~t the House do now adjourn. It is evident that wo are not going to do any business. 

.A MEMBER. We are goin~ to do a great deal. 

Mr. WRIGHT. Then I Withdraw the. motion. 

:Mr. EDEN. I would inquire if the motion of the gentleman from 

Mississippi [Mr. SINGLETON] is not in orderf 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. It was certainly in order, but the 

gentleman from Wisconsin rose to call up a motion to reconsider, 

entered in J;t.nuary la.st. 

ltfr. ATKINS. Is it in order to object to debate f 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. It is. 

Mr. ATKINS. 'l'ben I object to debate. - Mr. FINLEY. I rise to a point of order, and the point of order which 

I mako is that the motion of the gentleman from WisconRin has precedence oveT every other business except a motion to adjourn. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The point of order is not well taken, 

because the Chair has not decided to the contrary. :Mr. FINLEY. I can only say that the nnderstandinp: I had was that 

the motion of the gentleman from Mississippi was before the House. 

The SPEAKER pro temJXJre. That was a misunderstanding on the 

paPt of the gentleman from Obi?. 

• 
]608 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. MAROH 9, 

Mr. SINGLETON. I did not hear the motion of the gentleman from 

Wisconsin, [Mr. Pomm.] Will the Chair state itf 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk has not yet been able to find 

the Journal on which that motion is recorded. 

Mr. BEEBE. Is it competent t.o raise the question of consideration on the motion to reconsider T 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair would state that it is admissible to raise the question of considera.tion. 

1\fr. BEEBE. Then I desire to raise that question here now, between 

the proposition of the gentleman from 'Visconsin [Mr. POUND] and 

the proposition of the gentleman from Mississippi, [Mr. SI.SGLETON.] 

Mr. SAYLER. I rise to a point of order. 

Mr. WHITE, of Pennsylvania. I rise to a point of order. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair woald state to the gentle- man from Pennsylvania [Mr. WmTE] that the gentleman from Ohio 

[Mr. SAYLER] is on the floor on a point of order. 

Mr. SAYLER. I desire to briDg before the Honse a.notber question 

which antagonizes either of these motions, and that is the regular 

order of the Honse, which is the morning hour. 

Mr. SPEAKER, pro tempote. Tbat will bring up f.he motion made 

by the gentleman from Mississippi, [Mr. SI~GLETOX,] which is to dispense with the morning hour; pending which the gentleman from 

Wisconsin [Mr. PoUND] indicated his purpose to call up a motion to 

reconsider entered by him sometime in the month of January last, and 

the record of which the Clerk has not yet been able to find. The gentleman from New York [Mr. BEEBE] raises the question of consideration as between those motions. After that shall have been disposed of, 

then the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. SAYLER] will have an opportunity 

of testing the sense of the Honse upon the question of dispensing 

with the morning hour. 

Mr. SAYLER. It is very important that we should go on with the 

regular discharge of our duties in the morning hour rather than to 

waste time in this way. 

Mr. POUND. If the House will permit me-- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Debate is objected to. 

Mr. WHlTE, of Pennsylvania. I make the point or order that the 

objection made to debate came too late. 

The SPEAKER pro tempure. And the point of order made by the 

gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. WHITE] i8 too late. _ ~1r.WHITE,ofPennsylvania. Iroseamomentagotoapointoforder. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. And the gentleman from Ohio on the 

right [~1r. SAYLER] was on the floor on a point of -<>nler. 

.Mr. POUND. The gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. SI~GLETOX] 

says that be does not understand the question ; if the Honse will 

bear with me a moment I will restate the question. 

Mr. EDEN. I object to debate. 

.Mr. SINGLETON. Is my motion to dispense with the morning 

hour in order f 

The SPEAKER pro tempote. It will be in order so soon as the question of consideration is disposed of which the gentleman from New 

York [Mr. BEEBE] has raised. The question is: Will the House now consider the motion called up by the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. 

POUND] to reconsider the vote taken by tho Honse on the day he has 

indicated f 

Mr. REA. I would like to know what the motion is. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair ha-s stated to the House 

that the Clerk has not been able to find the record. [After a pause.] 

The Clerk bas succeeded in finding the record. The gentleman from 

Wisconsin [Mr. POUND] having given the wrong date, that has caused 

the delay. The Clerk will report to the Hoose the motion to recon- sider which the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. POUND] now asks to 

call up. 

The Clerk read as follows : 

Mr. POUND. I desire to enter a motion to reoon.sider the vote by which the 

House yesterday ordered to be printed and laid on the table the report of the Com- mitt~ on Public Buildings and Grounds relative to electric annunciators for the 

Hall of the Ho1186. · · The SrEAKER pro tempore. The motion will be entered. 

Mr. WHITE, of Pennsylvania. Let the resolution be read 

Mr. POUND. I desire to sayThe SPEAKER p1·o tempore. Debate is not in order. 

Mr. POUND. I take issue with the Chair. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the question of 

eonsi(leration. 

Mr .. Bl.KER, of Indiana. Let the resolution be reported upon which 

too Honse voted, and which vote a motion to reconsider wa-s entered. 

Ml'. BEEBE. It most be evident to the Honse that all this can re· :sult in nothing but delay. 

Mr. DUNNELL. I do not understand that there was any resolution voted upon by the House at that time. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair is unable to say. 

Mr. DUNNELL. It was simply an ad verse report from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds. 

The SPEAKER pro tempare. And the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. 

BAKER] demands the reading of that report. 

Mr. BAKER, of Indiana. Not the report, bot the resolution. 

Mr. DUNNELL. There is no resolution in the case. Mr. BAKER, of Indiana. Then I withdraw my call for the reading. 

Mr. POUND. If the House will allow me- Tho SPEAKER pro ie1npore. The question is, \Vill the House now 

proeeed to consider the motion to reconsider made by the gentleman 

from \Visconsin T [Mr. POUND.) 

The question was taken, and announced by the Chair as not agreed 

to. 

Mr. POUND. I rise to a point of order: 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state it. 

Mr. POUND. The Chair decided that the motion made by myself was not debatable, and I have sought the floor to take issue with the 

Chair on that decision. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman hns not stated that be rose to a point of order until now. Mr. POUND. I stated it three times. 

Mr. WHITE, of Pennsylvania. He certainly did. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair did not hear it. 

Mr. POUND. I undertake to say that the motion I made is de· 

batable, because the question to reconsider is debatable. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair will say, in justice to himself and the gentleman from Wisconsin, [Mr. Po~D,] that he has 

exhausted every effort to secure to him the floor. \Vben objection was made to debate, no point of order was raised by the gentleman from 

Wisconsin, [Mr. PoUND,) and the question was stated three times by 

the Chair. 

Mr. POUND. Will the Chair indulge me in thisThe SPEAKER pro tempore. If the Chair is permitted to state the 

question with the permission of the gentleman from Wisconsin. 

Mr. SAYLER. The question of consideration certainly is not debatable. 

The SPEAKER p1·o tempore. The Chair will say that if the point 

of order bad been made the Chair would not have sustained it. The 

question of consideration of business is not debatable, and the point 

of order if made now comes too late. • Mr. POUND. By the leave of the Chair I desire to say that I do 

not wish to bo driven from the floor. 

The SPEAKER pro te.n~pore. The Chair protests that instead of 

undertaking to clrive the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. PouND] 

from the floor he bas endeavored to give it to him. 

Mr. POUND. It is not often that I seek the floor, and I desire to 

be t.reate<l with courtesy when I seek it. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will read Rnle 41. · The Clerk read as follows : When any motion or proposition is made, the question, "Will the House now con- Rider it ¥" shall not be put, unless it is demanded by 801De member, or i8 deemed 

necessary by the Speaker. · 

Mr. POUND. I simply wish to say that in consequence of the con- fusion in the Honse I wa-s nnable to be understood ; and seein~ that 

there was a disposition to pass by this question, and not cons1der it 

at this time, I was vainly trying to get the :floor to withdraw tho 

motion with the intention of seeking some more opportune occasion 

to present it. \Vit.h the leave of the Honse, if there is no objection, 

I will now ask that the motion be withdrawn. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair will state that the motion 

has already been disposed of. 

Mr. BURCHARD. This only disposes of it for the present time. 

The gentleman can bring it up again at any other time. 

The question being taken on the motion of Mr. SINGLETON, to dispense with the morning hour, it was agreed to; there being-ayes 110, 

noes 24. 

CONSULAR AND DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATION BILL. 

The motion of Mr. SINGLETON, that the House resolve itself into 

Committee of the Whole for the consideration of the consular and 

diplomatic appropriation bill, was then agreed to. 

The House accordingly resolved itself into Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, (Mr. Cox, of New York, in the chair,) and 

proceeded to the considemtion of the bill (H. R. No. 3064) making 

appropriations for the consular and diplomatic service of the Govern· 

ment for the year ending June 30, 1879, and for other purposes. 

Mr. CONGER. Mr. Chairman--

The ·cHAIRMAN. The first business in order will be the reading 

of the bill. 

Mr. CONGER. I ask the courtesy of the Chair to respond to a mem- ber when he addresses the Chair f · The CHAIRMAN. No business is in order until the Chair states 

the question. The Hoose is in Committee of the Whole on the con- sular and diplomatic appropriation bill 

Mr. CONGER. I ask the Chair whether it is his intention not to 

recognize a member who addresses the Chair. 

The CHAIRMAN. The Chair will recognize the gentleman from 

Michigan the moment the question is placed before the committee. 

Mr. CONGER. There is a certain kind of courtesy which should be 

recognized as due from the Chairman as a gentleman. 

The CHAIRMAN. The committee will be in order; gentlemen will 

be seated. The Clerk will read the title of the bill. 

The title of the bill was read. 

Mr. HALE. I ask that the first reading of the bill be dispensed with. 

Several members objeoted ;_ and the Clerk proceeded to read the 

bill ; but before he had conclnded--

Mr. DUNNELL asked that the further reading of the bill be dis--

pensed with. 

There was no objection. 

Mr. SINGLETON obtained the floor. 
1878. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-#HOUSE. 1609 

Mr. HUBBELL. I wish to inquire of t.he gentleman having charge 

of the bill whether there has been any limit fixed for debate on the 

bill. 

The CHAIRMAN. The Chair will state that general debate has 

not been limited. 

Mr. SINGLETON. It is not proposed at this hour to limit debate 

upon this bill. 

Mr. SINGLETON. Mr. Chairman, charged by the Committee on Appropriations with the duty of presenting this bill to the House and 

recommending its passage, it is due to candor that I say in its details 

it does not meet the approval of every member of said committee, 

but represents the views of a majority of the same. Recognizing the fact, as reported to this House by the Secretary of 

the Treasury, that his estimates of the expenditures of the Government for the fiscal year 1879 will exceed its revenues by the sum of 

$11,000,000 and that we are likely to have a deficiency for the present year of four or five millions, a grave question is presented for the 

consideration of the people's Representatives. It IS no less a one than 

this: Shall we lessen the expenses of the Government by retrenching 

in every direction practicable and proper, thus bringing ourselves 

within our income and if possible reducing our present burdens, or shall we first appropriate extravagantly and then call upon the people to foot our bills by an increase of taxes which are already crushmg out their energies and in many instances virtually confiscating 

their propertyf There is no avoiding the conclusion that one or other 

of these steps mnst be taken. Which shall it be f Shall we require onr public functionaries in this and every other Department of tho 

Government to receive a little less pay, to surrender some of their 

perquisites, and dispense with twme of their luxuries, that the suffering millions may find some relief, or shall we disregard their sufferings 

and remonstrances and continue to make appropriations as though we were in the midst of the highest degree of financial prosperity f 

A majority of your committee sympathize with the tax-payers, and are determined, if supported by this House, to work on the line of 

retrenchment and economy until the Government is brought back to 'the most reasonable necessary disbursements and until republican 

simplicity shall prevail with our functionaries at foreign courts as well as in our home governmental departments. ~o this end we invoke your co-operation and support. The bill before yon, except 

in the matter of sala1ies, does not differ essentially from the law of 

the last session; and even the salaries have been touched but lightly, as we :hink. 

In regard to first-class embassadors, we have but four, to wit, one each to England, France, Germany, u.nd Russia.. The salaries of these we propose to reduce from $17,500 to $15,000, believing this to be 

sufficient for a reasonable support and ample remuneration for the 

amount of work they are called upon to perform. It is a fact not to 

be denied that since the hemispheres have been united by telegraphic 

cables, since Secretary Evarts can sit at one end and Lord Beaconsfield, Prince Gortschakoff, Prince Bismarck, or the premier of any of 

the Eurofean courts at the other and talk over international questions an( sett.le all complications, much of the utility for ministers 

plenipotentiary has faded out. None of these ministers, let me say 

with all due deference to them, does more than receive and forward 

to our Government communications from tbe courts to which he is 

accredited and receiving his instructions from home lay them before these courts. In ante-telegraphic days, when an interchange of 

diplomatic notes in one, two, or three months was the best that 

could be done, it was sometimes necessary that these ·envoys should 

act upon their own responsibility, and therefore proper that they 

should always be at their posts. But this necessity no longer exists; a fact recogni1.ed by the law itself, as. each foreign em ba.ssador is 

allowed to remain one mont-h at home after his appointment to re- ceive his instructions, and afterward is allowed an absence of two 

months from his post each year, making three months' absenco in 

the first year, the meanwhile drawing inll pay. During his furlough of two months the secretary of legation is converted into a charge, drawing half the amount of pay which is being received by 

the minister. It may be well at this point to compute the costs of 

this system. 

Actual expe;nses of legation to England: , Salary of mmistcr ....................... _. ......... _....... $17, 500 00 

Contingent expenses........................................ 4, OO'l 60 

Salary first secretary ................................ , .. • . .. . 2, ~5 00 

Salary second secretary...... • .. .. • . . .. .. .. • .. .. .. .. • .. . . . . . 2, 000 00 

Salary of first secretary for two months acting as charge in 

mbtister'sabsence ........ _ ........... _ .. __ ............... 1,458 33 

27,585 93 

Le&s salary of first secretary while ading as charg6... 437 50 

Net annual cost of legation.... • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • . . • • . . . . • • • . $27, 148 43 

Besides the above we have a consnl at London drawing a sal· 

aryof .................................. .................. 86.000 00 

Contingent expe11ses for same, (only for three-quarters year). 4, 017 4!J 

Allowance for cJerk hire .......... ~ ........ -................ 2, 000 00 

Net cost consular service...... .. .. • .. • • • • • • • .. • .. • • • • . .. .. • .. • • • 12, 017 49 

Total e:.q>enses of diplomatic and consular services at London .. ---.................................... .. Reduction proposed by this bill of minister's salary........ ~ 500 

nednction m consul's salary................................ 1, 000 

3!1, 166 !l2 

3, 500 ()() 

To :.at expensa as provided for by this bill........................ 42, 656 92 

Mr. Chairman, I a-sk if under the circumstances of our embarrassed 

condition we may not reduce the minister's salary from $1i,500 to 

$15,000, and whether we should not reduce the salary of the consulgeneral at London $1,000, leaving his salary at $5,000,· with his con- tingent expenses, amounting to more than the salary. 

Mr. WRIGHT. Will the gentleman let me ask him a question f 

Mr. SINGLETON. Certainly. 

Mr. WRIGHT. I wish to know whether, in addition to $6,000, paid 

to the consul-general at London, there is not also a large amount of 

fees and perquisites f 

lli. SINGLETON. I do not find it so reported as to the consul at 

London. At Liverpool I find the salary and emoluments of the consul 

amounted last year to $8,000. 

Mr. WRIGHT. I will state to the gentleman that in regard to the 

salary of the consul I know there are large fees and perquisites which 

frequently amount to more than the salary. 

Mr. SINGLETON. The gentleman is right in some instances, but 

it does not seem to be a universal rule. I find from the report of l:he 

Fifth Auditor of the Treasury that while the consul-general at London reccives $6,000 the consul at Liverpool is reported to have received 

$8,000 besides contingencies. 

Let us come now to our legation and consulate at St. Petersburg, 

Russia: ACTUAL EXPE.'\SES OF LEGATION TO RUSSIA. 

Salaryofminister ...................................................... tt7,500 00 

