The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-20
WASHING ON.
The Bill Abolishing Moieties
....... Passed the House.
Fernando Wood Oh the Corruptions
Of the Civil Service. e
M0NSTRoSITIES or THE ADMINISTRATION.
The Senate Restores Sineoures
and High Salaries. 81 .a

and High Salaries. a
-f.e4sa a las.ss WASHINGTON, May 10. 1874
Appropriations Of the Peoples Money
{. Passage Of the .Annual Bill Providing
for Legtslature, Executive and Judi
o.ciary-The ECONOMY OF the House An
sJ NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Of sinccures and
High Salaries. q,e sHa1a
The senate to-day discussed the Legislative,
Executive and judicial Appropriation bill
large number Of amendments we're offered and
agreed to, some of which reverse the economic
purposes OF the House, and others increase the
expenditures or departments and bureaus over
those or former years. The penchant for creating
soft and luxurious places for the occupancy OF
pohrcal friends and retainers yet again protrudes
itself among the motives OF the action OF the grave
and sagacious body. and suggest morals upon the
nckleness or hypocrisy OF mans repent
ance and resolves. Here economy again
was lost sight Of There Is good founda-
ton for the fear that the reformatory ardor OF
the nations eye-servents has already cooled sun-
GENTLY to admit OF their serving themselves well
as III not instead Of the public, and without any
acute stings OF conscience.
Among the amendments agreed to to-day was
one restoring to the ONCE Of Congressional Printer
its former status as appertaining only to the
Senate An appropriation OF S. 900 for Two clerks
OF the Assistant Treasurer'ofice in New York was
also restored. These clerks are to perform the
additional work imposed upon the force OF the
once by the passage OF the New Coinage act. The
contingent expenses OF the Executive office were
increased from $4,000 to $4,000, and 81, 500 was
voted as pay OF o computor Of bullion in
the ONCE OF the Director OF the Mint. 1t was
agreed on motion of Senator Chandler, to TX the
salary OF the clerk OF the Committee on Commerce
at 1872 year. Opposition was made to THE
amendment and 1t was stated that too many OF the
CLERKS Of committees received for compensation
much more than their services are worth. The
old spirit OF extravaganza, however, that had
been heretofore but sumbering sturdily prevailed.
The appropriation for files, periodicals and news
papers was increased from $1,000 to $4,000. Mr..
Frelnghuysen, OF New Jersey, stated that the
Secretary Of State had presented to the Commit
tee on Foreign Relations sundry amendments,
which were unanimously approved by that COM
mittee, and on behalf OF the committee he offered
them. These changes are as follows:-
To have a third Assistant Secretary of State; to
increase the number Of fourth class clerks from
ten TO twelve; reduce the number Of third class
clerks from nine to six; to dispense entirely with
second class clerks; to increase the number OF
cass CLERKS rom e,gnt TO eleven to create
charge for passports to IS, after July /, 1874 to
authorize the secretary OF State to have charge Of
the distribution OF the clerical force OF his depart
ment, from time to time, as the interest OF the
service requires, and lastly, authorizing the use OF
the unexpended balance OF the $25O,000, appro-
priated Tor the Geneva Commission, to be used
towards the payment OF the expenses OF the
Fishery Commission, which meets at Halifax In July
next
The amendments increase the appropriation
about $1,000. but the increase in the charge for
passports II is estimated will put about $4,000 q
year INTO the Treasury. The amendments were all
agreed to. \! 3i .a.
On motion OF Mr.. Boutwell, ten chiefs Of divisions
were authorized in the Treasury Department In
stead OF eight as reported by the committee to be
known as chiefs OF the divisions OF appointments,
warrants and appropriations, revenue, marine
and life saving stations customs, navigation, in
ternai revenue, Sub-Treasury, stationery, print
ing and blanks. files and records, and OF mails.
The appropriation for the once OF Survey was In.
creased from $500 to $9.7oo. An amendment
prohibiting civil officers OF the government from
receiving any perquisites or making private Of
any pubic property was agreed to. The method
OF payment OF district attorneys by the Depart
ment Of Justice was excepted from the effect OF
this proviso. The appropriation for the purchase
OF books for the library OF Congress was increased
from s., 900 to $4,000. On motion Of Mr.. Window,
four clerks who had been dropped from the roll OF
the ONCE OF the Comptroller OF the Currency by the
House. were reinstated. Five clerks were rein
stated in the ONCE OF the First Comptroller OF the
The clause Of the bill appropriating $4,000 for an
assay office at Charlotte, N. c., which was
stricken out by the Committee on Appropriations,
was restored, with an amendment erasng the
item Of 81, 600 for clerk. The bill, as amended
above, was then read third time and passed. 1t
needs little comment, as being an evidence OF the
real value OF all the talk which has been INDUCED
In by demagogues In Congress about the necessity
of retrenchment and economy.
Hopes Of . Ftnn ncial Compromise. III
number OF the Senators who supported the
amended Currency bill were ct work to-day to put
good construction on the Senate bill, and gave
out that there would probably be some common
ground reached on which both the House and SEN
ate could stand and where 1t was believed the
President could meet them. AS far as had been
escertained the adoption OF thirty-three In lieu OF
twenty-five per cent as the limit OF the proportion
Of the retirement OF the legal tenders proportion
ally as national bank notes, were issued, might be
agreed upon.
Regulation OF the Customs Revenue
service-Fixing the Salaries OF Of
hcials and Abolishing Moieties.
The subcommittee OF the Senate Committee on
Finance, appointed to consider and report upon
the bill introduced BY Senator Fenton at the be-
ginning Of the session TO regulate the service In
the collection OF customs at various ports OF entry
in the United States and the disposition OF fines,
penalties and torfettures incurred under the laws
relating to customs and for other purposes held
meeting this morning. The main purpose Of the
bill contemplates the payment Of fixed
salary to collectors, naval o11cers, sur
veyors and other oficers and employees
connected with the Collectors Department at the
various ports Of the United States In lieu OF the
saaries moIetes and perquisities Of any character
whatever and commissions on disbursements now
paid. The subcommittee very carefully con-
sidered each provision Of the bill and were gen.
orally favorable to It's passage In amodined form.
The subject Of moieties led TO protracted discus
sion. Notwithstanding the recent exposure OF the
abuses which have grown up under the
moiey system the subcommittee could not
see how the payment OF moeties could
be advantageously dispensed with. As