The New York herald., 1878-03-12
HOUSE on REPRESENTATIVES,.


Committee OF the WHOLE Mr. Cox, OF Now York, in
the chair, on the Diplomatic Appropriation biL
OF MR. HEWITT. NEW YORK.
Mr.. HEWITT, tdem OF n Y, SAID that he would not
have spoken the bill except Tor The recent event
which startled the whole country. That event
had the In OF the Fishery Com
mission, by which tho large sum Of s.. 500 900 had
been awarded as damages to tho CANADIAN govornment
the privilege enjoyed BY United States hshsrmon.
He pictured tho array OF leading lawyers who had
represented the United states NJ Geneva
them with the gentlemen who had represented II At
the late arbitration with Canadarespectable gentlc-
mea 1t was true, 0ut gentlemen VINO mad mover been
heard Of before while the representatives, Of Great
Britain had been among The shining lights
oil tho law. distinguished statesman had
said that that Arbitration would put or
reciprocity for twenty years. and II reciprocity were
put of tor twenty years by the blundcrs OF tho
selected 10 represent The United States abroad WAS
time 10 ascertain whether the diplomatic system
worthy OF respect The present system was ex-
pensiye unnecessary and in most a useless
sham. The newspapers had lakon the place OF the
ola fashioned diplomatic service. Twenty years ago
the Unlcd States used 10 send abroad great and
iing men, while these degenerate times tho
foreign missions were The refuge Of piaye ou. poi
itolans Ho was IN avor OF having but Two Eu-
ropean ionsono at London as the centre OF CON-
mcrcial OF tho world, aud Berlin, as
the centre OF political power he would have these
Ministers well PAID, SO that they would not ee hu-
inflated at association with other Minister'S He
would then havo secretaries al the other diilerent
por.s who should report 10 the Ministers
WHO NEGuTIATEs OUR rREATiEsY
He stated that, oil The twenty important treaties
negotiated with European nations, all Ult had .
been negotiated by special eGvOys; thus showing the
inutihty of the present diplomatic service He re-
greiLed very much reciprocal treaty
country would gain SO much by Aucn treaty. Ho
IN favor OF retaining the missions 10 the South
American States because those countries con-
stantly in state OF revolution and Ministers
necessary TO protect citizens OF tho United States
Wherever the diplomatic service could suDserve the
interests of commerce he would sustain It; but
wherever II had only TO deal win polilicai questions
he was IN iavor oil reducing tue expcusc OF the
aud consolidating IT'S departments The Iurco-
Russian war was a iair example oil the small elect
upon tho United states OF struggle which involved
The political interests Of the whole OF Europe.
CONSULAR FEES.
Referring to consular lees, tnat the British
consus charged lee Of Two shiilings Tor Shipping
seameD, while IN some cases the Uniled States consus
charged 81 Inc result oil thus Was that American
shipmaster paid twelve or nieen times every
time he enters port as British shipping did
With reference 10 the appointment OF consuls ne
thought tho whole system was wrong and that u num-
Der OF appointments were made merely ior political
services There should be u consular bureau charged
with the supervision OF the whole system,
suar service was IN tho hands OF tho President under
the constitution. Ho could mako that system an
honor aud source OF immense vaiuo aud prosperity
| 10 the country.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Referring TO civil service reiorm, he sent to the
Clerks desk and mad read the CIV, service order Of
President Hayes and then stated that the Filth Au-
| dtor OF tho Treasury mad been making political
| speeches In New Hampshire. he 6sa propo 50 10
| make any comments that fact No President ad
ever maae sucn promises as Nj. Hayes had No Pres
ident ever SO bound by every consideration OF
justice to keep the pledges which he had made IL
had been matter OF wonder to everybody both
sioes that those pledges had not been kept Hero
was President who came into Office, by the or
dnary mOde but came rather by the C9sarian opera
ton, and he owed 10 both sdes-not only TO
but TO that other and greater party IN tho
country winch had with a forOearance and
their iaith with him. Has he kept faith with the
peopleY Men had puzzled their brains 10 explain
~ny no mao nS' aone y. ~ was was nssaredly not oe
trampled bis own party under loot II was not be-
cause he wanted TO come into the arms OF the
cratic party because he know that wniie that party
hternly did its duty to humanity II wanted
cruits from thut direction. he had said that he
would not give appointments for political reasons
that was to the party that mad nominated tried
TO elect him; and within very narrow limits he kept
his pledge as TO that But there had been moro than
one campaign carried 1876; there had The
campaign o election ana the Campaign OF electoral
action; and when his appointments were turned to It
would 20 found that he had rewarded those who had
secured his counting In TO the hign onco Of President
OF the United states 10 begin with his Cabinet, there
could be found there two Secretaries who had boon
counsel on the Electoral Commission.