Contingent expenses................................................... 1, 949 20 

Salary of first secretary............ .. • • .. . .. . .. .. .. . .. .. • .. . . . . . .. . .. .. 2, 625 00 

~~~~ f:~~~!~c~~;·i~-~~~~tbJ;,·~~&g:~·,;;i;;i~ier:a~b~~~~:: ~~~ ~ 

25,532 ~ 

Less~salary of first secretary while acting as minister................. 437 50 

Total eipense le~ation ................... ,_................ ...... 25,095 03 

Consular service at St. Petersburg: Salary of con8lll-general. ..... _ ............................ ,. f2. 000 00 

Contingent expenses.... .. . .. • .. .. .. .. • .. • .. .. . .. • • .. . • • • . .. . !\71 34 

2, 571 34 

Total e%}>enses of diplomatic and con8lllar services at St. Petersburg.. 27, 006 37 

Total reduction proposed by this bill, minister's salary................ 2, 500 00 

Total expenses provided for by this bill...................... .... 25, 166 31 

This vast expenditure is entailed upon us, while the fees of our consulate at St. Petersburg amount to but $494, and the contingent 

expenses of same, as stated above, amount to $571.34, and loss of 

exchange in paying these salaries amounts to $188.59. 

I turn now to Germany, where the same state of things will be 

found to exist. 

ACTUAL EXI'ENSES OF LEGATIO~ TO GERMANY. 

Salary of minister, (Berlin) ............................................. t17, 500 00 

Contingent expenses ...... -........ -............. __ .................... 2, 757 83 

Salary of first secretary .......... -........... . .. • .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . . • .. .. 2, 625 00 Salary of second secretary...... .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . . .. .. . .. .. . .. . . . . . . .. .. 2, 000 00 

Salary of first secretary for tWo months, acting in minister's absence... 1, 458 33 

26,341 lG Less salary of first secretary while acting as minister.................. 437 50 

Total expense of legation........................................ 25, 903 66 

Consular serrice at Berlin: 

Salary of consul-generaL...... . . . .. .. .. .. • .. .. . • • • .. . .. • .. .. • $4, 000 00 

Contingent expenses . ............ _ ..... _.. ...... •. .. ........ 1, 396 05 

Allowance for clerk hire..................................... 979 95 

6,376 00 

Total expenses of diplomatic and consular services at Berlin.. . . 32, 279 66 

Reduction of salary of minister by this bill. .. • .. .. .. .. .. • •• . $2. 500 00 

Reduction of salary of consul .. .. .. .. • .. .. .. .. • .. .. • .. .. . .. • 1, 000 00 

3, 500 ()() 

Total expense as provided for by this bill................ . • .. . .. . 25, 779 66 

Mr. WRIGHT. What are t.hose contingent expenses! 

Mr. SINGLl."'TON. I will explain them hereafter, as far as I am able, 

when I come to talk about contingent expenses. I will then a~k the ear of this House, because they are a marvel in the way of charges 

against the Government. I come now to the legation to France. 

ACTUAL EXPENSES OF LEGATION TO FRANCE. 

~:g~~nT:~~::::::::::::: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: etJ: ~ gg Salary of first secretary...................... .. • .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . 2, ()2;) 00 

Salary second secretary...... . .. . .. .. . .. . . . . .. .. .. . . . . . . .. . . • . . .. .. .. .. 2, 000 00 

Salary first secretary £or two months, acting in minister's absence...... 1, 458 33 

27,548 26 

Less salary of first secretary while acting minister.................... 437 ao 

Total expense of legation ................. -.... -........... __ ..... 27, 110 76 

Consular service at Paris : Sala.ry of consnl-generol...... . • • • • • • • • • • • . • . • • . . • • • • • . • • . . . . . t6. 000 00 

Contin:tent expenses......................................... 4, 0:!1 88 

Allowance for clerk hire ...... -................. ..... .... .. . l-, 678 08 

11,699 Q6 

~otal oxp~n~es ~f diplomatic a~d ~nsnlar services at Paris.;··.. a-3, 810 72 

Reduction of nnmster s salary by this bill ..................... . $·.., 500 

Iledoction of consul's salary ...................... -... ·---...... 1, 000 

-- 3,WO 00 

Total expense as provided for in this bill......................... 35,310 72 

Thus we hav-e dealt with these first-class missions. It is for the 

House to approve or disapprove our action. · 
• 

1610 ·coNGRESSION.AIJ RECORD-HOUSE. MARCH 9, 

My friend from Pennsylvania [Mr. WRIGHT] asked me to explain 

what items are embraced under the head of "Contingent expenses." 

I hold in my haml a table furnished me from the Fifth Auditor's Office 

of the Treasury Department, where all settlements of consulates are made, which presents to my mind so111e strange features, and which 

I now preeent to the House for inspection and criticism: 

TRIUSURY DEPAR~"T, 

Fifth Auditor's Ojfice, FebntanJ 14, 1878. 

Memorandum of contlnJ!ent expenses of the Unit&l Slates consulate-general at London and of the United States consnlate at Liverpool, for the fuscal year ending 

June 30, 1877: Lmdon. 

Postage for three quarters • • • • • • • • • . . . • . .. • .. .. .... • .. • • • • . .. .. • .. • .. .. . f190 87 Stationery for three quarters . . • .. .... • .. .. .. .... .................. ... . .. 407 49 

B.ent for three quarters . . . . .. .. • • .. • .. . • .. . • .. • .. .. .. .. . .. • • . • • .. • . .. .. .. 900 00 

Miscellaneous for three quarters .............. ,.......................... 274 13 Shipping and discharging seamen ....................................... 2, 245 00 

Total .............................................................. 4, 017 49 

Postage, stationery, rent, and miscellaneous for fourth quarter, 1876, suspend-ed, 

f86-{.66. 'Ihe shipping expensesamonnted to total fees received for that service, at London. 

Liverpool. 

Postage .. • . . .. .. • .. .. • . . .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. • . • .. .. .. .. .. • • .. . • • .. • .. 1157 31 

~t:~o~~~ ::::~::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~~ ~~ 

ifu~!i::oo;;~ ·:::::::::::::::::::.:::: :::::::: :·:::: ::::::::: :·::: :::::::: 1, ~~ ~~ Shipping and discharging seamen ................ _.... .. • .. .. .. .. • .. .. .. 3, 000 00 

Tot.al. ...... .. .. .. ... • .. .. .. .. . .. . .. ... .. • ... • • . .... .. . . . . . . .... .. 6, 494 55 

Total fees collected for shipping and discharging seamen at Liverpool, eB,076.50. 

Mr. Chairman, it is stated that expenses charged for fourth quarter 

of 1876, at London, are suspended. Why this suspension unless they are thought to be fraudulent or exorbitant f 

I will now try to explain to the House this matter of shipping and 

discharging seamen. As I said before, this item is a novelt.y in the 

way of contingent expenses. It seems that under a law conferring the 

power upon the President of the United States to regulate these matters he caused an order to be made allowipg the consulates at London, 

Liverpool, Belfast, Cardiff, and Hamburg to charge 2 a hea(l for every seaman that was shipped at those pQrts and fifty cents for every one <i~scharged. If any gentleman can give a good reason why these exor- . b1taut charges should be made or why any charge of the kind shoulu 

be imposed upon our commerce I shall be glad to hear it. Two dollars a head for what! 

These seamen are capable of making their own contracts. Why ,shou lU the consul interfere with them t And more espeoialJ y w by shoul(I 

fifty cents be collected for every seaman who is discharged f It is true 

that the person discharging him has to pay the fees both for employ-

}ng and discharging to the consul at these respective points. But 

ultimately it reacts upon the sailors in the reduction of their wagee, 

for their employers in making contracts compute all the costs and are very sure not to take them upon their own shoulders. 

Bot suppose this to be a mistaken view of the subject and that the 

employer suffers the loss, then. -tell me what necessity there is for this 

tax upon our commerce. Woulu it not be wiser to remove all obstructions, to take off all shackles, and bid it go untrammeled T 

These exorbitant and, as I contend, wholly unnecessary charges do 

not prevail as stated above at all points where we have consuls. At 

all others than those named the fees are j oet one-half; and all this 

under the order of the President of the United States, who claims his 

power to establish this order under section 1745 of the Reviseu Statutes of the Uniteu States, which reads as follows: 

The President is authorized to prescribe, from time to time, the rates or tariffs of fe~s.to be c~arged for official services, and to designate what sb:tll be rel!arded as ,offictal semces, besides such as are expressly declared by law, m the business of 

tho several legations, consulates, and commercial agencies. and to adapt the same by such differences as may bo uecessary or proper. to each le"ation consnlat~ o~ commercial agency; and it shall be the dntv of all officers an:'i persons connec'ted 

with such legations, consulates, or commercial agencies t{) collect for such official 

st<rrices sncli and only such fees 83 may be prescribe-d for their respective le"ntiona, consulates, and commercial agencies, and such rates or tariffS shall be ~e­ poi·ted annually to Congress. 

The~e i~ theref~re no l~w fix~ng a tar~ of fees, or any fees at all, 

for s~tppmg or dtschargmg _sailors. It 18 only under and by virtue 

of tbts statute that the Presl(lent bas ordered the thing to be done. 

It will be seen, tqo, that by the last clause of this section an annual ·report of such rates or tariffs shall be made to Congress. W~y !equire such report, unless it be that Congress may know what 

restnct10ns are put upon commerce by order of the President· what 

unjust e~acti~ns are being imposed npo~ the 9wners of vessels to pamper 1)restdent1al pets, and thus affordmg Congress an opport\lllity 

to correct any abnses which may be practiced under this bestowal of 

discretionary power. But not,vithstanding this imperative order of 

the 'itatute, in what document is this report to be found f I think no gentleman will deny that these charges are exorbitant even if 

necessary in any form. No, Mr. Chairman, the thino- was too un- seemly, too startling to fall under the eye of Congrez: and hence no reports have come to us. Bnt to return to the line of my argument. I have a letter n.]so from 

the Fifth Auditor, J. H. Ela, in which be says that at London, Cardiff 

Belfast, and ~am_burg every dollar that is raised ~y cbarging tho $2 a head for sbtppmg and fift,y cents a head for dtschargino- seamen is nsed by the consulates at these points, and not ono doll:r of it js 

paid into tho Treasury. They doubtless report the fact ~bat such fees 

have been received, but at the same time report that it has all been 

absorbed in charges preferred. 

Now, sir, it can he seen at once that a consulate at one of these 

points is much better than a Cabinet position, so far as money is con- ~erned better than any position of like grade to be had at home, and 

1t ceases to excite wonder that gentlemen seek these positions witll so much zeal and energy. 

For a moment let us turn to Liverpool, and we shall find from the 

tablo above that there was collected at that port for shipping aod 

discharging seamen 8,076.50, of which $3,000 is allowed to the comml as a part of his contingent expenses, and the balance, it is to be sopposed, was embraced in his general account and paid into the Treasury, although no note of this fact is m;;K!e in the table. 

By further reference to said table it will be found that under the 

head of "Miscellaneous" there has been allowed to the consul-general 

at Liverpool 1,446.57 for one year and to the consul at London 

274.13 for three-foorthsof a year. What this word "miscellaneous" 

is ~tended to embrace we have no means of knowing. It is a word 

which should be expunged from every system of honest book-keeping, 

at least so far a-s the Government is concerned. 

Thus I have endeavored!Tom documents before me to explain what 

is embraced under the head of contingent expenses and to expose 

what I believe to be frauds upon the Government. We need careful 

legislation upon these subjects. · :til that the Co~ttee on Appropriations can do is to bring these 

thmgs to the not1ce of the Honse and leave other and proper committees to apply the correctives. We have no power to change the law, 

and the moment we propose anything of the kind, thongh in the intetestof economy, some gentleman will rise and charge us with usurping powers that do not belong to us. Sir, the Qommitteeon Appropriations would gladly share their labor 

with other. commi~tees. We ~e not disposed to step beyond the 

boundary-line definmg our duties, but we must be allowed some discretion in the matter of appropriations, aa we are the money committee of t~e Hoose and are held to account for the money disbursed 

under bills reported by us. We may overstep eur boundaries in some inetances, but we are willing to retract when we do so. I think it is clear that abuses have ~rown up under the present 

consular system, and I have spoken plamly on the subject, not with a view of preferring charges against any individual, bot to draw 

attention to them that they be met and corrected. 

Mr. COX, of Ohio. Will the gentleman allow me to ask him a question Y 

Mr. SINGLETON. Certainly. 

Mr. COX, of Ohio. Does not the law now provide for paying into 

the Treasury of the United States all the class of fees there referred tof . lr~r. SINGLETON. It does not specifically, because by order of the 

President and by a practice long indulged in a sort of separate bu- reau has grown up at all the important shipping ports, which takes ~ognizanc~ of all cases ?f. shipping and discharging seamen, and there IS no specific act reqrunng that the fund thuti raised be paid into 

the Treasury. But even should the general statute apply to these 

cases, it ha, be.en grossly disregarded. . Mr. COX, of Ohio. I have been informed by a colleague of mine, 

who has had large experience in this kind of business, that the law 

does so provide; and, if the money has not been paid into the Treasury it bas been a violation of a plain statute. Ith. SINGLETON. Very well; suppose that to be the law ....... and I 

confess I have not examinod the statutes minutely on the subject.- it 

only proves the abuse the greater; only shows how these officers 

abroacl have defied the law, and the necessity of putting a curb upon 

them. 

M_r. COX, of. Ohio. I am infon;ned, and I state it for the purpose of 

havmg the pomt noted and considered by the committ.ee, that every 

fee of every kind of a consulate received must, by law, be accounted 

ior, except those notarial fees which he mav receive for taking testimony before the courts of the United States sent over there. ~r. HEWITT, of New Yo;fk· And. also for copying. A consul is 

entitled, under the regulatiOn for hts own use, to certain fees for 

copying; but all fees for shipping seamen or other fees must be paid 

into the Treasury or accounted for in the accounts of the consulate. 

He is allowed, however, out of the money he receives to pay other 

lawful ex-penses; and my collea.gue on tho committee has fallen into an er.ro~ when he supposes that th~ money received for shipping sea- men 1s Illegally taken and appropriated by the consul to his own use. I holU a letter in my band, as stated above, from J. H. Ela, Fifth Auditor_of the Treasury Department, who has charge of all these m:.tttors, 

whteh I send to the Clerk's desk to be rea<l, and it will be seen that 

these fees have not been paid into the Treasury: TREASURY DEFARTHE:NT, FIFTH AUDITOR'S 0FFICJt, 

Wruhington, February 15, 1878. 

SIR: In answer to the request of your committee, asking a statement of wb.at 

constitute<l the contingent a:qlensea a.t tho United States consulate-general at J.on· 

don and tho consnlate at Liverpool, I herewith inclose a statement of the same so far as sot tied for the last fiscal year; and in an11wer to your verbal inquiry as to what other ports the right to c.harge S2 e:lch for shipping seamen hn.d been extended 

I have to etate that the consuls at Cardiff, Wales, llelfnst, Ireland, and Hamburg: Germany, charge at that rate and retain all the fees they collect for th:1.t scrvico. 

At all other ports whore there are American consuls or their a .. ents the usual fee 

of $1 for shipping a seaman is charged- o 

Trusting this Will be readily understood, I am, yours, trnly, 

R J S 

J. II. ELA, Auditor. , • TEVEXS, Esq., Cl6rk Comm,ittee on ApprQPriations, Hottse of Representatives. 
1878~ CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-.HOUSE. 1611 

Mr. HEWITT, of New York. He does not say that they retain it 

for their personal use, and they do not retain it for their personal nse. 

Mr. SINGLETON. To what use is it then applied t 

Mr. HEWITT, of New York. In payment of the expenees of the 

office. 

Mr. SINGLETON. I want to know, then, -where the other $4,000 

cbargecl as expenses are applied f - Mr. HEWITT, of New York. The vouchers are to be found in the 

Fifth Auditor's Office and can be seen there. 

Mr. SINGLETON. I do not undertake to controvert the statement 

of the gentleman, I only speak by authority of the Fifth Auditor, 

who says that the fees are retained; that at certain points they keep 

all they get and pay nothing into the Treasury, for what purpose he 

does not explain. In addition to that we find in the Fifth Auditor's 

report that they have contingencies at the London consulate of $4,000 

for three-fourths of tbe year, and of $6,000 at Liverpool for twelve 

months. So there are 10,000 expended-for what t For rent, postage, stationery, and fomiture t It is utterly impossible that they 

should expend legitimately these large sums in tlu'l.t way. I only 

speak by the record before me. Mr. HEWI1T, of New York. I do not wish t.o interrupt my colleague too much ; but I would like to say one word. 

Mr. SINGLETON. Very woll. 

Mr. HEWITT, of New York. The shipping of seamen, in Liverpool 

especially and in London to a large degree, is a very expensive 

business. · Mr. SINGLETON. I find it so, to the Government at least, from 

the immense amount co1Jected and retained by consuls. 

Mr. HEWITT, of New York. Because crews can only be shipped 

to Liverpool for the voyap:e, and they are always reshipped there. 

'l'his business requires a shipping bureau in each consulate, and a large number of clerks in the bnreau; and the fees received are used 

to pay the expenses of the shipping service in the ports named. 

They are accounted for in tbe accounts as money received and money 

paid out., and the vouchers can be seen in the Fifth Auditor's office. 

Mr. SINGLETON. I cannot examine all the vouchers, but I have 

here what comes from the Fifth Auditor's office, which I consider 

better. Now, will any gentleman point out to n;e tbe necessity of 

establishing a shipping bureau at Liverpool or at London, and paying out from four to six thousantl dollars a ye.ar for a set of clerks 

employed ostensibly for the purpose of looking after these seamen, 

when they are competent to make their own contracts with their 

employers f 

.Mr. HEWITT, of New York. I beg to correct my collca~e again. 

At every other port but the ones named by him the charge is $1. The 

reaion for the charge of 2 at these two bureaus is because the expense 

of doing business with Great Britain is greater than at other ports. 

I think myself that the charge of $1 is sufficient ; I do not defend 

the practice. But at every port in the world, except those named by 

the gentleman, the charge onder the regulations is $1. 

Mr. SINGLETON. I again recur to the question; can yon tell me wbat necessity tbere is for this, and whether it was not intended by 

those who inaugurated the system to furnish the means of stowing 

away particular friends, who want to live out of the public Treasury f 

I say I can see no necessity for it. These seamen are supposed to be 

competent to make their own contracts. I snppose they do it in every 

easel and then the charge of one or two dollars is made, not for the 

benefit of seamen, but to pay perquisites to consuls and fees to their 

friends, soni, or brothers, as clerks. It is a tax on your commerce, 

every <lollar of it. If yon can prove to me any goo~ that results from 

it-, then I may give up tl1e view which I now entertain on the subject. 

Mr. COX, of O,hio. Will the gentleman permit me again to internlpt him! 

.Mr. SINGLETON. I ~iH. 

Mr. COX, of Ohio. I would call the attention of the gentleman 

for one moment to the advantage which does result from the service 

to which be refers. Tako for example the Pacific Ocean; the gen11eman can easily learn that there hns long been an abuse there con- stantly needing watching; that ship-masters are in the habit of terminating the execution of their contracts with American seaman wherever they may happen to be, upon an island in the ocean where 

they may put in. Sometimes they pay them and sometimes not; but 

tennjnate their contractM with them there and leave them to get home as best they may. 

The laws of the United States for the protection of our seamen ba v e declared tha tsbi p-masters and the ship-owners sha 11 in such cases be responsible for a certain pa.yment in addition to the ordinary 

wages if they discharge the seamen at an unusual place or away from - l1ome. I think the additional charge amounts to some two or three 

months' wages; some gentleman hero ca.n tell mo. Mr. HEWITT, of New York. It is three months' wages. 

Mr. COX, of Ohio. This additional charge of three months' wages is for the porpose of enabling tho seamen to get home. If any gentleman will really look into tho matter he will understand that our consuls have to perform really important services. It only reQ_uires 

that gentlemen shall examine the matter a lit~1o. Of course we cannot learn everything at once. I have myself learned incidentally within two or three days, aut! I may say also accidentally, that 

this service of our consuls is really important. The question is not 

whether it is necessary, for that may be said to be demonstrated; it is 

simply whether the administration of the law is honest and whether our methods of account are such as to secure a proper return of what 

these officers do in that way. 

Mr. SINGLETON. As the gentleman acknowledges that this tax 

is not necessary and is so demonstrated, I need say nothing further on that point .. Mr. COX, of Ohio. The gentleman misunderstood me. I Bai(l that 

its necessity bad been absolutely demonstrated, and that the only 

question was as to the correctness and thoroughness of the administration of the Jaw. 

Mr. SINGLETON. I beg parcton, then, if I misunderstood the gentleman. Now, Mr. Chairman, I would like the gentleman to explain 

to this Honse how the fact that under the law parties engaged in 

commerce, ship-masters and sl1ip-owncrs, who dismiss their employes 

at a distance from home or without fulfilling their contracts, are re- quired to pay them three months' wages has anything to do with the 

presidential order which requires the payment of $2 a bead when these men are shipped and fifty cents when they are discharged in port. 

The two matters are dissimilar and totally disconnected. I admit 

the necessity and justice of reguiring the payment of three months' 

wages when seamen are discharged at a distance from home, but that 

has no connection whatever with this tax of 2 a head when sailors are shipped and fifty cents when they are discharged. The discharged 

sailor gets tho benefit of the three months' wages required by law to 

be paid, but he can by no possibility get one dollar of the money paitl 

for hisshipment or discharge. No part of this fund ever reaches his 

pocket. Hence the stat-ement made Ly the gentleman from Ohio has no bearing upon the case. Mr. COX, of Ohio. I see that the gentleman from New York [Mr. 

HEWITT] has a document before him which is no doubt authentic, 

and upon which I presume he will reply to the gentleman. 

Mr. SINGLETON. I again aver that not a single dollar of this 

money has ever been appropriated to the benefit of these seamen. The wages of which the gentleman ~peaks do go to their benefit, as they should. But the matter under consideration has nothing to do 

with .seamen's wages any more than with the wages of the clerks of 

this House. 

!Ir. COX, of Ohio. The gentleman is again laboring under a mistake. The United States Government does undertake, in regard to seamen who are shipwrecked or otherwise need assistance, to get 

them home. There aro numerous expenses connected with these matters which the Government bears; antl for the execution of papers 

there are fees which go to reimburse the Government. 

:Mr. SINGLETON. I know that fact as well as the gentleman. The 

Government does look after its disabled, sick, or shipwrecked seamen; 

but it has no connection with this matter. We make a separate, specific appropriation of from $75,000 to 100,000 every year for that purpose, and do not set apart this tax of $2 or any part of it to that end. 

Mr. COX, of Ohio. As I said before, these officers are required to 

account just aa much as any other officers of the Government. Their 

vouchers are sent home and are anuited in the proper office of the 

Treasury Department. They do not in fact receive anything except 

their salaries, which are fixed by law, and the auditing of their ac- counts is just as regular as the auditing of the accounts of your internal-revenue officers. The difficult-y about this matter demonstrates 

that we ought to have somebody on this floor who really does know 

what the business of the Departments is. 

.Mr. SINGLETON. 1\Ir. Chairman, the gentleman is himself befogged. I do not profess to understand these matters thoroughly, but 

I think I do understand them sufficiently to enable me to put the gentleman right. - Now, let mo again tum the gent1eman's attention a-moment to London. There the salary is $6,000; fees received, $'29,441.82; expenditure for relief of seamen, $5i8.:l5, (which comes out of the specific 

fund appropriated forthat purpose;) extra wages received at Lontlon, 

1,662, (this is what the gentleman was allu<ling to a while ago;) paid 

for postage, 130; contingent expenses, $4,017 .4!> for t-hree quarters; 

allowance for clerk hire, $~ 000.· This is all the statement of receipts 

and disbursements. Now, I would like to know where tLero is any 

account f?i venin the Auditor's report or elsewhere of the amount which was received as taxes on shipping and discharging seamen. Mr. COX, of Ohio. The gentleman takes Lonuon as an example, 

where the salary is fixed at G,OOO; and in the Auditor's report, as I 

find here, the fees for the year are reported at $36,990. Does tho gen- tleman desire the House to understand that the officer receives and 

keeps those fees T 

Mr. SINGLETON. I do not. 

Mr. COX, of Ohio. Then does the gentleman understand that these 

fees are accounted for and go into the Treasury, or not! 

Mr. SINGLETON. I do so understand; bQt where do yon find any 

account of fees received at $2 a head for shipping seamen or any re- port of the tariff of fees for such services as required by la.w T 

Mr. COX, of Oh;o. \Ve simply say thnt fees aro included.. The 

gentleman from illinois [Mr. BRE~T~"'\0] who is before me bas had 

person9.1 experience in that matter as a consul. 

Mr. BRENTANO. Commls account for every cent received in the 

form of fees. Every quarter they havo to send in an account and 

they lmve to swear to it That account includes everything, for in- voic~s or anything else, it makes no difference wha.t. Tho consul, 
[: 

. 

1612 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. MARCH 9, 

