The New York herald., 1868-06-23

ment discriminating Improperly against the Presi-
tees in this body that meet and that there are
clerks receiving eighteen hundred dollars year
with nothing to do. In his opinion economy should
first be exercised In the latter direction instead OF
depriving the Executive Department OF officers
necessary for the vast amount OF work done there.
sherman, sprague, Ross and Wiley voting nay with
the democrats present
on an amendment repeating the act of August IS,
1856, requiring foreign regulations Of commerce to
be laid before Congress, and the second section OF
the act Of July rs, 1866 making appropriations for
the consular and diplomatic expenses Of the govern
ment,
Mr. SUMNER, by direction, he said, of the Commit
e on rst fSaegn Aas t t1pposed II the
OF Statistics at salary Of two thousand dollars per
annum He said, by law consuls were obliged to for
ward to the Department Of State certain commercial
information to be communicated to Congress- and In
this ONCE was dispensed with there would be no
OF ny ee as nsa for
clause OF the amendment abolished the Offices of the
Second Assistant Secretary Of State and the Exam.
could not be otherwise performed In the Department
OF state. He knew the present incumbent, Mr. Pc
ofiicer and he knew that important services were
rendered by him. The former ofilcer, Mr.. Hunter,
Second Assistant secretary had been in the State De-
partment for forty years, and might be called its
living index. Mr.. Sumner read from the "Blue BookD
the list Of ofrcers employed In other departments,
provided than any Of the others He hoped this old
public servant would not be turned adrft. He
moved TO strike out the second clause OF the amend
ment
Mr.. MORRILL, replied that the oficers provided for
In the second clause were appointed TO meet exigen-
cies arising out Of the war; and II the Senator could
satisfy the Senate that those exigencies still exist he
would have ne objection.
Mr.. JOHNSON, (dem.) OF Nd, argued that those on
GERS are as necessary now as they were during the
war. The Examiner Of Claims had saved thousands
OF dollars to the government He paid high testi-
mony to the Second Assistant Secretary.
Mr.. FEssENDEN also testified TO the necessity and
the value Of the services OF both ofcers. The Exam
liner rendered legal services that the Secretary of
State could not be expected perform In examining
claims The other ocer, In his opinion, should be
permanent one.
Mr.. CoNKLrso, (rep) Of N. r., thought the Com
mittee on Appropriations might as well cease recon-
mending retrenchment. It had been proposed this
morning to reduce the magnificent or he had almost
said royal household OF the President to the scale
on which Abraham Lincoln had carried on the gov
ernment during the war, and instantly the sword OF
the senator from Connecticut (Mr. Dixon leaped
from its scabbard; and now when II was proposed
to reduce the expenditures OF the state Department
the senator from Massachusetts, (Mr. Sumner) had
followed suit with great alacrity; but even the aded
ingenuity OF that senator had faed to show any
reason against that reduction. The Examiner cared
nothing about this oilce ne was about to take
charge OF Journal
Mr.. DIXON again alluded TO the salaries paid to the
clerks OF Senate committees many OF whom, he
said have nothing TO do but to act private secre
tarles Of Senators, paid out Of the public funds.