Mr.. FRYE. (rcp) OF Me.-As the gentleman Is max
ing an attack on the civil service reform OF the Pres
dent hope he VIII give us, tho friends OF his policy
sufficient time TO reply. loud laughter.)
Mr.. HEWITT said he was not making an attack on
the civil service reform oil the President, because he
thought he had no civil service policy. Among his
other appointments were those OF Wells Anderson,
Casenave and kenner In Louisiana, and OF Sterns
Fiorida. The President ad also broken his pledge by
appointing three persona irends-Mr Noyes, had
put Nr. Hayes In nomination, as Minister France
MIR. Comfy, who had discovered Mr. Hayes. as VI n
lister 10 the Sandwich Islands. and Mr. Leo Consui
frankfort.
MIR HEWITT then sent to the Clerks desk and had
read letter from Mr. Comfy 10 a private irlend In
which hc pictured the duties oi Minister as prInci
pally going TO take another drink, which was read
umd much laughter
Mr. HuArnnEY, lrcpl OF WIS, suggested that there
not enough arinK ~ that comma cation, aud
Mr. HAYES, oil ILLINOIS. added that they must be all
democrats out tnere tLauehter,l
Mr. CoxGEK inquired ssrcAsticaiIy whether Swttzcr
and was the scene OF that comm .cation, ana on
being told That was not said that the gathering OF
the war vessels around the capital ad led him TO
pose that o~itzerland was the place. tLaughter)
Mr.. HEWITT resumed hts speech and proceeded TO
criticise the diplomatic appointments Having men
toned the name oil Mr. Leo, Consul General at Frank
Mr.. JONES rep OF OHIO, defended that appointment
and sa,d mat Mr. Lee wasa man OF culture capacity
and integrity, and that no better selection could
been made.
Mr. HEWITT said that he was glad TO hear II; but he
disclaimed any Intention OF impugni9g Mr.. Lcc's
character or abiiitcs lis objection to 1t was that
the appoi ment had been made on personal grounds
Hc asked hr Jones whether Mr. Lee was q German
scholar
Mr.. JOKES replied that Mr.. Lee could both translate
ana speak German, and that IN point oi culture he
came ully up TO the Jenersonan standard Mr. Lees
original appointment as private secretary to the
president had Dccn made soicy ON MS merits, ana no
had no doubt that his appointment 10 Frankfort had
also been his merits alone
Mr.. McMAHoS, tdcm.) oil Ohio, asked Mr.. Jones
whether tho appointment had not been made
count OF Lees connection with tho American Alliance
Mr.. JoSks said he had no knowledge on that subject
He only knew tnat Mr. Lees personal morits justified
the appointment he had received
DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENTS CRITICISED.
Nr. HEWITT replied thst whatever Ar. Lees per-
sonsl merits light be, mis- appointment excluded
by the fact of hIs personal relations with the Presi-
dent That was the only point he chose TO make. In
reference TO The appointments OF Mr. KassoE to Aus
tria Mr Lowell 10 SPAN, Mr. Welsh to London sad
Mr. Bayard Taylor 10 Germany, there were moro
less objections TO all OF them. do aimittod the cx-
ptricnce, abiity aDd eminent htness OF MI Kasson
but the objection 10 hun was that no had
.The wishing statesmen.n LIS had gone to Florida
and hau rendered valuable services In tho electoral
struggle. Mr. Welsh was highly respectable mcr
chant, but his selection was not good one
for such an important post. Mr. Lowell
poet, man oil letters scholar who had hon or
HIS aye, name and country but In view OF del
icatc and intricate nature OF this counirys relations
with SPAN ncquc STONED the ntncss OF
mcut Although he recognized Mr.. Ba7ard TsyIo or's
abiitics and experience, ne believed that. IN view OF
the important questions springing up IN Europe, tho
selection OF Mr. Taylor was not tho best that might
havy been mi