according to the regulations, is authorized in the first place to retain 

from his fees his salary, clerk hire, and office rent. The accounts are accompanied by vouchers for disbursements for ~:~tationery or other 

contingencies. It is ondoobte(lly true these fees have all to be ac- counted for to the Fifth Auditor of the Treasury, to be audited by him. 

All fees which the consul receives for his services 38 such are included 

of course in the fees which he accounts for. 

Mr. SINGLETON. How do you account, then, for the statement 

which I find here made by the Fifth Auditor, that at the consulate at 

London they have never paid anything over, ancl that the same thing 

is true in reference to all other consulates except the consulate at 

Liverpool f · -

Mr. ERENTANO. I have here the register of the State Department, 

which shows precisely what fees have been accounted for by the different consulates. 

Mr. SINGLETON. I do not find it specified in the report of the 

Fifth Auditor. 

Mr. COX, of Ohio. Will the gentleman permit me-- Mr. BRENTANO. Ifindfeesaccountedfor here in thisreportfrom 

ihe State Department as follows: London, $36,990.67; Liverpool, $42,174.67, and at the agency of Liverpool at St. Helen's, $'2,917.22. 

Those are the amounts of fees which these consuls accounted for. - Mr. SINGLETON. He:re I have the Fift.h Auditor's letter, to which 

I again refer yon, stating that the consul at London did not pay over any fees collected as stated. 

Mr. BRENTANO. Bot here you find, as I have stated the fact, that 

these fees have been accounted for. Fees are accounted for under 

oath by all these consuls in the returns they make to the Fifth Auditor of the Treasury. 

Mr. SINGLETON. Theoretically I have no doubt they account for 

everything they receive, bot I am satisfied with the statement of 

the Fifth Auditor, from which I have quoted. 

Mr. BRENT ANO. Then yon charge these consuls with perjnry f 

Mr. SINGLETON. Sometimes those are found who swt>ar to things 

they ought not; I am fully aware of that fact. Bot I am not to be 

badgered into making a charge of false swearing against any particular gentleman. Unfortunately in these degenerate days affidavits are cheap. 

Mr. HEWITT, of New York. I am sure my colleague on the Committee on Appropriations does not mean to do injustice to any worthy, 

meritorious consul. There are disreputable consuls, I know, who 

should be dismissed from the service, but they are not the consuls at 

Liverpool and London, and I think I can state, on as much character aa I have, that every penny which has gone into those officE-s bas 

been absolutely accounted for, and the vouchers will be found in the 

Fifth Auditor's Office. 

Mr. SINGLETON. I have no doubt the gentleman believes what 

he says, and I shall not gainsay it. I give him credit for great kindneRs of heart. _ Mr. COX, of Ohio. This is the only point "W"e make, that the law 

provides for the complete and perfect accounting for all the fees re- ceived. It is as I have stated it, that, except for fees which they 

receive for copying and as mere notaries, they a.re obliged to swear they pay them all into the Treasury. Now, I insist on it, until you 

have specific evidence to the contrary, it stands before this House, 

and we disgrace ourselves if we take any other view of it, that their 

accounts thus renJered, thus audited, thus passed upon, are just as good as the accounts of any other officer of the Government. And one of the things we ought. to hold ourselves bOund to do is in the case of these men, thousands of miles away from home, we shall see no attacks are made on their honesty which are not backed up by 

facts and not by mere assertion. 

Mr. SINGLE'fON. The gentleman has the right to step forward 

and make himself the defender of these persons. I only state the facts as they appear of record, and decline to prefer charges against individuals. 

Mr. MAYHAM. I have no doubt, Mr. Chail·man, that in theory and in law the consuls and ministers are required to account to the 

Treasury for every dollar of fees collected by them. The fair and 

honest administration of the consular office requires such an account 

to be made, and it is the duty of the consul at stated I)6riods, under 

the laws by which consuls are appc)inted and by which they are required to aot, to return to the Fifth Auditor of the Treasury a statement of their accounts in detail, verified by the oath of the 

consul. But, sir, it has come to my knowledge this branch of the 

public service does require reformation and investigation. It is not 

always true that the accounts which are placed upon the files of the 

Treasury are entirely reliable; and while it may not be proper for me now at this stage to refer to any particular instance, yet I happen 

to know as a member of this House there is serious reason to believe 

these accounts, while they may appear to be all regular upon the 

Treasury books, are not regular in fact, and that these fees aro not 

paid over, as the law contemplates they shall be, from all the con- suls accredited by the Government of the United States. 

I felt it my duty, while I agree with the gentleman from Ohio, 

[Mr. Cox,] and my colleague from New York, [Mr. HEWITI,] that 

the law requires these accounts to be made, I felt it my duty to say this much in vindication of the position of the chairman of the com- mittee which is now reporting. 

:Mr. SL.'iGLETON. There is another matter to which I deeire to 

call the attention of gentleman who seem to be li little sensitive upon 

this subject, and that is th1s: returning to Liverpool, I would like 

to know why it is that while the salary of the consul at Liverpool is 

fixed by law at $6,000, we find the salary and the emoluments of that 

office are put down in the Fifth Auditor's report at ,000. Where 

do those $2,000 come from 1 We had supposed the salary of 6,000 was too high, and the committee have been inclined to cut it down, 

but upon further reflection declined to do so. Dot now upou examination of the Fifth Auditor'~:~ report we find the salnry and emoluments 

of that office $8,000, instead of $6,000; a sum equal to the salary of a Cabinet officer. 

If the gentlemen will take the pains to examine into this whoJe 

system they will find it is unsound from beginning to end. I do not 

make charges against any individual but I complain of the system. 

It is so loose and there is so much room for 1he perpetration of frauds 

upon the Government that I believe the whole system ought to bo 

l.'emodeled, that radical changes should be made, and our agents abroad 

should be held more strictly accountable than they have been heretofore. Dut I must pass from the consideration of this section of the 

bill and come to our ministers of the second c1ass, to-wit: at Spain, 

Austria, Italy, Drazil, Mexico, Japan and China. They are receiving 

under the appropriation bill of last year a salary each of 12,000. We 

propose to reduce those salaries from 12,000 down to 10,000. And 

I now propose to show what those legations cost us. Nominally $12,000, but actually almost double that sum. 

Legation to Spain : 

~~::n~~~:_:~::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: $1~: ~~ gg Secretary of legation................................................... 1, 800 00 

Clerks................................................................. 1, 200 00 

Secretary while acting as minister two months........................ 1, 000 00 

Total expenses of legation.......................... . • • .. • . • • . • • 20, 516 20 

Reduction by this bill: _ On minister's salary................................................... 2, 000 00 

Total expenaes under this bill.................................... 18,516 "20 

J.egation to Austria, coat of: 

M.iniater's salary.......................................... f12, 000 00 

Contingent expenses...................................... 758 05 

Secretary of legation...................................... 1, 800 00 

.Add to this expenses of consulate at Vienna: 

Consul's salary ........................................... . Contingent expenses ..................................... . Allowance for clerk's hire ............................... . 

$3,000 00 

918 68 

1, 200 00 

fl4, 558 05 

---- 5,118 68 

Total eXJ1enae of le~tion and consulate.. • . . • • • . • • • • • . • • • • • • • . . . 19, 6i6 73 

It is proposed by this bill to deduct: 

From minister's salary.................................... t2, 000 00 

From conaurs salary ..... ·····--·-·....................... 500 00 ---- 2, 500 00 

Still leaving as the cost under this bill.......................... 17, 176 73 

It is a noteworthy fact that all the fees collected at this consulate 

amount to only the sum of $5,327.01, while the consulate costs us $5,118.68 with exchange added. 

[Here the hammer fell.l 

The CHAIRMAN. If there be no objection, the gentleman from 

Mississippi will be allowed to proceed. 

There was no objection. 

Mr. SINGLETON. Mr. Chairman, I find I will not be able t.o get 

t.hroogh these explanations as fully as I would like to do. I most run hastily over the other points. I will now submit a statement 

made out in a detailed form which will be more satisfactory than any 

remarks of mine, showing the differences between this bill a.nd the 

present law, and the amounts to be saved thereby. 

COXSULAR AND DIPLOHA'tJC. 

Statem~t of dijJerMtUS between present bill and the present law. 

Salaries Great Britain, France, Germany, and Russia, at $17,500, reduced to $L5,000 each. Total reduction ....................... -..... -...... ...... e10, 000 

Salaries Spain, Austria, Ital:v, Brazil, Mexico, Japan, and China, at e12,000, 

reduced to ILO,OOO each. Total reduction .............................. 14,000 

Salaries Chili and Peru, at flO,OOO, reduced to e8,000 each. 'rotal reduction ....... _ ................................................. -...... ----- 4, 000 

Salaries Sweden and Norway, Turkey, Venezuela, Hawaiian Islands, and 

the .Argentine Republic, and the Unit&! States of Colombia. (Belgium 

and tho N etherla.nda dropped anrl Colombia. added.) Total reduction.... 7, 500 

Sa1aryministertoHayti, $7.~ to~,000. Reduction . ... . ................ 2,500 

Salary minister to Liberia, $4,000 to $2,500. Reduction .................... 1, 500 

Salanes charg6 d'affaires to Denmark, Greece, Switzerland, Paraguay and 

Uruguay, and Portul!tl\.(the first four dropped,) atf,'),OOO ................ 20, 000 

SaJary secretary of legaUon to Brazil (dropped} ... .... .......... -....... . l, 800 

Contingent expenses foreig~ intercourse reiluced from $R5_000 to f75,000. _. 10, 000 

Salary consul-general ali Carro, $4.000. Reduced to Sl,OOO -- -.- -- _ .. __ . _ l, 000 Salaries consul-generals to Lonclon, Paris, Havana, and Rio do Janeiro, 

16,000. Reduccdt()e;5000 ............................................... 4,000 

Salary consul-general to Melbourne, 4,500 to $4,000 ...... _ ....... ••. ...... 500 

Salary consul-general to Berlin. $4,000 to $3,000 _ ...•. _ . __ ....... _ • . • . . . . . . . 1, OVO 

Salanes consnl-~renerals to Vienna., Frauk:fot-t, Rome, nncl Constantinople, from e:J,OOO to f2,500........ .. ... . . . . •.. . • . . . . . ....... .•.. .. .••.... .. . . . . 2, 000 

COSSULAT.RS. 

Two of class 1 dropped to class 3, red notion............ . . • • . . • • . .. • • • • • • . . 2, 000 

Eigbtof class 2 dropped to class 3, reduction.............................. 4. 000 

Seven of class 3 dropped to class 4, reduction .•...........••..• _ . . . . • . . • • . 3, 500 

Interpreters in China from es,ooo to $6.500, reduction..................... 1, 500 

ConsUlar officers not citizens, $10,000 to $3,000, reduction_................. 7, 000 

Salaries of marshals in Japan, &:c., from f1,700 to $7,000, reduction....... 700 
1878. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE: 1613 

Loss by rxcbange on consular service, $10.000 to $8,000, reduction........ 2. 000 

United States and Spanish claims commission, $8,960 to $7,950, rednction.. 1, 010 

r..elief of American seamen, $80.000 to f5(),000, reduction.................. 30,000 

Nt;ntrality act, fi"Om $10,000 to $5,000, reduction........................... 5, 000 

Additions not in old law: 

Increase to minister to ArJ!entine Republic and Paraguay and Urnguay.. 500 ~,.rease to minister to Bolivia.................................... . ....... 5, 000 

Total reduction proposed lty this bill below the appropriations of last year, $1011439.50. 

Mr. CONGER. I understand that the gentleman mentioned Belgium and the Netherlands as havingbeeu dropped. I didnotunderstand the reason why. 

Mr. SINGLETON. I have not time to give the reason now. When we get under the five-minute rule I will give the gentleman the information. 

Mr. CONGER. I would like it now. Mr. SINGLETON. I think perhaps it would be bet.ter to a11ow me to go on in the line of remark I have proposed to myself. 

Mr. CONGER. Under the five-minute rn1e there will not be time 

to ask for the reasons for this or discuss it. 

Mr. SINGLETON. Before I get through, if time permits, I will re- fer to the Statesman's Manual, a most valuable English work,· which 

gives the amount of commerce of these several States and the conn tries 

with which it is carried on, and from which it will appear t.bat we have no sufficient inducement to send a minister to either of these court.s. 

Mr. CONGER. Before the gentleman reads that I desire to make a memorandum of the law in regard to fees. The requirement of the 

law is that all fees shall be accounted for and certificates given for 

them by every consul, consul-general, and consn1ar agent; tJlat a re- tnm shall be made not only of the receipts given, but every fee must 

be returned to the Government under penalties and punishment. I 

call the gentleman~s attention to this because be cannot be aware of 

the strictness'()£ the la-w requiring all fees to be accounted for everywhere under the consular system. I do not think that there is a more stringent law npon the statute-book than that. Under the old law 

the fees alone were given as compensation to the consul, but from the 

remarks of the gentleman it would seem that the law is entirely imperfect and inadequate in that respect. Now, if there are. such violationR of the law as those to which the gentleman alludes, the Jaw 

provides a punishment by fine and imprisonment of any consulu 

employe guilty of such malfeasance. . Mr. SINGLETON. Yes, sir; and if I had the power I won1d enforce 

the law to the very Jetter . ' 

Mr. CONGER. Then instead of charging the whole consular serv- ice of the country with violations of the law, it would be well to 

inflict punishment upon those who do violate the law. 

Mr. SINGLETON. I have endeavored to call attention to what I 

considered abuses, and I bave been found fan1t with because I said 

that in my opinion there was something rotten in the state of Denmark that ought to be corrected. But the law officers are yours and 

yon must press them np to the performance of their duties. 

Mr. CONGER. The law provides exactly that it shall be a penal 

offense not to charge and recover the fees provided for. 

Mr. SINGLETON. As an answer tothe gentleman Ireferhimonce more to the Auditor's letter stating that all the fees collected at cer- tain point-s for ·shipping and discharging seamen have been retained. 

Mr. CONGER. But here is the Jaw of the United States still in 

force. If there have been violations of Jaw, and if the consuls have 

failed to recover and receive the fees provided for, they should be 

punished, and yet the gentleman finds fault with the consuls for 

recovering these fees. 

Mr. SINGLETON. I have not found fault with them for receiving 

the fees, but for absorbing the entire amount thereof. I said I thought 

the system altogether unnecessary, being a tax upon commerce, and I 

referred the gentleman to the Auditor's letter as to the retention of 

these fees. If the gentleman has any quarrel it is not with me, but 

hls own officers and law agents. 

Mr. CONGER. Then it is a violation of the law! 

Mr. SINGLETON. It is with you and the functionaries which you 

employ for the execution of the laws to attend to that. We have 

nothing to do with it on thls side of the Hoose, as the Government 

is not in our bands. 

ll.r. CONGER. The gentleman has something to do with it when on an appropriation bill he charges wholesale and broadcast violation of the law on the part of our consnls abroad, because the law is 

strict and positive with penalties of fine and imprisonment for its 

violation, and I submit to the gentleman that for party purposes or for other purposes he has no right to charge the whole,consn.lar serv- ice with the violation of the Jaw. 

Mr. SINGLETON. The gentleman is certainly very sensitive. 1 

have said nothing about party, nor have I charged the whole consular 

service with the violation of law. 

Mr. CONGER. But I said something about party. 

Mr. SINGLETON. It is the gentleman's habit to thrust party into 

everything. 

Mr. CONGER. Then let the gentleman account for his attack upon 

the service. 

Mr. SINGLETON. I have accounted for it. I have a letter from 

the And itor of the Treasury on the subject. Let the gon tlcaa.n exam- ine it to his heart's content, and if the Auditor has blunderell or made 

misstatements let him hold the Auditor accountable. I do not doubt 

that an a.ccountin(J' has been had between these consuls and the Auditor and vouchers gave been filed, bnt the point is the money received 

for shipping and discharging seamen has every dollar (except at 

Liverpool) been absorbed by charges made by tbese consuls against 

the Government, and not one cent of it has in fact gone into the 

Treasury. 

Mr. CONGER. But I have quoted the law. "' 

Mr. LUTTRELL. I desire to ask the gentleman a question, and it 

is this: Has the committee received from the Department a report or statement of the fees collected by the consuls at the several ports T 

Mr. SINGLETON. Only aslt has come to us in gross in the Auditor's report and through the table furnished and letter read. 

Mr. LUTTRELL. Will the gentleman from Missi.Rsippi state to me what amount of fees were collected by the American consn1 at 

Hong-Kong during the last three years f . 

Mr. SINGLETON. I think I can tell, but I do not know what the 

gentleman's object is for this inquiry. 

Mr. LUTTRELL. I do not wish to interrupt the gentleman but I 

find from a letter of the American consul at Hong-Kong that he there 

charges and receives a $2 fee for each emigrant to the United States. 

Now, the statistics of the custom-house at San Francisco show tha{ 

from one hundred and fifty to two hundred thousand Chinese have come to San Francisco within that time. At that rate he must have 

received fees amounting to nearly $400,000, and I want to know if 

any report has been matle showing that those fees have been paid 

into the Treasury. · · 

Mr. SINGLETON. I will turn to Hong-Kong and give the gentle- man from California the information. 

Mr. LUTTRELL. It is a letter from E. L. Golding, United States 

consul at Hong-Kong, addressed to the Secretary of State. 

:Mr. SINGLETON. I have here the Auditor's report, which states 

that there is allowed for "salary and emoluments to the consul at 

Hong-Kong, $4,000." What his emoluments are I cannot tell, or where they come from, or by what law they are authorized. The 

fees received are stated at $12,617.57; the contingent expenses, $3,004.37. . 

1\Ir. LUTTRELL. I am not prepared to discuss this proposition 

now, but I propose to do so next week, and to show the number of 

emigrants sailins from the port of Hong Kong and JJ>rriving at San. 

Francisco. I think there must be a mistake somewhere, because as shown by the reports nearly two hundred thousand Chinese have 

arrived at San Francisco within the last twenty years, and more than 

fifteen thousand within t.he last two or three years. At the rate of $~ per head, there ought to be a great deal more money than has bee~ 

accounted for. I only speak from the record. It is due to o.s, when we come to make these appropriations, that we should understand 

what amount bas been collected and what has been done with it. 

Mr. GARFIE.LD. Will the gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. Sm.t 

GLETON] yield to me to make a statement! 

' Mr. SINGLETON. Certainly. · Mr. GARFIELD. I desire to make a single statement concerning 

changes in the RECORD. I want permission to say, in addition to 

what I said this morning, that my speech as it appears in the RECORD 

this morning is as nearly a literal transcript of what I said as perhaps any report of any speech that I ever made. I added some authorities which I asked permission of the House to do. I wish to add now that I made no change in the RECORD except some verbal changes· which were not important. 

Mr. BRENT ANO. . With the permission of the gentleman from Missippi [Mr. SINGLETON] I desire to say that it is impossible for a consul 

to keep back a knowledge of what he has received. Consuls are required by the regulations to keep two books; the one a sea-book in 

which is entered every dollar that he receives as fees. Then be must 

keep an invoice-book, in which he enters every invoice to which he 

certifies. The fees are stated in the certificates, which are issued in 

triplicate, one of which is given to the importer, another sent to the 

custom-house, and the third is kept in the archives of the consn1ate. 

The invoice-book must agree with the sea-book, and of the sea-book 

he sends a transcript every quarter to the Department. So even if 

the consul wanted to be a dishonest man he could not be one under ~re~~~~ . Mr. SINGLETON. I hope I will now be permitted to finish my re- marks. General debate is ot limited upon this bill, and gentlemen 

will have an opportunity hereafter to be beard. 

Mr. JONES, of Ohio. I would like to ask the gentleman one question right here. · Mr. SINGLETON. Very well. 

Mr. JONES, of Ohio. Can the gentleman or the chairman of the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs give us a list of the consuls now in serv- ice who do not comply with the law by turning over their fees to the 

Treasury! 

Mr. SINGLETON. I cannot. 

Mr. JOXES, of Ohio. I meant the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations. The point is this: it seems to me unfair to denounce 

men in the public service of the Government who do their duty, and 

to put them in the same c;J,tegory with those who do not. I think a distinction ought to be made, and those who do account should have 

credit for it and those who do not should be expose(l. 

Mr. SINGLETON. I havemadenocharges agaiustanyindividnals. 

I have s.tated; an~ I believe I am ~ustifi~d in m~kin$ the statement1 
,, 

~ 

' 

1614 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE~ MARcH 9, 

that this system is an imperfect one, and liable to abuse. I do not 

by corruption at the door of any individual. I etated what I think 

I am.justified in statjog by the facts, as I find them upon the record. 

I do not know who the parties are that are guilty of malfeasance in 

office, and I do not know that the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs can tell. There certainly should be placed restrictions 

wbere necessary, in order to secure an hunest administration of these 

offices. I only speak of it as a system. 

So far as the remarks of the gentleman from California [Mr. LuTTRELL 1 are concerned, he is better acqua-inted with the snuject to 

which be alludes than I a,m, and I hand him over to my choleric friend 

from Michigan, [Mr. COXGER.] I hope now I shall be free from these interruptions~ and that the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. CoxGER] 

and the gentleman from California can settle the matter of fees for 

Chinese emigrants between themselves. 

Mr. CONGER. The gentleman has not consulted me about the 

part I am to take in this choleric discussion. I hope he will consult me first before he m:J.kes any arrangement of that kind. 

Mr. SING LET ON. If the gentleman objects to the term "choleric" 

I will can him the volcanic gentleman, if that is.more satisfactory. 

A word Ln reference to the salaries of the Spanish claims commissioners and the attorneys representing the two countries, Spain and 

the United States, before that commission. The following is the sec- tion of the treaty between these nations, entered into February 12, 

1871, under which the expenses of that commission were to be regulated an~ paid: 

SEC. fi. The expenses of the arbitration will be defrayed by a percentage to be 

added to the amount awarded. The compensation of the arbitrators and umpire shall not exceed $3,000 each ; the same allowance shall be made to each of the two advoca.tJBs representing, respectively, the two governments; and the arbitrators 

may employ a secretary at a compemmtion not exceeding the sum of $5 a day for 

every day actually and necessarily given to the business of the arbitration. 

From this section it is clear that Spain was not only to pay to our citizens the au;ards of the commission, but the expenses of same, by 

adding such percentage to the award as would be sufficient for that 

purpose. And to limit these expenses it was stipulated that a salary 

not exceeding $3,000 should be paid t.o each of the arbitrators and attorneys. These fees and expenses, although paid by the United States 

to the arbitrators and attorneys, are yet due us from Spain. These 

salaries, which ~hould have been $3,000, were estimated for in 1872 

at $5,000, and appropriated for at that mte up to 1877, when they were red need to $4,500, and in 1878 to $3,500. We now propose to bring 

them to the stipulations of the treaty, $3,000, as this is all we can col~ 

lect from Spain. How it has happened, or the reason why they were put at $5,000, I cannot tell. Some gentleman may be able to find a law outside the appropriation bills increasingtheir~alaries, which by 

the terms of the treaty between Spain and the United States creating 

this commission were to have been but $3,000. 

Mr. COX, of Ohio. Will not the gentleman assume that it has been 

done in accordance with law f 

Mr. SINGLETON. That is what I do not know; I cannot find any 

la.w making the increase, except as stateu, in the several appropriation bills. • Mr. COX, of Ohio. Does the gentleman argue questions of this 

kind upon the assumption that anybody can go into the Treasury and 

take money from it without authority of law T What form does the 

gentleman suppose is followed when t·hese men receive their pay f 

Mr. SINGLETON. I suppose, as the fact appears to be, that under some appropriation bill passed by your party years ago these sala.-

ries were put up to $5,000; but certainly there is no authority in the 

form of any regular statute for such an increase. By the treaty itself 

$3,000 is the salary nameu. We have no right to demand of the Spanish government more than the sum stipulated to be paiu. I do not 

pretend to say these commissioners and attorneys have gone to ~be 

'f.~;ea.sury and taken ont this money without some authority to draw it. 

For the relief of American seamen we propose to appropriate $50,000, 

which upon examination of the expenses incurred under this head for 

the last five yeprs we think will lJo found sufficient, although the 

estimate for this item was $100,000. We have vmied from tho bill of 

la.st y~ar l>y adding $500 to tpo salary of the minister to tho Argentine 

Republic and to Paraguay and Uruguay, these po~ts having been con- solidated. We have re-established the mission to :polivia, with a salary of $5,000. These are the changes that have been made. 

