The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-11
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 10. 1878.
Tho following members announced by the
Speaker as composing the committee to inquire into
the causes of the yellow fever epidemic :-Messrs
Young, Gibson, Hooper. Goode, Hartridge. Morse
Garfield, Harmer and Chittenden.
The Speaker also announced the following APP
pointments to fill vacancies in committees Mr..
Majors to the Committee on Public Lands; Mr.
Bailey to the Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds. and Mr.. Luttre to the Committee on Post
Offices and Roads.
Mr. LurrRELI, (dem.) of CAL. offered a resolution
calling the Secretary of the Navy for information
to the delay in the repair of the monitor Monad-
mock. at Vallejo. Cal. Adopted.
CONSULAR AND DIPLOMATIC BILL.
The House then went into Committee Of the
Whole Mr. Springer, Of Illinois. in the chair on the
Consular aud Diplomatic Appropriation bill. The
bill appropriates 81 OBS 435 being Sl40 200 below tho
estimates. and explained by Mr.. Singleton.
deml of Miss. who has charge Of the bill to be the
identical bill passed last year by the House before it
went to the Senate The bill was then read by Sec
tons for amendments.
Mr.. HALE (rep.) Of Me-, moved to increase the sal
aries of Ministers to France, Great Britain Germany
and Russia from $4,000 each las provided by the bil
to $17,50 the present salary
Mr.. GARFIELD rcp.l Of Ohio, said that the
who would attempt to get up political excitement on
old sectional issues would find himself without the
support of the country, but the man who wanted to
gain the good will Of the country must put himself
in the line Of it's leading thought, and that was the
restoration Of business, trade, sound political
omy sound money and the honest payment of public
obligations. Foreign trade the most i'm Dortant
factor in the restoration of business, yet here
bill cutting down unwisely the salaries Of the foreign
Ministers.
Mr.. SINGLETON. of Mississippi called attention to
tho fact that since the democrats had had
Of the House they had been constantly cutting down
the expenses of the government, and yet the COM
mcrce Of the country had been continually ncreas-
ing and foreign intercourse had not been crippled
Mr.. HEWITT, DEM Of n Y. trusted that the reso-
luton introduced would result in economy. He be-
eved that the diplomatic expenses could be largely
reduced and that many small missions could be con-
solidated or dispensed with. But long as the
missions were maintained he was not in favor Of
paying inadequate compensation. He thought that
cient. He not in favor of increasing them, but
thought that the whole subject should be inquired
into by the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The amendment was adopted-9s to a5
Mr.. CoNGER, dem Of Mich. moved to amend by
providing for Minister at Belgium and the Neither
lands at a salary of $500 each no provision for
these officers being made in the bill Rejected-s6
to 95
Mr.. MONROE, (rep.) Of Ohio. moved to amend by
inserting an appropriation Of $1,000 for Charge
dAnaires at Greece. Rejected.
Mr.. HEWITT, of New York, moved to amend by
providing for secretary OF legation at Brazil.
M. Fonr. lrep) Of III. moved to strike out the
fsnss providing for second secretary 1t Berlin
Mr. HEWITT, Of New York. offered an amendment
providing Tor q consul general at Atueue. Adopted
CONSULAR FEES
Mr.. HEWITT also offered an amendment requesting
the President to revise the tariff of consular fees and
prescribe such rates will make them conform
nearly as may be to the fees charged by other
mercial nations for similar services. He called
attention to the fact that American ships
had nearly disappeared from the face of the ocean,
and said that 1t was great and important question
by what process they could be restored For he
lean citizens to buy ships in the cheapest markets.
The only person the face % the globe who pro-
hibited from going where he could get cheap ship
was the American citizen. Bnt until that remedy
applied the President should be requested to revise
can shipmaster subject to charges five times
great the British shipmaster thereby injuring
American commerce. The amendment was adopted.
Mr.. wHrrrHoRNE. tdem1 of Tenn. offered an amend
ment appropriating 100000 to be used by the Pres
ident for the purpose OF negotiating such treaties
with Mexico and the Central and South American
States az will promote and facilitate commerce and
trade between the United States and those countries
The amendment was rejected, and then the committee
and reported the bill to the House.
The first vote on the amendment (agreed to in
committee) increasing the salaries Of Ministers to
Russia, Germany, France and Great Britain from
$4,000 to 1880. The amendment was rejected
yeas 1906 nays lis.
An amendment to increase the salaries of Ministers
to Spain, Austria, Italy, Brazil Mexico. Japan and
China from &c. 600 TO $40 900 had been rejected in
committee and therefore did not come before the
House.
The other amendments agreed to in committee
also agreed to in the House. and the bill was
passed
". J,
Ways and Means reported bill TO authorize the issue
of certificates Of deposit in aid of refunding of the
public debt. Recommitted.
Also a resolution distributing the Presidents Mes
sage among the various committees Adopted.
NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
The House then. at three O'Clock. went into Com
mittee Of the Whole. Mr. Harris of Georgia, in the
chair on the Naval Appropriation bill
Mr.. CLYMER. (dcm) or Pa. having charge Of the BILL
explained that IL was substantially the bill OF last
year as IL became law. The estimates OF the Secre
tary of the Navy had been only about $4,000 greater
than last years appropriation. The Committee on
Appropriations had been able, without detriment to
the service and with tho concurrence of the depart
ment to reduce the amount asked for by $133. 1884,
The appropriation of last year had been $14 603
and this bill recommended S14,U18, 400. The bill had
the unanimous approval of the Committee on Appro
priations and he hoped that 1t would also have tho
approval of the House,
Mr. HALE of Maine, added few remarks compli-
mentary to the gentleman from Pennsylvania in con-
ncction with the bill
Not single amendment was offered 10 tho bill.
The committee and reported 1t to the House, and
it thereupon passed.
This makes four Of the general appropriation bills
that have already been passed
Bills were introduced and referred as follows.-
BY Mr. McCooK, trep of N. Y.--For the issue Of du-
pcate United States bonds to the Manhattan savings
Bank.
Mr. MonsE, (dem.) Of Mass offered a resolution to
Draska Mr. Welch) the pay Of member TO the end of
the Congress- Adopted.
The SPEAKER laid before the House tho request Of
the Senate to be furnished with copy of James Il.
Andersons testimony relating TO Senator Matthew'S;
and. motion of MIR. POTTER, tho request was CON-
piled with.
The House then. at four o'clock. adjourned.