The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-02-11
himself. In conclusion he substituted
the following
- ...sHc,asge.

the following
Problem in Arithmetic;
Gold being at 09 in 70aRd at l.lS in 80,
how long would it take at the same rate
of progress to reach resumption
fLaug ghter When the gentleman from
Maine could elucidste that problem sat-
istactorily and show specie payments as
the result then he [Tarbox] would con-
slider his proposition, but in the mean
while even though Democratic hearth
stones should grow Geld, there
was for Democrats no hospitable
warmth at freside unde. his Blsine's1
political roof tree.
Mr.. Randall, chairman CT the Com.
mittee on Appropriations, defended the
action Of the committee IN reporting this
bill. The committee had in no degree
interfered with any of the commercial
interests of the country. The committee
had given more consideration TO this fill
than had been given TO any similar bill
during his term in Congress. So far as
he was himself concerned, he had given
much more time to its details than his
other duties would properly have permit
ted. As TO the diplomatic portion of this
bill there were two questions involved.
First, the reduction in salaries. The
other. the abolition or consolidation OF
the missions. In regard to the first, he
defended the Committee on the ground
of the necessity of feconomy, and frugsllty
as to the consolidation OF the South and
American missions. Here he called at
tention to the fact that in 1869 Repub
lican House of Representatives had voted
for like consolidation which had only
failed to become law because of the op-
position of the Senate. AS to the mis-
sion to Greece, the Committee had been
informed by the gentleman who had held
the Office under Lincoln, that it was utter
ly value,ess either in diplomatic
or commercial point of view, and that
there would be as much reason in send
ing minister to Dahomey as TO Greece,
The committee had not proposed to in
tersere with the mission to Portugal, as
it was necessary to maintain represen-
tative there for reasons which are mani
fest TO anybody. He closed by defend
ing the action of the committee in regard
to China and the South American con-
sulates.
The committee then proceeded to con-
slider the bill bv sections for amendments.
Mr.. Crittenden moved to strike
out the paragraph making an ap-
preparation for the salaries of ministers 10
France, England, Russia and Germany.
He claimed he was as good an economist
as any man on the Democratic side of
the House, but he believed II would be
more honorable for the nation TO abolish
these high offices than to degrade them
The salaries of these ministers had been
fixed under Democratic administration
at $1,000 and certainly no one would
say that the cost of living had decreased
since then. He warned the gentlemen
on the other side that if they expected to
concilIate the American people by that
kind of economy, they were mistaken.
Congress had been in session for oyertwo
months, and what had Congress done? II
had stopped the building of n hospital at
West Point; had taken the additional
rstions from three hundred cadets, and
had reduced the compensation of half n
dozed of professors. 1t had also intro
duced a tariff bill so radical as TO be
more complicated, vexatious and vicious
than any of the tariffs of the last thirty
years. The motion was rejected.
Mr.. Hale moved to amend the para
graph by increasing the salary of those
ministers from fourteen to fifteen thou
sand.
After discussion by Mcssrs. Hale, Kas-
san and Hoar, the amendment was re-
iected, and the salaries of those ministers
are left at $4,000.
No amendment was offered to the next
paragraph fixing the salaries o. the min.
sters to Spain, Austria, Brazil, Japan
and China at ten thousand, and they
remained thus fixed.
Mr.. Kassan moved toplace the Minis
ter to Italy, whose salary the bill fixed
at $4,000, 10 $4,000. Rejected, and the
mission to Italy stands at $1,000. An
Interchange OF CiviIiiIes
Of debate took place between Mr..
Springer and Mr. Hale, bssed on a re-
mark In Mr.. Hale's speech this morning,
at which Mr.. Springer took otiense, and
he intlmated in the course of his COM
ments, the fact that Mr.. Hale rode ON
the avenue with men in high places, or
was the recipient OF the hospitality
of those who plundered the
District, was no evidence
of manhood or integrity in
ssmuch as certain persons VINO had en-
loved the same honcrs were now IN the
penitentlsry or on their way there.
Mr.. Hale explained the remark com.
planned of, and justified i: on the ground
Of Mr.. Springer having told yesterday,
an apocryphal anecdote of President Lin
coin, which he Hslel deemed unfit for
repitition in this House.
Mr.. Banks moved TO restore the mission
to Greece, and spoke in favor of his mo-
ton and in defense of Mr. Read.
Mr.. Banks amendment was rejected,
and there is therefore no provision m the
bill for mission 10 Greece.
At this point of the bill the committee
rose and the House adjourned