Mr. CONGER. Will the gentleman st:tte what was the estimate of 

the Department for the relief and protection of ~erican seamen! 

Mr. SINGLETON. I think it was $100,000 for many years, unti11877. 

Mr. CONGER. This bill proposes to appropriate $50,000. 

Mr. SINGLETON. No, sir; $80,000. 

Mr. CONGER. It is $50,000 in the printed bill. 

Mr. SINGLETON. I find that $50,000 is the amount we proposed 

to appropriate. If gentlemen will look at the average amount ex· 

pended for this purpose during the last five years they will find that 

it does not reach the average of $50,000; but somethlng over $40,000. 

Mr. CONGER. I think the gentleman is mistaken about !;bat. 

Mr. SINGLETON. The gentleman will find that I am correct. 

Taking the aggregate expenditures under thia head for the year 1872 

aDd the four succeeding years, and dividing it by five, you will find 

tLe averup;e annual amount $41,495.60. 

Mr. CONGER. What is the highest amount T 

)lr. SINGLBTON. The highest amount expended during any year 

WM in 1872,.wheri there were- a great· many shipwrecks. ' 

Mr. CONGER. Wha,t was the amount T 

Mr. SINGLETON. Two hundred and fourteen thousand three hundred :md fifty dollars; and the annual average for the five years I 

have named is $41,495. 'Ve propose to ap:e,ropriate $50,000, which we deem sufficient. 

.Mr. CONGER. The appropriation, I think, has never been less tha11 

$100,000 a year. • Mr. SINGLETON. Oh, yes, sir. 

:Mr. CONGER. I think not. 

Mr. SINGLETON. It was not $100,000 last year. 

:Mr. CONGER. How much was it! 

Mr. SINGLETON. I have not the bill of last year before me, but 

it was a good deal less than $100,000; I think $70,000. 

Mr. CONGER. I suppose the gentleman is aware that this appropriation is made out of money--

Mr. SINGLETON. I find that the amount appropriated for 1877 was $70,000. 

Mr. CONGER. I suppose the gentleman is aware that this appropriation is ma<le out of money paid by the seamen themselves at the 

rate of forty cents a month a.s a sort of immrance fund to proviue for 

their relief in case of sickness or for sending them home from foreign 

countries. This is simply ilisposin~ of their own money; and of course no more will be disposed of than is nece&'lary. Sometimes the 

amount is as high :1.~ $250,000; some years $150,000; some years it may 

be less than $50,000. 

Mr. SINGLETON. I think the gentleman is altogether mistaken 

in his figures. ln 1872 the amount was $~14,350.53, the highest amount 

I have known to be appropriated, a.nd this on account of the unusual 

storms and number of shipwrecks. The year of 1872 was a most dis_. 

astrous one to our shipping interests. 

Mr. CONGER. It beca,me necessary a. few years ago to increase the 

charge up.on seamen from twenty cents a month to forty cents, tu double. it, so that it might provide a fuml from which sick a,nd disabled sea- men at home and abroad might be taken care of, and by which they' 

could be sent to hospitals. This item comes out of the fund paid by 

every sailor in the merchant service of the country. Each sailor pays 

forty cents a month, and he is entitled certainly to enough of appropriation to meet this contingency. I think $[>0,000 is conceded not to · 

be enough, although for some years it may not have amounted to more than that. • Mr. SINGLETON. It only amounted to $5,~~ in 1873. . Mr. CONGER. Sometimes it runs low. • There was a. less nnm ber 

of disabled yessels ancl seamen. This fund belongs to the seamen, and 

is made up by the tax imposed each month on the seamen of our com- mercial marine. 

Mr. SINGLETON. That is all very true; but we appropriate here 

aU we deem necessary, and we should not be required to do more as our Treasury is in a state of collapse. 

1\fr. CONGER. Why should not a sufficient amount be appropriated to meet all contingencies f 

Mr. SINGLETON. We have done that according to our jndgment. 

If the average for five years bas been $40,000, we t.hink $50,000 is suffi- . cient. That is the process of reasoning by which we arrivetl at the 

determination to appropriate as reporteu. · Mr. Chairman, I have thus in a plain and homely way {liscmssed this 

bill. I have, in all fidelity to the committee which I represent, aml 

with an eye to the interests of our whole people, endeavored to place 

before this House fignrelil, facts, and arguments, which have satisfied 

my own mind, and I hope may aid in some measure in bringing others 

to the conclusion, that this bill is proper and just in its provisions, and 

ought to pass. Your committee, in framing it, endeavored to guard ou the one hand against any step of retrenchment which would impair 

the efficiency of our {liplomatic orconsul:J.rrelations, and on the other 

any unnecessary expenditure of the public money. 

If they have struck the happy medium, it is to be hoped this House 

will pass the bill as reported; if not, we should aU agree to perfect it as far as possible, without reference to party considerations or the 

aggrandizement of friends who may be or hope to be in this ser- vice. ' 

Let it not be said that the committee or any member of it has heeJl 

actuated by improper motives and .would strike down ruthlessly any 

branch of this service. I confess if my views could be carried out u.r diplomatic relations would undergo some changes. I do not regard 

it as necessary that we should have envoys extraordinary at every 

court in Europe. Now that telegraphs and railroads have made us neighbor& to the once remote and inaccessible nations of the earth, 

I am of opinion that two or at most three of such representatives at 

prominent points in Europe, say at London or Paris, Berlin, Vienna1 or St. Petersburg, or at some other central court, with a proper corps of reasonably paid agents, would answer every purpose, would much 

simplify our present system, and illustrate our views of practical 

economy. And so of other quarters of the world. 

As to our consular system I am of opinion that its usefulness shonld 

not be crippled by any action of this Honse, and did I believe that 

any cbanges proposed by the committee would have that eff~ct, I 

should antagonize them. But, as before stated, but one unimportant consulate (that at. Beirut) has been abolished, and only the salarie& 

of a few of the higher ones have been reduced. No, .Mr. Chairman, 

this service sho11ld be fostered and built up. One of our present 

tTonbles, and by no means the least, is that in these days of improved 
i878. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. 1615 

m~~hinery, agricultnra.l, manufacturing, and mining, which bas stimulated ami facilitated production, making the land plethoric with 

that which we caunot use ourselves and which for the want of proper 

markets we cannot sell to others, stagnation and inertness bang like a dark cloud over every calling at;td industry of our people. Inadequate prices and sometimes a total want of demand for our industries 

have discouraged and paralyzed our laboring classes. 

There is nothing produced upon this continent which ought not 

and might not, with proper effort for the extension of our commerce, 

find a ready and remunerative market in some quarter of the ~lobe. 

I very much doubt whether nuder tho present system this desideratum will eve1· be attained. What we most need, in my view, is the 

establishment of a bureau of commerce, either in connection with 

the State or Treasury Department of this Government, whose chief 

should be a man of the best commercial talents of the country,. who, 

for a proper consideration, should give his whole time and energies 

to the extension of our commerce, and to opening up markets for our surplus products, to be transported in American ships. 

But, Mr. Chairman, these duties, both as to our diplomatic and con- sular service, belong to the Committee on Foreign Relations, and 

uutil they shall move in the matter the Committee on Appropriations can only recommend to this House such sums as in its jnclgment may be sufficient to meet the expenses of the present syst.em. 

This we have done in all sincerity of purpose, and can but hope 

that this Honse will accept and sanction the results of our labors. 

Mr. HEWITT, of New York, and Mr. HUBBELL rose, claiming the 

floor. 

· Mr. ~RICE. I hope gentlemen will now yiold to a motion that the 

committee rise. · Mr. HEWITT, of New York. I am ready to proceed with the discussion, but I do not wish at this late hour to go on, and I will gladly 

consent, thereforet to the motion of the gentleman from Iowa, that 

the cpmmittee rise. 

Mr. HUBBELL. I was notified that I was next to be recognized 

iu t.his debate. 

Mr. HEWITT, of New York. I will explain that. I went myself 

to the gentleman from Michigan, ant\ said I was sufft>ring from a vio~ent beadache and would not be able to go on, and that he might 

follow next in the debate, but that was in the belief the debate was to go on to-day and not go over till another day. I have no objection, 

however, to the gentleman's going on now if he wishes, with the un- derstanding that I shall have the floor when we next go into committee on this bill. 

OCEAN NAVIGATION-FOREIGN 1\IARKETB-HOME INDUSTRIES. 

Mr. HUBBELL. Mr. Chairman, ever since nations have existed, 

owned ships, and held intercourse with each othert their noblest con- tests have been their peaceful ones for maritime supremacy and com- mercial advantage in the ma1·kets of the world. 

Our own nation, while yet in its infancy, engaged with an ardent 

zeal in this peaceful contest, and for a period held the proud position of second, if not first, in the race. But civil war and other unfavorable combinat.ions stripped us of our maritime presti~e and placed us in the rear of our more successful competitors. '!'he American 

flag, that once proudly floated at the mast-head in nearly every com- mercial harbor in the world, has been compelled to yield to superior en terptise; and now our own exports are carried from our shores 

and imports are brought to us mainly in foreign bottoms. 

But a few years ago, as will presently be shown, only 12 per cent. 

of "the tonnage entering our harbors from foreign ports was owned 

abroad, while~ per cent. of the whole of the shipping entering our ports from abroad was built and registered in the United States. 

Now the figures are reversed. Of the shipping engaged in the foreign trade of the United States that entered our ports during the 

fiscal year ended June 30, 1877, only 26 per cent. of the whole tonnage carried the American flag, while 74 per cent. of the tonnage so employed was owned and controlled abroad. - It is not necessary to go into any labored argument in order to 

show that a remedy for this is earnestly desired by every intelligent 

person throughout the Union. To this object the public mind is now anxiously directe«!; and each indication of returning prosperity is 

hailed with unsuppressed satisfaction. . Without presenting in detail all the elements necP.ssary to be 

brought into operation in order to restore the country to its normal 

condition of maritime and commereial thrift, I wish to ask the indulgence of this House while I attempt to show how inseparably a re- vival of these interests is connected with the prosperity of our borne 

industries. 

That our forei~n ~de was neglected during the years of intestine war is not a matter of surprise. The American flag was safe now here 

upou the ocean, and American owners were compelled to sacrifice their 

floating property abroad by forced sales or burry it info port to be 

di"Smantled, in order that it might escape the torch of the onemy. 

OUTI MERCIIA...'IT MARrnE NOT WHOLLY DESTROYED. 

It must not be supposed, however, that our shipping ha.s been en- tirely swept from the ocean, as foreign competitors would have the 

commercial 'Yorld believe. A ca.reful compilation from tho annual 

commerce and navigation reports of the United States from 1AOO down 

to the close of the fiscal year 1877 shows the following results: 

Total tonnage of tl!e U:nit.cd States. 

Year. Tons. Year. Tons. 

1800...... • • • • .. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 292, 4!}2 U!iO ..•••••.•.. _ ..••••• _ • • • • • • 4, ~4~. 5!l9 

1810 .•...••••••••••••••••••••• 1, 424, 748 1871. ••••••••.••••••.••••••••. 4, ~~. 607 

18:!0 .......................... 1, 29El, 958 1Bi2 .......................... 4, 437,746 

1830 .......................... 1,l!ll,776 18i3 .• -....................... 4,696,0.:6 

t84o .......................... 2, 1so. 764 1~:~74 .......................... 4, eoo, 65'2 

1850 ...... -............. .... -. 3, 535, 4S4 1875...... .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . 4, 853, i32 

1860 .................... ----·· 5,353,868 1876 ...... ,_ .............. ·-·· 4, 2i9, <158 

1866 ...... -............. -••••. 3,368,497 1877 ....................... - .. 4,242,51J9 

These figures show an increase from a fraction over a quarter of a million tons in 1800, to five and one-third million tons· in 1860-

just before the commencement of the rebellion-and a falling off of 

two million tons up to 1866, or during the war. Our tonnage in 18GO was nearly· equal to that of England at that period; but many of our ships were, while unable to sail in safecy under the American 

flag, transferred to English purchasers. American tonnage, however, 

is again on the increase, the returns for 1877 showing nearly a million 

tons more than at the close of the war,. employed mainly in our home coast, lake and river trade. So much then for our merchant 

marine. It is not what it shoulcl be, lmt though depressed it is on the increase in our own waters, and if the proper means are now em- ployed to foster and extend our ocean tonnage in iron steamships and 

sailing-vessels of both wood and iron, we may ere long be again 

enabled to compete successfully in the contest for a larger share of 

the world's commerce. 

OUR EXPORTS STEADILY INCREAS~G. 

If we look for a moment at the figures indicating our foreign trade, 

it will be seen that, with the serious impediment of a want of shipping against us, there are gratifying indications of impro,·emEmt, 

though the reiiult is far short of what might have bt6en reached under more favorable conditions: 

Statwum.t showing the specie value of i1npo-rts a11d expot·is of tlle United 

States, exduBii:e of coin and 1rulli01l, jot· the fiscal years 1&sO, 1840, and 

1850, and jt·om 1&30 to 1877, both inclusive. 

Fiscal Excessofim- E.xcess of ex. Total imports Imports. Exports. porta over ports over year. e~rts. liD ports. and exports. 

1t30 ...... $62. 720, 956 $71, 670, 735 ' ...... -~ ....... ~ ~~~. 949.779 $134, :!!ll, 691 

11'40 ...... 98,~. 706 12.1, 668, 93'J ........ ~ .......... 25, 410,226 221, !J-27, 6.18 

1850 -----· 173, 504, 526 144,375,726 $29, 133, 800 ................ 317, 885, ~i~ 

lt!60 ...... 353,616, 119 3:13, 570, 057 20,040,062 ................... 687, 192, 1i6 

1261 ...... 209, 310, 542 219. 553, fl33 69,756,709 .................. 508. 864, 375 

1e62 ...... 1fl9, 356,671 190, 670, 501 .................. 1, 313,824 380, 027, 178 

1863 ...... 243, 3:i5, 815 203,964, 447 39,371,368 ................... 447, 300, 2G2 

1864 ...... 316, 447, 283 158,837, 9{18 157, 609, 295 ................ 475, 2'35,271 

1P.fl5 ...... 238,745,580 166, 029, 30.1 72,716,277 ................ 304, 774, 883 

1~6 •••••• 43~. 812, 06ti 348, 85!1, 522 f:5, !152, 544 ................. 783,671, 5F8 

1867 ...... 395, 763, 100 292, 36!' 2'25 103, 401, 875 ................... 68rl, 124,325 

1868 ...... 357, 4:l6, 440 381,952, R99 75,483,541 ................... 639, 389, 339 

1869 ...... 417, 506, 3;9 ~.117,697 131, 3!:!8, 682 .. . .. . ..... . ... .. 703, 624, 076 • 1870 ...... 435, 9!18, 408 392,771,768 43,186, 640· ............... - 828, 730. 176 

1871 ...... 5~. 223,684 442,820, 178 77,403,506 .............. -·. 90J, 043, 862, 1872 ...... 620, 595, 077 444, 177, 586 182, 417,491 ................. . 1, 070, 7i2, 66:1 

18i3 ...... 642, 13ti, 210 522, 479, 9'.22 11!1, 656, 388 ................. . 1, 1114, lll6, 1:>2 

1874 •••••. 564, 406, 342 596, 4e3, 099 ..................... 29, Oi6, 757 1, 163, 81l9, 441 1875 ...... 531, 005, 43fi 529, 039, 235 3, 966,210 . .... ................. 1, 062, 044, 671 

1876 ...... 460, 741, 190 550, &<12, 234 .. ............... 90.151,044 1, 011, 633, 42-t 

1877 ...... 492, 0!10, 406 701, 948, 313 ................. 209, 857, 907 1, 1!14, 030, 719 

Our exports, it will be seen, amounted in round numbers in 1830 to 

only 71,500,000, but grew gradually up to $333,000,000 in 1860, from 

which they fell during the war to.$166tooo,ooo in 1865. 

On the restoration of pea.ce our exports began again to increase, 

and have continued to do so up to the present time. The returns of 

the last fiscal year, ending J uue 30. 1877) show an e:tport amounting 

in value to $701,948,313, or more than four times great.er than the total 

annual export at the close of the war in 1865, only twelve years ago. 

Another favorable and somewhat extraordinary feature of our foreign trade is the fact that while in U!65, and down to 1874, our an- nual imports largely exceeded our exports, the yearly difference 

against us ranging from thirt.y-nine to over one hundred and eightytwo million dollars, since 1!:374, with one exception, our yearly exj>Orts have not only increased but they are greatly in excess of our imports, 

the difference in our favor reaching over $90,000,000 in 1876, and in 

the last year over $209,000,000. Hence the decline in the premium on gold and the appreciaUon of greenbacks, thus bringing gold and 

United States paper currency within a fraction of equal values. Dut 

there is room for development, and it will generally be concedecllh~t 

in order to reach a general revival of onr industries at home we must 

have MORE STEAM .A~"D SAIL UPO~ TUE SEAS il"D EXTENDED MARKETS AllR.OAD. 

While the returns sllow that for oach of the six years from 1872 to 

1877, inclusive, our imports and exports aggregated annually over a thousand million dollars, there is no reason why, under judicious mana~ement, they may uot be increased twofold during the next decade. More than this, wo may tiover hav~ a moro- propitious o:pvor-
1616 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. MARCH 9, 

tunity to make the effort to regain our lost prestige upon the seas and in foreign markets. The poet has well said : 

There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, t~ken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted~ all the voya~e of their life 

Is bounu in shallows, and in miseries. 

On such a full sea are we now afloat; 

And we must take ttle current when it serves Or lose our ventures. 

With broad and fertile acres awaiting the plow, manufacturing 

facilities abundant and efficient, raw material within our own borders, labor cheapened, skilled workmen seeking employment, and 

remunerative markets abroad, shall we hesitate longer to embrace 

the opportunity thus afforded to strike for industrial development at 

home and abroad f 

It is true, as has been remarked, that our foreign commerce is increasing; but the development is mainly in one direction. The re- turns show that of our last year's domestic exports Europe took 80 

per cent. of which 54 per cent. went to Great Britain and Ireland, 

while oniy 3l per cent. went to South America, Brazil receiving of our entire domestic export for the year but 1.1 per cent. Canada 

received 5t per cent. of the total export of domestic products. Nearly 

all other sections of the globe have prac~ically been neglected. South 

and Central America, the West Indies, the islands of the Pacific, Australia, Japan, China, Africa, and other important commercial centers, 

should each be made objective points for the enlargement of our com- mercial relations. But we have hitherto turned a deaf ear to their 

invitations and allowed European nations to supply their markets. 

In order to bring these facts more fully to the attention of this House 

I haYe condensed into a single table a statement showing the course of our foreign trade. 

Statemtmt shmoing the 11alue of om· import-a and domest·ic exports to the 

tJULJ'kets of tlte too1·ld dl£ring the fiscal year ended 1877, and the percent- . age of tlw whole.to each counit']J. .. ..J4i ..J4i 

~ ~'0 = .... Conn tri.es. Imports. o..:l Exports. 8..a 

' "'~ ,...~ 

o..,. o..,. Polo Polo 

t EUROPE. 

Great Britain and beland .......... $135, 131, 126 m.46 $365, 676, 732 54.09 

France ............................. 50, 355,1l40 10. 2'~ 45, 233,793 6.84 

Germany .......................... . 33,035. 4. 5 6. 71 ~.192, 511 8.60 

llelgium ............................ 5, 079,049 1. 03 18,200,025 2. fi9 

Netherlands ....................... 2,547,119 0.5..! 10,411,757 1. 54 

Italy ............................... . 7, 105,3.16 1.44 8, 484, 4!)6 1. 26 

All other countries in Europe ....... 5,839, 475 Ll!J 37,2,}7, 737 5. 51 

NORTH AMERICA. 

Dominiou of Canada "' .............. 25,933,467 s.m 36,1!14,950 5. 35 

Mexico . ............................ 15,444,583 3.13 4,509, 041 O.G7 

Co'ltral American States ............ 2, 8R3, 602 O.SB 1,::104,348 0. l!l 

llritish Westlndiest .............. . 6, 430,851 ] 31 7, 542, 034 l.U 

Cuba and Porto Rico ................ 72,117,328 14.67 15,071, !147 2. Zl 

• All other West lndjes f ............. All other countries in North A.mer7,208,143 1. 46 7, 6!2, 157 1.13 

ica ............................... 112,713 0. 02 2, 228,887 0.32 

SOUTH AMERICA., 

United States of Colombia .......... 5, 454, 393 1.11 4, G22, 232 0.59 

Venezuela ......................... 7, 429, 5!19 1. 51 3,0G6, 2W 0. 45 

ll1-azil ........... . .................. 43, 4!JR, 641 8.84 7,499, 118 1. 10 

Argentino Republic ................. All otl1er couutries in South Amer3,449,559 0. 70 1, l:l9, 1GB 0.17 

ica ............................... 7,994,307 1. 62 6, 316,455 0. 94 

ASIA .Ali""D OCEAXICA.. 

' 

East Indies .................... ·-•. . 15,237,062 3. 09 3, 530,513 0.52 

China. and Hong-Kong .......•....• 12, 312, 6:16 2.50 17,1'>8,33-1 2.54 

A11 other countries in .Asia ..•..... 13, 971, :JiB 2 84 3, 162,598 0. 47 Driti.sb possessions in Australasia .. 1, 47G, 23 0. 3 · 5, 700, 278 0.8::> 

Hawaiian Islands ................... 2, 631, 763 0.54 1, 296,94.2 0.19 

AFRICA. 

Liberia ............................. 57,470 0. 01 12-~ 819 0.03 

.All other countries in Africa ...... 1,873,881 0.3d 3,558,9a5 0.52 

All other countries not elsewhere 

specified .......................... 7, 420,161 1. 51 515,473 0.08 

Total imports ........... ; ..... 492, 090, 400 100.00 676, 115, 592 100.00 

*British Colombia included from 1873 to 1877; for 18TI and 1872 it is included in 

"all other countnes in North America." · t Includes British Honduras. t Includes British Guiana. 

Great llritain, including Ireland, as stated, takes flYer one-half of our total domestic exports, mainly, no doubt, on account of similarity 

of language and habits, long-established associations and enlarged facilities for tmnsportation through the ent-erprise of foreign ship- owners. But the absence of these ties and inducements elsewhere 

is by no means a sufficient cause for omitting our opportunities to supply other conn tries with such commodities-as they require, and which we can furnish at a. profit to ourselves. 

The following table, condensed from official returns, is important aa showing t~e citaracter anq value of leading articles in our exports 

for the fiscal years 1875, 1876, and 1877, emled J nne 30, toge~her with 

the amounts shipped in American and in foreign vessels: 

Table shotving the differtmt kinds and the aggregate t·alue of our domestic · exports for the last tlu·ee yea1·s. 

Domestic exports-leading articles. 

Breadstuffs, includin~ wheat ........ . Coal, bitruuinnus, auu other .•••.•.... . Coin and bu1lion* ..................... . Cotton ................................ . Cotton, manufactures of ..... . Ilides and skins other than furs ...... . India-rubber and gutta-percha, man- ufactures of ........................ . Iron, bar ............................ . 

~:: ~::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::· 

Iron, other manufactures of ..•••.•••. . Leatl1 and manufactures of ........... . Leatner, tanned, of all ki.ndtt.. ...... .. Molasses ........................... . Oils, .~ineral,refined or manufactured. 

ProV1B1ons ............................ . Steel, and manufactures of ...••••..... S~ar ............................... . Tobacco, ancl manufactures of ...... .. Tin, and manufactures of ........... .. Vessels sold to foreigners .••.•••.•••. . 'Vine .......... . .................... . Wood, and manufactures of .•.•.•.••... Wool, raw and fleece ................. . Wheat (apar~ from other breadstuffs) . Wool, manufactures of .............. . Shipped in American vessels . ..••... Shipped in foreign vessels.: ......•. . Total amount of merchandise ..•. 

1875. 

$111,458,265 2, 620, 5G9 

83, 857, 129 

1!10, 038, 625 

4, 071, P82 

4, 729,725 

21:1, 9::>9 

392, 4:.!0 

489, ~62 

161,1()!) 

10,019,541 

429,309 

7, 3~4. 796 

1,135, 995 

23, 6i2, 550 

82,24 • 431 

6,382, 826 

3, 616, 493 

27,844, 470 

,194 

384,43~ 

50, 308 

17,740, 1!H 

62,754 

59,607, f:lti.1 

151, 401 

145. 062, 449 

49:J.~ 926 

559, 237, GJa 

1876. 

$131,181,555 

2,720, 145 

50,03 '691 

192, 659, 262 

7, 722,978 

2, 905,921 

18R, 816 

607, 9-21 181, 663 

57,1()!) 

7, 991, 001 

102,726 

10, 0013,9;j5 

1,153, 585 

39, 6fr5, 5113 

00,921,747 

4 til6 620 :i.ssis01 

2.3, 570, 538 

48,144 

265, 4134 

3.1, 403 

17,200,275 

13, 845 

68,&2, 9!J 

336, 3fl9 

100,562, 954 

480, 002, 627 

59~, 917,715 

1877. 

1117, 81)6, 476 2 916 11:! 

43: I 35: 7::8 

170, 0:13, 999 

10, 235, 84:1 

2, 4tW, 427 

~L!I,5S2 

194,775 

89, 02!> 

243,811 

7,561, 934 

49, &l5 

8, 167,301 

594,547 

58, 032,7119 

114, 991, 75!) 

6, 378, 490 

4,586, 69d 

3:.l, 020,214 

87,057 

175,802 

40,6:12 

18,44-1,037 

l<li, 446 

47, 135, 5fi2 

2!)1, 837 

15G, o:n, su 

515, 104, 208 

632, 986, 080 

• Gold lmllion, 1,0134,536 ; goltl coin, ~1,274,585; silver bullion, 11,48'J,894; sil- ver coin, fractional, $620,147; trade-dollars, ~,672,596 • 

It wi11 be observed that cotton takes the lead in value while breadstuffs are the next in importance. 

Accompanying this table of exports the following table of imports 

is important as showing the character and value of goods received 

from abroa.U .. These tables indicate very clearly the direction of our foreign 

tra-de at the present time and point forcibly to important openings 

for a largely inc'reased foreign commerce. Commercial intercourse 

with the ~reat oriental nations is yet in its infancy, except to a very' 

limited extent, and the inviting opportunity is open to American en- terprise. 

Table showin!J the different kinds and aggregate value of leadi1tg articles 

imported d1wing tlw last th1-ee years. 

Imports-Ieading articles. 

Breadstuffs, and other farinaceous food. 

Coal, bituminous .................... .. Coin and bullion, gold and silver .... .. Coffee .. .............................. . Cotton, manufactures of~ .....•••.•••• Glo>es, kid and leather ............... . India-rubber and gutta.-percha, manu- factures of ......................... . Iron, bar ............................. . Iron, pi~ ............................. . Iron, rails, iron and steel. ............ . !ron1 sc:ap and old ................... . .LeaO, p1gs, bars, and old .............. . Leather, tanned, of all kinds .••••••.••. Molasses ........................... .. Sugar, unrefined ...................... . Tea ................................... . Tin-plates ............................ . Tin, mii.Ilufactures of ................ .. Wine, in casks ...................... . Wood, and manufactures of ......... . Wool, manufactured ................. . Wool, manufactures of ............... . Total value of merchandiso ........... . Entered for immediate consumption .. . Eutered for warehouse ....••...•••.•.. Entered for mterior ports ............ . Brought by land conveyance ... _ ..... . Brought in American nssels ........ .. Brought in foreign vessels ..•••••.••••. 

