Mr. WILLIAMS. I do not know how reliable the data may be to which the Senator refers, but I am confident that if $700 was a suitable compensation to the local inspectors at Portland before this time, there ought to be an addition to that compensation, for the business has largely increased at that point, and I presume increased with as much rapidity as at any other point in the country. They are extending steamboat navigation from Portland up the Columbia river, up the Snake river, and up. the various branches of the Columbia river. they  are constructing new steamboats, adding very much to the steamboat navigation of that river and of that district, and the duties imposed upon these local inspectors will he very much increased, and I think there ought to be a corresponding increase of the compensation. A salary of $700 for a local inspector at that point is just about no salary at all. Possibly competent men can be secured, but I very much doubt whether the best men can be procured at that salary; and if it is desirable at all to have local ins ectors of steamboats it is desir able to have the best and most competent men in the country, because the object, I suppose, in providing for those inspectors is to secure life and property on board steamers. I depend for my information upon representations from persons in thatvicinit y and upon my personal knowledge of the amount of business transacted at that point and in that district. I am very sure that $700 is no ade uate compensation, and it is not reasons 10 that it should be, because Portland and the district of which it is the ctmter is a community that is rapidly growing in business. Business is rap idly accumulating there. 2 or 3 years ago, when this salary was fixed, there was one steamboat where there are now halfa dozen engaged in business; and either the compensation heretofore has been altogether too high and unreasonable, or this compensation prb vided by the amendment of the committee is not suitable to the circumstances of the countryat this time. I think it is not in proportion to the salaries paid at other points. I do not know howthe officer to which the Senator refers obtains information as to the amount of business in these districts, or when the reports were made n on which he relies; butI am very sure of one t ling, that shch a salary as it is now proposed to give these men is no salary for any nsiness in that country where the expenses are so high. The expenses of traveling are much greater than they are here; and the expenses of living are much higher; andin every respect the salary is inadequate to the services to c performed; and I insist upon it that the salary ought not to remain at $700, and that my amendment should be adopted.