Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-02-11
change Of treaties to exchange Gifts. Passing on

eign ports was giving relief to American seamep
In distress, and found that among the expurgsted
consulates in this bill were three where there had
been expended in 1874 over $4,000 for relief of
American seamen; If there had been no Amer.
can consuls 1T those ports American seamen would
have had no relief.
Mr.. Lynch of Miss. replied to that part of his
colleagues (Singleton) speech in which be spoke
of the South being so over taxed and burdened by
debts that for many it was impossible to obtain the
common necessaries of life. He went on to SHOW
that the people of Mississippi we're taxed only
IA mills on the dollar, Of which only four mills
went for general purposes and that the State paid
comparatively nothing for the support of the gen.
eral government. In conclusion he appealed to
his colleague to induce his party leaders to re-
adopt and faithfully adhere to the grand old con-
stltutlon and enforcement of the laws. APP
plause.
Mr.. Blaine Of Me- then addressed the COM
mittee, every seat in the House and galleries be-
ing occupied ard the clos It attention given to his
remarks.
After discussing the financial situation of the
country at great length, he laid that the shock to
confidence by the panic of 1873 was so great that
many commodities. and especially many fabrics,
are below their normal price, and firm, clear de-
cisne step in the direction of sound redeemable
currency, impa ting stability to our financial sys-
TEN, and confidence to the people, would in the
judgment Of our best merchants and manufactur-
ers be followed by rise in prices, by quick and
wide spread demand for labor, and ! general re-
newa OF trade and business throughout the coun.
try; and beyond that we should enter upon an
export trade Of our fabrics, such as we have not
dreamed Of in the past.
The time is ripe for it, and it only remains for
Congress to give the country a steady currency,
and the enterprise Of our people will do the rest.
The republicans mediate no harsh, or hasty or
destructive policy on this question, but one that
will still be firm, cOnsiderate and conclusive.
Although Mr.. Blaine spoke from printed notes,
yet his delivery was so tine, his manner so i'm
pressve, and the subject of his speech so import
ant that there was not the slightest diminuton Of
interest manifest in it from the first sentence to
the last. Ga the contrary the hall and galleries
became more crowded a. be proceeded.
Mr.. T2rbox of Mass, said Dir. Blaines speech
attempted the viDdication Of the financial policy OF
the party which had ruled the country without let
or hindrance since the fewer of peace blossomed
on the country, and was an attempted impeach-
ment Of the political action Of that party, which
since that time had had no power at all in the
councils of the nations.
After Mr.. Tarbox's remarks, Mr. Randall of
Penn defended the action of the committee in re-
porting this bill. The committee had in n degree
inteiferred with any commercial interests OF the
country The committee had given the bill more
consideration than had been given any smilar bill
during his term in Congress. As TO the diplomatic
portion of the BILL there were two questions in
volved, the one reduction of salaries, the other
an abolition or consolidation of missions. In re-
gard to the first he defended the committee ON the
ground of necessity of economy and frugality.
As to the consolidation of the South American
missions, he recalled the fact that In 1859 re-
publican House Of Representatives had voted for
q like consolidation which had only failed to be-
come law because Of the opposition of the Sen
ate. As to the mission to Greece, the committee
had been informed by Q gentlemen who had held
the Office under Mr. Lincoln's administrations,
that it was utterly valueless, either in . diplo-
matte or commercial point Of view, and that there
mi he mn in md . mic 70
Daboney as to Greece. The committee had not
proposed to interfere with the mission to Portugal,
as it was necessary to maintain . representative
there for reasons which were manifest to body
He closed by defending the action of the commit.
tee in regard to China and the South American
consulate.
The committee then proceed to consider the bill
BY sections for amendments.
Mr.. Chittenden of n. Y, moved to strike out
the paragraph making appropriations for the sal,
aries Of ministers to FraLce, England, Russia and
Germany. He claimed to be good an econo-
mist as any man on the democratic side of the
House, but he believed it would be more honor
able fol the nation to abolish those high offices
than to degrade them. The salaries of those min
listers had been fixed under the democratic ad-
ministraton at 81 500, and certainly none would
say that the cost Of living had decreased since
that time
He warned gentlemen on the other side that if
they expected to conciliate the American people
Oy Lnal KIM Oh economy nc was mlstakcu. he
could show that this nation had for the last eight
years suffered loss Of $500, 900, 900 year from
deprecated salaries Congress has been in SEES
sion over two months, during which time the
country has suffered loss at that ratio of $780,
900 900, and what had Congress doRes 1t had
stopped the building of hospital at West Point,
had taken an additional ration from 800 cadets and
had reduced the compensation of half dozen pro-
fessors. 1t had also introduced tariff 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 of Me. moved to amend the para
graph by increasing the salaries Of those minis
tiers from Sl4 900 to Sl7 500.
After discussion by Messrs. Hale, Kasson and
Hoar, the amendment was rejected. and the sala-
ries Of those ministers left At $l4 900.
No mendment was offered to the next para
praph, fsing the salaries Of ministers to Spain,
Austria, Brazil, Mexico, Japan and China at Sl0,-
900 and they remained thus fixed.
Mr.. Kasson of la moved to place the minister
to Italy, whose salary the bill fixes at SIS, 900, at
SIC, 900. This motion was rejected and the mis-
sion to Italy remains at IS, 900.
An interchange of the civilites of debate took
place between Messrs. Springer OF III. and Hale
of Me-, based upon remark in Mr.. Hale's speech
this morning, at which Mr. Springer took offence,
and he minated in his comments that 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 evil
dence Of manhood or integrity, inasmuch as GER
tain persons who had enjoyed the same honors
were now in the penitentiary or on their way
there.
Mr.. Hale explained the remark complained of,
and justified it ON the ground of Mr.. Springer
having told yesterday apocryphal anecdote of
President Lincoln, which he Iiale) deemed unfit
for repetition in this House.
Mr.. Banks of Mass, moved to restore the mis-
sion to Greece, and spoke in favor of his motion.
The amendment was rejected, and there is there
fore no provisions IN the bill for mission to
Greece.
At this point the committee rose and the House
at O'Clock adjourned.