1875. 

••o. t23, 3'lG 

1, 7!18,t97 

20,900,717 

50,591,488 

27, 738, 410 

3, 533,075 

513,979 

1, 728, 137 

1,458,608 

2, 932,310 

792, 130 

1,422, 21H 

5, 941,2:18 

11, 6F5, 224 70,015,757 

22,673,703 

12,956,617 

81,106 2 842,622 

6, 182,988 

ll, 071, 25!1 44, 609,704 

553, 906, 153 

39:.1, 371, 6!)7 

152, 562, 872 

7,971,584 

13,083,859 

157, fl72, 726 

382, 949, 568 

1876. 

f12, 663, 362 

1, 007,891 

15,936,681 

56,788,997 

22, 72.'5, 598 

3, 739,061 

428,575 

1,5b3, 819 

1,918,547 

320,020 

400,355 

585,546 

3,9U6, 881 

8, 157,470 

55,702,909 

19,524, 166 

10,005,799 

94,51-1 

2, Orl4, :185 

5,Hi7, 1€'2 

8,2-17,617 

33.~.80~ 

476, 677,871 

33B, ~7. 753 

12.::!, 567,978 

9, 12'2, 140 

12,14~.675 

143, 31:!9, 696 

32L,13!),500 

1877. 

18. 241, 3fl5 

1, 775, 667 40, 't14, <t\4 

53, 634,991 

18, 92:i, flU 

3,1~ 919 

32.3, 11:1 

1,515, G9l 

1,556,415 

1,46-1 H 8, 201 

702, 2t0 

4, 589.713 

7,80 ,257 

81, 1tl7, 504 

16, 481, 4fi7 

9, 7:il , 327 

39,:322 

7, 889, 87l ... 2-15.306 

7,156,944 25; 698,300 

451, 3-Zl, 126 

361,657,3 5 

123, 314, 677 7,218, 344 

10,697,640 

151, P.26, 9:.13 

329, 565, 833 

• Includes h011iery, shirts, and drawers, of value of $3,804,520 in 1877, ll,68J,871 

in 1876, and $4,948,024 in 1875. , 

OUR RESOURCES TO SUPPLY THE FOREIGN DlWAND. 

An}erican enterprise has command of resources in the preparation 

of commodities for export which are equal if not superior to those of our European competitors. In the production of manufactures much 

of the American machinery is conceded to be better uta de, more skill, 

fully handled, and better adapted for the uses to which it is applied 

than that of England, Germany, or }ranee. In this country, too, 

machinery is nsed in the ma~ufacture of a great variety oi articles 

that are elsewhere made part1ally or wholly by hand, such as watches, 

cutlery, sewed goods, and certain kinds of carp~ts, &o. . 
1878. CONGRESSIONAL· RECORD-HOUSE. 1617 

In the cultivation of agricultural products onr gn'lat breadth of 

territory, presenting such diversity of soil and climate, affords natural advantages in the variety and abundance of the yield that few• oth.er countries enjoy. In the production of the four great staple 

articles, whe~t, Inditra corn, cotton, and tobacco, the capacities of our :fields are without a parallel. Again, in the extent of the precious m~tals, g?ld and silver, the baser metals, iron and copper, together 

With the mvaluable products of hard and soft coal, this country has no peer. 

In point of nearness to the central markets of the wo:tld, outside of 

Europe, the cities and sea-ports of the United States enjoy superior 

advantages. London and Liverpool claim to be the batural centers 

of commerce; but beyond our immediate neighbors, the Dominion of 

Canada on the north, Central and South America, Mexico, Cuba, and 

the West India Islands on the south, it will be remembered that our own cities, New York, Richmond, Charleston, New Orleans, Galveston, and San Francisco, are nearer to many and have easier and safer access to all the great markets of Japan, China, Manila, Borneo, 

Malaga, Siam, New Zealand, Australia, the Sandwich Islands, and 

the numerous large, prolific, and thickly populated islands in the 

Pacific. According to reliable measurements made at the United 

States Coast-Survey Office, the difference of distances from London 

and San Francisco to the great markets is as follows: 

To-

~=~~~~~:::::::~::::::::::::::: :::: 

Bruni, Borneo .............................. . 

~:n~:.~if!. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

We · gton, New Zealand ................. .. Sidney, Australia. ......................... .. Melbourne, Australia. ...................... . 

FromLondon. 

MileJI. 

11,260 

9, 789 

9, 555 

8, 959 

8, 640 

9,031 

13,900 

12,883 

12,281 

San Francisco. 

MileJI. 

4,520 

6,030 

6,590 

6, 934 

7,230 

7,410 

6,500 

6,600 

7,202 

Difi'erence. 

MileJI. 

6, 740 

3, 759 

2,965 

2,025 

1,410 

J, 621 

7,400 

6,283 

:l, 079 

Nor should the fact be overlooked that the Suez Canal is over one hundred miles in length and frequently navigation is impeded by 

sand storms and drifts that cause great dAlay in making the passage 

while sailing-vessels are at all times practically prevented from pass~ ing through the canal. In addition to this, the Red Sea is obstructed 

by dangerous coral reefs and tortuous channels, with winds prevailing half the year against the outward-bound and the other half of 

the year against the inward-bound voyager. While Cuba and the 

p_opulous groups of West India Islands, Mexico, and Brazil, are opposite our own sea-ports, the Panama and the great Pacific Railways 

have; in point of traveling and transportatjon, brought the cities of 

the United States in close connection with the entire western coast 

of Mexico, C~ntral and South America, thu~ affording the exporting cent~rs of this country, on. b~th oceans, decided advan!ages, in p()int 

of dist~n~e, over Great ~ntam, France, and Germany, m commercial 

competitio? not only ~1th those places but in the larger fields of 

Japan, ~hina, Australia, and the Islands of the Pacific, countries 

aggregatmg half the land area of the globe and more than half its 

entire population. 

Now it is a. well-known fact that the populous communities in most 

of these P01'1!IOns of the w~rld haye adopted comparatively few of 

the modern 1mrrovements m machinery and are without the manu- fac~ring facilities. so common _in ~ur own country, and consequently 

reqmre for domestw consumpt.IOnJUSt such goods as American manu- facturers are capable of supplying. It is also well known that they 

import in some of thQSe sections many of the staple products of the 

soil, of which this country yields a large surplus beyond the wants 

of our own people, and yet comparatively few of our products find 

their way into any of these great markets. 

In order to successfully increase the export trade of the United 

States, it is of the first importance not only to let other countries 

know the nature and character of our products, but to ascertain the 

extent of the foreign _demand by a more familiar acquaintance with 

the markets, the habits, and the wants of the people whom it is proposed to supply, and with the various descriptions of goods we can advantageously bring home in exchange for our exports. 

The intern~tional exhibition of last year has done much to extend 

to other portiOns of the world a knowledge of our agricultural and manufa~tured products. To this we are no doubt lar<Tely indebted 

fo! the mcrease of our exports during the last :fiscal y~ar. But the eft~rt shot?l~ not stop here, We must, through our consular system, 

wh1ch legitimately belongs to tbe commercial interests of tbe country, and whic~ ~nat ~e mad~ effective without regard to cost, make 

ourselves famil1ar with the1r markets, their commerce with other 

co.untries, and ascertain to what extent we may successfully compete w1t~ Eng~and and other European powers now reaping the benefits of 

therr foreign trade. With this object in view I will glance at 

SOME FOREIGN MARKETS IN WHICH AMERIC~ COIDIERCE l!AY BE INCREASED. 

Having shown in a series of tables the description of 'goods sent 

VII-102 

from the United States and of those imported, the countries with whi~h. we are in commerci~l intercourse, and the percentage of com- ~dities sent to and received from each, it will be well to glance 

br1efiy at some of those markets where opportunities are presented 

for au increase of our foreign trade. Proceeding by geographical 

divisions, I will consider :first- · 

THE SOUTHERN COUl\'TRIRS IN OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. 

It is well known that Mexico, Cuba, the West India Islands Central and South America are not, in the usual acceptation of the' term 

manuf!lcturing. co~tries_. Yet each produces beyond its own cttn~ ~nmption spemaJ?es which make up a large annual export, consistmg of raw matenals and other products which are always in demand 

in manufacturing and commercial centers. These are all natural 

markets of the United States. Their people want from us flour pork 

lard, butter, cheese, lumber, furniture, locomotive engines, rail~ cars' 

suga;r-mills, and manufac~red goods in cotton, woolen1 and ~ixed fabncs. For these they will send us wool, coffee, cocoa, hides, tallow, 

horns, robber, drugs, dyes, gums, tapioca, rosewood, diamonds, &c. ~h~s wo~ld b~ a valuable exchange; but to what extent do we partiCipate m this traffic7 They buy from the United States altouether ~bout 12 per cent. in value of their importations. England g:ts the 

lion's share, nearly 60 per cent. The import trade of Mexico South 

and Central America, and the West Indies, including Cuba a~ounts annually to about $500,000,000 in value; their exports to ~bout tho same .. In this trade England leads; France and Germany come next 

the Umted States, Spain, Holland, and Portugal coming in for a · .,:. 

tion each, in small parcels, of what there is left. ~ But there is another feature in this trade in which the Uni?;d 

States is shown to greater disadvantage than any other country. A 

reference to the tables will show at a glance that we sell to our south- ern neighbo~ fewer goods in value than we purchase from them. For 

example, dnnng the last fiscal year Brazil purchased from· us goods to 

the value of a fractio~ over 1 per cent. of our total exports, Whlle we purchased from Brazil to the value of nearly 6 per cent. of our imports. In other words, Brazil purchased from us goods to the value 

of less than $7,500,000, while we purchased from that country goods 

to the value of $4:3,500,000-balance against the United States $36-

000,000. Take another illustration. Cuba during the last :fiscal ye~r took from us goods to the amount of less than $13,000,000, while we purchased from that country products to the value of $68 000 000 

maJring a balance against the United States of $55,000,000: Here: 

then, we have two items which together amount to $91 000 000. The 

balance against the United States in thE\ other count~ies 'named in 

the group of markets under consideration, a.dded to these, swells the aggr~gat~ to more than $100,000,000, to be paid in gold or its equivalent, m bills of exchange on England. What do they do with this 

gold f :rurn round and ~uy goods from England, Germany, and 

France mstead of pur~hasmg from us. 'Why f Simply because we have neglected our mterests in those southern countries while 

European tra~ers are constantly on the alert. England an'd other 

European natiOns are not alarmed by the word "subsidy " and it is 

well known that government subsidies have done much t~ secure for 

their merchant marine the supremacy which it has attained upon the ocean. 

As an illustration of some of the results of this policy let us see how thoroughly European enterprise has monopolized the markets of 

these southern port:' with steamship lines to supply them with goods 

and carry away therr surplus products. Take the ports of Brazil for 

example, and as it is there so it is wherever marketS are fo"8Ild for Europe~ products. _The lines of steamships from transatlantic ports 

to Brazil embrace the following by the respective companies and tirms 

named: 

1'hc ??acific Steam Navigation Company, two steamers monthly 

from Liverpool. 

The Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, two steamers monthly 

from Southampton. 

Lamport & Holt's Line, two steamers monthly, one from,Liverpool 

and one from London. 

The R~d <;ross Line, one steamer monthly from Liverpool. . · Evans s I:me, one steamer monthly from Liverpool. 

Booth's Lme, one steamer monthly from Liverpool. . · Lamport & Holt, two steamers monthly from Antwerp and Havre. · The North German Lloyds, two steamers monthly from Bremen. 

The Messageries Maritimes, two steamers monthly from Bordeaux. 

The Chargeurs Reunis, one steamer monthly from Havre. 

The Progres Maritime, one steamer monthly from Oporto and one from Lisbon. 

. Here is a list of ten distinct companies who to<Tether dispatch 

eighteen steamships monthly to Brazilian ports. In ~dditiontothese there are a nur~ber. of other co!Ilpanies and firms which dispatch 

steamers to B!azil aturegular p~~1ods. How many American steamers are t~ere plymg botween Brazilian and United States ports Y This 

questiOn was recently propounded and answered in an address before 

the New York Liberal Club by Mr. Landisman,on the resources of Brazil 

and tbe valley of the Amazon. He said: 

From th~ United S!ates thcr~ is not a steamer leaving for Brazil except n. single one belongmg to a. pnvate tradrng-house. 

It is a matter of doubt wllether even tha.t sohtary crnft IS now run-
1618 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. MARCH 9, 

ning, for it is stat.ed in a recent issue of the Boston Commercial Bulletin that-

'llbe United States to-day has not a steamer in the Brazil trade, while in the.h!IX· 

bor of Rio Janeiro there appear every month at least twelve steamers under Bntish colon~, together with one each from Havre, Marseilles, and Genoa, and two each 

:fro:n Bremen and Hamburg. 

Twelve steamships monthly from Great Britain and not one from 

the United States I And yet I believe we are in the habit of calling 

ourselves an enterprising people. With rare except~ons the s~e 

condition of affairs is general in all the ports of our southern nmghbors. CHINA AND JAPAN. 

The 15reat Empire of China ha.s an. area about the size of that of 

the Umted States, containing'four hundred and forty-five million~ of 

souls a population eleven times larger than our own, and empracmg 

one-thlrd portion of the entire human family. What is to be the 

future of this peculiar. people f This is a problem yet to be solved. 

The remarkable changes produced in the Empire of Japan within the 

last twenty years, ~ainly th:ough our own Government, may not 

inappropriately be c1ted as evidence of what may ere long be accom- plished in China. No two nations were more exclusive, none more alike in their social habits, customs, and commerce than China and 

Japan. If any difference existed, Japan was the more exclusive of 

the two. Now mark the change that has taken place among the 

people of that nation. Under judicious treatment similar results 

ma'f reasonably be expected in China and upon a grander scale. 

They possess high intellectual powers, but the popular mind has 

been bound down by ancient systems and usages that have tended to 

deitrade rather than elevate the vast masses of population. 

Give us a ship-canal across the Isthmus of Darien and we shall find 

the solution of the Chinese problem. Western enterprise will do the 

rest. China, with its v:ast population and an existence reaching back 

four thousand years, is still almost totally ignorant of the methods of 

manufacturing the kinds of staples most needed for the daily wear of the masses of its own population. They are without railroads; 

yes and without carriage-roa-ds in nearly every section of the empire. Th~y will be compelled to have better modes of internal travel and 

tra:u.sportation. Open the Darien Canal and we may then reach them 

by a direct and comparatively short route with rails, locomotive- en~ines and cars. Yes, but it is saidAmericanenterprisehas already 

bmlt a ~hort railway in China, and the report is that the inhabitants 

have tom it up. That ma.y be. American enterprise first built horse- car railways in England and the enlightened inhabitants tore them 

up. They were not long, however, in discovering their folly, a.nd now all the principal cities of the British Empire are supplied With 

these·railways. So it will be in China. We can have an almost on- limited commerce with that country if we now embrace our opportunities. Oor present commerce with China is not large, but it 

affords an indication of what can be accomplished. Our commercial 

reports prepared in the United States Statistical Bureau, show that 

in 18711 our domestic exports to China and Hong-Kong amounted 

to $3,920,216; imports the same year, 20,066,315. In 1~4, ~xports 

$8,699.,965 imports $18,60!:!,712. In ltl77, exports $17,1581334, Imports 

$12,312,6M. In addition to these exports we sent ~ormgn .goods to 

Cbinaduring the three years to the value of $7,747,ZJ7. It 1s clearly 

manifest and acknowledged by t.hose now engaged in the China trade, 

not only'that our commerce with that country can be increased to an almost unlimited extent, but that the exports may be made largely 

to exceed the imports. 

The following, from the Ev:ening .star of Ja~uary 21, 1878, giv~s 

some idea of what our trade w1th Chma may be if we choose to avail 

ourselves of it : 

2,566,403. During the same period our exports to that country 

amounted to 1,811,083 only, while our imports were 6,887,307. Thus 

Japan buys from England six times as much as she does from us, while our purchases from Japan are nearly three times the amount taken by 

England. It is well remarked that, "with the very friendly relations 

existing between the United States and Japan and the superiority 

of our manufactures, it only requires an effort on the part of the mer- chants and manufacturers of the United States to reverse the above 

showing." • AUSTRALIA AXD THE ISL.U."DS OF THE PACIFIC. 

But while E~lishmannfacturers have got the start of us in Japan, 

there is a commendable enterprise manifested by American manufact- urers in competition with English producers in the markets of Australia. The Wolverhampton (England) correspondent of the American 

Manufacturer, published at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, says: 

I am compelled by force of circumstances to refer to yqur competitiol\. And to show that lam not alone in the importance which I attach to it~ let me ~ay that a leading journal, published to-day in the heart of the principal hardware district 

of thiRcountry, tEn gland,) rem:u·ks: ''The most serious question in connection with 

the colonial trade of this country still is the ever-lengthening liat of Americanmade goods, which in Australia and New Zealand are gradually driving out English 

goods of some descriptions there. Every month adds to the list of American-made 

and diminishes the list of English-made goods." 

" Sydney swarms v; ith representatives of American houses," says the correspond- ent of a leading mercantile firm on this side, and he adds that their offers are so tempting that Tery many lines are being ordered direct from .American makers, 

and do not come through the English merchants' hands. Thls is of course to be 

expected. This a~ent continues : " The Americans plainly say they mean to have 

the trade of Australia. and New Zealand, and they are gradually, but very surely, 

carrying their threat into execution. At the present rate it will not be many years 

before these splendid markets will be lost to England. The reason why is asked. 

It is easily answered. The bad quality of the goods BUJ?plied by Eng-lish manu- facturers is the reason invariably assigned for this diversion of orcJers." 

The New York Journal of Commerce of a recent date mentions the 

fact that a representative of a New York firm went out to Australia 

last summer and returned with orders amounting to $125,000. The same paper adds that it has lately published advices showing how, in 

certain brauches of trade, American manufactmers are superseding 

the British in Australian markets. This -tendency of trade is no doubt assisted by the circumstance that the Pacific Mail Steamship 

Company has commenced to operate a line of steamers that brings 

Sydney ten days nearer to New York and sixteen nearer to San Francisco than it is to London, demonstrating the fact, too, that increased 

facilities for transportation is one of the main factors required to 

divert a large portjon of the world's commerce to our own shores, it 

being now carried past us under foreign flags to and from European 

ports. 

The islands planted over the broad expanse of the Pacific Ocean 

must not be considered as unimportant objects of attention in a com- mercial point of view. The products of the greater portion of them are valuable, and, with a little attention, their trade, now mainly 

with England direct or through Australian ports, could be attracted 

to nearer markets in the United States. The people of those islands are more in sympathy with our Government than with that of any 

other country, and a little well-directed diplomacy would, by their own expressed choice, give us control of their coiDlnerce. 

OTHER MARKETS OF COMMERCIAL IMrOBTANCE. 

But, sir, time will not admit, nor is it necessary on this occasion to 

go further into an investigation of the markets now open to the United 

States for participation in the profits of the world's international commerce in India, w b'ere our manufactured cottons and other goods are attracting attention, and where our domestic exports already 

reach in value from three and a half to ten million dollars per annum; 

in Africa, also, where they amount in value each year to over $3,000,000, a country containing two hundred million inhabitants, now being presented to the world for extended commerce through 

the enterprise of Stanley and other explorers ; and in Central and 

Northern Europe and other important fields for increased trade and a profitable sale or exchange of commodities. 

The United States vice-consul at Hong-Kong writes to the Department of State, 

in reply t{) the trade circular of last Anj:nlst, that the market for Americ~ goods in China is practically unlimited except by the question of prices, espemal1;y for 

such &l'ti.cles as drills, jeans, shirtings, iron of all kinds, petroleum, quicksilver, 

gold and ginseng. It is only necessary that they should be offered as cheap as, .or cheaper than, similar exports from other countries to develop a prosp~us trad~. 

Them seems to be a lack of energy ~mong Oll! merchant~. who are let~g the Chi- UNITED STATES com.mnciAL coMPETITION IN RNOLAND. 

nese trade fall into other bands, until tbe amval of a flhlp from th" Uruted States frei~hted with rotton go<Jd.s, kerosene, &c., is a rare event. The want of banking It is a notable fact that the experiment of seUin~ American ma.nu- facilitiea between New York and China for outwa~·d cargoes probably deters onr factures in the greatest manufacturing country m the world has 

merchants from ventures where the returns are dis~t. Branches.in China. of the already come to be considered a success on both sides of the A.tlan- lea~ng San Fran~isco banks would do much to stimulate Amencan e.xports t{) tic. We have bearded the lion in his own lair and have come off 

China, as well as liDports from thence. I · t · And if 11 t d t · ih t try hi b . VIC onous. we can se o a van age m a conn w c , 

Japan is another field that IDlght be made much m.ore profitable of all otbl3rs, has claimed to defy competition and become the workthan it is as a !Darket for Ameri~an products. '~hough It.s P?rts were shop of the world, are we not warranted in pushing our enterprise opene~ to outside commer~e mainly throu~h Umted Statesmfl.uence into other portions. of the world. where manufacturing establishand dtplomacy, Englan~ IS already reapm~ ·m~re than double the ments are comparatiVely few and Imperfect f 

advantages that we are m our commerce w1th Its people. In r~ply That our manufacturers have successfully introduced their prodto t.he recent trade-circ.ular from. the State Depar~ent at Was~ng- ucts into the markets of Great Britain has already been conceded 

ton to the representatives of this Gov~ment allroad, the U.mted by the manufacturers and merchants of that country in the deliberaStates minister to Japan flmws attentiOn to the large quantity of tious of their boards of trade and chambers of commerce. The Britcotton and woolen manufactm:es imported into that ~onntry. The ish press, too, acknowledges the fact. The British Trade Journal of 

imports of cotton yarn .alone, direct from England! ~urmg the month a late date t.hus significantly remarks: .of July last amounted m value to nearly half ~ million dollars. Our Our American friends are prosecuting the business war with a. spirit and rasaminister says ho can see no reason why the Umted States cannot sup- lution which bids fair t{) carry all before them. On every hand art\ they making 

ply Japan, not only with these yarns but with all the cotton and theirpres~nce felt, and there is scarcely~ im:J;~ortant branch of Bri?sh industry woolen goods that country requires to import takinrr in return teas but what 18 menaced l?Y the invader. It 18 ev1dent that no st«?ne will be.left un- . J ' ds 0 th . l f' turned or means untried to secure for the products of A.mer1can workshops an silks, &c. In 1876 England sold to a pan goo to e va ue o assured footing in the English and colonial markets, and past experience has tau~ht $12,244,6831 and bought from that country to the amount of only us that once the Americans seize a point of vantage they hold to it with invinmble 
1878. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. 1619 

tenacity. The plan of their industrial campaign is fast developing itself, and has 

thus faT been attended with no inconsiderable success. Explain 1t how we may, the broad fact remains that American calicoes have sold in Manchester, and what 

is more, are stillselliDg there and elsewhere in the cotton districts. Sheffield, of 

steel renown, bas seen the saws and cutlery of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh flaunted 

in her face, and has actually come to experience a sensation from the placing of a moderate transatlantic order for rails. Coventry looks on amazed while the 

machine-made watches of Waltham supplant her productions, and the Bermondsey tannors declare with doleful iteration their inability to supply an article that can compete with American leather "at the price." Birmingham has been deposed from her position as the armory of the world by the factories of Rhode Island, and, 

unkinder cut, the merchants of the "hardware village" receive explicit indents 

from the colonies for American hardwares and "notions." Su~gestive and sufficiently startling all this, and :yet we are only just beginning to feel the effects of 

that American competition which but a few years back was contemptuously dismissed as a mere bug-bear. The day of illusion is now past, however, and the 

conviction is forcing itself home that our manufacturers will, in the not very re- mote future, be severely tasked to hold their own against competitors en.iol1ug advantages of which they know full well how to make the best use. With that 

inventive genius, which seems to be their special inheritance, the Americans adapt machinery to all purposes, and their labor-saving contrivances briugdown tbecost 

of production to an irreducible minimum. The -boundless wealth of their conn try in coal and iron, those backbones of productive toil; its splendid yield of raw rna. 

terial and unique resources generally, make it the natural home of manufacturing industry. And when to these advantages is added the powerful prop that protection affords, it is inevitable that America. should force its way into the van of man· ufactnring nations. 

