Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-01-17


Sumner was not ready to proceed with
his remarks on the Amnesty bill, so the
Senate went into executive session, and
soon adjourned.
HOUSE.
The Louisiana Committee.
Messrs. Schofeld, McCreary and Smith
Of New \ Ork, and Voorhees, and Marshall
were appointed the committee on the Lou
isiana imbrogliO.
Chicago Relief.
On motion Of Mr.. Dawes a bill passed
for the relief Of the sufferers by the Chicago
fire. 1t provides that all goods, wares and
merchandise sent as contributions for relief
of sufferers by fires shall be admitted free of
duty at the port Of Chicago; that drawback
of import duties shall be allowed on mer-
chandise used in the repair of buildings
erected on burned ground.
Agricultural Scrip.
Mr.. Wilson, of Ohio, introduced a resolu-
ton directing the Committee on Agricul-
tre to enquire into the disposition of Ag-
ricultural College scrip. Adopted.
Our Commerce, etc.
MIR. Banks from the Committee on For
eign Affairs, reported bill fixing the salary
of the United States Consul to Tien Tsin,
China, at 81 300. Passed.
Mr.. SheIabarger followed Mr.. Banks.
He remarked that no part Of public service
more demanded attention than the Consul
lar branch Of it. No one would fail to per
Ceiye that Consuls at ports where there
were duties to be performed, ought to be
men high up and well paid, yet he had
seen, as every gentleman who had travelled
abroad, chad seen United States COnsuls
living in third and fourth rate garrets,
almost literally starving for want of pay.
The pitiful sum Of 81, 800 year where there
was a wife and children to be maintained,
only permitted Consuls 70 exc out miser-
able and disgraced subsistence. Such
American ConsulateS were the scOf Of ma
tions.
in connection with this subject, Mr..
Brooks poke of the only American steamer
plying between Shanghai ard Tien Tsin,
and said he deeply regretted that building
that class of steamers had been lost TO New
England by enormous taxation on iron,
copper, etc.
Mr.. Kelly thought the United States con-
sular system a disgrace to the country.
iron, copper, cordage, glass and everything
that enters into the construction of ships,
and forthwith the American flag, on ships
built in New England, will be floating on
all seas.
M MyeTs-Does the gentleman (BroOks)
advocate the doctrine that American me-
chanics and shipbuild6rs shall be paid no
better than such mechanics are on the Clyde?
I,,l;n,l int, bo
branch Of the subject, bat remarked that
up to the passage Of the high tariff Of 1860
American ships were built in Maine, Mas
sachusetts, Connecticut and New York,
which carried the American flag over all the
earth.
Mr.. Myers--Were they not wooden ships
entirely?
Mr.. Brooks assented to that, and added
that in competition with English labor and
English prices, the skill and'genius and in
dustry and capacity Of New England men
had given them, prior to the war, the supe-
riOrity in building Of wooden ships.
Mr.. Brooks asked if 1t was to be said that
the skill of American workmen, who intro
duccd monitors and iron ships of war, had
failed. lie was not to be told that with
equally cheap raw material American me
chanics were not able to compete with for
eign mechanics in iron shipbuilding.
The Civil Service Humbug.
Mr.. Dawes referred to Mr.. Shellabarger's
remarks relative TO Consuls, and thOughtt.c
cure was not in increased compensation.
He referred to the appointment Of one Kei
to visit foreign COnSulS and report upon their
condition at a salary of S., 900 per year and
expenses paid. He had travelled over 81, 900
miles and brought back nothing that the
State Department thought worth submitting
to the public. kel might now be conSid-
cred the great American traveller. Mr..
Dawes COntended that the cure was in the
character of the appointments, and said, if
a rule was adopted by the Executive not to
give an appointment to any man recon-
mended by Congressman, it would do more
to reform the civil service than any elabO-
rate system contrived by any commission.
Several membars-"That true"
Mr.. Banks said that Keil had just time
enough at Tein Tsin to recommend the
passage Of the bill. [Laughter,l
Mr.. Butler and Mr.. Myers spoke favor
ably Of Mr.. heil.
Mr.. Cox asked if Keil wasn't the man
who wrote slashing book about st. Do
minao, and was then compensated by being
sent around the world.
Mr.. Butler couldn't say, but he was
opposed to the rehabilitation of Congress.
lie did not understand why being elected
to Congress caused a man to admit that he
is incompetent to say which of his constit-
uents was good man and would make
faithful servant of the government. He
believed he knew as much about the subject
as any broken down school master in the
land. he was entirely opposed to the idea
that Congressman are incompetent to say
who is fit for twelve. dollar clerkship to
copy laws. If any member thought differ
ent, an easy remedy was to cease recon-
mending persons to office.
The discussion created great interest, and
here closed.
Bill passed appropriating fifty thousand
dollars for marking the boundary between
the United States and the Possessions of
Great Britain from Lake Of Woods to sum
nit Of Rocky Mountains. Adjourned.