Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-01-20
FORTIETH CONGRESS-.
This Afternoons Proceedings,
MONDAY, January 10.

road, the City Council and the Chamber of
Commerce of New Orleans relative to grants of
lands TO the State of Louisiana 10 aid in build
ing railroads. Referred TO Committee on Pub
lie Lands.
Mr.. Howard, from the Cornittee on the Pacific
Railroad reported bill for the relief of the cen
trail branch Union Pacific Railroad
Mr. Edmnnds, from the Committee on the Ju-
dietary, reported unfayorably ON the House bill
relative 10 Halls carbine.
Mr.. Ferry introduced bill TO incorporate
the National Union Manufacturing and Pub
lining Co, of Washington, ID. G.. Referred 10
District Committee.
Mr.. Harlan introduced a bill to renew the
charter and extend the boundaries of the CITY OF
Washington. Referred to Committee on Dis
trict 0f Columbia. Tlt will be- found i'm full
elsewhere in our paper to-day.l
Mr.. Wilson introduced a bill TO forfeit the
payment OF bounties 10 deserters and for other
purposes. Referred TO Committee ON Military
Affairs.
Also, bill granting one million acres of land
for the benefit of public schools in the District
of Columbia. Referred TO Committee on Dis
tTict of Columbia.
Mr.. Stewart introduced a bill to facilitate the
administration Of justice. Referred to Commit
tee on the j judiciary.
Mr.. Chandler introduced a bill to regulate
the foreign and coasting trade of the north
western and western boundaries OF the United
States. Referred to Committee on Commerce.
Mr.. Cragin introduced a bill 10 increase the
salaries of the Judges of Utah Territory. Re-
ferred TO Committee on Judiciary.
On motion of Mr.. Davis, the Secretary Of
War was REQ uested to furnish list of vessels
purchased by his Department during the war;
the prices OF such vessels, to whom paid, &c.
Mr.. Chandler called up the Joint resolution
relative TO consular appointments, the question
being on referring il 10 the Committee on Com
mtrce.
Mr.. Chandler would say, in reply to the
sti ictures Of the Senator from Iowa (Mr.
Grimes), that the consular system OF the
United States was more efficient to-day than IL
had ever been since the foundation of the Gov
ernment. In 1s6t, the chairman of the Com
melce Committee was the rebel Mr.. Clay,
OF Alabama. and under his administra-
ton the consular system of che United
States was entirely in the hands of
rebels, who neither knew OF cared
for American interests and such was the eN-
tent Of fraudulent practices that prevailed
among these Consuls that many American citi-
zens Were detained from ent ring into certain
branches of imports. In 1853 the whole system
had been remodeled and he had lately been in
fol med by the SECRETARY of State. that the Con-
sular system instead OF beiug a burden TO the
United States now paid over and above ITS ex-
penses into the Treasury, about Sl30,OO0 in gold,
and was an actual saving TO the Government of
thirty millions, and was as efficient and
worked "a fayorably as could be expected. Yet
under these circumstances the Senator (Mr.
Grrmes,) proposes to oyerturn this admirable
systs and detail line officers of the navy above
the rank of Commander, to perform Consular
duties TO detail officers of the navy TO do duties
about which they knew nothing. The Commit
10 eptrust this work to men who had some
commercial knowledge, and some idea of the
duties which they are called on 10 perform. He
(Mr. {. had come to the conclusion that the
good old man whose demise had been lamented
in song and story for so many years, (old
Grimes.) was moi dead yet; but had only been
sleeping. [Laughter.l The old gentleman
thought that We We're sill in the DAYS of the
Vikings, when the same officer was proficient
in every department of business; when he could
scuttle a ship or keep store equally as well.
