Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-17
CONGRESSIONAL.
House Passes Consular and Dip
lomatfc Appropriation Bill.
A Disgraceful Episode in Oul
Relations with Brazil.
j. Watson Webb a Defauiter and
Refugee frofM Justice.
HOUSE

WASHINGTON, May 16.-After conflict
for precedencs tet%een the consular and
diplomatic appropriation bill and the bill
TO repeal mOieties, the former prevailed
by A to %, and the House then went into
Committee of the Whole, Mr.. Burrows in
the chair, on the consular bill:
Mr.. 0rth, Chairman of the Committee
on Foreign Affairs, offered a substitute for
the paragraph relating to consulates, con-
tanning almost an entire revision of the
whole consular. system, to equalize the
compensation of COnsuls without increas-
ing the aggregate expense, which in fact
was. he said; diminished by over $4,000.
He reminded the committee that the con-
sIIlar service was the only branch of the
Government that was remunerative. Thus
the amount of fees received AZ the different
consulstes accounted for to the Treasury was
fite, ,B94, while the expense under the pro-
posed amendment would be 1885,, 800.
MIR. Orth's general amendments were
adopted with notifications.
Watson Webb's Escassate.
Mr.. 0Fth then irofed to insert the fol-
Lowing ITEM, "For repaying to the Govern
ment of Brazil money enormously claimed
by and paid to the United States, S75,5OO,
or so much thereof as may be
necessary" Mr.. E. X. Hoar eN-
planned the amendment, and gave
ahistory of the transaction which led
to its necessity. IL arose out of the con-
demnation In Brazilian port of Peruvian
veesei, which had been insured in New
York and Philadelphia. The condemna-
tion was unjust, and the claim was made on
the Brazilian Government, Gen. James
Watson Webb, then Minister to Brazil. had
been directed not to press the claim on
Brazil, but while that Government was in
Volved in its Paraguay war, and Just
before the departure of the steamer for Eu-
ROPE, Webb informed the Brazilian Gov
ernment that he would break off dipl lomatic
relations unless the claim was Immediately
paid, and the sum of S14. .252 was paid un-
der protest. A debt for 5000 was sent 20
the State Department as being the entire
amount received, and tn atamount was in
vested pending investigation. The result
OF the investigation was decision by this
Government that the Brazilian Govern
ment was not liable in the first instance,
and thai the amount should be restored
with interest. Then it was dlscoveredfhat
the sum paid was S14,252, and not 5000.
Webb had declined to give any explanation,
and he was now abroad and not under the
jurisdiction of this Government. The item
was tc make up the difference to the Bra
lillian Government. Mr.. Hoar said he re-
gretted to have to spread on the records the
history Of this disgraceful transaction. The
amendment was agreed to.
The Post-ofice appropriation bill was
then taken up, appropriating So, ,653, ,39l,
of which $, ,634,S42 is to meet the differ
eITee between the revenue and expenses of
the department. Without making pro-
gress, the committee rose and reported back
the Consular and Diplomatic appropriation
bill which was thereupon passed.
Z. II. Roberts, from the Committee on
WAYS and Means, reported the bill TO re-
peal moietieS, and gave notice he would
call If up Tuesday next.
Mr.. Sener obtained leave to have printed
and recommitted the testimony taken be-
fore the Committee on Expenditures in
the Department of Justice in regard to the
expenses, disbursements and general man
agement of the Western District of Ar
kansas.
The House then adjourned.