New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-01-24
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
ABSURD DEFECTS IN OUR DIPLOMATIC SYSTEM.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THg TRIBUSH.i

VI RhENI IOIICO Al ll1EI
ABSURD DEFECTS IN OUR DIPLOMATIC SYSTEM.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUsRl
WASHINGTON. Thursday. Jan. %. 1873.
Some OF the curiosities absurdities Of dipO
matte system TO light in the debate upon the Con-
sular and Diplomatic Appropriation bill In tho House.
to-day. 1t appears that our Minister to the Central
American republics is drawing the magnificent salary oil
s225OO year. which is 5000 than Is received by
the penpotontiaries to England or France This comes
about by the operation OF old law which says that
when minister accredited to one Government performs
also tho duties minister to another lie shall receive
the full salary of the first Office and half the salary OF
tho other The half Central American missions
having been consolidated into one, somebody has
decided that the pay of tho lucky minister
must be figured up this basis Under
the same Minister TO Uruguay accredited also
TO Paraguay is drawing s $50 year. which il $3.50
than the pay of the Minister to Brazil or 10 any
other South American State Paraguay has long ceased
TO exist nation land the Minister never goes there
but he gets his pay all the same Tho House cut down
the pay Of the Central American mission TO SOVo am
that OF the Uruguay mission 70 s3Vo' on .ne c ~
probably because il is constituent OF his who holds the
comfortable snccuFc. In the course OF the debate on
the BILL Mr. Butler exposed the Texan Border Commits
sion humbug aud read from the report ofhe Commission
trumped up on the Rio Grande last Summer. In one
case he said claimant had charged So day apiece for
years ago Other claimants had reekoned up the natural
Increase OF their stolen herds at one call year Tor every
animal male OF female and had charged accordingly
Mr. Butler said that II anything was edlcuatcu 70 ot
up war with Mexico it was this report: lie d mo NOT
tell the House, what is generally suspected mere
namely that the Texan Commissioners were instructed
TO make up as large claim against Mexico as possible.
for some purpose known TO the state Department
Some think that the only Object OF the commission 70
get up claims to against what are known az the
Apache claims OF Mexico against the United States.
amounting to about S0OOO00O which the Mexican Com
nor expre on the first Of next month. The Diplomatic
bill passed without any further appropriation iO'
Texan Commissioners.
STEAMSHIP SUBSIDY BILLS.
There promises to be plentiful crop OF steamship
subsidy bills before the session closes. One has passed
the Senate and waits action on the Speakers table III
the House. This is the New-0reans and Vera Cruz BILL
Two Others have agreed to by the House Commerce
Committee but there has been opportunity to report
them this session. One Of these provides subsidy OF
S45OOO0 year the san Francisco and Australia lne
known as the Webb line and the other gives $4,000
year TO the New York and Mexican Steamship line,
owned by Alexandra sons of York. for 25 SIX trips
a year to Progreso and Vera Cruz. The new line from
Philadelphia to Liverpool, for which number OF hne
steamers building in Philadelphia makes o
strong effort get subsidy OF 5000 trip Beside
all these thereis theBrazan line. which has not given
I'D all hope OF an increased allowance Notwithstanding
its defeat session. and the project for line OF steam
ers from ports to the Suez Canal and the ports
along the Mediterranean. This latter scheme
was advocated before the Committee to-day
by Mr. Clark OF NewYork. The Company
asks for the Endorsement by the Govern
Steamships adapted for conversion into vessels and
10 pay back the money In 20 years In printed aIgu
ment in support Of this scheme there are some esuaVs
Intended to be serious really amusing. o, the
profit the Government would make by giving tue sl5ooO
tho cost OF maintaining 20 war steamers Tor 70
years. amounting to Sli6,OOO0p. Taen the worm
Of he education the company will give TO young sailors
figured up tho basis OF the cost OF training CADETS
at Annapolis, at Sso0O Next mere rs s.stet f
each laborer mechanic ia sl8 per year. when, esl
nmo5ts n IN 20 years to s9Ooooo Finally tho 1000
emigrsnt that the company will bring into the south
yalns Of $1,000 apiece. ana in 20 years the Gov
eminent would realize In this way sS12Ooo !S q
100000 asked for by the company seems Dagatelle
Two Australian steamship lbis are struggling 70 get
bin which has agreed to by the House Commerce
Committee. has been on the Senate calendar since last
session. Its champion is Mr.. Sye, whose onGial Ire
being short, he is pressing tho Senate to give nun an
evening for the exclusive consideration OF s Dill ms
the Senate would doubtless 90 II ne woud agree sat
no vote should be taken Evening sessions OF the Sen
ate except during the last few days are always smy
attended. and 1t IL seldom that du0ru - pesent anu
the opponents of the bill desire to have ful senate
when the vote is taken Another objection 70 VonE on
while the friends OF the scheme are likely TO DC on haDd
in full force its opponents often stay away Inc other
Australian bill is that introduced by Mr. Anthony,
day week. and the friends OF when are
here by Cen Burnside and Col Thomas scott IL directs
the Postmastereneral TO contract with the lowest bid
der for carrying the mails To Australia at NewLealand
Tb Sas gone to the PostOfce Committee who gave
Gen Burnside hearing this morning.
RUMORED ATTEMPT TO BANKRUPT THE UNION
PACIFIC RAILROAD.
report current here that movement Is on foot 70
throw the Union Pacific Railroad into bankruptcy. and
enable the holders Of the first mortgage bonds to fore
close and force sale Of the road. The story Is that
this ia to be brought about by failure on the part OF
the road to pay tho interest due next July and that
sold the road will be bought by the Central Pacific Rail
road Company. in connection with the vanderbilt inter-
eat in New-York for an amount not more than sufi-
Gent to pay the mortgage and income bonds leay
ing the Government aid bonds, which are second en
entirely unprovided for. or course the stockholders
would, in such case, get nothing. IL Is
not unlikely that the report was started 10
Undue ace the action Of the Senate on tue par
reseity, to repeal the law under which tho Gov
eminent paying the road oneha OF It's Transportation
bills The total indebtedness OF the Union BacInc Is
nearly $50 100000 classified as follows: nrst nortgase
bonds s2T 100000; Government aid bonds s2IU0OG and
grant bonds sO.OoO0O0 income bonds sloOVOSO ana
floating indebtness OF 5000 900 or S,OO,oO
Cues