The London Times, London Warehouseman, and Draper's Trade 

Journal, and other leading publications are publishing similar articles, and dwelling especially on the fact that American manufact- urers have attained a perfection in material and make of their goods 

that has enabled them to compete successfully with the products of 

British skill in their own manufacturing centers. American man- ufacturers need no better indorsement than this with which to go 

into competition with their British cousins in all the markets of the 

world and command success. 

Jffi PRESENT .A1\D PROSPECTIVE POWER TO COMPETE SUCCESSFl'LLY IN THE MAR· 

KETS OF THE WORLD. 

It is of very little use to know that there are open markets and a. demand for manufactured goods, agricultural productA, and other 

commodities, if we cannot command the means of supplying them. 

Let us see, then, just how the caeo stands, examine the extent of our present active power, and how far our capacities may be enlarged. 

And first, as to present ability, we have under our immediate con- trol a vast unimproved area. of fertile soil. Of the cotton-producing acres in the Southern States not over 10 per cent. art} under cultivation. These lands are capable of producing untold wealth. Cotton 

manufactures from the United States have become so popular abroad 

that they command ready sales, not only in England, but wherever 

they are introduced. Cotton goods are of universal use, and iu this 

article alone our opportunities for developing onr export b·ade need 

scarcely have a limit. These States are also producing a surplus prodnet of tobacco, rice, &c., and the quantities are susceptible of a 

large increase. . Turning from the Southern to the Western, Northwestern, and Middle States, and the Territories beyond them, we finn extending across the continent thousands of mHes of unimproved territory and millions of acres of soil capable of carrying heavy crops of cereals, the 

very staff of life, products that are in demand wherever there are mouths to feed. The cargoes of surplus wheat, corn, flour, beef, 

pork, lard, butter, &c., that now leave our shores may be multiplied an hundred-fold and find customers at remunerative prices. 

Another factor under immediate control as a means of extending 

the foreign commerce of the United States is the extent and adva.nced 

condition of our manufacturing power. It has been shown in official 

reports and by other reliable sta.t.istical returns that the present ca- pacity of our manufacturing establishments for producing metallic, 

textile, and wood goods is at least 50 per cent. heyond the demand 

for home consumption. The increase in the number of manufacturing establishments and in the varieties of new and improved ma- chinery intro<luced during the years of the war, and subsequently 

each year till1873, when an overstocked market without a foreign 

outlet arrested further developments, is almost beyond conception. 

Many of these establishments have not turned out a dollar's worth ~f goods since the stoppage. Fift.y per cent. of onr iron and steel 

manufacturing establishments are idle to-day, and the spindles and 

looms of nearly as large a. proportion of our mills are standing idle 

for want of orders. There is here, then, another powerful factor 

awaiting an extension of our foreign commerce, prepared to produce 

immediately just such goods as are required in ma~y of the markets 

.abroad. 

Another means of immediate action at command is the large proportion of unemployed labor now in the country. When a surplus ~f products for llome consumption closed the furnaces, founderies, and 

forges, the cotton and woolen mills, and other manufacturing establishments, their doors were shut against their workmen, many of 

whom are yet upon the streets idle and penniless. Is it not a part at 

least of the duty of our statesmen and legislators to use every legitimate means to remedy these evils f Who can estimate the loss to 

the country, to say nothing of individual suffering, resulting from this 

depression Y 

Nor can we view with indifference, as an important ingredient in a competitive race for a share, if not a control, in the international .commerce of the world, our vast resources in coal, ores, oils, and 

other underground products, indispensable in the manufacture and 

preparation of commodities for export. Our treasures in iron and 

coal alone, two of the most important articles in the development of 

manufacturing industries, are more abundant than have yet been 

known to exist in any other portion of the globe; and it requires 

only the brain and muscle of well-developed industry to make these 

elements the instruments in the increase of our commercial power 

abroad. 

Another requisite under our immediate control is an abundance of 

capital. While individuals may be cramped for want of cash to meet 

present demands upon them, it is not because there is not an abundance of unemployed capital in the country, but because they have 

nothing tangible with which to command the required means. There 

is to-day plenty of money in the country, of which hundreds of millions are lying idle and seeking safe investment. The revival of a. 

healthy trade abroad will stimulate our industries at home and bring 

t.o the light of day from the locked vaults of our banking-houses all 

the capital required for legitimate and well-directed enterprise. 

There is another essential ingredient in prosecuting a successful 

foreign trade already under our control, although, like our cash, it is to a certain extent lying dormant for want of a proper stimulant to 

bring it into active operation. I refer to our natural but now latent 

enterprise as a nation. This characteristic of our people is well 

known and has benome proverbial the world over. But the sudden 

crisis a few years ago and subsequent depression in business have 

produced a corresponding inaction that has not yet been wholly 

removed. This is, however, but temporary. The principle still 

remains and is again coming to the surface. A return to specie ex- changes and a little wise legislation in the proper direction on the 

part of the present Congress will restore confidence and tend largely 

to revive those energies which have done so much in the pa t for our individual and national prosperity. 

Here, then, we have at our command powerful resources in agricultural and mineral products, iu manufacturing £aNilities and in 

skilled labor, wealth, and enterprise. These are important factors in 

the power of the United States to compete successfully for the international commerce of the world. 

But there are indispensable requisites in which the nation is 

deficient, and which mnst be supplied in order to secure any con- siderable increase in our foreign trade. First among these is an 

ENLABGEME."'T OF OUR MERCHANT MARINE. 

One of the greatest barriers to be overcome before the merchants and m~nufacturers of this country can compete successfully in the international commerce of the world is the meagerness of our merchant 

marine aa compared with that of other competing nations. The 

investigations of a select committee of the House of Representatives 

appointed in 1869 to report the causes of the great reduction in American tonnage engaged in the foreign carrying trade, and the great 

depression of the navigation interest.s of the country, resulted in a report that should have received more attention than it bas yet com- manded. It is to be hoped that the present session of Congress will 

give this subject all of the consideration which its importance 

demands. This is ntither a party nor a political question, but one of general and vital interest to the whole country. 

I have already referred briefly to some of the causes which led to 

the depression of our merchant marine. Previous to the rebellion, as shwon, there was a steady increase of our ocean tonnage. From 11'130 

to 1840 it was about 60 per cent. ; from 1840 to 18~0, 75 per cent. ; 

from 1~50 to 186!f, 60 per cent. Our tonnage engaged in the foreign 

carrying trade in 1861 was 2,642,628tons, while that of England was 3,179,683 tons, giving us the second place in rank among nations in 

the extent of our ocean tonnage, while we were acknowledged to be 

in advance and the snperior of all in the proficiency which we had 

attained in the science of naval a1·cbitecture and in the efficiency of our mercantile marine. It may well be remarked that it is difficult 

to realize that our country, which in little more than half a century, 

endingin1850,hadreacbedtbeveryforemostrankofmaritimenations, 

when our ships and "trim Baltimore schooners, and rakish barks, 

with Stars and Stripes floating gallantly from their lofty spars, vexed 

every sea," bad in less than a decade lost nearly half its merchant 

shipping and all its maritime prestige. It is not too much to say, as has been remarked, that we "then stood debating whether we should 

without a struggle yield all, and become the mere commercial dependency of the nation for whose advantage we bad been thus 

despoiled and rednced." 

From 1861 to 1866 onr tonnage engaged in the foreign trade' de.._ 

creased 1,140,902 tons, or more than 43 per cent., while Great Britain in the same time gained 9H6,715 tons, or more than 30 per cent. 

Evon this statement does not show the full t}Xtent of our relative 

loss as compared with Great Britain, her increase being largely in 

steamers, one ton of which class of vessels is equal in efficiency to at 

least three tons of sail-vessels, while by substituting to a ~reat ex- tent iron for wood as building material, a still further advantage was gained over us in her mucb larger class of iron vessels, doubly as durable. as those of wood. The increase of steam-vessels in Great 

Britain during the period alluded to was 275,9&3 tons, making an addition in efficiency over our sailing-ships of at least five hundred 

tbousand tons. So that taking into account the durability and efficiency of t.he tonnage added by Great Britain to her merchant rna-

..,· .. · 
1620 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. MARoH 9, 

rine from 1860 to 1866, it would probably equal an increase of 50 per 

cent. of sail-vessels. 

In the competition for the freighting business the tendency now is to seek direct routes and by steam communication to combine 

mail and passenger transportation with that of merchandise. This secures a way business that cannot be controlled by sailing-vessels, 

which can only carry advantageously between two points. In adopting this policy Great Britain has succeeded in monopolizing a large 

portion of the mail, passenger, and freighting business in all the 

principal portions of the world. She has nine or more lines between 

America, North and South; two between British America and EnglanS. ; one between Halifax and Nassau, with connecting lines between Halifax, Newfoundland the Bahamas, and New York, and a line between Liverpool, New Orleans, and Bali:.~:e; three lines from 

Southampton to the Gulf of Mexico, taking in Tampico, Aspinwall, 

and Puerto Cabello; also, from Falmouth and Southampton, one to 

Rio de Janeiro, calling at northern ports; one to Buenos Ayres, and a third one to Montevideo; also, four lines from Panama, one of 

which goes down the Pacific coast to Valparaiso and the chief intermediate ports, and one to ports in Central America; one is a local 

line running to neighboring ports, and the fourth goes to New Zealand, connecting with an Australian line to Sidney and Melbourne. 

She has two lines from Southampton to all the principal ports on the 

west coast of Africa; one line from Southampton to Gibraltar, 

through the Mediterranean, touching at Malta and other points, to 

Port Said, through the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, across the Arabian 

Sea to Bombay and Ceylon, there connecting with the New Zealand 

and Australian line from Panama, thus completing the circle, taking 

all the leading Indian ports, Singapore, Penang, Hong-Kong, and 

Shanghai. Besides these there are a number of other British lines 

to various parts of the world, and a new one is contemplated between Panama and San F.x:ancisco and thence to $hanghai. 

This vast network of ocean steam navigation has been procured 

mainly through subsidies for carrying the mails, as are also many of 

the French lines, the two nations having in these establishments 

many of the largest and best steamships afloat. 

The French Transatlantic Company run three lines to New York, 

West Indies, Vera Cruz, and Aspinwall. This company was paid a direct subsidy of 1,000,000 by the French government and a loan of 

$5,000,000, the latter to be paid back by returning annually 10 per 

cent. of the amount received for carrying the mails, the "QaJ.ance, 90 

per cent., to be retained by the company as an additional subsidy. 

The French have other lines running to Mediterranean ports, to Algiers, 

to Alexandria, and Port Said, and through the canal to the east 

coast of Africa, leading points in the Indian Seas and on to Cochin 

China, thus tapping with the other lines named the chief avenues of commercial prosperity in North and Central America, the West 

Indies, Africa, and of farther Asia. 

In addition to this array of English and French steam navigation, 

Germany, Austria, Italy, Holland, and Spain are actively engaged in 

similar enterprises for a share of the international commerce of the 

world, favored by direct or indirect subsidies by their respective 

governments. 

The United States only seems to have dropped out of the race. Even our own products are carried abroad and our imports are brought to us mainly in foreign bottoms, as the following table 

forcibly shows, while our ship-yards are idle, the capital is turned 

into other channels, and the workmen are either idle or have en- gaged in other pursuits, and in many cases have le{t the country to 

seek employment elsewhere. 

Table showing the a1nount of Anwrican and foreign tonnage enteted th.e pO'rts 

of the United States front foreign countries in 18307 1840, 18GO, and 

front 1860 to 1877, both i1wlLLBit:e. 

American Foreign in Percentage. 

American Foreign in excess excess of 

Fiscal years. of for- Ameri- tonnage. tonnage. eign ton- can ton· Ameti- For· 

nage. nage. can. eign. 

1830 ..•.••••••• 961,2-27 131,900 835,327 . ................ 88.0 12.0 1840 .•.•.•.•••.. 1, 576,946 712,363 864,583 ... ...................... 68.9 31.1 1850 .•.••.•••••• 2. 573,016 l, 775,623 797,393 ................ 59.2 40.8 1860 .••••••.•••. 5, 921,285 2, 353, 911 3, 567,374 ................. 71.6 28.4 11361. ••••••••.•. 5, 023,917 2, 217,554 2. 806,363 .................. 69.4 30.6 1862 .••••...•••• 5, 117,685 2, 245, 2i8 2, 872,407 .................. 69.5 30.5 1863 .•••••.•.•.• 4, 014,698 2, 640,378 1, 974,320 ................ 63.6 36.4 1864 .•..•....•.. 3, 06p, 434 3, 471,219 ................. .. 404,785 47.0 53.0 1865 •••••••••••. 2, 943,661 3, 216,967 ............... 273,306 47.8 52.2 1866 .•••.••..... 3, 372,060 4, 410,424 ............. 1, 03d, 364 43.3 56.7 1867 •••..••••.•. 3, 455,052 4, 318,673 ................. sru, 621 44.4 55.6 1868 .....•.••.. . 3, 550,550 4, 495, 465 ................ 944,915 44.1 55. 9 1869 .•••••...••. 3, 402,608 5, 347,694 ................... 1, 945,026 39.0 61.0 1870 . .•••• ·••••· 3, 4d6, 038 5, 669, 621 .................... 2, 11:!3,583 38.0 62.0 1871 .•••••..••.. 3, 7~2. 740 6, 266,444 ...................... 2, 523,704 37.3 62.7 1872 .•••.•..•.•. 3, 771, 846 7, 094,577 . .................... 3, 322,731 34.7 65.3 1873 .•••••.•..•. 3, 612,631 8, OB:J, 086 ....................... 4, 470,455 30.0 70. 0 1874 ...•.....•.. 3, 893,721\ 9, 197,829 ...................... 5, 304,104 29. 7 70.3 1875 . ...••...•.. 3, 573,950 8, 118,f60 ........... ., ........ 4, 544,910 30. 5 6!).5 1876 .•••.•.•.•.. 3, 611,436 8, 899,312 ....................... 5, 287,876 28.8 71. :l 1877 .•••••.•..•. 3, 663,403 9, 791,386 ...................... 6, 127,983 27.2 72.8 

There were in 1869 eighty-nine foreign steamships runnino- regularly to and from New York, and now more than one hundred, all of 

them mainly supported by our foreign cqmmerce, American passengers, and the United States mails. The pecuniary loss to this country, 

in each decade, by the diversion of this traffic from American ships 

amounts to over 300,000,000. 

The select committee of the House of Representatives, of which 

Hon. John Lynch, of Maine, was chairman, appointed to examine 

into the causes of the reduction of American tonnage, made a very 

careful inquiry into the extent of our pecuniary losses caused by 

relinquishing our carrying trade to the ships of other na.tions. They 

found that the estimated value of the tonnage of the United States, 

engaged in the foreign carrying trade,in 1861 was $108,347,748,the estimated gross yearly earnings of which were 331- per cent:.z or 36,115,916. 

In 1869 the estimated value of the same tonnage was ;;:;70,488,945 and 

the estimated earnings $23,496,315, a net loss in yearly earnings of 

this interest of $12,619,601. The increase in gross earnings of this 

class of tonnage from 1850 to 1860 was $14,719,397, or 73 per cent. 

Taking the same ratio of increase from 1660 to 1869, say 65 per 

cent., we should have in 1869, $47,417,643. Tho actual amount of 

gross earnings was 23,406,315, or a net annual loss, in consequence 

of the decline of our ocean commerce, of $33,921,3281 amounting to 

$339,213,280 in ~single decade. 

Thus while we decline to subsidize lines of steamships of our own or remit the duties on imported materials and stores required in their 

construction and outfit, we are subsidizing British, French, aad German 

lines to a tenfold greater extent. European subsidized steamships 

are, in case of war, subject to call by the governments where th~y 

are owned, as ours also would be if we had them. So that while we grudgingly appropriate 20,000,000, or thereabouts, annually for our own Navy we are practically paying more for the support of the 

navies of England and France than we are for tho support of that 

branch of our defense. These are unpleasant facts to lay before 

Congress and the country, yet they admit of mathematical demonstration and cannot be ignored. 

THE REMEDY PROPOSED. 

There are manifestly no means within the power of the Government or the people, or in the efforts of both combined, by which we may suddenly regain our former rank among maritime nations and our legitimate share of the world's commerce. The other great 

nations have gained a foothold and formed connection!5 in all the 

principal markets, thus for the time securing a firm grasp of the 

trade. But nations are growing and commerce is expanding; new combinations are forming and enlarged opportunities are presented 

for international traffic. The field will widen as we find ourselves 

in a condition to occupy it. We want ships, ships, ships, and we must have them; not by buying back those that were sold and sailed 

under foreign flags during and since the war, nor by admitting to 

registry foreign-built vessels; and this for good and substantial reasons. But, first, by the most generous enactments of Congress 

for remission of the duties upon all foreign goods entering into the 

construction and equipment of vessels of all kinds to be built and 

upon all stores for vessels sailing to foreign ports. Seconrl, by 

liberal subsidies to steamship lines managed by responsible c::~mpanies, running on approved routes. Third, by an advance of money 

in certain cases to reliable companies, to be employed in the con- ~truction of ships designetl to carry the mails, the money to l>e re- turned by service thus rendered. 

There are other ways in which aid may be given, and will be if the 

question is met in the proper spirit; but those which I have named are simple, easily accomplished, and reasonable, and, if put in operation, they will at once revive our ship-building and marine industries. 

But it will not do to stop re. The people generally should take a personal interest and pride in the prospective revival of this industry. Associated effort exercises wonderful power in sustaining and 

stimulating this branch of industry. There is a large sea.bourd 

town in Nova Scotia, Yarmouth, the inhabitants of which are largely 

from the United States. Yarmouth has more tonnage afloat, according to its population, probn,bly than any other portion of the world. 

Nearly everyfamilyowns stock in ships,not much it maybe in many 

cases, but all their surplus funds are so invested. The sllip is built,. 

goes off on a voyage, or a series of foreign voyages, and retorns in a year, or it may be in three years. Her earnings are carefully ascer- tained and divided pro rata among the shareholders. Th proceeds 

are put into materials for another vessel. She sails with a car~o t() 

England, and is sold there. The proceeds are divided pro 1·ata 

among tho fifty or more owners and another ship is immediately 

commenced, perhaps two of them. The people are all prospering 

nuder this principle of association. The plan admits of extended 

application, and if generally adopted in the United States, as it has 

been to some extent in Maine, it would create an enthusiasm over this branch of our industries that could not fail to be productive of 

excellent results . 

~l':CESSITY FOR SHORTER ~'I> BETI"ER TRANSPORTATION ROUTES OVER LAND .AND 

OCEAN • 

Next in importance to increase of sail and steamships is that of 
1878. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. 1621 

increased facilities for transportion by land and water. In the struggle for supremacy in the markets of the world quick and cheap transportation are indispensable aids to success. While we have in recent 

years done much to ext-end and improve our means of transportation 

between the interior and the seaboard in many sections of the Union, 

there is much yet to be accomplished. In this work it will not do 

for Congress to stand aloof. The greatest glory of the late Emperor 

of France was achieved by his steady effort to improve his empire in 

its pubLic works and industries and thus afford opportunities for the 

employment and advancement of his subjects. 

Recent investigations by the select committee of the United States 

Senate on transportation routes to the seaboard have demonstrated 

the fact that there is great necessity for enlarged facilities of transportation in almost every section of the country. Competition abroad 

cannot be successfully established and carried on unless this impediment of slow and expensive inland transportation is removed. Labor 

is now abundant and cheap, and Congress cannot withhold its aid 

in this direction without seriously affecting the vital interests of the 

whole country. The committee's reports on the subject of quicker 

and better means of transportation are so full and complete that it is 

not necessary here to do more than urge upon this House the neces- sity for giving early attention to the duty of affording such aid as the importance of the matter demands. 

THE DARIEN 8HIP·CANAL. 

As a means of shortening ocean routes the proposed ship-canal to 

connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans will readily be conceded to 

be the greatest necessity of the age. The completion of this work 

would give to the United States advantages in the race for a share of 

the world's commerce that no other competing nations could com- mand. It would bring almost to our doors not only the markets 

along the entire eastern coast of the Pacific from Cape Horn, taking 

in South and Central America, Mexico, California, British Columbia, 

and on to Behring Strait and the Russian Empire, but also of Japan, 

China, Australia, and the entire range of islands in the Pacific, and 

place the United States in easy competition in the markets of India. 

Already the American system of railways is attracting much attention in British India, China, and Japan, and by the aid of a shipcanal across tho Isthmus of Darien we could command an immense 

and highly profitable trade in supplying the greater portion of their 

railway plant. And not this alone. Our general commerce with all 

these maritime nations would increase rapidly until it reached the 

limit of our ability to meet the demand. 

The practicability of constructing a canal is no longer a mooted 

question. The recent surveys authorized by the American Government, and prosecuted to completion under the direction of Commander Thomas 0. Selfridge, United States Navy, and others, have 

definitely settled that point. Different routes were proposed, and the 

most feasible have been explored, including the Tehuantepec, Honduras, Nicaragua, Chiriqtu, Panama, Trnando, Napipi, and Darien. 

The latter has been decided upon as the best, for many substantial reasons. Among these are the followin~: shortness of canal line; 

almost entire excavation in rock, a matenal that admits of a closer 

estimate of cost than any other; simplicity of engineering operations; absence of swamp lands; but one river to cross; general :fiat- ness of the greater portion of the route ; freedom from volcanic 

traces and earthquakes, and an excellent harbor at either end of the 

passage. The route for ships from the Atlantic: pass into Columbia 

Harbor; thence up the magnificent Atrato River one hundred and 

fifty miles, its depth affording twenty-eight-feet of water the entire 

distance; t.hence through a ship-canal twenty-eight miles in length. 

Of this, twenty-two miles are over a plain, three miles of moderate 

deep cuttin~, and three miles of tunneling, terminating in the Bn.y 

of Chiri-Chiri, Cupica, United States of Colombia. · The proposed dimensions of the canal are a depth of twent.y-five 

feet, working width at surface seventy-two feet, about the same as that of the Suez canal; tunnel one hundred and twelve feet high, 

breadth above water surface eighty-seven feet. Cost of canal and improvements at the harbors, carefnlly estimated in detail, $48,466,997. 

Allow 25 per cent. for contingencies,· and the entire cost is only $60,583,746. 

The soil over the entire route is said to be superior; the one hundred and fifty miles along the Atrato River being an alluvial plain 

without rock or hill. There is the usual rainy season, but the climate, 

for health, is represented to be superior to that of any other portion 

of the Isthmus. During several months the surveying party camped a great portion of the time in the open air, oft~n sleeping on the 

ground without any covering but their clothing. The expedition 

consisted of two hundred and seventy-six men, among whom there 

was but one death, and that by accidental drowning. 

I have said this much to show the practicability of this enterprise; 

and had not the financial crisis of 1873 overtaken and prostrated our industries, I believe I am safe in saying the Darien ship-canal would 

to-day have been well advanced toward completion. 

The following tables, prepared under the direction of Commander 

T. 0. Selfridge. are significant as showing the distances from Cnpica 

to important maritime ports, and also the time saved by this route 

between New York and the places named. The time required in passing through the Atrato River and canal from the Atlantic to the 

Pacific will be about three days: 

Times and di8tanceB in nautical miles-sailing 'l'(mtes. 

Octllber to April. I April to October. 

Q Q 

Q 0 c) 0 

0 j 0 

~ m ~ +-' 

m ;e ~ 

~ ~ ;a 4) ~ 4) 

~ l ~ b.O 

0 .0 0 

~ ai Q) 

~ Q) 1>. 

~ p. "' p. ciS 

.q A A <j A 

From- To-

- ----------

