The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-03
jeff Davis and All the Other Leaders OF
the Rebellion to be Included.
Proposed Division of Texas Into
Three State.
Report Of the Ways and Means COMMITTEE
in Relation to the Taxation Of
United States Bonds.
The Civil Appropriation Bill Passed
in the Senate.
General Amnesty.
WASHINGTON, July 2, 1868.

WASHINGTON, July 2, 1868.
General Amnesty.
II Is stated. on the authority OF member OF Con-
gress, that President Johnson has determined to
issue a general amnesty proclamation on the 4th
inst. Its provisions will include the pardon Of JEFF
ferson DAVIS John c. Breckenridge and other leaders
Of the rebellion.
Report and Bill to Tax the Interest on Cow
eminent Bonds. 49, .l. 4,
The following report and bill were reported to-day
by Mr.. Hooper, from the Committee Of Ways and
Means - ta 'Hr4 iH
whom was referred the resolution Of the
House, instructing them to report without
unnecessary delay bill leyying a tax OF at
least per centum on the interest OF the bonds OF
the United States to be collected by the Secretary Of
the Treasury and such OF his subordnates as may be
bonded debt Of the United States have had the same
S%asa spof ss 8omsss and nd
the a SnPU and s the Eli oessSsnee
10 the positive order q the House; IN the
resolution the English Income Tax law was referred
to and quoted. There is law corresponding to that
English law on the statute books OF this country I'm
English Law is less than three per cent But your
committee have been unable to find in the statute
law that could be regarded in any way as piece.
dent for the bill. The House has instructed the COM
mitee to report, which, If enacted, will be simply
Jaw providing for the payment OF rate OF interest
on the government debt ten per cent
less than was for ten per cent cent
ten ten per r cent less than was s0no pledged sd
to be paid by the solemn enactment Of Congress-
when the money was required to carry on a war
which threatened the life OF the nation. The evil
effects resulting TO nation, whether her national
credit is guarded and protected or whether by legis
iation OF the character now proposed the confidence
of all other civilized nations is forfeited. may now
be let or appreciated In time OF peace; but the COM
mitiee desire to call attention to the consequences
that would follow the passage Of a bill Of the char
acter now submitted, In case we should ever
hereafter have occasion to use our credit for
sustain ourselves at home or to defend
ourselves in collision with any foreign Power. The
in obedience to the positive directions OF the House
and contrary TO their own best Judgment. They re-
serve to themselves their rights as members OF the
House 10 oppose In every possible way the adoption
of measure which they regard hostile to the pub
lie interest and Injurious to the national character,
bill to authorize internal tax the interest OF the
bonds and other securities OF the United States.
BE enacted, &C, That rom and after the passage
OF this act there shall be LEVIED collected and paid
tax Of ten per centum on the amount Of interest
hereafter due and payable on all the bonds and other
securities OF the United States TO secure the colec-
ton OF said tax The amount OF interest hereafter
pad on any bonds other securities OF the United
states, bearing interest at six per centum shall be
at the rate OF only five and dve-tenths per centum,
and bearing interest at the rate of five per centum
shall be at the rate Of only four and hvetenths per
centun and bearing interest al the rate OF three
per centum shall be at the rate or only
two and seven-tenths per centum per annum. No
higher rate OF interest than Is here prescribed shall
he paid ON any bond or other security of the United
States now outstanding or authorized to be issued,
all conditions Of any such bonds or other security
and all laws and parts Of laws TO the contrary not
outstanding.
Senate Bill Regarding Efficiency and Re-
trcnchment in the Diplomatic Service.
The bill reported to-day by Senator Patterson, of
New Hampshire, from the Committee on Retrench-
ment, provides for greater efficiency and retrench-
ment In the diplomatic service OF the United States.
Its general features are az follows
Hereafter no appropriation shall be made for the
salary OF any diplomatic or consular officer. nor
shall any such officer be allowed compensation from
oficia fees, unless prior TO his nomination by the
President and confirmation by the senate he shall
be found competent TO perform the duties OF. the
ONCE 10 which he may have been appointed. The
Wee President, the Secretary Of State and three
commissioners, TO be appointed by the President,
with The advice ana consent OF the senate. 70 hold
their ONCE for five years unless sooner removed by the
President with the advice and consent OF the Senate
are TO constitute foreign service board OF examin
crs in the qualification periods Of probation, eXpe
renee &c. Examinations for appointments are
hereafter to be made with reference TO grade rank
and the necessities OF the service, and not
Tor appointments at designated places, provided
vacancies in the lowest grade shall be filed
by promotion rather than by new appointments,
where this can be done without injury
TO the public service. Various grades are
established, namely:-Enyoy extraordinary and min
pienpotentiary ST. 1000; second grade sl2 600;
third grade $40 000 fourth grade $1,000; ministers
resident, $1,000; consul general and diplomatic
agents. first grade, 1000; second grade, $4,000;
secretary of legation, 81 700; assistant secretary Of
legation, lsO0; consul general first grade, $500;
second grade, $4,000; third grade $500; consul,
first class $4,000; second grade. $4,000; third grade,
$4,000 fourth class, a. 500; fifth grade 1900; sixth
grade, $1,000 vice consul first grade, 500; second
grade, 81 2oo consular clerk 81 900 II is'made the
duty OF Secretary OF state 10 recommend appoint
ments in the diplomatic and consular service when
vacancies occur. and such appointments shall be
made by the President with the advice and consent
of the senate. The appointments above the lowest
grade 10 be by promotion; officers on each promo
ton and transfer are TO pass new examination. All
fees collected by diplomatic or consular of1cers
TO he accounted for according TO the regulations and
paid into the Treasury and all fees received at the
commercial and consular agencies In excess OF $1,000
IN any nscal year are 70 be paid over TO the
government. II is the duty OF the Foreign Service
Board Ia recommend persons for appointment and
report TO Congress annually, and indicate what
should be established, and such further suggestions
and recommendations as may conduce 10
the Improvement OF the service and the public
interest IL n made the duty OF the Secretary OF
state, on information from the Foreign Service
Board, to recommend 10 the President TO transfer,
with the advice and consent OF the senate, any Of
ncer from one post Of duty 20 another, promotions
to he governed accordingly.
The President has the power TO make temporary
transfers Of his own motion, without submitting the
matter TO the Senate.
The bill provides what rate Of pay officers thus
Temporarily transferred shall receive. Provision Is
made for the dismissal Of oncers who shall be found
incompetent 70 discharge their duties. This is TO be
S Sne os p the 81 ss
learning and experience connected with the public
service to assist In the examination OF applicants.
The examination IL to be conducted by means OF
oral and written questions and in all cases there
shall be at least three examinations. The reports
of the examinations are 20 be made in writing
and flied in the Department Of state Provision Il
made for determining the rank OF applicants who
have passed examination. After tie appointments
shall have been made by the President and confirmed
nv the Senate, the officers shall not be suspended or
removed except for malieasance, misconduct In
Office, neglect Of duty, violation o. Instruction.
other good cause The President s required to report
the reasons for suspending the ofcer and send the
same TO the senate for consideration N provided
that no person shall hold any ofice or be employed
in the diplomatic consular service, unless in pur
euance or the laws and regulations In accordance
Herewith Whenever American schools shall be
established In China and Japan for the purpose OF
educating Young men In the language, laws, literature
and customs OF Oriental nations, the PRESIDENT, by
and with the advice and consent OF the Senate, may
annninf nraduafes Of such SCHOOLS who haYe passed