The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-04
WASHINGTON.
Reassembling Of Congress
Return Of Members.
The New Party Movement Flat
tened Out.
DECLINE OF AMERICAN COMMERCE.
Increased Compensation for Gov
eminent Clerks.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 1870.
Heassem ling Of Conference.-The New Party
Movement Fiattened Out.
The trains from the North and West to-day
brought large number OF Senator'S and members,
and the indications that at the opening on Mon
dAy majority OF the members Of both houses win
be present. Among the arrivals tonight are SEN
ators Sumner, Morton, Harris Speaker Blaine, JUS
tice Nelson, OF the Supreme Court; Judge ]. F.
Cowan, OF New York; Senator Fenton, Judge Kelley
and many others. The Senators and members, az o
general rule do not seem TO know much about what
VIII be done at the coming session. There gen.
era impression That the session VIII be lively one.
Governor Morton says that the new party move
ment is practically dead IN the West. and that he
does not think the revenue relormers win Join the
democrats.
The PFesidents Asessngc.
All manner OF arguments were offered to the Pre-.
sident to induce him 10 send his message to New
York in the hands OF special messenger Of his own
selection, but he positively refused 10 allow
single copy to pass from the Executive Mansion
until General Porter should have left the premises
on Monday with the document addressed to Con-
gress.
Decrease or American Tonnage.
me Register OF the Treasury has just completed
the statement OF vessels sold to foreigners during
the year ending June 80. 1870 amounting to II 1850
TONS the principal part of which consists OF vessels
condemned In foreign ports and sold because of un-
seaworthiness- The following table shows the ton
mage of American bottoms disposed OF since 1850
In that year the number OF tons sold to foreigners
was 13,4ss; In 1851 1924; in 1852 1921; in 1863
1O0S5; In 1854. 033; In 1856 $685. in 1885, A. 1851
In 1857, $685. in 1858, $685. 1885, 80 $780, In 1884,
4lS; In 1861 649; in 1882 ll776e; in 1885, 22 1885,
IN 1894 So0S65 in 1865, $780, in 1885, 217 In 1867
$1,000; In 1868, 13.757; in 1862 1908, and In 1870
1880 Itappears that during the late war we sold
abroad 774652 tons, and about 10000 tons were
captured and destroyed by rebel privateers while
during the forty years preceding the war we sold
abroad only 671s77 tens The register also reports
she tonnage OF vessels lost at sea and wrecked at
aSA' OBS tons; also foreign vessels wrecked In the
waters OF the United States and afterwards docu.
mented as vessels OF the United States, A744
Increased Pay for Government Employees.
washington Is considered-and perhaps, Justly
soo-an expensive city to live in. The proprietors
OF the daily papers complain that the rates pad for
cemposluon are thirty per cent higher than in Bal
simore, with nothing to justify such an extraordl-
nary demand The clerks In the employ OF the gov
eminent are continually finding fault In proportion
70 the amount received, and live in hope during the
VIII take pity on their poverty and remember the
scriptural advice, "Who gvetn to the poor Iendeth
20 the Lord" But Congressman do not read as a
general thing, ancient literature especially the in.
spred volume. and In order to make their
wants better known the clerks here have
On more than four occasions appealed to the rea-
son or congressman, scttlng forth In strong petit
lions ana persistent lobbying their actual claims for
IN increase Of twenty per dent;' but, strange to
say, even in this ratonalistic age the argument has
failed. Now there appear extra helpers, who pro-
pose to try what Congress will do for the heads Of
bureaus, and, that the injustice of expecting con-
slant labor at the present fixed salaries may not
starte the assembled wisdom OF the land, tabular
statement has been carefully prepared, showing the
rate OF pay for all the officers and clerks or the gov
eminent since the day when the constitution was
adopted down to the present day. BY comparison
1t appears that Congress has not failed TO increase
the pay OF its clerks and officials even in
some instances 800 and 400 per cent above
the pay allowed half q century ago while the pay
OF several heads of The bureau remains to-day as
nxed In 1920 The same is true, also, OF the pay OF
clerks at the Capitol and in the departments. The
salaries OF the former have been steadily increased
while those of the latter remain with scarcely any
variation since the present system of grading
clerkships was adopted. Secretary Boutwell, In his
bureaus should be increased, and, encouraged by
this endorsement the auditors and comptroers
have asked him to renew that recommendation in
his annual report this year, 1t Is believed he will
do SCAT least the agitators hone he willard to
sustain their claim they Will have the tabular state
ment above referred to for their argument in favor
Of increased rates OF compensation.
Tonnage of Different Nations.
The following statement shows the tonnage or the
various commercial nations OF the globe, according
to the latest returns that have come TO hand. The
immense preponderance OF Great Britain in the COM
merce Of the world is apparent 1t appears that
during the last ten years her tonnage has increased
considerably, while that OF other nations has
decreased. The order Of magnitude, nationality
and tonnage is as follows:-Great Britain United
Kingdom $3.50, $50; British possessions 1,456 $780,
1896. 016 United States (home trade 100 7O7; TO-
reign trade, 1875 0O), 424e,5o7 France lo0s0s4;
Sweden and Norway, 705, sss; Italy, 67s,6O3 Hell
Prussia, 374s16; Austria, 800 $685. Greece $50 342;
Russia 1so,es2 Denmark las, $780, Hanover 1876, 40;
Chile, $1,000; Belgium, 80, 729.
Transfer of Infantry Omcers.
1t IS understood that several Of the field officers
oil infantry, the excess Of officers OF those grades
ABOVE the organization being specially OF that
arm, are to be transferred with rank 10 va.
cancies In the artillery and cavalry caused by the
recent retirement OF several officers in those
arms OF the service. This Is to give places
to as many Of the field officers OF in
fantry as possibly. 1t win, however. prevent
promotion for the time being, In the artillery ana
cavalry. These transfers are considered just il good
selections are made, as 1t would not be proper to
muster out Of service Infantry officers in excess or
the organization when there were places vacant OF
corresponding grades In other arms OF the SERVICE
and would not be fair that the infantry should alone
suffer the reduction required by Congress
Indian Affairs.
despatch received at the Indian Once ON the 81
instant from superintendent Wall, dated Helena.
Montana, on the I'd instant states that he mad lust
returned from the Crow, agency where he had dis
triouted the annuity OF goods to III lodges. The
Indians were Wen satisfied and all well disposed and
an xious to act in good faith The OF the Indians
would arrive In about three weeks. All the CHIEFS