~~~~:: :::::::::::: 

Uup1ca. ••••••••••••. Cupica ............ . Cupica .•.•..•.••••. Cupica ............ . Cupica ............ . Cupica ............ . Cupica ............ . Cupica ......•...... Cupica ••••••.•••••• Cupica .•••••....... 

Sidney ...•... Hong-Kong .. . Hong· Kong .. . Shan11;hai .... . Manila ...... . Manila .•••••. Yokohama .... 

Batavia.·--··· 

Honolulu ..•.. Valparaiso •••• Callao ... . ... . San Francisco. 

Miles. Miles. 

8,180 8,545 

10,360 IO, G60 10,680 11,050 

10, 060 10,410 

10, 120 1o,:no 

10,090 10,430 

9,370 9,810 

11,410 11,860 

5,260 5, 430 

4, 270 4,700 

4, 780 5, liO 

5,170 5,550 

Miles. Miles. 55.0 8,145 8,510 50.0 

60.0 10,000 10,280 62.0 

66.5 10,650 11,020 66. 0 

58.0 9, 750 10, 010 60.0 

56.0 9,810 10, 110 60.0 

63.0 10, 060 10,380 62.0 

58.0 9, llO 9, 350 57.0 

64.5 10,840 10,080 65.0 

32.0 4, 950 5,220 33.0 

31.0 4, 150 4,~0 30.0 

33.0 4,050 4,310 29.0 

36.0 5,170 5, 550 36.0 

NoTE.-" Direct distance" indicates the distance meaaured on the usual route of 

sailing-vessels; "average distance," the distance usually actually sailed. 

Table shawing the gain in distance and time by sailing-vessels between tM 

part of New York, vi.a the Darien ship-canal and the places nanted. 

By present route. Via canal. Gain. 

From- , 1, To- ' 

Route. Miles. ~ Miles. 

Q 

New York .. Hong-Ko!lg ... ViaCi£e of 14, 930 110 12,480 

Good ope. 

New York .. Shan~hai ...•. . •... do ...... 15,200 115 12,200 

New York .. Yoko ama .... . .... do ...... 15,750 119 11,550 

New York .. Manila . . ...... ..... do ...... 13,700 108 12,260 

New York .. Batavia ....... ..... do ..... 12,170 105 13, 4.25 

New York .. Sidney ........ . .... do ...... 13,2-20 105 10,480 

New York .. V :l£!raiso . ... ~-~aJ':.~~~ 9, 760 90 6,510 

New York .. c ........ 11, 100 105 6, 710 New York .. Honolulu . .... . . ... do ...•.. 14,500 131 7, 400 

New York .. San Francisco . ..... do ..... 14, S40 130 7, 470 

Distances and time by steamer routes. 

From- ToCnpica .............................. . ............ . 

g~~!~ :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :~: :~: :: 

Cupica .................•.......................... 

