, 1874-05-17

the bill to repeal moie:ies, the former prevalled
IL to 10. and the House then vent lnto ConIle-
mittee Of the Whole. Mr.. Buhho"n IN the
chair, on the Diplomatic and Consular AppEopr'-
Mr. cox made humorous speees1h, hi in ], oppo-
sitiou. and was followed by Mr. POTTER, who
offered a motion, which WAS rejected. TO strike
out the item Of 51oo 900 for Mlmsser.heslaent 9 a.
Urnruay. who il also accredited to Paraguay.
He said there had been only one occasion since
mr. War Of Paraguay when the American repre-
sentative visited that country
Mr. ORTIZ. Chairman of the Committee on
ara.2aph relating to Cousulates, the substi-
tute being the bill reported from that Commit
tan two months ago. aud containing almost an
antire revision Of the whols Consular system:
He explained, first, that the object OF
revision WAS to equalize the compensation
oxpeuye. which, in fact, was diminished By over
S1y.O 900, He reminded the Committee that the
Consular service was the only branch Of the Gov
eminent that Was actually remuneratl7o 1nus
the amount OF fees received at the different Con
sulates md accounted for to the Treasury the
nast vear was STAG, ,694; while the expense nIl-
der the proposed amendment would be @39z, ooo.
Mr. Orth's general amendments we're aaopteu'
with notifications, on his own motion, making
tho salary OF Consular Clerks, five years contsn
uouBly in service, S1,25o year, "s'S14 "
S1,50D. ..,,o,.;,,o
III. ORTIZ then moved to insert the following
item: Tor ropaying to the Government OF brazn
money enormously claimed By, and PAID TO- me
United States $57, 500, or SO much shefeo1 as
NAV be necessary.
and gave the history OF the transaction which
}ed 70 its necessity. It arose out OF the con-
dennation, in 9 Brazilian port OF Peruvian
vessel which had been insured IN New 1ora ana
Philadelphia The condemnation was unjust,
and the claim was made on the Brazilian Gov
ernmeut, Gen. james Watson Webb, then
Minister to Brazil, had been directed not TO
press the claim on Brazil. but Wh.le that do7-
ernrnent was involved in its war with Paraguay,
and lust before the departure Of the steamer 1o1
Furone AIR, Webb informed tho Brazilian GOV
ernment that be would break OF diplomatic re,
latiops unless tho claim WAS Immediately paid anu
the sum of sl4 252 was paid under protest draft
for IS 600 was sent to the State department. as
being the entire amount received. and that amount
wasnnyested pending lnrestigatlon; !he p: fchu.l
Of tie investigation vas decision by this GOV
crnment that the Brazilian Government was not
liable in the first instance. and that the amount
should bo restored with interest. Ihen u was
discovered that the 6um paid was S14s1o aha
not s5,ooo. Webb had declined to glve any
explanation, and he WAS now abroad, and not
under the jurisdiction OF this GoVernmens.
The item WAS to make up the difference to the
Brazilian Government. Mr. Hoar said ne re-
rretted to have to spread on the record the MS
tory OF this diegraceful trnnsactlon*
W.
The bill Was then laid aside, to oe reported to
the House, and the
posT-oFF1cE APPROPRIATION BILL
WAS taken up.
This bill appropriates s35, ,653, ,391, OF which
S., ,8s2 is to meet the difference between the
revcnue and expenses OF the department;
Without making progress on the blll, the Com
mittee rose aud reported back
THE CONSULAR AND DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATION
BILL
which ras thereupon passed.
Mo1EIy REPEAL BILL.
Ell. ROBERTS, from Committee on Ways
and Means, reported the bill to repeal moieties,
and gave notlce that ha would call it up or
Tuesday next.
ARKANSAS COURTS.
Mr.. SENER aeked and obtained leave to
have printed and recommitted the testimony
taken before the committee on expenditures ID
the Department Of Justice in regard to the 81.
penses. disbursements, and general management!
OF the Western District OF Arkansas.
The House then adjourned.