He Mr.. c. was glad the old man had wakened
up, and he proposed TO call his attention 10 the
enormous expenditures Of the navy, and the
abuses which existed in that department. Now
that the Senator had wakened up, he hoped
thai his Chief had also wakened up after his
long nap. Had there been a Stanton in the
Navy department, there would now have
been a cutting down of useless expenditures
all we wanted of the navy now was TO be a
mere police of the seas. More than a hundred
ships might well be put out of commissio ION. and
why weIe there lO,UvO la5orers employed in the
different navy yarus. There Were none of them
needed, and all the Use made of them to
transfer them from one Democratic district TO
another on the eve of elections. The expenses
OF the Navy Department could with much ad.
vantage be reduced from forty seven millions
TO ten millions per annum, and now that the
Secretary was awake he hoped he would devote
all his time and energies where they Were so
sadly needed, and allow the Committee ON
Commerce TO attend to its own business
Mr.. Grimes thought the Senate should con-
slider itself indebted to HIM for the magnificent
exhibition which had been furnished il TODAY
Such an example of sarcasm and honor such
an out-sprinklirg of attic salt had not been
youchsafed 10 the Senate for some time All
this, however, would not defeat him for main
issue, and he repeated that many Of these Con-
suls were receiving perq uisites largely in ex-
cess of the amount allowed them by law
Mr. Morrill,, of Vermont, repeated the state
ments made by him as TO abuses in the consular
system.
Mr.. Hendricks opposed the reference of the
resolution TO the Committee on Commerce.
BY unanimous consent, on motion of Mr.
Sherman the Senate refused to recede from its
ams ndments TO the cotton hill, and agreed TO the
request of the House for Committee of Con-
fersnce; and the Chair appointed as the COM
mittee on the part of the Senate, Messrs. Sher-
man, Conkling. and Morrill,. OF Vermont
Mr.. Morrill,. of Maine, argued in favor of a
reference Of the pending resolution TO the Com
mittee on Commerce. and maintained that off,
GERS OF the navy were not competent TO take
consular positions.
Mr.. Nye said some of the men who are rem
resenting the country under the auspices of this
Committee of Commerce Were the merest pot
house politicians that had ever disgraced the
country.
The bill suspending the contraction of the
currency was here received from the House.
with the refusal of the House to concur in the
On motion of Sherman the Senate insisted on
its amendments and asked for Committee Of
Conference.
After some further discussion, the motion of
Mr.. Chandler was laid on the table.
House OF REPREsENTATIvEs.-U nder the
call of States and Territories for bills and reso
lutions for reference only, the following Were
introduced and referred TO the committees
named:
BY Mr.. Miller, tPa. Joint resolution to ex.
empt from tax all manufactures that have a
relation TO the industrial interest of the coun.
try. Ways and Means.
Also bill granting atrial by Court Martial TO
"A. j. Kane, an engineer in the Navy. Naval
Affairs.
BY Mr.. Thomas, fMd.)-Joint resolution TO
a railroad from Washington, ID. O..
10 connect with the Northern Central railroad
at point on the State line, between Pennsyl.
vania and Maryland. Roads and Canals.
My Mr. Eggleston, O.)-Joint resolution re-
curing steam coats 10 use a newly invented
fire extinguisher. Commerce.
By Mr.. Williams, Tenn. .)-Bill to amend the
bankrupt law. Select Committee on Bankrupt
BY Mr.. Mum, (Tenn. BIN to extend the
provisions Of the Pension Laws. Invalid
By Mr.. washburn. (Ind.)-Bin to provide
pay ment OF pensions in coin. Invalid Pen.
sicns. -
BY Mr.. Ingersol, (In. eBin in relation 10
District Of Columbia. Committee on the Dis.
Also, hill to incorporate the National Life In.
surance Company Of the United States Com
nittee on the District of Columbia
Also, bill to incorporate the Metropolitan
Fire and Marine Insurance Company Of Wash.
ngton, ID. &. Same committee. =. ---
BY Mr.. Van Horn, (No)-Joint resolution |
rscifing that Michael O'Brien, nAfuralized /