8~~~~ ::::::::::::::::::: ::::: .. ::::: ~ :::::::::::: 

Sidney ....... . Hong-Kong . . . Manila. .... ... . Shanghai .... . Yokohama ... . Honolulu . . _ . . Batavia ...... . 

<Xi .. p, 

ce Miles. ~ A - ..8. 

83 2,450 27 

81 3, 000 34 79 4, 200 40 80 1, 440 23 

89 .... . . . . 18 

75 2, 740 30 52 3, 250 3S 

53 4, 390 52 

54 7,100 67 

58 7, 370 72 

Miles. Days. 

7, 670 

9, 865 

9, 705 

9, 305 

8,375 

4,1?55 

10,700 

30 

37 

37 

36 

33 

18 

41 

It has been suggested that the construction of a ship-canal acroSB 

the Isthmus of Darien shoultl be the joint work of the United States 

and one or more of the European powers. But while it would be 

open to all under proper tariff regulations, it seems to me that its 

construction should be an American enterprise and mainly at the 

expense of the United States Government, with such financial aid as South and Central American ~overnments might be disposed to afford or private enterprise to contribute. Initiative steps must be taken 

by our own Government, and I am clearly of the opinion that Congress should not delay carrying the work into operation. With our public debt materjally reduced in principal and interest and the revenues of the count.ry in a satisfactory condition, why should longer 

delay be required Y We have established our credit and shown our ability to discharge our public debt at a very rapid rate, and if nec- essary the yearly reduction of that debt might be lessened or even suspended for a few years, and the money applied to the construction 

of the ship-canal, from which, in the present effort to extend our foreign commerce, the grandest results may reasonably be expected. 

SETTLE OUR FINANCIAL POLICY. 

Another essential to our future prosperity and success is that our financial policy should be settled on some basis which will meet the 

approval of a majority of all classes of our people. 

How this is to be done is of course an all-important question. To me it seems a not very difficult task if only the conservative men in the 

country will strive to get on to some common ground which can be 

occupied without injury to either the creditor or debtor classes. For one I would by legal enactment give a construction t o the resumption act which would retain as a part of the circulation of the coun- try $300,000,000 of our United States notes with the same legal-tender 

qualities which they now possess, and I would utilize our vast silver 
1622 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-HOUSE. MAROH 9, 

product aa money, as dollars, making them of such value and fine- ness that they would circulate side by side with our gold dollars. 

This would bring resumption of specie payments at once, and with 

that resumption would come to this people, instead of bankruptcy 

and ruin to their commercial and manufacturing interests, an era. of 

unexampled prosperity and progress, in which they would rebuild 

their industries, acquire new and increased wealth, and regain their 

old position in the carrying trade and commerce of the world. 

CONCLUSION. 

Mr. Speaker, I have but imperfectly presented our present condition and necessities in reference to the ocean shipping and foreign 

trade of the United States. If I have so presented it as to secure for 

it from Congress the attention and action which it deserves, and 

which the country reasonably expects it will receive, I have accomplished my object.. . . . . . Against. all the difficulties encountered 1t 18 g!ati!Ymg to know that our exports have during the last decade steadily mcreased; but the 

profits derived from the carrying trade of the United States have 

swelled the annual gains of other nations. It is not too late, however, to recover our lost prestige upon the ocean. The indications now are that our people are l>ecoming aroused to their true interests 

in thi.s matter and that increased efforts will be crowned with that sure success which is invariably the reward of well-directed enterpri~~ times are propitious. The President, in his recent message to 

Congress, refers to the fact that we are at peace with all the world, 

and states that the republics of South and Central America and the 

Empire of Brazil have by their governments and people manifested a disposition to reciprocate our efforts in the direction of increased 

commercial intercourse. Referring more directly to the present con- dition of United States foreign commerce and ocean shipping, the 

President said : 

The commerce of the United States with foreign nations, and especially the ex- port of domestic productions, ha-s of late years largely increased; but the greater portion of this trade is conducted in foreign vessels. The importance of enlarg- IDJ our foreign trade, and especially by direct and speedy interchange with coun- tries on this continent, cannot be overestimated ; and it is a matter of great mo- ment that our own shipping interest should receive, to the utmost practiCal extent, 

the benefit of our commerce with other lands. These considerations are forcibly 

nrged by all the large commercial cities of the country, and J.>Ublic att~ntion is gen- erally and wisely attracted to the solution of the problems they present. It is not doubted that Congress will take them UJ:! in the broadest spirit of liberality and 

respond to the public demand by practicllllegislation upon this important subject. 

Will not Congresa receive inspiration from these timely suggestions, 

if not from the necessities of the working clasaes, and by its action 

set our ship-yards astir in the construction of wood and iron ships 7 

No country is more bountifully supplied with the necessary materials, 

wood, iron, and copper, or with a better quality of bra.in, bone, and 

sinew, with which to utilizA these gifts of nature. 

Many of our maritime cities are moving in an effort to reach a larger 

range of foreign markets and sell more goods abroad; and manufacturing centers in the interior are manifesting a similar spirit. Under the 

auspices of the new organization known as the Associated Industries of 

the United States, much good is bein!? accomplished in this direction 

in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. A five-million-dollar contract has 

been taken by capitalists in Pennsylvania to construct a railway of one hundred and eighty miles in Brazil. Other contracts of a similar nature are now in negotiation between American contractors and 

the Brazilian government. The Russian government has just con- tracted with Philadelphia manufacturers for forty heavy first-class 

locomotive engines,'amounting in value to half amilli6ndollars. Pittsburgh has called for and held a commercial convention in Washington with the view of dbvising means to increase onr ocean shipping 

and foreign commerce. · The manufacturers of Pittsburgh are enlarging their foreign shlpments of engines, rails, nails, glassware, &c. Messrs. John Roach & 

Sons, the great steamship builders at Chester, Pennsylvania, are in 

negotiation with capitalists to put on a line of steamers between 

Philadelphia. or New York and Brazil, to carry freight, passengers, 

a.nd mails. In aid of this enterprise it is stated, on good authority, 

that a subsidy of $100,000 per annum, for ten years, has been voted 

by the Brazilian cabinet. Bost.on is strivingtoincreasehermerchant 

marine and expand her foreign commerce. New Orleans, Saint Louis, 

and western capitalists are making efforts to establish a steam line 

between the Gulf cities and South American ports, thus bringing the 

Mississippi Valley and the markets of the southern continent into 

closer relations, and enabling the Southern and Western States to 

participate more fully in our foreign trade. And last, but not least, 

the State Department at W aahin~on has forwarded commercial circulars to our consuls abroad, urgmg the necesaity, on their part, of 

calling attention to the character of American agricultural and man- ufactured products, and of informing our Government of the wants 

of the markets in their respective localities. This is a. judicious 

movement, and cannot fail to be productive of excellent results. 

And now, Mr. Speaker, the question presses itself home upon the better judgment of every man upon the floor of this House: Will Congress 

meet those private and official efforts by legislation that will un- loose the fetters that are now binding the energies of our ship-builders 

and give them an opportunity to provide the tonnage necessary to 

oo.rry our surplus products abroad and bring back the returns in 

goods or gold; or will it withhold the needed relief and compel us as a people to continue to l)e, as we are now, u the hewers of wood 

and drawers of water" for those nations that have monopollzed our carryingtrade and are enriching themselves at our expense 7 This is 

the problem the people are looking to this Congress to solve, in the full 

light of their necessities and our opportunity to aid them by judicious legislation. 

History teaches that the scepter of commercial and financial supremacy rests with those nations who control the carrying trade and com- merce of the world. Who has not read of Venice, Genoa, Holland, 

and who not of England," mistress of the seas 7" But it also inculcates the lesaon that this scepter is not held by prerogative, but can be won and held by national and individual enterprise. Shall we not, then, with all our grand resources, strive to wrest that scepter 

from other hands, and secure to this nation that maritime and com- mercial prestige which our position and means justify us in claiming as within the reach of well-directed enterprise T 

Mr. HEWITT, of New York, obtained the floor, and said: On Monday inlmediately after the morning hour I sha,ll ask the House to go 

into Committee of the Whole for the purpose of continuing the discussion upon this bill. I move that the committee do now rise. 

Tho motion was agreed to. 

The committee accordingly rose ; and Mr. BLACKBURN having taken 

the chair as Speaker p1·o tempore, Mr. SPRINGER reported that the 

Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union had bad under 

consideration the bill (H. R. No. 3064) makingappropriationsforthe 

consular and diplomatic service of the Government for the year ending June 30, 18i9, and for other purposes, and had come to no reso- lution thereon. P~TING OF TESTIMONY, ETC. 

Mr. SPRINGER. I desire to offer the resolution which I send to 

the desk. It provides in a,nother form for what baa already been 

ordered, and will cost no additional expense. 

The Clerk read as follows: 

Resolved, That the Committee on Expenditures in the State Department be au- thorized to have printed such papers, documents, and testimony as they may deem 

necessary, and that said committee be furtber authorized to divide and arrange in 

separate parts to suit tbeir convenience all such testimony and other matters and 

have the same so printed. 

Mr. CONGER. Is it proposed to print this in a separate form f 

Mr. SPRINGER. What is proposed is to print the testimony and 

other matters relating to different subjects in different documents. 

It makes no additional expense. 

Mr. HEWITT, of New York. Instead of having one big volume it 

will be broken up in different parts. 

Mr. CONGER. Does it all relate to the same matters f 

Mr. SPRINGER. It relates to different subjects. 

Mr. HEWITT, of New York. The committee are investigating 

several different subjects. 

Mr. DUNNELL. This testimony has been taken by a subcommittee, and bas not been reported to the general committee; and I must 

object to the printing of any testimony that has been taken by a subcommittee which has not yet been brought to the attention of the 

whole committee. 

Mr. SPRINGER. The order has already been made and the printing 

is being done. This is the only change made: that the testimony, &c., 

relating to different subjects be put in different pamphlets. 

Mr. CONGER. I understand that the resolution gives authority 

to p~t whatever the committee see fit to print. I object to the 

present consideration of the resolution. 

Mr. SPRINGER. The order to print has already been made. 

Mr. CONGER. I ask that the resolution offered by the gentleman 

from Illinois be again read. 

The resolution was again read. 

Mr. CONGER. The first part of the resolution, leaving it discretionary with the committee to print what they may deem necessary, 

is objectionable. 

Mr. SPRINGER. That order has already been made. 

Mr. FRYE. It is a very singular order. 

The SPEAKER p1·o tempore. Is there objection to the present con- sideration of the resolution 7 

Mr. CONGER. I object. 

DIPLOl\IA.TIC AND CONSULAR BILL. 

Mr. HEWITT, of New York. I ask unanimous consent that the 

diplomatic and consular bill be reprinted. The first supply of the 

bill is exhausted. 

There was no objection, and it was so ordered. 

COliMUNICA.TION BETWEEN COLORADO AND NEW MEXICO. 

The SPEAKER pro ternp01·e, by unanimous consent, laid before theHouse a letter from the Secretary of War, transmitting copies of re- ports of existing and required lines of communication between South 

Colorado and Northern New Mexico; which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and ordered to be printed. 

ARSENAL GROUNDS IN INDIANAPOLIS. 

The SPEAKER p1·o tempore also, by unanimous consent, laid before 

the Hoose a letter from the Secretary of War, transmitting a communication from the Chief of Ordnance, concerning an assessment for light-
1878. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE. '1623 

ing the streets south of the United States arsenal grounds in Indianapolis; which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations. 

LEAVE OF ABSENCE. 

By unanimous consent, leave of absence was granted as follows: 

To Mr. CARLISLE, for one week, on account of important business; 

and · To Mr. SWA.L.'m, for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, of next 

week. 

Mr. HARTZELL. I move that the House do now adjourn. 

The motion was agreed to; and accordingly (at four o'clock and 

thirty-five minutes p.m.) the House adjourned. 

PETITIONS, ETC. 

The following petitions, &c., were presented at the Clerk's desk, 

ander the rule, and referred as stated : · By Mr. BALLOU: The petition of a committee of type-founders 

from Philadelphia and New York, that the duty on foreign type may 

remain specific and not be changed to ad valorem-to the Committee 

of Ways and Means. 

By Mr. BICKNELL: The petition of the publisher of the New 

Albany (Indiana) Deutsche Zeitung, for the abolition of the duty on type-to the same committee. 

By Mr. CHITTENDEN: The petition of type-founders of New York 

and other cities of the United States, that the tariff on type remain 

unchanged-to the same committee. 

Also, the petition of William M. Thoma.s and others, of Brooklyn, 

New York, against reviving the income tax-to the same committ.ee. 

By Mr. DANFORD: The petition of D. G. Green and 51 other citi- zens of Noble Cou'nty, Ohio, that the tariff on wool and woolen goods 

remain unchanged-to the same committee. 

By Mr. DEERING : The petition of citizens of Iowa, for a commission of inquiry concerning the alcoholic liquor traffic-to the same committee. 

Also, the petition of type-founders of the United States, that the 

duty on type remain unchanged-to the sa.me committee. 

By Mr. DICKEY: A paper relating to the establishment of a postroute from Dunbarton to Cherry Fork, Ohio-to the Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads. 

By Mr. DUNNELL: Memorial of the Legislature of Minnesota, asking that the Fort Ripley military reservation be opened to settlement-to the Committee on Military Affairs. 

By Mr. ERRETT: Resolutions of the Legislature of Pennsylvania, 

against discriminations in railroad freights on interstate roads-to 

the Committee on Commerce. 

By Mr. EVINS, of South Carolina: A paper relating to the establishment of a post-route between Jackson Hill and New Prospect, 

.South Carolina-to the Committee on the Post-Office and Post-Roads. 

By Mr. FRYE : The petition of Reuben Boynton and other citizens 

of Westborough, Massachusetts, for a commission of inquiry concern- ing the alcoholic liquor traffic-to the Committee on the Judiciary. 

By Mr. HARDEN BERGH: The petition of type-founders of New 

York and other cities of the United States, t.hat the tariff on type re- main unchanged-to the Committee of Ways and Means. 

By Mr. HARMER: The petition of the type-founders of the United 

States, that in order to prevent fraud iR the introduction of foreign 

type into the United States the duty may remain a specific one, as in the bill now before·Congress, and not be changed to an ad valorem 

duty-to the same committee. 

Also, the petition of citizens of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, against 

reviving the income tax-to the same committee. 

By 1\fr. H.A.RTRIDGE : Memorial of a committee of delegates from 

the municipalities of Norfolk, Charleston, Port Royal, Savannah, 

Darien, Brunswick, Saint Mary's, Fernandina, Jacksonville, Saint 

Augustine, Cedar Keys, and Pensacola, in reference to quarantine regulations-to the Commit tee on Commerce. 

By Mr. HAYES: The petition of the type-founders of the United 

States, that the duty on type remain unchanged-to the Committee 

of Ways and Means. 

By Mr. HUMPHREY: Memorial of the Legislature of Wisconsin,for 

the extension of time to the Northern Pacific Railroad-to the Committee on Public Lands. Also, memorial of the Legislature of Wisconsin, asking the completion, of the breakwater and entrance to the harbor of refuge at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin-to the Committee on Commerce. 

Also, memorial· of the Legislature of Wisconsin, for the establishment of a post-route and tri-weekly mail between White Hall and 

Eau Claire, Wisconsin-to the Committee on the Post-Office and PostRoads. 

By Mr. HUNGEr..FORD : The petition of citizens of Hornellsville, 

New York, for the 1epeal of thewartax.es imposed on national, State, 

and savings banks-to the Committee of Ways :1nd Means. 

By Mr. JAMES: The petition of the puMisher of the Times, Gouverneur, New York, for abolition of the duty on type-to the same com-· mittee. 

By l!r. KEIGHTLEY: The petition of Mr. 0. A. Williams and 105 

others, that the tn.ri:ff on wool remain unchanged-to the same com- mittee. 

By Mr. LUTTRELL: The petitition of the publisher of the Golden 

Era, San Francisco, California, for the abolition of the duty on typeto the same committee. 

By Mr. McMAHON: The petition of J. K. Mcintyre, McKee, Weakly 

& Co., George Kneesley, and other wholesale and retail grocers, for a uniform duty on sugars-to the same committee. · By Mr. O'NEILL: Resolutions of the General Assembly of :Pennsylvania, in relation t.o the passage of an act to provide for equity in the 

rates of freight upon certain property carried by railroads and by 

other means of transportation-to the Committee on Railways and 

Canals. 

By Mr. PEDDIE: Resolutions of the Legislature of New Jersey, 

relating to American shippin8-to the Committee on Commerce. 

By Mr. PUGH: The petition of Elizabeth A. Van Pelt, for com- pensation for property taken and used by the United States authorities-to the Committee on War Claims. · By Mr. RICE, of Ohio: The petition of the publisb_er of the Allen 

County (Ohio) Democrat, for the abolition of the duty on type-to 

the Committee of Ways and Means. 

By Mr. RIDDLE: Memorial of the Chamber of Commerce of Memphis, Tennessee, in favor of a subsidy for a line of steamers from 

New Orleans to Rio Janeiro, Brazil-to the Committee on Commerce. 

Also, the petitions of the publishers of the Gallatin (Tennessee) 

Examiner and Tennessean and of the Springfield (Tennessee) Reeord, 

for the abolition of the duty on type-to the Committee of Ways and 

Means. 

By Mr. RO~BINS: The petition of 46 citizens of Ashe County, 

North Carolina, against aholishin~ the western judicial district of 

said State-to the Committee on the Judiciary. 

By Mr. ROBERTS: The petition of Samuel Bentz, for the emen- ' 

sion of a pa.tent-to the Committee on Patents. 

By Mr. ROSS: The petition of type-founders of the United States, 

against a reduction of the tariff on type-to the Committee of Ways 

and Means. 

By Mr. SAYLER : The petition of the Cincinnati Society of Natural History, favoring the adoption of the metric system of _weights 

and measures-to the Committee on Coinage, Weights, and Meas- ures. 

By Mr. SMITH, of Georgia: The petition of the publisher of the 

Albany (Georgia) News, for tho abolition !of the duty on type-to the 

Committee of Ways ancl Means. 

By Mr. SPRING.ER: The petition of citizens of Christian County, 

Illinois, for the establishment of· a post-route from Bdinburgh, liy way 

of Bolivia, to Mechanics burgh, Dlinois-to the Committee on the PostOffice and Post-Roads. 

By Mr. STEW ART: P..esolutions of the Legislature of Minnesota, 

favoring the opening of the Fort Ripley reservation to entry under 

the homestead laws-to the Committee on Public Lands. 

By Mr. TOWNSEND, of Ohio : The petition of 3,000 workingmen of 

Cleveland, Ohio, for the passage of Mr. Wright's bill granting aid to 

settlers on homesteads furnished by the Government-to tho same committee. .' 

By Mr. TOWNSEND, of New York: The petition of soldiers of tlie war of 1861 of Argyle, New York, that soldiers discharged for disease 

may have the same bounty as those discharged for wound&-to the 

Committee on War Claims. . By Mr. WILLIS, of Kentucky: The petition of Wooten & Oo. and 

other grocers, of Louisville, Kentucky, that the tariff on sugar be 

fixed at so much per pound, without regard to color or quaUty-to 

the Committee of Ways and Means. 

IN SENATE. 

:1\fOND.A.Y, March 11, 1878. 

Prayer by the Chaplain, Rev. BYRON SUNDERLAND, D. D. 

The Journal of the proceedings of Thursday last was read and ap- proved. · · EXECUTIVE COliMUNICATIONS. 

The VICE-PRESIDENT laid before the Senate a communication 

from tho Secretary of the Interior, in response to n. resolution of the 

28th ultimo, concerning securities taken by the Union Pacific Railroad Company for aid afforded to the Colorado C~ntra l and other 

railroads, &c. ; which was ordered to lie on the table and be printed. 

He also laid before the Senate \!1 communication from the Secretary .of War, transmitting, in compliance with a resolution of the ·Sepate 

of the 18th ultimo, a copy of a report of Major C. R. Suter, Corps of 

Engineers, on the condition of the works for removing a bar'iu the 

Arkansas River near Fort Smith, Arkansas; which was referred to 

the Committee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed. · He also laid before the Senate a communication from the Secretary 

of the Treasury, transmitting, in compliance with a resolution of the 

Senate of the 4th instant, a:n estimate of the amount of money neces- sary to be appropriated to enable the Government to coin both gold and silver at the United St~tes mint in the city of Denver, Colorado; 

which was refeLTed to the Committee on Public Buildings and GroundB, 

and ordered to be printed.